Land Cruiser Prado 150 problems: 8 things to check
The problems owners and specialists flag most on the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 150, the repairs they end up doing and what those cost, plus the years and recalls to watch. Sourced, not scraped.
Land Cruiser Prado 150 problems to check before you buy
- Which diesel, and what's been doneA 1KD-FTV (2009–2015) needs its timing belt at 150,000 km, and Unsealed 4X4 recommends servicing the injectors every 100,000 km. Listen for a cold-start knock or rattle and look for black smoke, which can mean the injectors are going. A 1GD-FTV (2015-on) has a chain but a DPF. Paperwork matters more than the odometer.
- DPF history on 2015–2020 dieselsAsk whether the truck has the manual DPF regeneration switch (standard from June 2018) and the free 2020 exhaust hardware and software fix. Heavy white smoke, a foul smell, limp mode or rising fuel use point to a filter that isn't regenerating. A truck used only for short city trips is the riskiest.
- Dust in the 2.8's intakeUnsealed 4X4 says the 1GD's airbox seal can let fine dust past the filter and coat the MAF sensor, which puts the truck in limp mode. Pull the filter and look for dust on the clean side.
- Early brakesUnsealed 4X4 reports that pre-2012 trucks could get a spongy or very hard pedal with a hiss from the booster. Toyota revised the booster and master cylinder, and the common fix is to fit the later parts.
- Suspension bushes and rear airLower shock bushes and lower control-arm bushes wear, especially if aftermarket suspension was tightened with the truck hanging on a hoist. Kakadu rear air springs leak with age. Auto Buyers Guide says factory shocks are often tired by 100,000 km.
- Tailgate and dashThe tailgate-mounted spare can make the door sag, so open and close it. Auto Buyers Guide also reports cracked dash tops on early trucks that lived in the sun.
- 2009 and 2017 electronicsUnsealed 4X4 flags the launch year and the 2017 facelift year for electrical gremlins, including airbag recalls on 2009 trucks and head-unit, ESC-light and shift complaints on 2017s. Look for evidence that they've been sorted.
- Underbody and towing lifeCheck sills, bash plates and chassis rails for off-road damage and coastal rust, and ask what it has towed. Many 150s have pulled caravans at or near their 2,500–3,000 kg limit for years.
The repairs Land Cruiser Prado 150 owners end up doing
| REPAIR | SYMPTOMS | DIFFICULTY | TIME | COST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timing belt (1KD-FTV 3.0 diesel) | None until it fails. Unsealed 4X4 and Auto Buyers Guide both put the change at 150,000 km, so a 1KD truck without a receipt is due. | 3 / 5 | Most of a day | Parts plus labor |
| 1KD injector service and seat washers | Knocking, a noisy idle, black smoke, poor economy and crankcase pressure, according to Unsealed 4X4. | 4 / 5 | A day | Parts plus labor. Much less than a cracked piston. |
| DPF regeneration problems (1GD-FTV) | Heavy white smoke, a foul smell, DPF warnings, limp mode and higher fuel use, mostly on trucks that only do short trips. | 2 / 5 (diagnosis) – 4 / 5 (replacement) | From a highway drive to a dealer visit | Toyota's 2020 remedy is free of charge. Unsealed 4X4 puts a replacement system at 'at least a couple grand'. |
| EGR and intake clean | Sluggish response, smoke and DPF trouble. Unsealed 4X4 has seen diesel intake runners choked down to a hole the size of a 5-cent coin, and says the 2.8's EGR cooler likes to leak. | 3 / 5 | Half a day to a day | Parts plus labor |
| Dusted MAF on the 2.8 | Sudden power loss and limp mode with a 'see your dealer' message after fine dust, per Unsealed 4X4. | 1 / 5 | 30 minutes | Air filter, MAF cleaner |
| Early brake booster and master cylinder (pre-2012) | A spongy or very hard pedal with a hissing booster. | 3 / 5 | Half a day | Parts plus labor |
| Suspension bushes, shocks and rear air springs | Clunks, a jiggly ride, uneven rebound, or a harsh rear end on air-sprung Kakadus. | 2 / 5 | Half a day | Parts plus labor |
Each repair links to a step-by-step guide with tools, part numbers and where to buy the parts.
Years with known problems
| YEARS | FLAG | WHAT TO KNOW |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Beware | Unsealed 4X4 flags launch-year trucks for airbag recalls and electrical gremlins |
| 2015–2020 | Beware | Diesels sold October 2015 to April 2020 covered by the Australian DPF class action |
| 2017 | Beware | Second facelift on 12 September. V6 dropped in Australia. Unsealed 4X4 flags 2017 trucks for head-unit, ESC-light and shift glitches and says not to buy one without paperwork showing they've been fixed |
Every Land Cruiser Prado 150 model year, with the best ones to buy →
Land Cruiser Prado 150 recalls and service bulletins
- Manual DPF regeneration switch ↗ · Running change, June 2018Standard across the 1GD/2GD Prado, HiLux and Fortuner range from June 2018 as a DPF countermeasure.
- DPF exhaust hardware and software remedy ↗ · Available since May 2020Toyota's free-of-charge repair for affected 2.8 and 2.4 diesels, combining revised exhaust hardware and software.
Check any VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls ↗, or see the recall tracker.
Owner questions about Land Cruiser Prado 150 reliability
Does my 2.8 have the DPF problem?
Diesels sold in Australia between October 2015 and April 2020 were covered by the class action. Toyota made a manual regeneration switch standard from June 2018 and has offered a free hardware and software fix since May 2020. Ask a dealer to check the VIN.
SOURCE · 4X4 AUSTRALIAIs the 1KD engine reliable?
Mostly, if it's been serviced. Its known weakness is failing injector seat washers, which can crack a piston, so injector servicing is part of normal maintenance. Unsealed 4X4 notes that only a small percentage of Australian Prados were affected.
SOURCE · UNSEALED 4X4Take the printable Land Cruiser Prado 150 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 Prado 150 guide. Verify torque figures and procedures against the factory service manual (disclaimer).