TOYOTA LAND CRUISER · model year

1997 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER

20 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1997TOYOTALAND CRUISER carries 20 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1997 LAND CRUISER is equipment:appliance:air conditioner with 3 filings, followed by tires (2) and fuel/propulsion system (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 51 investigation files overlapping the 1997 LAND CRUISER, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

20
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

20 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER3
TIRES2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS1
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP1
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS1
TIRES:SIDEWALL1
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM1
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL1
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM1

Recent Complaints

20221011FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Fuel tank develops crack and leaks when filled more than 10 gallons approx 1/2 full. There is a specific point on the tank where it cracks on top. The metal is very thin at this point and possibly with newer Ethanol fuels the tank expands and contracts far more in hot weather? This problem is well documented on Toyota Land Cruiser websites, specifically IH8MUD.com. The website is telling owners to log complaints with NHTSA. I would think leaking gas is a major safety issue along with being an emissions violation. Yes the vehicle is available for inspection. Manufacturer gives no response. The FJ 60/62 Land Cruiser (model before, did have a recall on the fuel tank) No warning lamps or messages OBD2.

20160207FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THE FUEL TANK LEAKS FROM A CRACK POTENTIALLY FORMED BY STRESS OF FUEL AND A PRESSURIZED SYSTEM. WHEN FULL OF FUEL, THE SYSTEM ACTIVELY DRIPS AND LEAKS FUEL OUT. EVEN WHEN NOT FULL, THERE IS A VAPOR SMELL PRESENT. HTTP://FORUM.IH8MUD.COM/THREADS/LEAKING-GAS-FROM-TOP-OF-TANK.225705/ THIS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN PRESENT AND IS DISCUSSED HERE ON THIS FORUM; INCLUDING PICTURES OF THE LOCATION, ATTEMPTED REPAIRS AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF REPAIRS. THIS POSES A SIGNIFICANT FIRE HAZARD, AS ANYTHING AS MINIMAL AS A SPARK COULD LEAD TO A FIRE HAZARD. MY VEHICLE HAS ACTIVE LEAKING WITH A FULL FUEL TANK DRIPPING OF THE FUEL UNTIL A CERTAIN LEVEL, AND A FUEL ODOR PRESENT CONSTANTLY DESPITE FUEL LEVEL. THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY SMELLS LIKE FUEL AS WELL. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON AN OLDER MODEL 60 SERIES LAND CRUISER, AND TOYOTA APPEARS TO ACKNOWLEDGE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE PAST THAT OBVIOUSLY HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED EVEN 10 YEARS LATER IN MANUFACTURING.

20150605SEATS

AUTOMATIC FRONT SEATS HAVE STOPPED WORKING AND PARTS OF THE MECHANISM ARE FOUND ON THE FLOOR BOARD.

20070105TIRES

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER. THE VEHICLE HAS INTERCO - TRXUSM/T, SIZE 265/75/16 TIRES. THE DOT#T 4FW8T5M 20504. THE CONTACT PURCHASED 6 SNOW TIRES AND 2 OF THEM HAVE BLOWN OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 62 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT'S REAR PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT. THE RUBBER UNWRAPPED AROUND THE BEAD, AND IT EXPLODED THERE AND RIPPED THROUGH TO THE TREAD. THE TREAD REMAINED INTACT AND EACH OCCURRENCE WASIDENTICAL. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON DECEMBER 29, 2006 AND THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED SIX TIMES. TTHE CONTACT IWASCERTAIN THAT THERE WERE NO OBSTRUCTIONS ON THE HIGHWAY. THE TIRE MILEAGE WAS 1,500. THE TIRES WERE AFTER MARKET SNOW TIRES. THE TIRE DEALER AGREED TO ACCEPT THE TIRE VIA MAIL TO INVESTIGATE THE DAMAGE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACTWAS UNCERTAIN OF THE RECOURSE WITH THE TIRE DEALER TO REPLACE THE TIRES. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED WITH THE AUTO AFTER MARKET TIRES. *AK

Mileage: 156,895

20060715ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

OUR 1997 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER IS NOW INOPERABLE DUE TO MULTIPLE FAILURES IN REPAIRS BY FOLSOM LAKE TOYOTA. COOLANT PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN NOTED SINCE 1999 WITH THE ABOVE REPAIR FACILITY FAILING TO CORRECT DEFECT. CURRENT PROBLEMS INVOLVE FOLSOM LAKE TOYOTA REFUSING TO CORRECT FAILED REPAIRS, COOLANT MIXING WITH ENGINE OIL CAUSING AUTO TO BE UNUSABLE. *JB

20030207CrashSERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR

WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE LOCKED UP AND FLIPPED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH

20010625STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM

THREE OF THE FOUR BOLTS THAT SUPPORT THE STREERING KNUCKLE TO THE HUB AT THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WERE SHEARED AND BROKEN OFF OF THE VEHICLE. THIS ACTION RESULTED IN THE RUPTURING OF THE TRANSAXLE SEAL ON THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE SUV. THE RELEASING OF THAT FLUID AND MY NOTICING IT ON THE GROUND AROUND THE WHEEL WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, WAS THE FIRST SIGN OF ANY PROBLEM. IT WAS ONLY AFTER I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP THAT THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE STREERING KNUCKLE WAS DISCOVERED.

