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Toyota Land Cruiser steering problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 6,554 MOT tests · Updated

At 19 years, 3.1 in 100 MOT tests of the Toyota Land Cruiser failed on steering, against 4.1 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 6,554 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years), 206 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 23 ages from 3 to 25 years, 78,269 MOT tests
  • Most common fail: Steering track rod end: ball joint play, 1.6 per 100 MOT tests

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

3.1 fails per 100 MOT tests at 19 years, against 4.1 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 19 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

A steering fail stops the car passing until it is fixed; the most common one is rated major by DVSA.

What to check

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

Toyota Land Cruiser steering fails by age

Toyota Land Cruiser steering fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Toyota Land Cruiser. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.0243 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.1), 2,499 MOT tests34 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 0.2), 2,165 MOT tests5 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 2,113 MOT tests56 years: 0.7 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 2,272 MOT tests7 years: 0.9 per 100 (all cars 0.8), 2,369 MOT tests78 years: 0.8 per 100 (all cars 1.2), 2,458 MOT tests9 years: 0.5 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 2,428 MOT tests910 years: 1.1 per 100 (all cars 2.1), 2,253 MOT tests11 years: 0.7 per 100 (all cars 2.5), 2,043 MOT tests1112 years: 0.8 per 100 (all cars 2.8), 1,982 MOT tests13 years: 1.4 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 1,932 MOT tests1314 years: 1.6 per 100 (all cars 3.2), 2,229 MOT tests15 years: 1.9 per 100 (all cars 3.3), 2,872 MOT tests1516 years: 2.5 per 100 (all cars 3.4), 3,529 MOT tests17 years: 2.7 per 100 (all cars 3.6), 4,989 MOT tests1718 years: 3.0 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 6,237 MOT tests19 years: 3.1 per 100 (all cars 4.1), 6,554 MOT tests1920 years: 3.3 per 100 (all cars 4.2), 6,188 MOT tests21 years: 2.8 per 100 (all cars 4.2), 5,343 MOT tests2122 years: 3.8 per 100 (all cars 4.0), 4,397 MOT tests23 years: 3.2 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 4,074 MOT tests2324 years: 2.7 per 100 (all cars 3.7), 3,789 MOT tests25 years: 3.2 per 100 (all cars 3.7), 3,554 MOT tests25
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Toyota Land Cruiser All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
32,4990.10.1
42,1650.20.2
52,1130.30.3
62,2720.70.5
72,3690.90.8
82,4580.81.2
92,4280.51.8
102,2531.12.1
112,0430.72.5
121,9820.82.8
131,9321.42.9
142,2291.63.2
152,8721.93.3
163,5292.53.4
174,9892.73.6
186,2373.03.9
19*6,5543.14.1
20*6,1883.34.2
21*5,3432.84.2
22*4,3973.84.0
23*4,0743.23.9
24*3,7892.73.7
25*3,5543.23.7

All first-use years of the Toyota Land Cruiser pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.

What fails in the steering at 19 years

Fails

  • Steering track rod end: ball joint play: 1.6 fails per 100 MOT tests, all class 4 vehicles 2.0. Replace track rod end: estimated £54–£128 (0.5–1 h at £78/h (ONS local-garage repair quotes, 1,058 quotes from 65 garages, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026) + parts £15–£50) Track rod end ball joint has excessive play MOT fail

Replace track rod end cost

Repair figures are estimates, not quotes: how we estimate repair costs.

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  • Model risks for this year and fuel
  • What similar cars did at their next MOT
  • Repairs ahead
  • Viewing checklist

See a sample report

How to check on a test drive

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

Check one Toyota Land Cruiser, not the average

The figures here describe Toyota Land Cruiser cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other Toyota Land Cruiser problems

Steering on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Toyota Land Cruiser have more steering problems than other cars?

3.1 in 100 MOT tests at 19 years, against 4.1 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 6,554 MOT tests).

How common are Toyota Land Cruiser steering problems?

3.1 in 100 MOT tests at 19 years failed on steering, against 4.1 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 6,554 MOT tests).

What is the most common Toyota Land Cruiser steering fail?

1.6 in 100 MOT tests at 19 years: Steering track rod end: ball joint play (104 MOT tests with it).

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 78,269 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.
  2. Office for National Statistics, Consumer price inflation, local price quotes (car repair items). ONS price quotes, series 610236. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare