The 2016 Land Cruiser with the 5.7L V8 is generally bulletproof, but a small percentage suffered catastrophic engine failures due to defective piston ring manufacturing, and the transmission oil cooler is a known weak point that can destroy the transmission if it fails internally.
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (1 quart per 1,000 miles or worse), Blue smoke on startup or acceleration, Loss of power and rough idle, Sudden bearing failure and complete engine seizure in worst cases
Fix: Toyota issued TSB and extended warranty coverage for some VINs. Requires complete engine teardown, new pistons and rings, sometimes full short block. 25-35 labor hours for in-chassis rebuild, more if crank/bearings damaged. Check if your VIN qualifies for Toyota goodwill coverage before paying out of pocket.
Estimated cost: $8,000-15,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Internal Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid appears milky or strawberry-colored (coolant contamination), Engine overheating or transmission overheating warnings, Erratic shifting or slipping, Coolant level drops with no visible leaks
Fix: Internal cooler ruptures, allowing coolant and ATF to cross-contaminate. Requires immediate shutdown to prevent transmission damage. Replace cooler, flush both systems completely, replace transmission fluid and filter. If driven after contamination starts, transmission rebuild or replacement needed. 6-8 hours for cooler and flushes, add 18-25 hours if transmission damaged.
Symptoms: 4WD system warning lights on dash, Inability to engage or disengage 4WD, Grinding or clicking noise from under vehicle when selecting 4WD, Stuck in 4WD or 2WD mode
Fix: The electric actuator motor on the transfer case fails, usually from worn gears or seized mechanism. Replace actuator motor, sometimes requires transfer case reseal if internal damage. 2-3 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $600-1,200
Front Lower Control Arm Bushings Premature Wear
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking noise over bumps from front end, Wandering steering or vague on-center feel, Uneven tire wear on front tires, Vibration through steering wheel
Fix: OE bushings deteriorate faster than expected, especially in hot climates or with heavy loads. Replace both lower control arms (bushings not serviceable separately on many prefer full arm replacement for longevity). Requires alignment afterward. 3-4 labor hours plus alignment.
Symptoms: ABS, VSC, and brake warning lights illuminated, Buzzing or grinding noise from brake actuator under hood, Hard brake pedal or reduced braking assist, Crawl control and downhill assist inoperative
Fix: The hydraulic brake actuator (part of stability control system) develops internal leaks or pump motor failure. Requires complete actuator assembly replacement and brake system bleeding. 4-5 labor hours. Toyota part is expensive; some reman options available.
Symptoms: Hydraulic fluid puddles under vehicle (looks like power steering fluid), KDSS warning light on dash, Increased body roll in turns, Hissing noise during suspension articulation
Fix: KDSS hydraulic lines, fittings, or actuators develop leaks from age/corrosion. Diagnosis requires pressure testing system. Usually individual lines or actuator seals, but sometimes full actuator replacement. 3-6 labor hours depending on component location.
Estimated cost: $800-2,200
Owner tips
Check oil consumption religiously every 1,000 miles for first 60,000 mi - if burning more than 1 qt per 3,000 mi, document and contact Toyota dealer about piston ring TSB eligibility
Inspect transmission fluid color every oil change - ANY pink/milky appearance means immediate cooler replacement before transmission damage occurs
Replace transmission fluid and filter every 60,000 miles regardless of 'lifetime fluid' claims, especially if towing
Use quality synthetic 0W-20 oil and don't extend drain intervals beyond 5,000 miles - this engine runs hot and oil degradation is real
If equipped with KDSS, inspect all hydraulic lines annually for seepage - early catch prevents expensive actuator replacement
Buy one if the engine checks out clean (oil consumption test, borescope if possible) and transmission fluid is pristine - the catastrophic engine failures are rare but devastating, so verification is critical; otherwise one of the most reliable SUVs ever built.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
Fitment notes: Standard top post battery; located under hood on right side
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Every control module on the 2008-2021 Toyota Land Cruiser — where it lives, replacement time, and what it takes to program a replacement. Modules marked dealer / factory tool won't work after a part swap alone — budget for programming.
⚠️ Power seats with memory; position memory initialization required
LED Headlight Control Module (LED ECU)1.0 hr R&Rrelearn only +0.2 hr▸ programming details
📍 Behind headlight assembly
🔧 Techstream or vehicle settings
⚠️ LED headlights 2016+; auto-leveling initialization required
Aftermarket tool coverage varies by software version and vehicle build — treat "aftermarket tool" rows as "usually possible" and verify against your tool maker's coverage list before promising a customer. Spot a wrong location or hour? Tell us — corrections ship fast here.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 18V887000
2018-12-13
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2019 Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus LX 570 vehicles. Over time, the seat belt tension sensor wire harness may break and deactivate the front passenger air bag, knee air bag, and passenger seat-mounted side airbag.
Consequence: In the event of a crash, deactivated air bags can increase the risk of injury .
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will modify the front passenger seat belt assembly or replace it with an improved one, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are Lexus Interim J2L and Remedy JLL, Toyota Interim J15 and Remedy J05.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 17V548000
2017-08-31
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2016 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2006 Lexus LX470, and 2008-2013 Lexus LX570 vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with an incorrect driver or front passenger air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence: An incorrect driver or front passenger air bag may not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bag assemblies, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0S. Lexus' number for this recall is HLD.
TIRES · 16V236000
2016-04-22
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Yaris, Rav4, Land Cruiser and 4Runner vehicles, and Scion FR-S, iM, and TC vehicles manufactured January 28, 2016, to March 14, 2016. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
Consequence: An incorrect label may result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and provide them a corrected label to be installed over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on June 3, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET16A.
Fuel economy (EPA)
City
13mpg
Highway
18mpg
Combined
15mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
Capability & size
EPA class
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Wiper blades
J200 series (2008-2021). Facelift year, wiper specifications unchanged.
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2016 Toyota Land Cruiser 5.7L V8 and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.