To buy or not to buy...

[Markarian421]

Hi everyone! I’m hoping to get some honest opinions- the good, the bad, and the ugly.
My husband and I have been eyeing the new Land Cruiser for a little while now, but we do have some concerns. This would be my main vehicle for hauling around our two young kids, so reliability and practicality are huge for me. Right now, I’m driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee that’s been giving me nonstop issues. Once a car starts getting unreliable, I’m out!
In my research on the LC, I’ve come across a few things that are concerning. First, I’ve seen multiple mentions of moisture coming in through the window seals, causing a mildew smell. How common is this? Water damage through the sunroof has been the biggest issue with my Cherokee, so anytime I see "moisture" mentioned, I tend to panic a little.
Second, I’ve seen some owners mention rattling noises, specifically at low speeds or when stopped. Is this just how the car runs and would be something we would have to deal with?
But our biggest concern is the hybrid engine and transmission issues, especially in this first year. I’ve read a few posts about major issues there. Hoping to hear that this was just a few out of the bunch and not as common as the internet may make it seem.
That said, I really love the overall aesthetic of the Land Cruiser and the simplicity of the design. I don’t need bells and whistles. I just need something dependable. A car I’m not taking to the shop every few months, especially in the first few years.

So… is the LC the way to go? Or am I just forcing it to work for us because I really want it?

My wife used to work at Chrysler (many years back). She drove a Toyota pickup the entire time even though she could get great deals on Jeeps, because she knew too much. The entire time she worked there, on social occasions when she'd answer "what do you do" with "I work at Chrysler headquarters," almost always someone would say "Hey who can I talk to about my Jeep/car/minivan that keeps breaking down!"

We're on Toyota truck number four now. Maybe that's all I need to say?

 

[rschoi_75]

I love mine. Dependability should be great as long as you properly maintain the engine... *but it's still so new none of us really know. As long as you're ok with body on frame, then a Land Cruiser will be a fine choice for a family car that's more than capable if you decide to use the bells and whistles someday. That being said, I test drove a grand highlander during my search, and I'd also be more than happy with that if I were strictly looking for a people mover. For the price of a premium LC, the Lexus TX500 is a very attractive option as well.

 

[BlueCruiser]

I am very happy with mine. For a body on frame truck, it has exceptional responsiveness, ride quality, maneuverability, and visibility.

It really shines as a very comfortable, highly practical, go anywhere and do anything light utility vehicle.

 

[Viktorv1961]

Get one that was built at the Hino plant.

No, do not.

 

[bluebullet]

I give mine a thumbs up all around. Mine gets washed a lot and rinsed and dried at least every second day (we have tons of pollen etc ). No leak issues, rattles, or anything else so far. I have only had it a short time, but it’s my favorite vehicle I have ever owned so far. Toyota quality stands above, so for dependability, I do t think you will find a better brand.

My only issue is the persistent brake squeal in reversing the vehicle. Toyota knows about it.

 

[Dusty1]

My wife and I own two 2024 LC’s, one a 1958 built in the Hino plant, and an LC LC premium built in the Tahara plant. Both are close to a year old, and we have experienced no problems with either model. I have looked over both and have compared fit and finish as one is able to do, and I cannot see any differences. We enjoy both and so far, so good. Hopefully long term reliability will remain as our former Toyota’s have been.

 

[BlueCruiser]

Wasn't the beloved FJ Cruiser also made at the Hino plant? Can't be all bad then.

 

[ultane]

Hi everyone! I’m hoping to get some honest opinions- the good, the bad, and the ugly.
My husband and I have been eyeing the new Land Cruiser for a little while now, but we do have some concerns. This would be my main vehicle for hauling around our two young kids, so reliability and practicality are huge for me. Right now, I’m driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee that’s been giving me nonstop issues. Once a car starts getting unreliable, I’m out!
In my research on the LC, I’ve come across a few things that are concerning. First, I’ve seen multiple mentions of moisture coming in through the window seals, causing a mildew smell. How common is this? Water damage through the sunroof has been the biggest issue with my Cherokee, so anytime I see "moisture" mentioned, I tend to panic a little.
Second, I’ve seen some owners mention rattling noises, specifically at low speeds or when stopped. Is this just how the car runs and would be something we would have to deal with?
But our biggest concern is the hybrid engine and transmission issues, especially in this first year. I’ve read a few posts about major issues there. Hoping to hear that this was just a few out of the bunch and not as common as the internet may make it seem.
That said, I really love the overall aesthetic of the Land Cruiser and the simplicity of the design. I don’t need bells and whistles. I just need something dependable. A car I’m not taking to the shop every few months, especially in the first few years.

