TOYOTA LAND CRUISER · model year

1998 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER

21 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998TOYOTALAND CRUISER carries 21 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 1 fatality. 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 1998 LAND CRUISER is service brakes with 4 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (2) and power train:driveline (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 1998 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.

21
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
1
Deaths

Total Complaints

21 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP2
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY1
WHEELS1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
AIR BAGS1
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS1
SUSPENSION1
STRUCTURE:BODY1

Recent Complaints

20210709SERVICE BRAKES

I live in Utah, The incident occurred in San Francisco with children in car. going down one of the steeper roads towards fisherman wharf. the ABS alarm went off and I lost all breaking power. I immediately downshifted(automatic trans), used the emergency break almost killed some pedestrians.. pulled over. I checked all fuses, breaks. etc. I did not have any money, so as nightfall came upon us, with ABS glaring in our ears. I drove through the night back to Utah when the traffic was the lowest and used the emergency break all the way home, it was a horrific experience. The repair on this was not cheep where I had the ABS/brakes fixed so the breaks would work at our local dealer where I live, This was about 8-10 years ago, I am still pretty upset someone cold have been killed, why would the breaks fail if the ABS fails.. this could have killed my family and/or someone else. I would have to check with Menlove Bountiful Toyota for an exact date of repair.

20200618CrashSERVICE BRAKES

I WAS IN A DRIVE THRU AND AS I APPROACHED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, I PRESSED MY BRAKE PEDAL AND HAD ZERO RESISTANCE AS MY PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD AND ZERO RESPONSE FROM BRAKES. AS I DEPRESSED PEDAL, MY ABS LIGHT WENT ON THE DASHBOARD AND A BEEP ALARMED. I TRIED HITTING THE PEDAL AGAIN TO NO AVAIL AND TURNED TO ATTEMPT TO MISS THE VEHICLE AND PULLED MY EMERGENCY BRAKE. I WAS MOVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED AND HAD ZERO HISTORY OF BRAKE SYSTEM ISSUES. AFTER SOME HOMEWORK ONLINE, I AM SEEING IT IS IN LINE WITH A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCES WITH THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL HAVING AN ABS MOTOR FAILURE, BOOSTER MOTOR FAILURE, AND/OR AN ACCUMULATOR FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 177,224

20200504STRUCTURE:BODY

EXPERIENCED SPONTANEOUS SUNROOF EXPLOSION. DRIVING FROM ESTES PARK, CO TO LOUISVILLE, CO WITH MY 9 YEAR OLD SON IN BACK SEAT. HEARD LOUD EXPLOSION OVERHEAD ABOUT 5 MILES NORTH OF BOULDER, CO ON HWY. 93. NEAREST CAR WAS 6-7 LENGTHS IN AHEAD AND TRAVELING AT 60 MPH. IT WAS A WARM SEPTEMBER DAY WITH INTENSE 2:00P SUN. WE WERE FINALLY ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER AFTER 5 MINUTES. THERE WAS A NICKLE SIZED HOLE IN THE SUNROOF.

Mileage: 200,000

20200504UNKNOWN OR OTHER

EXPERIENCED SPONTANEOUS SUNROOF EXPLOSION. DRIVING FROM ESTES PARK, CO TO LOUISVILLE, CO WITH MY 9 YEAR OLD SON IN BACK SEAT. HEARD LOUD EXPLOSION OVERHEAD ABOUT 5 MILES NORTH OF BOULDER, CO ON HWY. 93. NEAREST CAR WAS 6-7 LENGTHS IN AHEAD AND TRAVELING AT 60 MPH. IT WAS A WARM SEPTEMBER DAY WITH INTENSE 2:00P SUN. WE WERE FINALLY ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER AFTER 5 MINUTES. THERE WAS A NICKLE SIZED HOLE IN THE SUNROOF.

Mileage: 200,000

20191121SERVICE BRAKES

FOR THE SECOND TIME, A COMPLETE BRAKING FAILURE DUE TO MASTER CYLINDER MOTOR FAILURE. OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY WAS GOING UNDER 20 MPH ON A VACANT STREET AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY COAST TO A STOP.

Mileage: 265,000

20170111STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER. WHILE SERVICING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT PART OF THE FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER THAT ATTACHED NEAR THE SUSPENSION MOUNT AND TRANSMISSION CROSS MEMBER AND THE FRAME RAIL WERE ALL CORRODED THROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 130,000

20170111SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER. WHILE SERVICING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT PART OF THE FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER THAT ATTACHED NEAR THE SUSPENSION MOUNT AND TRANSMISSION CROSS MEMBER AND THE FRAME RAIL WERE ALL CORRODED THROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 130,000

20160511SERVICE BRAKES

TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING - WHEN THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BUZZER SOUNDED THERE WERE ZERO BRAKES. JUST STARTING OUT IN THE MORNING. AS WE LIVE ON A LONG TWISTING ROAD THAT IS MOSTLY DOWNHILL INTO TOWN, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. WHO DESIGNS A BRAKE SYSTEM THAT FAILS TO ZERO???

