Summary
The Toyota Land Cruiser has 6 recalls spanning 1981 through 2019, with the most serious recent issue being a seat belt tension sensor wire harness on 2008–2019 models that can break over time and deactivate the front passenger airbag, knee airbag, and seat-mounted side airbag, raising injury risk in a crash.
The 2008–2019 production span also includes a 2009 model year recall covering vehicles equipped with specific Carrier AirV ceiling-mounted air conditioning units, where a defect in that aftermarket equipment can cause a fire.
Going back to earlier production, the 1990 model has a fuel system defect where tank-related fuel leakage can reach an ignition source and start a fire. The 1988 model can develop high pressure in the fuel tank under sustained driving in hot conditions and heavy load, which can crack the tank and cause fuel to leak. The 1982 model has a rear seat lap belt that can fail to retract fully after use, leaving the belt in a state where subsequent passengers cannot properly buckle in. On 1981 models, the threaded section of the tie rod end can crack and eventually fracture under repeated high-speed driving on rough roads, which can result in loss of steering control.
