Toyota Land Cruiser 70 VDJ79: common faults & what to check

You're looking at the VDJ79

3 engine variants are documented for this generation. Pick yours to narrow further, or keep reading for the generation as a whole.

2007–nowVDJ79 Selected2007–nowVDJ792.8 turbo-dieselDieselDocumented issues9 knownSee faults & what to checkKickTyres illustration, not a photograph.

2007–nowVDJ79 Selected2007–nowVDJ794.2 dieselDieselDocumented issues10 knownSee faults & what to checkKickTyres illustration, not a photograph.

2007–nowVDJ79 Selected2007–nowVDJ794.5 V8 turbo-dieselDieselDocumented issues15 knownSee faults & what to checkKickTyres illustration, not a photograph.

Now narrow it to the engine

A 1.8 and a 2.4 of the same car do not fail the same way, so the faults below narrow to the engine as well as the year. Free, no account needed.

Start your free check on this Toyota Land Cruiser 70

No plate needed. You get the risk score, the buyer's checklist and the guided inspection for the exact car you picked above — not the whole nameplate.

The checks worth doing on a Toyota Land Cruiser 70 before you hand over any money. Every documented fault is listed below, each with its own page.

• Serious issue

  Stand back and check the truck sits level unladen - rear sag is obvious.

  See why

  Rear leaf spring sag and chassis cracking at the spring hanger

  Factory rear leaf springs on 76/78/79 models sag with sustained heavy loading, dropping ride height and travel, and the more serious follow-on is chassis cracking at the weld where the rear spring hanger meets the rail - a known failure on heavily loaded touring and farm utes, driven by over-GVM loading and corrugated-road pounding. Once a crack starts it spreads quickly, and a cracked or previously welded chassis is a walk-away item on a used truck unless certified engineering repair paperwork exists. Sagged springs alone are a routine, moderately priced fix.

  What you would notice

  • Rear sits visibly low with the tray empty
  • Clunk from the rear under heavy load
  • Frequent bottoming-out on bumps
  • Hairline crack or weld repair visible near the rear spring hangers
  • Harsh ride at full compression

  Typically $900–$4,500 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Run your fingers around the windscreen surround and A-pillars feeling for bubbling under the paint.

  See why

  Body and chassis rust - A-pillars, sills, door bottoms and rails on coastal/farm trucks

  NZ 70 Series lead hard lives on farms and beaches, and rust is the number one value-killer: A-pillar and windscreen surround rust is a documented model weak point, along with door sills, door bottoms, under-bonnet seams and surface-to-structural rust on chassis rails. Stock trucks that carted fertiliser, lived near salt water or launched boats can rot badly while looking tidy from three metres. Windscreen-surround and pillar repairs mean glass out and panel work, so costs escalate fast, and structural chassis rust can make a WoF unobtainable.

  What you would notice

  • Bubbling paint around the windscreen pillars or gutters
  • Rust blisters along door bottoms and sills
  • Flaky scale on chassis rails and crossmembers
  • Damp, rusty smell in the cab
  • Previous windscreen replacement with sealant smears

  Typically $500–$6,000 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Inspect all leaf spring shackle pins visually for rust, scale and corrosion.

  See why

  Leaf Spring Auxiliary Shackle Pin Corrosion & Binding

  The 70 Series uses solid front and rear leaf spring suspension with auxiliary (helper) spring shackle assemblies. The shackle pins and bushings are prone to corrosion, particularly in vehicles that have been exposed to mud, river crossings, beach use or saltwater environments common in NZ and AU. Corroded pins seize within their bushings, initially causing audible squeaking over undulations and eventually binding that creates harsh suspension action and uneven load distribution. In severe cases a seized auxiliary shackle can crack its spring perch or bend the shackle itself. The repair involves pressing out corroded pins and replacing them with new pins and polyurethane or bronze bushings.

  What you would notice

  • Squeaking or creaking from rear suspension over bumps and undulations
  • Harsh ride quality, particularly when lightly loaded
  • Visible rust and corrosion at shackle pin locations
  • Suspension binding or stiff action on articulation
  • Audible clunking when chassis flexes over uneven ground

  Typically $500–$1,500 to put right.

• Common issue

  Crouch at each front wheel and look at the chrome swivel ball behind the brake backing plate - a light smear is normal, dripping sludge is not.

  See why

  Front swivel hub leaks - grease/oil onto wheels and diff oil contamination

  The solid front axle's swivel housings seal with a felt/rubber/steel wiper arrangement that wears with age, dirt and water crossings. Leaking swivels sling grease or oily sludge onto the inside of the front wheels and tyres (a WoF fail if it reaches braking surfaces), and a failed inner axle seal lets diff oil migrate into the swivel or grease into the diff, thinning both. The full fix is a both-sides strip-down with new bearings and seal kits - routine for any 4WD workshop but several hours per side. It is the single most common leak on any working 70 Series.

  What you would notice

  • Oily grime sprayed on the inside of the front wheels
  • Grease weeping from the big chrome swivel balls behind the front wheels
  • Front diff oil level dropping or overfilling with thin grey sludge
  • Clicking from the front axle on full lock (worn CV/birfield from running dry)

  Typically $700–$1,600 to put right.

What these repairs cost on other cars

Some of the Toyota Land Cruiser 70’s documented faults are repairs other models share. Each page lists the documented NZ cost for every model it affects.

• Timing Chain Replacement Cost
• DPF Repair and Replacement Cost
• Diesel Injector Replacement Cost
• Turbo Repair and Replacement Cost
• EGR Valve and Cooler Repair Cost

Other Toyota models