1998 Toyota Land CruiserFZJ80
“Montana tested. Indestructible by design.”
Documented Miles
584,000
on the odometer
Reliability Score
96/100
community rating
Est. Total Maintenance
$51,200
lifetime spend
Est. Savings vs. New
$23,800
vs. buying new
Engine
4.5L Inline-6 (1FZ-FE)
4-Speed Automatic
Drivetrain
4WD
1998 model year
Elaine inherited this Land Cruiser from her father at 185,000 miles. "He told me it'd outlast two more owners." He was right. The 1FZ-FE straight-six has never been opened. She's taken it through 26 Montana winters.
Known Issues
We don't sugarcoat. Here's what to watch for — and what to fix before it becomes a problem.
Head Gasket (1FZ-FE Engines)
The 1FZ-FE has a known head gasket weakness, especially if the engine ever overheats. Keep coolant fresh, watch temp gauge, and do the water pump on every timing belt job. Don't let it overheat — ever.
Rear Differential Pinion Seal Leak
Common minor leak. Easy catch if you keep an eye on the driveway. Replace the seal promptly to avoid running the diff low on fluid.