2001 Toyota Land Cruiser — Known Issues & Recalls

Your brake pedal went all the way to the floor with no stopping power while pulling into your garage, and the brake, ABS, and VSC warning lights all came on at the same time with a loud buzzing noise from the dashboard. You were able to stop using the emergency brake, but this happened immediately after driving on the highway at 70 mph with no prior warning signs. The repair will likely involve a complete brake system inspection and possible replacement of brake fluid, brake lines, or the master cylinder.

While stopped at a traffic light, your dashboard suddenly displayed multiple warning lights (ABS, VSC, brake) and an alarm sounded. You discovered your brakes had become nearly non-functional and required extreme pressure to slow the vehicle. The dealer diagnosed a failed hydraulic brake booster that needed replacement at a cost of $3,100. Replacing the brake booster and inspecting the brake system may be necessary to restore proper braking function.

While driving on the freeway, your dashboard warning lights illuminated and your brake system lost all power assist, forcing you to apply extreme pressure to the brake pedal and use the hand brake to stop. The dealership diagnosed this as an ABS actuator failure, which cost over $2,700 to repair. This is a critical safety issue that could prevent you from stopping your vehicle in an emergency.

Your vehicle's skid control system is locking up the front wheel at low speeds, making it difficult to clear intersections and throwing passengers forward violently. Even after you paid to replace the yaw sensor, the ABS and VSC warning lights came back on. This issue has been reported by multiple owners across various speeds, with some experiencing wheel lockup at highway speeds that could potentially cause a rollover.

Your transmission is unexpectedly downshifting into a very low gear while driving at highway speeds (65-70 mph), causing your car to slow down suddenly without the brake lights activating and pull sharply to the right. This dangerous situation has happened four times and nearly caused collisions — on two occasions your cruise control also shut off by itself about 30 minutes before the downshift occurred. A transmission shop performed a test drive and scan but found no codes, though they suspect the issue may involve cruise control, electronics, or sensors. The repair will likely involve diagnosing the transmission control system, cruise control circuit, and related sensors to find the cause of the unexpected downshift.

Your car suddenly accelerated when you pressed the brakes while going down a hill. This is a serious safety concern that needs immediate attention, as your brakes should slow the vehicle, not cause it to speed up. The issue likely involves either the throttle control system, brake system, or their interaction.

Your spare tire is held in place by a steel cable that broke after 14 years of supporting the weight of the heavy tire. If this had happened while driving on the highway, it could have caused a serious accident. The cable may need to be replaced with a new one designed to better handle the weight and stress.

Your spare tire cable failed while driving over a speed bump at low speed, causing the spare tire to fall off your vehicle. A mechanic found the cable had metal fatigue and was defective, though the dealer also suggested you may have cut it. The manufacturer declined to help because your vehicle was out of warranty. The repair involves replacing the spare tire cable assembly.

The black matte paint on your factory-installed roof rack is peeling off on all sides. This is a cosmetic issue that doesn't affect safety or performance, but the exposed areas may be prone to rust over time. A repair would involve stripping and repainting the roof rack or replacing it with a new one.