So… is the LC the way to go? Or am I just forcing it to work for us because I really want it?

Welcome to the asylum @LaneC.

I have never heard of moisture coming in through the window seals, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. I have driven Miss Daisy twice in such heavy rainfall that I had to pull off the highway because I couldn’t see to safely drive.

I don’t blame you for not wanting a sunroof. I had a top of the line Subaru Outback Limited, and had sunroof problems twice during ownership. I REALLY DID NOT want another vehicle with a sunroof, but when Miss Daisy showed up not far from me I fell in love. Unfortunately it was impossible to get a First Edition without it.

People have talked about rattling noises, but it is not an issue with Miss Daisy. I think that with this the engine design, some people have said it can sound like a diesel, due to the direct injection.

I don’t regret being a beta tester for this vehicle, mainly because of Toyota’s history of quality, and their reputation for taking care of customers. Yes, there have been some problems, but Toyota took care of the customers.

The drive train is used everywhere in the Toyota lineup, and the engine has been around for a couple of years. I think we are safe. .

When I visit my daughter, her three kids (3, 6, 8) can’t wait to go somewhere in Miss Daisy! I don’t know how many, or the sizes of your chiren, but my grand chiren love Miss Daisy.

If MIss Daisy turns out to be a lemon, I guess there could be a G Wagon in my future, but I hope not.

 

[ultane]

Get one that was built at the Hino plant.

I don’t think it matters.

 

[Viktorv1961]

I don’t think it matters.

Tons of people buy Tacomas built in Tijuana or Guanajuato and love them. And I do not think that Tacoma is a bad truck.

 

[ct1958]

Love the sh_t out of mine. My only complaint is the trans shifts could be smoother. Other than that, she's perfect. Getting 25.4 MPH on 87. My wife takes when she has to go out and the Lexus sits in the driveway most of the time

 

[gdiep]

Love the sh_t out of mine. My only complaint is the trans shifts could be smoother. Other than that, she's perfect. Getting 25.4 MPH on 87. My wife takes when she has to go out and the Lexus sits in the driveway most of the time

You put regular gas in yours? I thought it has to be run on premium?

 

[Jheri]

Love the sh_t out of mine. My only complaint is the trans shifts could be smoother. Other than that, she's perfect. Getting 25.4 MPH on 87. My wife takes when she has to go out and the Lexus sits in the driveway most of the time

Agree with you. Love everything about my LCLC Premium except the trans shifts. Nothing horrible but I'm also coming from an EV which obviously drives completely different.

 

[ct1958]

You put regular gas in yours? I thought it has to be run on premium?

Regular gas almost all the time. Only use brand name gas such as Mobil, Sunoco, etc.

 

[basicxj]

Agree with you. Love everything about my LCLC Premium except the trans shifts. Nothing horrible but I'm also coming from an EV which obviously drives completely different.

I had some initial concerns about transmission downshifts also.

I left all of the safety features enabled on ours, and if the Land Cruiser initiates auto braking it makes for rougher shifting than if I initiate braking on my own- smooth and seamless downshifts when I beat the Toyota safety features to the brake pedal.

I’ve never had a vehicle with these features before, so after an initial getting to know you period, all is good. I guess it was a matter of “learning to speak Toyota.”

 

[ultane]

You put regular gas in yours? I thought it has to be run on premium?

Welcome to the asylum.

Hotly debated ln the forum. 87 octane at your own risk.

 

[Trail250]

2024 LC 1958 trim here with 15k on the odometer in the Phoenix heat. This truck is hands down the best vehicle I've ever owned. I let it idle waiting in line at In-N-Out for hours, and never have an issue with overheating, and everybody inside is chilly from the three-zone climate control. I take it to the dealer for its oil changes, and I got nothing to complain about, no rattles, or mildew smells, but that is a common A/C thing if not run correctly.

