Consumer Reports 2026 reliability scores are in ...

[katekebo]

OK, so let's talk a bit about what we know so far about the failing transmissions.

From the reports, it appears that the troublesome part is the transmission electric pump (35300-04010). So far,Toyota has opted for replacing the entire transmission under warranty. Most likely so that they can study the failed transmissions and identify improvements -that's how Kaizen works. Transmission replacement is expensive, hence the $30k figure that has been circulating on some forums.

However, the replacement of this pump is a relatively simple repair that can be done by dropping the transmission pan. The pump is easily accessible from there. The pump MSRP is around $1,300, and labor shouldn't exceed $1,000 including fluid refill. So most likely, in the future these repairs would be somewhere in the $3k range.

While the transmission problem is real, I don't think there is need to panic.

 

[Bad1975]

There have been solenoid failures that provide operation of the K0 clutch as well.

We know it gets hot in certain situations, it could be these failed units have been subjected to more heat and or abuse?

I’m not worried, got a warranty and I don’t see evidence of a systemic issue. I installed a transmission cooler to address the heat issue and will likely get the OTT tune to further improve shift behavior and further reduce heat. Also if you just shift to manual shift and select the proper gear temps quickly fall back to normal.

 

[basicxj]

OK, so let's talk a bit about what we know so far about the failing transmissions.

From the reports, it appears that the troublesome part is the transmission electric pump (35300-04010). So far,Toyota has opted for replacing the entire transmission under warranty. Most likely so that they can study the failed transmissions and identify improvements -that's how Kaizen works. Transmission replacement is expensive, hence the $30k figure that has been circulating on some forums.

However, the replacement of this pump is a relatively simple repair that can be done by dropping the transmission pan. The pump is easily accessible from there. The pump MSRP is around $1,300, and labor shouldn't exceed $1,000 including fluid refill. So most likely, in the future these repairs would be somewhere in the $3k range.

While the transmission problem is real, I don't think there is need to panic.

Toyota has been replacing entire transmission assemblies most likely out of caution rather than necessity to do the entire assembly as a whole. I believe you are correct, in that isolated failures in the future might see the solution painted with a narrower brush.

 

[Area 51]

Infant mortality failure rates for manufactured equipment has gone way up. Everyone has to kae doctors wages these days, you know where it comes out, the consumer and cheaper product processes.
Its very simple.

 

[Defender-LC]

Ok yeah we should take what you say as truth and everything as is speculation lol.

You expect everyone that disagrees with you to provide evidence like parts diagrams. But expect everyone to take you BS as gospel.

Just saying these threads always devolve into bickering. Can we talk about something useful?

 

[Buckfever]

The LC came out before the 4Runner so a lot of the small issues were ironed out by then. The 2027 scores on the LC will be right there.

For instance I got my First Edition about 6 months after David of Automotive Press. Same exact vehicle same factory and I had none of the issues he encountered with one of the very first builds.

 

[lar317]

The 4 runner has the brake squeal issue also, I know I had my SR5 repaired, and allot of others complained on the 6th gen 4 runner site about the same issue, Also they complained about the IMAX transmission fails over on the 6th gen 4 runner site. I wonder if the 4 runner will be at 53 percent next year

 

[Sugarloafer80]

OK, I patiently read the entire thread. Katekebo did himself a solid in post #81. Thank you. The future repair need is not a death sentence. Please ease up on the LC negativity though....pretty damn nice vehicle....so much so, I see no need to EVER waste my money on a Range Rover again.......and I loved my Jags and RRs.

The brakes. So many nancies out there these days. Changing pads is level 2/10 difficulty and CHEAP! They bug ya, replace'm! For CR to dis the LC that much based a on squeal, SILLY. If the pads delammed, different story...That is safety.

Now CR, I read them for years. They are great for toasters and appliances. I stopped having Any FAITH IN THEM FOR CARS 25 YEARS AGO. I haven't subscribed to that rag for 25 years. It stunk of bias..........reporter and statistical. I took Epidemiology....you can make numbers say anything you want.
#1....they are cheapskates and will put down luxury items relentlessly.
#2 they hate sports cars because the ride is uncomfortable and you can't travel with a family of 6 for a month......duh!
#3 as said above, twin vehicles with different ratings shows CLEARLY how poor their analysis can be (Tahoe v Yukon example,99% same)
#4 They love Hondas because of #1 and #2.......Hondas epitomize practical...not a bad thing
#5 often they completely change their numbers yeaer to year, often on identical vehicles with NO changes.....

Just enjoy it or sell it. Across the board, increasing complexity has damaged ALL reliability reports on all vehicles.....but as said above, the number of breakdowns roadside is miniscule compared to even 20 years ago.

 

[lar317]

If you want to replace the pads there are also other items besides the pads that are included in the TSB, but I would hope people take them to the dealer for a free brake job on the fronts, not to waste your own money.

 

[Defender-LC]

I’d replace my pads, but they are working as designed. No squeal. 6/25 build and none of the issues some of you or cr shared. Hard to get worked up about future since nobody knows it. Just drive. If your lc has a failure, fix it and get over it. I have a 24 Tacoma, also 0 issues. My daughter has a 24 Tacoma with the transmission tsb with 45k miles on it. No issues. Statistically I’m 100% good with Toyotas latest vehicles. Maybe some of you with you hair on fire needed to hear this. If you assumed perfection forever, that’s silly and on you and no amount of hand wringing will ever change a thing. GL with your LC.

