MajorCommonEngine

Toyota Land Cruiser 70: DPF blocking, failed regens and grass-fire recall on DPF-equipped V8s

DPF blocking, failed regens and grass-fire recall on DPF-equipped V8s is a common engine fault on the Toyota Land Cruiser 70 on the 2016–2024 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $300 to $6,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 20 documented faults on the Toyota Land Cruiser 70.

Vehicle: Toyota Land Cruiser 70
Years: 2016–2024
Fuel: diesel
System: Engine

This page covers the Toyota Land Cruiser 70 as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Toyota Land Cruiser 70 faults20 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Diesel particulate filter yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

From mid-2016 the V8 70 Series (VDJ76/78/79) gained a DPF, and trucks doing short runs or low-load farm work suffer incomplete regenerations, blocked filters and limp mode. Toyota recalled about 22,971 June 2016 - November 2018 builds in Australia because red-hot regen exhausts could ignite dry grass packed under the vehicle - the fix added a heat shield and enabled a manual regeneration switch. The wider Toyota DPF saga (the AU class action centred on the 2.8 Hilux/Prado system) shows how expensive neglected DPFs get: a replacement filter alone runs into the thousands. Check the recall was done and the DPF regenerates properly.

What you would notice

DPF warning light or frequent regeneration messages
Strong hot exhaust smell after driving
Loss of power / limp mode
Excessive diesel consumption from repeated regens
Grass or debris packed around the exhaust after paddock use

How to check it

Where to look. Exhaust system under the vehicle, midway along the driver's side; DPF warning light and manual regen switch on the dash

Confirm the 2019 heat shield/manual-regen recall was completed (Toyota dealer can check by VIN). On a farm-used truck, look underneath for scorched or packed vegetation around the exhaust. On the test drive, check no DPF light appears and ask to see the manual regen switch work. A scan tool can read DPF soot load and regen history - ask the inspecting mechanic to check it.

Parts involved: Diesel particulate filter.

What it costs to put right

$300 to $6,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the DPF fire-risk recall (heat shield + manual regen switch) been done?”
“How often does it do a regen, and does it ever fail to complete?”
“Is the vehicle mostly used for short runs or towing/highway work?”

Now check the Toyota Land Cruiser 70 you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

4X4 Australia: Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series DPF fire-risk recall (22,971 vehicles, Jun 2016-Nov 2018 builds)
Unsealed 4X4: 70 Series LandCruiser DPF fire recall
CarExpert: 2016-18 Toyota LandCruiser 70 recalled

Toyota Land Cruiser 70 buyer questions

Is dpf blocking, failed regens and grass-fire recall on dpf-equipped v8s serious on a Toyota Land Cruiser 70?

We rate it major and common on the Toyota Land Cruiser 70. From mid-2016 the V8 70 Series (VDJ76/78/79) gained a DPF, and trucks doing short runs or low-load farm work suffer incomplete regenerations, blocked filters and limp mode. Toyota recalled about 22,971 June 2016 - November 2018 builds in Australia because red-hot regen exhausts could ignite dry grass packed under the vehicle - the fix added a heat shield and enabled a manual regeneration switch. The wider Toyota DPF saga (the AU class action centred on the 2.8 Hilux/Prado system) shows how expensive neglected DPFs get: a replacement filter alone runs into the thousands. Check the recall was done and the DPF regenerates properly.

How much does it cost to fix on a Toyota Land Cruiser 70?

$300 to $6,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Toyota Land Cruiser 70 years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2016–2024 Toyota Land Cruiser 70. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.