 

[BYoshi]

Hi everyone! I’m hoping to get some honest opinions- the good, the bad, and the ugly.
My husband and I have been eyeing the new Land Cruiser for a little while now, but we do have some concerns. This would be my main vehicle for hauling around our two young kids, so reliability and practicality are huge for me. Right now, I’m driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee that’s been giving me nonstop issues. Once a car starts getting unreliable, I’m out!
In my research on the LC, I’ve come across a few things that are concerning. First, I’ve seen multiple mentions of moisture coming in through the window seals, causing a mildew smell. How common is this? Water damage through the sunroof has been the biggest issue with my Cherokee, so anytime I see "moisture" mentioned, I tend to panic a little.
Second, I’ve seen some owners mention rattling noises, specifically at low speeds or when stopped. Is this just how the car runs and would be something we would have to deal with?
But our biggest concern is the hybrid engine and transmission issues, especially in this first year. I’ve read a few posts about major issues there. Hoping to hear that this was just a few out of the bunch and not as common as the internet may make it seem.
That said, I really love the overall aesthetic of the Land Cruiser and the simplicity of the design. I don’t need bells and whistles. I just need something dependable. A car I’m not taking to the shop every few months, especially in the first few years.

So… is the LC the way to go? Or am I just forcing it to work for us because I really want it?

I personally cant speak to the moisture because I live in Vegas and its 11pm, 98 degrees and 9% humidity right now lol.

My LC absolutely does the weird loud rattle at 1000-1500rpms at a cold start . But it goes away pretty quick. Its annoying when you have the windows down but as of right now, it doesn't seem to affect the way the vehicle drives. If it ends up being something, it will get recalled. I don't really get to worried about recalls, even the beloved 5th gen 4Runner had like 40 total recalls across its years.

Honestly, the engine is probably the least of my worries. Toyota has been implementing variants of the T24A-FTS engine, both hybrid and non-hybrid, across its lineup since 2021, gradually replacing their V6s. It's highly unlikely they would commit to this engine on such a broad scale without significant confidence in its reliability. And as for the hybrid system, Toyota has absolutely earned their hybrid reliability reputation and if you were going to blindly trust one brands hybrid systems, it should be Toyota's.

You have to remember, reading about Land Cruiser issues on the Land Cruiser Forum is like walking into the hospital and asking who is in pain. That's not to say there aren't legitimate issues that people are having, but this space isn't always indicative of real problems and sometimes just becomes a soapbox for people to nitpick or obsess over every creak, squeak or click. (I realize that's kinda what forums are all about—swapping experiences and stuff. It's totally why I hang out here, lmao. You just gotta remember that a lot of it isn't gonna be objective)

This video was very reassuring when I was thinking about selling my old reliable 2015 4Runner for my LC. If you have the time, please watch it.

 

[Minttedd]

I'm very happy with mine.

 

[D-Train]

Hi everyone! I’m hoping to get some honest opinions- the good, the bad, and the ugly.
My husband and I have been eyeing the new Land Cruiser for a little while now, but we do have some concerns. This would be my main vehicle for hauling around our two young kids, so reliability and practicality are huge for me. Right now, I’m driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee that’s been giving me nonstop issues. Once a car starts getting unreliable, I’m out!
In my research on the LC, I’ve come across a few things that are concerning. First, I’ve seen multiple mentions of moisture coming in through the window seals, causing a mildew smell. How common is this? Water damage through the sunroof has been the biggest issue with my Cherokee, so anytime I see "moisture" mentioned, I tend to panic a little.
Second, I’ve seen some owners mention rattling noises, specifically at low speeds or when stopped. Is this just how the car runs and would be something we would have to deal with?
But our biggest concern is the hybrid engine and transmission issues, especially in this first year. I’ve read a few posts about major issues there. Hoping to hear that this was just a few out of the bunch and not as common as the internet may make it seem.
That said, I really love the overall aesthetic of the Land Cruiser and the simplicity of the design. I don’t need bells and whistles. I just need something dependable. A car I’m not taking to the shop every few months, especially in the first few years.

So… is the LC the way to go? Or am I just forcing it to work for us because I really want it?

Coming on the LC forums and asking if you should buy one is like asking your barber if you need a haircut...

All jokes aside.. outside of some legitimate failures/issues that are reported on here. The vast majority are just fine. The squeaky brakes is in my mind the only pervasive issue among a lot of owners (me included). Not a safety issue, just an annoyance. If Toyota doesn't issue a TSB in the next year, I'll replace the pads myself. The engine/drivetrain is not 'new'.. just new in the Prado. I've been loving getting ~25mpg on the highway. It's really great off road as well. I only have older Taco's and an FJ60 to compare it to in this regard (not cross shopped/driven Broncos/etc.) As mentioned above, any new car you take a chance it might have an issue from the factory, but Toyota's QC seems to be better than most. Good luck!