Common problems · 1960–84
Land Cruiser FJ45 & FJ55 problems: 8 things to check
The problems owners and specialists flag most on the Toyota Land Cruiser FJ45 / FJ55, the repairs they end up doing and what those cost, plus the years and recalls to watch. Sourced, not scraped.
Land Cruiser FJ45 & FJ55 problems to check before you buy
- Rust is the dealOn an FJ55, Hagerty's checklist starts at the roof near the drip rails, then the cowl, fenders, doors, rocker panels and wheel arches. Under it, check the frame rails, body mounts and anywhere mud collects.
- Judge the old repairsReplacement panels generally don't exist for the FJ55, so past rust repairs were fabricated. Look closely at how well they were done, since redoing them is expensive.
- Trim and sealsWeatherstripping and trim are hard to find. A truck with complete trim is worth more than its paint suggests.
- Interior conditionVinyl seats tear and original dash tops and rubber mats go brittle. Original, undamaged interiors are the most desirable.
- Test the tailgate windowThe FJ55's power tailgate window works from a dash switch or the key. Make sure it does, with the tailgate both up and down. A dead window is often a stuck safety switch or a corroded power strip, but it can also be a stripped regulator (see the repair below).
- BrakesStock drums are adequate if they work well and the powertrain is stock. Disc upgrades are common and parts are easy to find; check what's been fitted and how.
- Engine healthThe F and 2F are durable with basic maintenance and periodic valve adjustments. Compression matters more than mileage, and mechanical repairs are cheap next to rust repair.
- Know which truck it isCheck the wheelbase and engine code against the chassis plate: FJ45 wagons, pickups and diesel HJ/BJ versions differ, and export-spec trucks are sometimes misidentified.
The repairs Land Cruiser FJ45 & FJ55 owners end up doing
| REPAIR | SYMPTOMS | DIFFICULTY | TIME | COST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front knuckle and Birfield rebuild | Grease and gear oil weeping past the knuckle wiper seals, sludge inside the knuckle, or play in the front wheel. | 3 / 5 | ≈ Two days the first time | Knuckle kit about $160 (Cruiser Corps) |
| Carburetor rebuild | Stumbling, hesitation, rough idle or stalling at low rpm. | 2 / 5 | ≈ Half a day | Keyster kit about $35 |
| Valve adjustment | Ticking from the top end, or a rough-running engine with tight valves. | 2 / 5 | ≈ 1–2 hours | Valve cover gasket about $17–22 (Cruiser Corps) plus washers |
| Front disc conversion | Fading or pulling drum brakes on an early truck. | 3 / 5 | ≈ 4 hours with a bolt-on kit | Front kit about $700 (Cruiser Corps, 8/1970–9/1975) |
| Fabricate rust repairs | Bubbling at the drip rails, cowl, rockers and wheel arches, or soft frame rails and body mounts. | 5 / 5 | Days to weeks | Parts plus a lot of labor |
| Fresh springs, shackles and bushings | Sagging, cracked or S-shaped leaf springs and worn bushings. | 3 / 5 | ≈ A day | OME FJ45 2" kits about $2,300–2,700 (Cruiser Corps) |
| Clutch master and slave cylinders | A clutch that slowly loses pressure, has to be double-pumped to shift without grinding, or a pedal that sinks. Look for fluid under the dash or around the slave on the bellhousing. | 2 / 5 | ≈ Half a day including bleeding | Aisin master about $115 and slave about $35 (Cruiser Corps); OEM master rebuild kit about $51 |
| FJ55 power tailgate window won't move | The rear glass won't go up or down from the dash switch or the key. It may work only with the tailgate down. Or you hear the motor clunk while the glass stays put. | 3 / 5 | An afternoon to a weekend | Often only cleaning, wiring and a power strip; a used motor or regulator if the gear is stripped |
Each repair links to a step-by-step guide with tools, part numbers and where to buy the parts.
Land Cruiser FJ45 & FJ55 recalls and service bulletins
- Wiring campaign (1968–69 Land Cruisers) ↗ 1968–1969 · NHTSA 69V027000NHTSA lists a 1968–69 Land Cruiser electrical-wiring campaign covering 263 vehicles, but its online record carries no defect or remedy text and doesn't name the body style. Earlier write-ups describe mis-fitted door scuff plates chafing the harness; we couldn't re-verify that, so ask Toyota or check the harness under the sill plates yourself.
Check any VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls ↗, or see the recall tracker.
Owner questions about Land Cruiser FJ45 & FJ55 reliability
Is the engine reliable?
Yes, with basic care. Hagerty calls the F and 2F durable with basic maintenance and periodic valve adjustments, and says mechanical repairs are easy and cheap compared with rust repair.
SOURCE · HAGERTYTake the printable Land Cruiser FJ45 & FJ55 inspection checklist: every check on this page plus the model-specific ones, on one sheet. Get the checklist →
Sourced from owners, specialists and factory documents; full sources are on the Land Cruiser FJ45 & FJ55 guide. Verify torque figures and procedures against the factory service manual (disclaimer).