1981 Toyota Land Cruiser 40 Series

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

• Rust in the door bottoms, rear sill and wheel wells All years

  What to check: Look at the bottoms of the doors, the rear sill, the body around the fuel tank under the seat, the wheel wells and the outer front fender braces, then under the whole truck.

  Three owners across two IH8MUD threads put rust first among the checks.

  Sources ^1,2

• A tired engine All years One source so far

  What to check: Have the compression tested. Miles say little on these trucks.

  Two owners in one IH8MUD thread say an engine's condition matters more than its mileage, since the 2F can be rebuilt.

  $2,000 to $3,000 for a full rebuild, or about $1,000 to nurse a tired engine, in one owner's 2004 post

  Sources ²

• Oil leaks All years

  What to check: Look for oil at the transmission, the transfer case and the axles, and between the engine and gearbox.

  Two owners, in two IH8MUD threads, tell buyers to look for these leaks.

  Sources ^1,2

Recalls

• 81V117000 1981

  Long driving above 50 mph on very rough roads can break a steering tie rod.³

• 91V110000 1980–1983

  Welds inside the fuel tank can crack under heat and load and leak fuel. The tank is replaced.^4,3,5,6

Sources

1. IH8MUD (FJ40 buyer's guide)
2. IH8MUD (what to look for in an FJ40)
3. NHTSA recalls (1981 Land Cruiser)
4. NHTSA recalls (1980 Land Cruiser)
5. NHTSA recalls (1982 Land Cruiser)
6. NHTSA recalls (1983 Land Cruiser)