20010625POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL

THREE OF THE FOUR BOLTS THAT SUPPORT THE STREERING KNUCKLE TO THE HUB AT THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WERE SHEARED AND BROKEN OFF OF THE VEHICLE. THIS ACTION RESULTED IN THE RUPTURING OF THE TRANSAXLE SEAL ON THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE SUV. THE RELEASING OF THAT FLUID AND MY NOTICING IT ON THE GROUND AROUND THE WHEEL WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, WAS THE FIRST SIGN OF ANY PROBLEM. IT WAS ONLY AFTER I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP THAT THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE STREERING KNUCKLE WAS DISCOVERED.

20010122TIRES:SIDEWALL

PURCHASED TIRES SEPTEMBER 27, 1999, VEHICLE HAD 52,400 MILES. HAD SIDEWALL BLOWOUT ON 1 TIRE ON DECEMBER 8, 2000 AT 71,500 MILES (ABOUT 19,000 MILES ON TIRE). HAD SECOND BLOWOUT ON DECEMBER 20, 2000 AT 72,000 MILES (19,500 MILES ON TIRE). BOTH INCIDENTS OCCURING AT HIGH SPEEDS - 50+MPH. DOT #B73R 171X 349 (DOT NUMBER: B73R171X34 TIRESIZE: 275/70 R16)

20010119SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL FELL OFF. ALSO, LOSS OF BRAKES WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A CURVE AT APPROXIMATELY 25MPH THERE WAS INDICATION OR PRIOR WARNING.*AK

20010119WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL FELL OFF. ALSO, LOSS OF BRAKES WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A CURVE AT APPROXIMATELY 25MPH THERE WAS INDICATION OR PRIOR WARNING.*AK

20000414VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

VEHICLE STALLS AND SHUTS OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. WHEN CONSUMER LIFTS FOOT FROM ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE JUST CUTS OFF. IDLE CONTROL VALVE FAULTY, CAUSES ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN OR RACE. *AK *ML

20000414VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

VEHICLE STALLS AND SHUTS OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. WHEN CONSUMER LIFTS FOOT FROM ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE JUST CUTS OFF. IDLE CONTROL VALVE FAULTY, CAUSES ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN OR RACE. *AK *ML

20000208CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 35-40MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE FAILED TO YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY, CONSUMER 'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE OTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK

19991209EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

I WAS PULLING OUT FROM A STOP WHEN I GOT BLASTED IN THE FACE OUT OF AIR CONDITIONER VENTILATION WITH SOMETHING THAT MADE ME GO BLIND HYPERVENTILATE HAVE SEVER MUSCLE CRAMPS ARMS AND LEGS WENT NUMB. THE AIR IN THE TRUCK WAS TESTED AND IT WAS ISOBUTANE, BUTANE, 2-METHYL BUTANE,PENTANE,TOLUENE, ETHYLBENZENE AND XYLENES BLOWING THROUGHOUT MY TRUCK!!!!

19991201SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

DEFECTIVE BRAKE PADS WOR EOUTEVERY 2,000 MILE AND CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN A CRASH. DEALER COULD NO T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

19990921SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

BRAKE ROTORS DAMAGE. YH

19990623TIRES

WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH TIRE BLEW AT 33,000 MILES. TOOK THE TIRE TO NTB & WAS INFORMED THAT ALL THE TIRES WERE PREMATURELY DRY ROTTED & WERE SEPARATING. MICHELIN LTX 27570R/16. *AK

19990217EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

A/C ON REC. AIR FULL BLAST HAS GIVEN OFF TOXIC FUMES THAT MADE ME GO BLIND, HAVE SEVER HEAD ACHES, SEVER MUSCLE CRAMPS ALL OVER BODY, SEVER BURNING EYES, MOUTH AND LUNGS, TOTAL NUMBERS OF MY BILATERAL UPPER AND LOWER EXTREMITYS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I CAN DO WITH MY TRUCK TO HAVE IT PROPERLY TESTED NO ONE CAN DRIVE IT WITH OUT GETTING SICK.

19981123EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED ODOR COMING FROM A/C UNIT. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE. *AK

Compare 1997TOYOTALAND CRUISER to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1997 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER have?
The 1997 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER has 20 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER?
The most-complained component for the 1997 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER is EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES and FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM.
Is the 1997 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.