Common problems · 1980–87
Land Cruiser FJ60 problems: 8 things to check
The problems owners and specialists flag most on the Toyota Land Cruiser FJ60, the repairs they end up doing and what those cost, plus the years and recalls to watch. Sourced, not scraped.
Land Cruiser FJ60 problems to check before you buy
- Rear frame rails firstCorsetti calls it the most important check: drop the spare if you have to and look at the rear frame rails. If the frame is rusted through, walk away. IH8MUD members agree the rear channel near the spare is usually the worst frame spot.
- The other rust spotsCheck the windshield gasket corners (peel the rubber back a little), roof drip rails, tailgate hinge areas, inner wheel wells behind the rear seat, front fenders, rockers and rear wheel wells. A missing or uneven mud flap can hide a patched fender, and a magnet finds filler.
- Floor under the rear seatIH8MUD buyers' threads add the floor pan under the back seat to the list, along with behind the mud flaps.
- Compression test high-mileage trucksOn trucks past 200,000 miles, or that have sat or had several owners, do a compression test. Corsetti's numbers for the 2F: around 160–165 psi is excellent, under 120 means caution, under 100 means don't buy, with no more than 10 percent spread between cylinders.
- Smog equipment and vacuum linesIH8MUD members call emissions equipment the biggest headache. Check that it's all there, look for cracked or disconnected vacuum hoses, and expect to rebuild the carburetor.
- Knuckles, steering and power-steering leaksSludge at the front knuckles means seals are due. Drive it and feel for wobble, especially on a lifted truck. A shiny, wet driver's-side axle and spring usually means the power-steering box or pump is leaking.
- Budget for rubberHoses, seals, bushings and diaphragms go hard with age, and most will need replacing. One IH8MUD member put catch-up maintenance at several thousand dollars.
- Which four-speed?Look for a spacer between the transmission and transfer case. If it's there, it's a post-4/1985 'long' H42, and a five-speed swap is straightforward.
The repairs Land Cruiser FJ60 owners end up doing
| REPAIR | SYMPTOMS | DIFFICULTY | TIME | COST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carburetor rebuild and vacuum check | Stumbling, hesitation, sputtering, rough running or stalling at low rpm. If it only runs with the choke off, suspect the EGR valve. | 3 / 5 | ≈ A day | About $300 for a rebuild (Corsetti) |
| Compression test before you buy or rebuild | Low power, blow-by or an unknown engine history on a truck past 200,000 miles. | 2 / 5 | ≈ 1 hour | Cost of a gauge |
| Front knuckle rebuild | Grease sludge leaking from the steering knuckles where axle grease has got past the seals. | 3 / 5 | ≈ Two days the first time | $200–600 (Corsetti), mostly labor; kits about $120–160 |
| Cure the death wobble | Violent front-end shake after a bump, especially on lifted trucks; or a shake you feel in the truck but not the steering wheel. | 2 / 5 | ≈ 1–2 hours | Steering damper up to about $112 |
| H55F five-speed swap | About 3,250 rpm at 75 mph in fourth gear. | 4 / 5 | ≈ A weekend; the pilot bearing took Off-Road.com's author a full day | Parts plus labor; flywheel resurfacing about $30 |
| Replace the front heater core | Coolant smell in the cabin, a damp passenger carpet, poor heat or unexplained coolant loss. | 3 / 5 | ≈ Half a day | Core about $230 (Cruiser Corps) |
| Two-inch lift with fresh springs | Sagging leaf springs, worn shocks or a nose-down stance. | 3 / 5 | ≈ A day | Old Man Emu kits about $2,400 (Cruiser Corps) |
Each repair links to a step-by-step guide with tools, part numbers and where to buy the parts.
Land Cruiser FJ60 recalls and service bulletins
- Steering tie rod can fracture ↗ 1981 · NHTSA 81V117000Sustained driving over 50 mph on very rough roads can resonate and crack the tie rod; Toyota replaced the tie rod and relay rod free.
- Rear lap belt may not retract ↗ 1982–1988 · NHTSA 89V155000The rear lap belt can stay partly extended and lock; the fix was a belt guide or sheath.
- Fuel tank welds can crack ↗ 1980–1990 · NHTSA 91V110000Heat and load can pressurize the tank and crack its welds, leaking fuel that can catch fire near an ignition source; the remedy was an improved tank (38,500 vehicles).
Check any VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls ↗, or see the recall tracker.
Take the printable Land Cruiser FJ60 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 FJ60 guide. Verify torque figures and procedures against the factory service manual (disclaimer).