VehicleVerdict

2008 Toyota Land Cruiser problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Limited data — recalls on file

NHTSA has just 11 complaints on file for the 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser — too few to judge reliability from owner reports alone — but 5 recall campaigns apply to this year, so any used example should have its VIN checked for completed recall work.

11

NHTSA complaints

5

Recalls

0

Investigations

1

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

—

NCAP overall

How does 2008 compare to other Land Cruiser years?

Land Cruiser NHTSA complaints by model year, 2008 highlighted41 complaints1968: 0 complaints1969: 0 complaints1977: 4 complaints1980: 1 complaints1981: 0 complaints1982: 2 complaints1983: 0 complaints1984: 6 complaints1985: 4 complaints1986: 1 complaints1987: 6 complaints1988: 14 complaints1989: 3 complaints1990: 5 complaints1991: 13 complaints1992: 10 complaints1993: 9 complaints1994: 25 complaints1995: 10 complaints1996: 16 complaints1997: 20 complaints1998: 21 complaints1999: 27 complaints2000: 41 complaints2001: 12 complaints2002: 17 complaints2003: 11 complaints2004: 8 complaints2005: 11 complaints2006: 10 complaints2007: 4 complaints2008: 11 complaints2009: 6 complaints2010: 5 complaints2011: 5 complaints2012: 0 complaints2013: 8 complaints2014: 2 complaints2015: 3 complaints2016: 7 complaints2017: 8 complaints2018: 5 complaints2019: 0 complaints2021: 1 complaints
Land Cruiser NHTSA complaints by model year, 2008 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Land Cruiser years to avoid →

What are the most common 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Airbags545%
Seat Belts218%
Speed Control218%
Electrical System19%
Engine19%

Does the 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser have recalls?

5 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

18V887000AirbagsDecember 13, 2018 · 89,740 units

Defect

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2019 Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus LX 570 vehicles. Over time, the seat belt tension sensor wire harness may break and deactivate the front passenger air bag, knee air bag, and passenger seat-mounted side airbag.

Consequence

In the event of a crash, deactivated air bags can increase the risk of injury .

Remedy

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will modify the front passenger seat belt assembly or replace it with an improved one, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are Lexus Interim J2L and Remedy JLL, Toyota Interim J15 and Remedy J05.

17V548000AirbagsAugust 31, 2017 · 21 units

Defect

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2016 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2006 Lexus LX470, and 2008-2013 Lexus LX570 vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with an incorrect driver or front passenger air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence

An incorrect driver or front passenger air bag may not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bag assemblies, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0S. Lexus' number for this recall is HLD.

12V305000Speed ControlJune 29, 2012 · 164,601 units

Defect

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2010 Lexus RX350 and RX450h vehicles, manufactured from November 28, 2008, through September 1, 2010, and model year 2008 through 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles manufactured from September 1, 2007, through September 5, 2011. In July 2012, Toyota filed a defect report to recall certain model year 2010 Lexus RX350 and RX450h vehicles. In November 2012, Toyota informed the agency that it was including an additional 10,565 vehicles including certain model year 2008 through 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 164,601. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.

Consequence

A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.

Remedy

Toyota and Lexus will notify owners of affected vehicles and dealers will modify or replace the accelerator pedal and replace any driver's floor mat not specified for the vehicle. Owners of the Lexus vehicles were notified during August 2012. Toyota has not yet provided a notification schedule for the additional Land Cruiser vehicles. Owners may contact Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331 or Lexus at 1-800-255-3987.

11V148000Tires & WheelsMarch 4, 2011 · 22,000 units

Defect

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2011 FJ CRUISER, LAND CRUISER, TACOMA, SEQUOIA AND TUNDRA VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 138, "TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS)." WHEN FACTORY-INSTALLED WHEELS AND TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH TOYOTA AUTHORIZED ACCESSORY WHEELS AND LT TIRES PRIOR TO FIRST SALE, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS WERE NOT RE-CALIBRATED CORRECTLY AND THEREFORE DO NOT START ILLUMINATING THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING TELLTALE AT THE REQUIRED MINIMUM ACTIVATION PRESSURE.

Consequence

FAILURE TO WARN OF TIRE DEFLATIONS IS A NON-COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 138 AND COULD LEAD TO TIRE FAILURE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

FOR THE LAND CRUISER, SEQUOIA, TACOMA AND TUNDRA VEHICLES, THE DEALER WILL RE-CALIBRATE THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM ON AFFECTED VEHICLES AND INSTALL AN UPDATED TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION LABEL AT NO CHARGE. FOR THE FJ CRUISER VEHICLES, THE TPMS CANNOT BE RESET SO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) FOR THE TPMS WILL BE REPLACED. TOYOTA IS CURRENTLY DEVELOPING THE REMEDY ECU. IF AN OWNER IS NOT CERTAIN WHETHER HIS OR HER VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH THESE ACCESSORIES, PLEASE CONTACT ANY TOYOTA DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION AT NO CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

10V036000OtherFebruary 3, 2010 · 153,418 units

Defect

SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

Consequence

A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“I RECEIVED NOTIFICATION IN JANUARY THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IN THIS CAR. I HAVE BEEN WAITING OVER 2 MONTHS FOR A REMEDY--IT'S LISTED AS "INTERIM" IN TOYOTA'S SYSTEM APPARENTLY. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER NOT TO ALLOW ANYONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT UNTIL THE DEFECT IS FIXED. THIS…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · January 25, 2019

“TOYOTA ISSUED A RECALL ON THEIR FAULTY PASSENGER SEATBELT AND IT'S RENDERING OF THE PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT USELESS LATE IN 2018. WHEN/HOW CAN NHSTA ENCOURAGE OR FORCE TOYOTA TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION ON THIS SAFETY PROBLEM?”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Seat Belts · December 31, 2018

“CRAWLING DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. BREAK PEDAL RELEASED AND WAS MOVING SLOWLY. CAR ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND CAUSED A REAR END COLLISION. PANIC BREAKING WASN'T ADEQUATE BECAUSE OF THE PROXIMITY. TOYOTA TECHNICIAN DOWNLOADED THE EDR. AWAITING RESULTS. ”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Speed Control · June 24, 2016 · crash

“UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION OF 2008 TOYOTA LANDCRUISER RESULTING IN RUN-AWAY SITUATION ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN RAIN. SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 90 MPH. GAS PEDAL WAS OPERATIONAL. ENGINE COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF. ENGINE RAN AT >7000 RPM WHILE IN PARK FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE SPEED,…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · October 30, 2009

“SIDE MIRRORS BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT OCCASIONALLY FLICK IN AND OUT AS IF DOOR ADJUSTMENT ACTIVATORS ARE TURNING ON AND OFF. MIRRORS FLICKER MAKING REAR AUTO LIGHTS FLICK IN YOUR FACE CONSTANTLY WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT. THIS WAS AN OCCASIONAL OCCURRENCE SINCE VEHICLE WAS NEW, BUT NOT…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · December 17, 2014

2008 Toyota Land Cruiser — common questions

Is the 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser reliable?

The record is thin — 11 NHTSA complaints — so owner-report data can't strongly confirm reliability either way, though 5 recalls should be verified as completed.

What are the most common 2008 Land Cruiser problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are airbags (5 complaints), speed control (2 complaints), seat belts (2 complaints).

Does the 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns affecting the 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Toyota Land Cruiser years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Land Cruiser years to avoid are 2000. The cleanest record among Land Cruiser years belongs to 2019.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.