Used car guide

1998 Toyota Land Cruiser petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Toyota Land Cruiser first registered in 1998 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 207 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 207 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

207MOTs of 1998 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
70%pass first time (all 1998 cars: 65%)
6,400typical miles a year
37%had suspension flagged

Common 1998 Toyota Land Cruiser petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 1998 Toyota Land Cruiser petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    37% 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
    27% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Exhaust and emissions
    15% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for an engine warning light.

  • 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.

  • Rust and bodywork
    13% 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.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 1998 Toyota Land Cruiser petrol

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Toyota Land Cruiser?

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Other years

Every year of the Toyota Land Cruiser compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023–Too new for MOT data
2022972Tyres 12%
2021929Brakes 13%
20201,233Brakes 16%
20191,781Brakes 16%
20181,790Brakes 18%
20171,288Tyres 17%
20161,763Brakes 18%
20152,078Brakes 20%
20141,969Brakes 22%
2013925Brakes 26%
2012872Brakes 27%
2011775Suspension 27%
2010880Brakes 32%
2009782Suspension 35%
20081,240Suspension 40%
20072,013Suspension 42%
20062,298Suspension 43%
20053,288Suspension 45%
20043,121Suspension 45%
20032,386Suspension 45%
20021,664Suspension 47%
20011,630Suspension 45%
20001,199Suspension 43%
19991,275Suspension 47%
19971,173Suspension 41%
1996649Brakes 32%
1995520Lights and electrics 34%
1994580Brakes 33%
1993469Suspension 30%
1992224Suspension 33%
1991109Suspension 40%
1990106Lights and electrics 30%
1989–Too few tests
1988–Too few tests
1987–Too few tests
1986–Too few tests
1985–Too few tests
1984–Too few tests
1983–Too few tests
1982–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Toyota Land Cruiser cars first registered in 1998. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score