Used car guide

1994 Toyota Land Cruiser: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1994 Toyota Land Cruisers, from 183 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 183 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

183MOT tests in 2025
75%pass first time (all 1994 cars: 69%)
6,500typical miles a year
2.3×the usual rate for wheel bearings

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 1994 Toyota Land Cruisers than on all cars registered in 1994.

  • Wheel bearings2.3× usual
    Toyota Land Cruiser
    16.4% All 1994 cars
    7.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.2%, against 1.2% of all 1994 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£300 (one bearing) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for a hum or growl that changes as you steer at speed.

By area

The share of 1994 Toyota Land Cruiser MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    33% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    32% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    29% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    20% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Rust and bodywork
    15% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    13% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2022950Tyres 12%
2021461Brakes 15%
2020419Brakes 20%
2019591Brakes 18%
2018598Tyres 15%
2017443Brakes 17%
2016590Brakes 17%
2015715Brakes 21%
2014664Brakes 24%
2013323Brakes 27%
2012287Brakes 26%
2011263Suspension 28%
2010292Brakes 32%
2009248Suspension 38%
2008400Suspension 42%
2007637Suspension 45%
2006693Suspension 44%
20051,006Suspension 45%
2004939Suspension 46%
2003713Suspension 46%
2002526Suspension 45%
2001519Suspension 47%
2000349Suspension 44%
1999391Suspension 47%
1998380Suspension 41%
1997351Suspension 40%
1996203Suspension 35%
1995170Lights and electrics 34%
1993158Suspension 31%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 1994 Toyota Land Cruisers registered in 1994. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score