Used car guide

2008 Toyota Land Cruiser: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Toyota Land Cruisers, from 400 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 400 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

400MOT tests in 2025
68%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
8,200typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 Toyota Land Cruisers than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Rigid brake pipes1.9× usual
    Toyota Land Cruiser
    18% All 2008 cars
    9.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.2%, against 1.5% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Chassis rust or damage3.7× usual
    Toyota Land Cruiser
    8.8% All 2008 cars
    2.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2%, against 0.6% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

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

Better than most

Tread depth: 8.5% here, against 22.5% of all 2008 cars. Tyre condition: 7% here, against 15.4% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    42% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    34% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    33% 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.

  • Tyres
    16% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    14% 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.

Looking at a Toyota Land Cruiser?

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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%
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%
1994183Suspension 33%
1993158Suspension 31%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 Toyota Land Cruisers registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score