 

[Kiet2k]

My 2024 Land Cruiser has 24,000 miles today. A lot of freeway miles, but I have towed 3500lb travel trailers across the terrible desert trails through California's BLM land on stock tires. Other than replacing the squeaky brake pads myself at 11,000 miles and sticking to early fluid change intervals, I have had ZERO problems.

 

[Sugarloafer80]

Bingo. Seems a few are friends with the wolf...............................the sky is falling, the glass is half empty, OMG everyone is getting kidnapped, tereorists are everywhere, floods are the worst ever, the earth is dying, global warming is gonna be our ends, yadaydayada. Go take a valbo.....(The Tubes: "What do you want from live")

 

[Sugarloafer80]

If you want to replace the pads there are also other items besides the pads that are included in the TSB, but I would hope people take them to the dealer for a free brake job on the fronts, not to waste your own money.

May cost less than the drive to the dealer in some cases....with superior parts.

 

[t3lcfe]

My brake squeal was fixed at 16k miles. It never bothered me that much. The way I see it, I got a brand new set of brakes for free at 16k miles.

That is what our “brake” complains for New set of brakes after long use. Let wait till 6 months before 36-month warranty expired

 

[Bighorn Tremor]

Those of us who are older car guys laugh at CR as they always hated the really enjoyable vehicles. Cars are not washing machines or toaster ovens. CR is not an automotive magazine. Most of the cars I've personally owned have been shunned by CR, but they've been absolutely fantastic to drive and only one has ever left me stranded. But it you want to drive a clothes dryer, sure, pick what CR recommends.

My LC had the brake squeal. The dealer [finally] replaced parts and now it is quiet. Everything else has been fine. I totally expect it to continue that way. If it doesn't, I totally expect Toyota to make it right.

 

[wpage]

... and the Land Cruiser scores a mediocre 53 out of 100.
Frankly, no surprise here. There are already several reports of premature transmission failures, and the amount of cheap plastic in the cooling system is mind boggling (plastic parts in cooling system are a disaster waiting to happen as they become brittle and rarely last more than 100k miles, leading to a massive coolant leak and bye-bye engine).

So CR gave a score of 61 in thier October/November 2025 edition of thier periodical monthly.

 

[katekebo]

So CR gave a score of 61 in thier October/November 2025 edition of thier periodical monthly.

As more data come in, new score is calculated.
BTW, LC and Tacoma share the same transmission. If you check NHTSA site for consumer complaints, you will see that 2024-2025 Tacoma has ~100 complaints about the transmission, with about half being catastrophic failures requiring full replacement. This 8-speed transmission is starting to look more and more like the V35T debacle.

 

[Markarian421]

So CR gave a score of 61 in thier October/November 2025 edition of thier periodical monthly.

There's a different score for the vehicle overall vs. the reliability score. Currently the overall score is 59, the reliability score is 53. As others have mentioned, a body on frame off-road vehicle is never going to get a good road test or overall score from CR. Their ideal is something like a Honda Accord. The further a vehicle is from a highly reliable but very average sedan, the worse they will score it -- you just have to understand that's their criteria, and if you aren't a statistically average person looking for a statistically average sedan, that score is irrelevant.

 

[JCAV]

No true alternatives then. The Passport is a great car though.

I wound up buying the passport.

 

[GrayBeard]

Those of us who are older car guys laugh at CR as they always hated the really enjoyable vehicles. Cars are not washing machines or toaster ovens. CR is not an automotive magazine. Most of the cars I've personally owned have been shunned by CR, but they've been absolutely fantastic to drive and only one has ever left me stranded. But it you want to drive a clothes dryer, sure, pick what CR recommends.

My LC had the brake squeal. The dealer [finally] replaced parts and now it is quiet. Everything else has been fine. I totally expect it to continue that way. If it doesn't, I totally expect Toyota to make it right.

There's a different score for the vehicle overall vs. the reliability score. Currently the overall score is 59, the reliability score is 53. As others have mentioned, a body on frame off-road vehicle is never going to get a good road test or overall score from CR. Their ideal is something like a Honda Accord. The further a vehicle is from a highly reliable but very average sedan, the worse they will score it -- you just have to understand that's their criteria, and if you aren't a statistically average person looking for a statistically average sedan, that score is irrelevant.

Those parts in red are key. My father has been an avid CR reader/user for at least 70 years. He read the short review of the LC shortly after I bought mine and told me, "It didn't get a very good review, but all of their faults are things that make it the car you want." I thought that was pretty accurate.

As more data come in, new score is calculated.
BTW, LC and Tacoma share the same transmission. If you check NHTSA site for consumer complaints, you will see that 2024-2025 Tacoma has ~100 complaints about the transmission, with about half being catastrophic failures requiring full replacement. This 8-speed transmission is starting to look more and more like the V35T debacle.

A quick look (so I may be wrong) shows somewhere in the neighborhood of 350,000 or more new generation Tacomas sold in the US over the past two years. I don't think 50 transmission failures, especially without information on how they failed, is on par with the engine issue; at least not so far.