1996 Toyota Land Cruiser Problems & Complaints

Average1.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the Land Cruiser at the same age

Owners have filed 12 complaints about the 1996 Toyota Land Cruiser with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is about average for the Land Cruiser at the same age. The most reported problem area is the brakes (5 complaints).

12complaints
0recalls
1crashes
0fires
2injuries
0deaths

Most common 1996 Toyota Land Cruiser problems

  • Brakes
    542%
  • Body & structure
    18%
  • Other / not specified
    18%
  • Windows, wipers & sunroof
    18%
  • Engine & cooling
    18%
  • Locks & latches~89,000 miles
    18%
  • Equipment & accessories~89,000 miles
    18%
  • Speed control & acceleration
    18%
  • Fuel & propulsion system~150,000 miles
    18%

Share of the 12 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Toyota Land Cruiser complaints by model year

’95’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’18’198121716232591210599863462244
Owner complaints per model year, Toyota Land Cruiser. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best Land Cruiser years: 2012, 2019, 2004. Years to avoid: 1997. Compare all years →

What 1996 Toyota Land Cruiser owners say

Brakes

Truck ran into another truck making sudden stop; brake pedal went to floor,causing increase stopping distance. According to dealer, brakes working normal.

Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip · Nov 1997 · crash · 2 injuries

Consumer experiencing brake wear. Brakes had to be replaced three times within two years. Dealer notified and informed consumer that this is normal for this vehicle.

Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip · Aug 1998

1996 Toyota Land Cruiser engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
4.5L 6-cyl4-speed automatic4WD/AWD12 / 14 / 13

EPA ratings. Class: SUV.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 1996 Toyota Land Cruiser a good car?

Based on 12 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 Land Cruiser rates average: 1.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the Land Cruiser at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.

What is the most common problem with the 1996 Toyota Land Cruiser?

The brakes — 5 complaints, 42% of all complaints for this model year, most often about foundation components. Next are the body & structure (1) and windows, wipers & sunroof (1).

How many recalls does the 1996 Toyota Land Cruiser have?

NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1996 Toyota Land Cruiser. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.

What are the best and worst years of the Toyota Land Cruiser?

The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012, 2019 and 2004. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1997. See the full Toyota Land Cruiser years comparison.

At what mileage do 1996 Toyota Land Cruiser problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 150,000 miles; 0% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.