Most common 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser problems
Share of the 17 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Toyota Land Cruiser complaints by model year
Best Land Cruiser years: 2012, 2019, 2004. Years to avoid: 1997. Compare all years →
What 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser owners say
Wheels & tires
Tl* - the contact owns a 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser. The vehicle has interco - trxusm/t, size 265/75/16 tires. The dot#t 4fw8t5m 20504. The contact purchased 6 snow tires and 2 of them have blown out while driving at 62 MPH on an interstate highway. The contact's rear passenger tire blew out. The rubber unwrapped around the bead, and it exploded there and ripped through to the tread. The tread remained intact and each occurrence wasidentical. The incident occurred on December 29, 2006 and the weather was not a factor. The incident has occurred six times. Tthe contact iwascertain that there were no obstructions on the highway. The tire mileage was 1,500. The tires were after market snow tires. The tire dealer agreed to accept the tire via mail to investigate the damage at the contact's expense. The contactwas uncertain of the recourse with the tire dealer to replace the tires. …
Purchased tires September 27, 1999, vehicle had 52,400 miles. Had sidewall blowout on 1 tire on December 8, 2000 at 71,500 miles (about 19,000 miles on tire). Had second blowout on December 20, 2000 at 72,000 miles (19,500 miles on tire). Both incidents occuring at high speeds - 50+MPH. Dot #b73r 171x 349 (dot number: b73r171x34 tiresize: 275/70 r16)
Brakes
Defective brake pads wor eoutevery 2,000 mile and caused extended stopping distance which almost resulted in a crash. Dealer could no t determine the cause of the problem. Please provide further information.
When brakes were applied, the vehicle locked up and flipped into an embankment. Please fill in additional information. Dealer is aware of the problem. Ph
A/C & heater
I was pulling out from a stop when I got blasted in the face out of air conditioner ventilation with something that made me go blind hyperventilate have sever muscle cramps arms and legs went numb. The air in the truck was tested and it was isobutane, butane, 2-methyl butane,pentane,toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes blowing throughout my truck!!!!
A/C on rec. Air full blast has given off toxic fumes that made me go blind, have sever head aches, sever muscle cramps all over body, sever burning eyes, mouth and lungs, total numbers of my bilateral upper and lower extremitys. Please let me know what I can do with my truck to have it properly tested no one can drive it with out getting sick.
1997 Toyota Land Cruiser engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 14 / 13 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser a good car?
Based on 17 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 Land Cruiser rates use caution: 2.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Land Cruiser at the same age. It is one of the Land Cruiser years we suggest avoiding. 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 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser?
The wheels & tires — 4 complaints, 24% of all complaints for this model year, most often about lugs/nuts/bolts/studs. Next are the brakes (4) and a/c & heater (3).
How many recalls does the 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1997 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 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 157,000 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.