2008 Toyota Land Cruiser Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser ranks 2nd worst of 16 model years with a complaint index of 93 and carries an Avoid verdict. It has 8 NHTSA complaints, 5 recall campaigns, and airbags account for 63% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 93/100
- #2 of 16 Land Cruiser years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 8
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 5
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 15
- 13 city / 18 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
Top 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags5 (63%)
- Engine2 (25%)
- Seat Belts2 (25%)
- Electrical System1 (13%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report sudden uncontrolled acceleration with the engine unable to be turned off and RPM staying above 7,000 while in park.
- Some describe the vehicle slowing unexpectedly in heavy traffic, then failing to brake in time and causing a rear-end collision.
- Multiple owners report long waits for the passenger airbag recall remedy, with dealers telling them not to let anyone sit in the passenger seat.
- Owners describe the seat belt tension sensor wire harness issue tied to the airbag/seat belt recall, with parts unavailable for extended periods.
- Several complaints center on delays getting the Takata-related airbag recall completed, with no loaner vehicles offered.
2008 Toyota Land Cruiser recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 18V887000Dec 13, 2018Airbags89,740 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 17V548000Aug 31, 2017Airbags21 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
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."
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 12V305000Jun 29, 2012Engine164,601 vehicles
Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal
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.
Risk: 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.
2008 Toyota Land Cruiser fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 13 MPG
- Highway
- 18 MPG
- Combined
- 15 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,300
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2008 compared with other Land Cruiser years
Frequently asked questions
- Should I avoid the 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser?
- NHTSA data ranks it 2nd worst of 16 model years for this model, with a complaint index of 93 and an Avoid verdict. Airbags account for 63% of its complaints, and it has 5 recall campaigns.
- What is the top problem area for the 2008 Land Cruiser?
- Airbags are the top problem area, making up 63% of complaints, with a median mileage at failure of 92,250 miles for the model year overall.
- Does the 2008 Land Cruiser have an airbag recall?
- Yes. NHTSA lists two airbag-related recalls: campaign 18V887000 for a seat belt tension sensor wire harness issue and campaign 17V548000 for incorrect front air bag assemblies.
- How does the 2008 Land Cruiser compare to other years?
- Its complaint index of 93 is higher than most other years listed, including 2005 (60), 2006 (67), and 2013 (53); only 2016 (100) scores higher among years with data.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Land Cruiser?
- EPA rates it at 15 mpg combined (13 city / 18 highway), with an annual fuel cost of $4,300.