2003 Toyota Land Cruiser

Watch out for

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

• Timing belt with no proof it was changed All years

  What to check: Look for the replacement sticker under the hood and ask for the receipt. Do not take the seller's word.

  Three owners in an Expedition Portal thread say the V8 runs a timing belt that has to be replaced on schedule, and one tells buyers to check it was done. In an IH8MUD thread, the buyer made a documented belt change part of the purchase.

  Sources ^1,2

• Underbody rust on salt-belt trucks All years

  What to check: Look under the truck for corrosion, above all on trucks from salted roads.

  Two owners, in two separate threads, name rust as a key thing to check. One says trucks from salt-belt states sell for less because of it.

  Sources ^1,2

Recalls

• 16V065000 2003–2006

  The airbag control module was programmed wrongly, so the side curtain airbags may go off unexpectedly.^3,4,5,6

Sources

1. Expedition Portal (100 Series)
2. IH8MUD (advice on a 100)
3. NHTSA recalls (2003 Land Cruiser)
4. NHTSA recalls (2004 Land Cruiser)
5. NHTSA recalls (2005 Land Cruiser)
6. NHTSA recalls (2006 Land Cruiser)