2003 Toyota Land Cruiser: common problems and reliability

One of the worst Land Cruiser years.

One of the Toyota Land Cruiser years to avoid. All Land Cruiser years

22 owner complaints, most about service brakes. 1 recall.

Should I buy one?

The 2003 Toyota Land Cruiser has 22 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 1 recall on record. The most-reported areas are service brakes and power train.

Safety record for the 2003 model year

22
Owner complaints
1
Recalls
2
Crash reports
0
Fire reports

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2003 Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles (US, public record).

The Year Score compares this year with other Land Cruiser years only. How we score it

Is 2003 a good year for the Land Cruiser?

Across the 26 Land Cruiser model years we track, complaint volume runs from 1 (2021) to 39 (2024). With 22 complaints, the 2003 Land Cruiser sits above the model's median of 8.

These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.

Where owners report problems

service brakes
4
power train
4
structure
3
vehicle speed control
3
air bags
2

Recalls affecting the 2003 Land Cruiser

air bags:side/window

Campaign 16V065000

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus LX470, 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia, 2004-2006 Toyota 4Runner and Lexus GX470 vehicles equipped with side curtain-shield-air bags. The affected vehicles have an air bag control module that may be improperly programmed, causing the side curtain-shield-air bags to deploy inadvertently.

What owners say across generations

Sentiment is highly positive for the 200 Series (LC200/LX570) and 70 Series, centered on legendary long-term reliability, overbuilt solidity, and exceptional off-road capability.

Owner insights cover all generations of the Land Cruiser. See the full Land Cruiser owner picture and every model year.

Other Land Cruiser model years

Compare every Land Cruiser year side by side to see how 2003 ranks against the rest.

2026 Land Cruiser2025 Land Cruiser2024 Land Cruiser2018 Land Cruiser2017 Land Cruiser2016 Land Cruiser2015 Land Cruiser2014 Land Cruiser2013 Land Cruiser2011 Land Cruiser2010 Land Cruiser2009 Land Cruiser2008 Land Cruiser2007 Land Cruiser2006 Land Cruiser2005 Land Cruiser2004 Land Cruiser2002 Land Cruiser2001 Land Cruiser2000 Land Cruiser1999 Land Cruiser1998 Land Cruiser1997 Land Cruiser1996 Land Cruiser

Compare the Land Cruiser against its rivals

Land Cruiser vs Acura SLXLand Cruiser vs Ford ExpeditionLand Cruiser vs Hummer H1Land Cruiser vs Infiniti QX80

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