Mileage: 220,000

20110706POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

MY 1998 LAND CRUISER IS ALSO ON ITS THIRD FRONT DIFFERENTIAL. BOTH HAD RING FAILURE WITH ONE OF THEM GOING THROUGH THE CASE. THIS HAS TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT WHICH THE DEALERS WILL NOT ADDRESS. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

20100315CrashAIR BAGS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH UNDER BLACK ICE ROAD CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLIDE UNCONTROLLABLY AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE SUPPORT COLUMN. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WITH THE IMPACT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MULTIPLE INJURIES. THERE WERE FRACTURES TO THE RIBS, STERNUM AND LEFT TIBIA. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE OCCUPANT WAS NOT IN THE PROPERLY SEATED POSITION FOR THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 140,000.

Mileage: 140,000

20090223POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

MY 1998 LC470 HAS HAD TWO FRONT DIFFS. FAIL NOW. BOTH TIMES THE RING GEAR FAILED, ONCE GOING THROUGH THE HOUSING. I TRIED TO CONTACT TOYOTA BUT NO ANSWER. ANYONE ELSE WITH THIS PROBLEM???? *TR

Mileage: 80,000

20070117SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE APPLIES THE BRAKES OF HER 1998 TOYOTA LAND-CRUISER THE VEHICLE VIBRATES. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY IN MAY ' JULY OF 2006 WHILE DRIVING AT 60 - 70 MPH. THE VIBRATION NOW OCCURS AT 30 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THERE ARE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,428. THE CONTACT HAS REPEATEDLY TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO VIBRATE AND THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REPLACED, AND BALANCED THE TIRES, AS WELL AS, HAVING THE VEHICLE ALIGNED. THE CONTACT HAS RESEARCHED AND FOUND SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH TOYOTA SUV'S. *JB

Mileage: 50,428

19991029STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE

ANTI THEFT CHIP IN THE REMOTE FELL OUT AND THE ONLY WAY TO FIX PROBLEM IS TO REPLACE ENTIRE COMPUTER UNIT DUE TO DESIGN FLAW. MJS

19991029STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

ANTI THEFT CHIP IN THE REMOTE FELL OUT AND THE ONLY WAY TO FIX PROBLEM IS TO REPLACE ENTIRE COMPUTER UNIT DUE TO DESIGN FLAW. MJS

19991029ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE

ANTI THEFT CHIP IN THE REMOTE FELL OUT AND THE ONLY WAY TO FIX PROBLEM IS TO REPLACE ENTIRE COMPUTER UNIT DUE TO DESIGN FLAW. MJS

19990819POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT A LIGHT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY OVERRIDEN AND IT DID NOT MAKE ANY DIFERENCE IF THE CAR WAS PUT IN PARK OR REVERSE, THE CAR STILL WAS BUCKING FORWARD. IT STOPPED WHEN THE IGNITION WAS KILLED. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED AND THE MOST SEVERE CASE. THE FIRST TIME IT ONLY STARTED TO REV BUT DID COME TO A STOP AT THE LIGHT. THE INCIDENTS WERE APPROXIMATELY 2-3 WEEKS APART.

19990802CrashFatalWHEELS

MY FATHER WAS DRIVING A 1998 TOYOTA LANDCRUISER WHICH HE HAD HAD FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS, AND HAD ALREDY TAKEN ON COUPLE OF LONG TRIPS. IN THE POLICE REPORT OF THE ACCIDENT IT SITED THAT THE CAUSE OFTHE ACCIDENT WAS THAT THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL OF THE CAR BROKE OFF DUE TO A FAULT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE CAR. I HAVE WRITTEN AND FAXED AND CALLED TOYOTA A NUMBER OF TIMES BUT THEY DO NOT RESPOND. I HAVE READ OF TWO OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS WITH THE SAME CAR, ONE IN ITALY AND ONE IN INDIA - REPORTED BECAUSE SOME PROMENENT PEOPLE WERE INVOLVED IN THE CRASHES, AN AMBASSADOR AND A SINGER. WHEN I HEARD ON CNN ABOUT TOYOTA RECALLING A NUMBER OF ITS MODELS, THE PROBLEM THEY SITED SOUNDED A LOT LIKE WHAT HAPPENED TO MY FATHER'S CAR. THE PROBLEM WITH THE OTHER MODELS THEY SAID WAS THAT THE HEAT OF THE FRICTION FROM LONG OR BUMPY RIDING CAUSES THE FRONT WHEEL CONNECTIONS TO BECOME LOOSE AND MAYBE FALL OUT. CAN YOU HELP ME? OR DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR THINGS I MIGHT DO TO FIGURE OUT WHY THE

19990722SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR ,RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS REPLACED VARIOUS PARTS OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. *AK

19990312SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT FAILED.

19990312SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

REAR SEAT BELT LATCH FAILED.

Compare 1998TOYOTALAND CRUISER to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER have?
The 1998 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER has 21 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER?
The most-complained component for the 1998 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER is SERVICE BRAKES with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE.
Is the 1998 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.