200 Series Quality/Reliability and Next Vehicle

[electro992]

My 200 is getting long in the tooth and I’m starting to think about its replacement. I find myself hesitating on a newer 200 or 300. No doubt I will get flamed for this, but I’ve had substantially more problems with my 200 than either my 100 or 80. Off the top of my head:

Failed radiator
Failed starter
Valley plate leak
Leaking water pump
Failed blower motor
Failed radio headunit
Failed audio amplifier
All four AHC shocks leaking/weeping
Leaking power steering system
Lazy transfer case actuator

I’ve dutifully repaired everything with OEM, but truthfully my 200 has not lived up to one of the main reasons I’ve always driven a cruiser: the peace of mind from a superbly engineered, highly reliable vehicle.

The 300 may be worse, with engines destroying themselves at low miles. To me, that kind of problem is the very opposite of why I love these trucks.

After daily driving a cruiser for the better part of two decades, I feel they’ve lost a key part of their appeal as they are no longer as bulletproof reliable as they once were. Am I going crazy?

 

[prharper]

My 200 is getting long in the tooth and I’m starting to think about its replacement. I find myself hesitating on a newer 200 or 300. No doubt I will get flamed for this, but I’ve had substantially more problems with my 200 than either my 100 or 80. Off the top of my head:

Failed radiator
Failed starter
Valley plate leak
Leaking water pump
Failed blower motor
Failed radio headunit
Failed audio amplifier
All four AHC shocks leaking/weeping
Leaking power steering system
Lazy transfer case actuator

I’ve dutifully repaired everything with OEM, but truthfully my 200 has not lived up to one of the main reasons I’ve always driven a cruiser: the peace of mind from a superbly engineered, highly reliable vehicle.

The 300 may be worse, with engines destroying themselves at low miles. To me, that kind of problem is the very opposite of why I love these trucks.

After daily driving a cruiser for the better part of two decades, I feel they’ve lost a key part of their appeal as they are no longer as bulletproof reliable as they once were. Am I going crazy?

What year do you have? How long have you owned it? Sounds like an LX since you mentioned AHC.

 

[Sandroad]

And how many miles? That’s a long list, but may come with a caveat if it’s an older, high mileage 200.

 

[gasman4u]

starters will eventually go out on any vehicle if owned/driven long enough. I will grant a lot of your list does encompass a lot of what causes headaches in the 200s.

 

[bloc]

I will admit these things aren’t quite what Landcruisers used to be.. but they also drive 50x better so personally I’ll allow it.

Thing is.. what other modern vehicle is better in terms of longevity and reliability, while doing what a Landcruiser can do on road and off?

 

[Sajan]

you didn't even have the cam tower or the timing chain leak......that's a lot of fun you missed out on!

 

[canyonrider]

You’re not going crazy, OP. I’ve been thinking the same thing lately as my 2009 LC is approaching 225k miles and it now appears that the rear main seal has started leaking.

I have owned it for 10 years and haven’t encountered all of the issues on your list, although I can add the windshield cowl leak, charcoal canister/evap code issues, and HVAC gremlins.

But I’m also not sure what the replacement would be, not much seems to compare. GX460? Not the same robustness but maybe slightly more bulletproof in terms of reliability?

 

[Sandroad]

Maybe a bit of perspective……some 200s are overall “getting long in the tooth”. They’ve been around for 18 years and many have over a quarter million miles. If you keep up with maintenance and routine checks, the only thing on the list in the first post that can lead to being stranded by surprise is the failed starter. And that really isn’t at all common. IMHO that’s peace of mind.

The question posed is still very relevant; when a 200 reaches the end of an owner’s interest in keeping it, what the heck is a good replacement?

 

[GrouchyTech]

You’re not going crazy, OP. I’ve been thinking the same thing lately as my 2009 LC is approaching 225k miles and it now appears that the rear main seal has started leaking.

A rear main leak on the 3UR is very rare, are you certain that’s the leak source?

 

[Sajan]

Oddly enough my 2005 camry with 254,000 miles has been more reliable than some of y'alls "tough" 200 series lol.

Failed radiator - original radiator
Failed starter - original starter
Valley plate leak - nope
Leaking water pump - did timing belt/water pump ONCE.
Failed blower motor - original ac parts
Failed radio headunit - nope
Failed audio amplifier - nope
All four AHC shocks leaking/weeping - n/a
Leaking power steering system - replaced a boot..
Lazy transfer case actuator - n/a

 

[stonepa]

Did you buy your 200 used? How badly abused was it? That seems like an abnormal amount of issues even for a very high mileage 200. Or a nearly new Yukon.

