Injector failure / washer leak
usually 100,000–250,000 km · High risk
Signs: Knocking, black smoke, soot around injectors
Fix: Replace injectors and washers
€1,200–3,000
Common faults, service intervals and costs
Toyota Land Cruiser (J120)
2002–2009
1
engines covered
5
known faults
8,186
roadworthiness tests in the statistics
Enter your VIN and mileage and get a plan built for your exact engine and gearbox.
The Toyota Land Cruiser (J120) was built from 2002 to 2009.
For this generation we cover 1 engines and 5 known faults, each with the mileage range where it usually appears.
The most expensive known risk is Piston damage (2005–2009): it usually appears at 150,000–300,000 km and costs €2,500–6,000 to fix.
In UK roadworthiness tests in 2024, at 250+ thousand km this model most often failed on: lights, wipers and visibility (20.9 %), suspension (17.7 %), body and corrosion (14.5 %). It fails more often than an average car of the same age and mileage on: body and corrosion. It fails less often than average on: steering, tyres and wheels, lights, wipers and visibility, exhaust, emissions and leaks.
Engines
| Engine | Fuel | Timing drive | Oil |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 / 3.0 D-4D (Toyota 1KD / 2KD — Hilux, Land Cruiser) | Diesel | Belt · 150,000 km / every 120 mo | 5W-30 / 10W-30 · ACEA B4 / C2 · ~6.7–7.5 L · every 15,000 km |
Faults by engine
2.5 / 3.0 D-4D (Toyota 1KD / 2KD — Hilux, Land Cruiser)
Piston damage (2005–2009)
usually 150,000–300,000 km · High risk
model years 2005–2009 only
Signs: Oil consumption, smoke, knock
Fix: Engine repair
€2,500–6,000
Gearboxes
Manual
Clutch wear
usually 120,000–200,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: Slipping, high bite point
Fix: Replace clutch kit
€500–900
Dual-mass flywheel
usually 150,000–220,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: Rattle at idle, vibration pulling away
Fix: Replace with clutch
€700–1,400
Automatic (torque converter)
Torque converter / valve body
usually 150,000–250,000 km · Wear part
Signs: Delayed or harsh shifts
Fix: Fluid service, repair
€300–2,500
Scheduled service
Intervals and typical prices for the 2.5 / 3.0 D-4D (Toyota 1KD / 2KD — Hilux, Land Cruiser) engine. Other engines differ in oil, timing drive and some filters; the app gives the exact plan.
| Item | Interval | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer case / rear differential oilTransmission | every 80,000 km | €60–160 |
| Engine oil + oil filterEngine | every 15,000 km or every 12 months | €70–150 |
| Cabin (pollen) filterClimate | every 15,000 km or every 12 months | €15–40 |
| Brake fluidBrakes | every 24 months | €50–95 |
| A/C service (regas + desiccant)Climate | every 24 months | €70–150 |
| Air filterEngine | every 30,000 km or every 24 months | €15–45 |
| Fuel filterFuel | every 30,000 km or every 24 months | €40–110 |
| Glow plugsEngine | every 100,000 km | €120–300 |
| Auxiliary (serpentine) beltEngine | every 120,000 km | €70–180 |
| Coolant replacementCooling | every 150,000 km or every 96 months | €70–150 |
| Timing belt kit + water pumpEngine | every 150,000 km or every 120 months | €450–900 |
| Manual gearbox oilTransmission | every 150,000 km | €60–130 |
| Front brake padsBrakes | usually at 30,000–60,000 km | €60–150 |
| Front brake discs + padsBrakes | usually at 60,000–120,000 km | €150–320 |
| Rear brake padsBrakes | usually at 50,000–90,000 km | €50–130 |
| Tyres (set of 4)Wheels | usually at 40,000–60,000 km | €320–700 |
| Wiper bladesBody | checked at service | €20–50 |
| 12V batteryElectrical | checked at service | €100–220 |
Roadworthiness tests by mileage
Share of tests in the United Kingdom (DVSA MOT, 2024) that this model failed because of each system. Bold red means more often and green less often than an average car of the same age and mileage. Sample: 8,186 tests.
| thousand km | 100–150 | 150–200 | 200–250 | 250+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 8.6 % | 11.7 % | 12.3 % | 14.4 % |
| Suspension | 8.3 % | 12.8 % | 15.6 % | 17.7 % |
| Steering | 2.0 % | 2.0 % | 2.8 % | 4.2 % |
| Tyres and wheels | 2.1 % | 1.4 % | 2.7 % | 2.7 % |
| Lights, wipers and visibility | 12.8 % | 15.5 % | 19.3 % | 20.9 % |
| Body and corrosion | 6.9 % | 10.4 % | 12.8 % | 14.5 % |
| Exhaust, emissions and leaks | 1.7 % | 3.1 % | 4.5 % | 4.2 % |
Common questions
Does the Toyota Land Cruiser (J120) have a timing chain or a timing belt?
2.5 / 3.0 D-4D (Toyota 1KD / 2KD — Hilux, Land Cruiser): belt · 150,000 km / every 120 mo.
What are the known problems with the Toyota Land Cruiser (J120)?
The faults with the highest risk: piston damage (2005–2009) (150,000–300,000 km, €2,500–6,000); injector failure / washer leak (100,000–250,000 km, €1,200–3,000); dual-mass flywheel (150,000–220,000 km, €700–1,400); clutch wear (120,000–200,000 km, €500–900). The full list by engine is on this page.
What does the Toyota Land Cruiser (J120) most often fail its roadworthiness test on?
In UK roadworthiness tests in 2024, at 250+ thousand km this model most often failed on: lights, wipers and visibility (20.9 %), suspension (17.7 %), body and corrosion (14.5 %). It fails more often than an average car of the same age and mileage on: body and corrosion. It fails less often than average on: steering, tyres and wheels, lights, wipers and visibility, exhaust, emissions and leaks.
What should you check when buying a used Toyota Land Cruiser (J120)?
Before you buy, ask an authorised dealer to check by VIN whether the car has any open recalls. If the engine has a timing belt, ask for the invoice for its replacement: with no proof, assume it has not been done. On the test drive, watch for these signs: oil consumption, smoke, knock; knocking, black smoke, soot around injectors. The full checklist is in the guide to buying a used car.
Other generations
Models with the same engines
These models share engines with this car, so they share some of its faults too.
Other Toyota models
Toyota Avensis (T25) 2003–2008Toyota Avensis Verso 2001–2009Toyota Corolla (E120) 2001–2007Toyota Corolla Verso (E12) 2001–2004Toyota Prius II 2003–2009Toyota Corolla Verso 2004–2009Toyota RAV4 (XA20) 2000–2005Toyota Aygo I 2005–2014Toyota RAV4 (XA30) 2005–2012Toyota Yaris I 1999–2005
Sources and notes
Faults, intervals and prices are indicative and collected from public sources and owner experience; always rely on the service book and a qualified workshop. Test statistics: DVSA – Anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0. Dutch tests: RDW Open Data (CC0). Engine versions: EEA, monitoring of CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars (CC BY 4.0, DG CLIMA). Owner complaints: NHTSA ODI (public domain). Recalls: DVSA Vehicle Safety Branch Recalls Database, OGL v3.0. Brand and model names are trademarks of their owners and are used only to describe the vehicles.
Updated 08/10/2026