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Toyota Prado: Rear air suspension failure on top-spec grades (120 Grande / 150 Kakadu, VX Limited imports)

Rear air suspension failure on top-spec grades (120 Grande / 150 Kakadu, VX Limited imports) is a common suspension fault on the Toyota Prado on the 2003–2023 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $1,200 to $3,000 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 64 documented faults on the Toyota Prado.

Vehicle
Toyota Prado
Years
2003–2023
System
Suspension

This page covers the Toyota Prado 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 Prado faults64 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Air suspension strut yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

Top-grade Prados with rear air suspension (120 Grande, 150 Kakadu, and JDM VX imports) suffer perished air bags, failed height sensors and burnt-out compressors as they age. The rear sags overnight or the compressor runs constantly, and parts are dear enough that many owners convert to coil springs. On a 15-20 year old example, assume the air system is at or near end of life unless there are receipts.

What you would notice

  • Rear end sitting low after parking overnight
  • Compressor buzzing frequently or continuously
  • Height-control warning light
  • Ride height not changing when the switch is used

How to check it

Where to look. Air springs at the rear axle behind the rear wheels; compressor under the body

  1. Check the rear ride height when you first arrive (before the seller starts it and the compressor pumps it up).

  2. Cycle the height-control switch through its settings and confirm the rear actually rises and falls.

  3. Listen for how long the compressor runs.

  4. Look at the rubber air bags behind the rear wheels for cracking.

Parts involved: Air suspension strut.

What it costs to put right

$1,200 to $3,000 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

  • “Do the rear air bags hold height overnight?”
  • “Has the compressor or any air spring been replaced?”
  • “Has it been converted to coils (and was it certified)?”

Now check the Toyota Prado 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.

  • PradoPoint Grande/Kakadu air suspension failure threads
  • Australian Car.Reviews: Recalls & faults Toyota 150-Series Landcruiser Prado 2009-23

Toyota Prado buyer questions

Is rear air suspension failure on top-spec grades (120 grande / 150 kakadu, vx limited imports) serious on a Toyota Prado?

We rate it major and common on the Toyota Prado. Top-grade Prados with rear air suspension (120 Grande, 150 Kakadu, and JDM VX imports) suffer perished air bags, failed height sensors and burnt-out compressors as they age. The rear sags overnight or the compressor runs constantly, and parts are dear enough that many owners convert to coil springs. On a 15-20 year old example, assume the air system is at or near end of life unless there are receipts.

How much does it cost to fix on a Toyota Prado?

$1,200 to $3,000 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 Prado years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2003–2023 Toyota Prado. 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.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Check the rear ride height when you first arrive (before the seller starts it and the compressor pumps it up). Cycle the height-control switch through its settings and confirm the rear actually rises and falls. Listen for how long the compressor runs. Look at the rubber air bags behind the rear wheels for cracking. Look here: Air springs at the rear axle behind the rear wheels; compressor under the body