 

[canyonrider]

A rear main leak on the 3UR is very rare, are you certain that’s the leak source?

Not certain yet, that’s just based on eyeballing the area where it looks to be seeping.

 

[Supra Turbo]

IMO, nothing is as reliable as peak Toyota in the 90s and 00s.

That said, the 200 series is still significantly more reliable than many of its in class competitors.

Many of the items you listed are almost expected on any modern vehicle and then some, especially if the mileage is at 100k-150k+ miles.

That said, few vehicles can combine US spec LC200s reliability, luxury, towing, offroad, resale, rarity, power... I can go on.

 

[bloc]

Oddly enough my 2005 camry with 254,000 miles have been more reliable than some of y'alls "tough" 200 series lol.

Not surprising at all. That is a much more simple platform with a lot less complex stuff to go wrong.

There are far more high-mileage corollas on the road than Landcruisers, partly because they sold about ten times as many, but also because they are so damn simple.

 

[electro992]

What year do you have? How long have you owned it? Sounds like an LX since you mentioned AHC.

And how many miles?

2010 LX that I believe I bought in 2013. My 100 and 80 were both bought new and sold around 225k miles. I am at 175k on the 200.

you didn't even have the cam tower or the timing chain leak......that's a lot of fun you missed out on!

I checked when I did the valley plate job and thankfully do not have the cam tower or timing cover leaks. To throw another problem in to the mix, there seems to be an increasing number of folks reporting head gasket issues. The Care Care Nut did a video about this.

IMO, nothing is as reliable as peak Toyota in the 90s and 00s.

What I miss about my old trucks is I rarely had to think about them. With the 200 it feels like it is always something.

 

[pavell]

Interesting! Ive been thinking of replacing my 100 with a 200 and this thread isn’t helping lol !!

 

[Sajan]

What I miss about my old trucks is I rarely had to think about them. With the 200 it feels like it is always something.

I do feel like I am thinking about my 200 series more also. But it’s new to me and I am still sorting through various things left behind from the previous ownership.

Not surprising at all. That is a much more simple platform with a lot less complex stuff to go wrong.

There are far more high-mileage corollas on the road than Landcruisers, partly because they sold about ten times as many, but also because they are so damn simple.

I just gave it today to my buddy’s kid as his first car
21+ years of memories. Hope the kid gets to make a few of his own.

 

[studawg]

The reality is the reliability of ALL cars has gone down, especially over the last 15 years or so. Capability might have gone up in some aspects, but reliability is down. That being said the LC 200 is still the most reliable out of anything else of its era. All of the normally aspirated Toyotas are. The hybrid systems and turbos just added to the complexity. 5 year old 2021 V8 Tundras with low mileage are selling for more than brand new ones.

Im in my 40s and Ive basically come to the conclusion that Im not going to own anything newer than a 200 Series LC. I will probably replace my 2018 one day, but it will just be lower mileage 20-21. I dont even want anything new. None of the new versions of anything even interest me. If somebody gave me a brand new 911, Id immediately sell it and buy an older one.

As others have said, I dont think there really is anything better to replace it with other than a newer, lower mileage 200. (Personally, Ive always avoided the LX470s and LX570s because of the AHC, its just one less thing to have to think about.) Or find a unicorn low mileage 100 or 80 Series and just pay up. At the same time, considering the things you have addressed on your LX, I wouldnt be surprised if you went the next 100K+ miles without a single problem.

 

[Sajan]

the CCN video about his new tundra should give everyone pause about buying new Toyotas..

 

[KLF]

...I dont even want anything new. None of the new versions of anything even interest me.

I totally agree.

I sat in a brand new Land Cruiser a few weeks ago and it made me sad. I was looking at Tacomas last summer, I could have bought a brand new one but... No thanks to all that crap. A good friend has a new 2025 TRD and it's already been to the dealer several times for recalls and repairs. I looked at a lot of 3rd gens and it was shocking at how rusty they were. I ended up with a 2015 2nd gen and I love it.

Fwiw I'm at about 130K miles on my '15 LC and I have not had one single problem, nothing. I do put a lot into maintenance though, I tend to replace stuff before it fails.