D4 Reliability

Whilst stuck google Prado / Toyota issues too :twisted::angel:

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Failing Wheel bearings

Started out with a slight rear wheel bearing noise, took it to toyota they confirmed wheel bearing and replaced both rear wheel bearings.

All good for about 1 week then the rear right went, took it back and they said it may have been faulty bearing so they replaced it.

2 weeks later and its making the noise again rear left, they have said that it may have been damaged during installation to drop it back in and they'll replace. dropped in they had for 1 week and called to say that they do not have the correct tool to remove/install the bearings. This is when my jaw dropped. I paid $1400 for parts and labour for both rears to be replaced originally... who knows what they did. and if they are honest does anyone know what could cause these to keep failing... talking like 500-1000kms. The vehicle has 150,000 on the clock.

they said they took off all the axles, CV's etc. and checked they were all square and balanced which all checked ok..could this noise be something else that is being disturbed then disappears for about 1week and returns? The bearings from what I'm told are worn so is definitely them.

I have no clue where to go from here.. at least they are doing the work under warranty but out of the last 5 weeks they've had my car 3 weeks.

Any ideas

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Just having some problems with my 03 diesel prado. After 114000km's, car started getting hot and dumping all the coolant out of radiator into overflow. Have sorted out the heat problem but the car still losing all the coolant. Dealer wants to look at cracked head possibility and that worries me as I thought that with only 114000km's we wouldn't be looking at these problems...... Has any one had any similar problem?

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The transmission has been worrying me for a few months. Everytime we tow with the prado, anything bigger than a box trailer, we get transmission fluid somehow ending up in the engine bay . Toyota have checked it time and time again but said the fluid levels are right so they don't know either. Also the auto taking too long to change gear just when driving it everyday. Just really revs out before gear change. Even toyota tech guy picked up on this when he test drove it. Just don't know whats going on with this car and being a chick, it's hard to get answers from anyone which is why I have turned to this chat site. Going back to the head issue, should the prado be doing this after 114000 km's???

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Slightly different scenario, But I thought at 58,000k's I would be fine with my Prado but The engine Blew up and needs to be replaced. Its hard to accept when you have forked out almost $60,000 when purchased new. Toyota Australia were not helpful at all as well as the dealership (Anthony Smith Toyota) especially the issue I had with them and leaking oil over my driveway first drive back from the dealership after service. Full details are posted on my thread listed 58,000kl's Blown engine. In a nut shell I will never trust dealerships with my vehicle, I will find a good local mechanic who can look at my vehicle from a customers point of view rather than putting you in the production line at the dealership to cash in at the end. I will be taking my story to the highest level possible Nationally as well as Toyota in Japan etc WHY Japan because Toyota Australia were not interested. keep in touch on my thread for progress.

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I have a 2013 Manual Prado and as long as I go forward it is great. The issue is when I reverse. I can't even reverse my 6x4 box trailer into my driveway up over the gutter without the clutch burning. I have been told to put it in low 4wd every time I reverse which I understand will stop theproblem, but the irony is that my dads Isuzu can back his 2 tonne caravan in standard without an issue.

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Turbo failed under 15,000 kms, solenoid went. Number 3 injector failed. Common problem in the D4Ds, the dreaded injector rattle. Speaking of rattles, rattle in the back seat that has not been resolved by Toyota. Bad mudflap design leading to paint work damage if they are not changed when the vehicle is new. I sold my 150 series before I had supply pump problems. My opinion of cause and yes I used all the right fuels (BP), Penrite GS oil and gen. Toyota filters.

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Does anyone have the same problem. Toyota don't know how to resolve it.
Alarm will go off for no reason and start the air on,hazard lights headlights and other crazy antics.
Has happened 4times travelling around Australia and none the wiser.
Takes about 4 hours for it to return to normal.
Hope someone can enlighten me.

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You are right to be concerned. Being stuck on the side of the road is a pain but is not exclusive to LR's. Maybe you will get a better "feeling" of reliability with Toyota, and if that makes you happier, then maybe that's the way to go.

A good mate of mine has a 200 series that he bought specifically for towing. He told me that he felt a pang of regret the moment he drove out of the dealer, having come from other more refined "SUV" style Euro's. What he loves is the feeling of reliability. He feels confident that it can and will take him anywhere.

I'm happy for him- however- he rarely drives the car except on trips. He just doesn't enjoy driving it. It's big and feels like a truck. It's a chore to drive. The upside is its holding its value well. Low K's single owner etc etc. The downside is HE HATES DRIVING IT.

Irrespective, if you are going to do overland travel in Australia- no matter what car you drive, you will need to be prepared.

A) get a fault reading tool
B) learn as much as you can about the car- this forum being excellent for that.
C) many "faults" are not really faults. Low battery can cause issue as you have described. As can a dodgy brake switch or incorrect bulbs.
D) take spares of parts that are likely to let you down

LPJ

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Originally Posted by CraigA

It would seem that Discoverys have perhaps got more reliable with each successive model but started from a pretty low base. It also seems something that owners are loathe to discuss despite this being the ideal forum to collect data and feed it back to LR to assist in rectification work.

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So they say.

I'm on my 4th Discovery, having owned them for 18 years. In that time I've travelled about half a million kms over a fair chunk of the country. In that time I've had a few problems, but I have only been left standing by the side of the road twice. Once in the D3 was my fault - I broke it. The other time was a fuel pump packing up in my D1.

Just lucky I guess.

Cheers,
Jon

Hi Craig,

If you get a chance, have a look at Green Oval Experience Land Rover training, Range Rover modifcation. It is Gordon from this forum (gghaggis) and he runs classroom and offroad based training courses for late model (post 2005) Land Rovers.

If you can attend a course (highly recommended) you will get a better insight into the newer Landy's (T5 platform) and their quirks and capabilities. It will also give you peace of mind as you will get good info on most of the common problems and how to fix them. Also, on which spares and fault reading tools are applicable to you. Good luck with it, and enjoy your car.

Safe motoring,

Cripesamighty

PS, if you can't attend a course, buy his GOE information booklet as it covers most of the classroom based stuff and is very handy to have with you offroad too.

I agree that the GOE Information Booklet is the best source of knowledge on how to prepare a D3/D4 for remote travel and keep it reliable. Also the FAQ section on the forum is an excellent source of knowledge about everything to do with the car. Before I even bought my D4, which I use extensively for very remote travels on and off road, I carefully read and understood everything in the FAQ to make sure that the car was for me.


Bob

Working in the mining industry and living in a mining town where every car is either hilux prado or 200 series i do get sick of the oh you should have bought a toyota and all the other crap people carry on about oh i had a mate who's a mechanic and reckons LRs are **** always breaking down. But in the end you just go whatever and know you have the best car and i always tell them "everyone loves the discovery just not everyone knows yet"

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Originally Posted by jon3950

So they say.

I'm on my 4th Discovery, having owned them for 18 years. In that time I've travelled about half a million kms over a fair chunk of the country. In that time I've had a few problems, but I have only been left standing by the side of the road twice. Once in the D3 was my fault - I broke it. The other time was a fuel pump packing up in my D1.

Just lucky I guess.

Cheers,
Jon

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Exactly,i have had Discos over the last 15 yrs,and never been left stranded on the side of the road,ever.
The only show stoppers were flat tyres(easy fix),once i changed over to LT's,never changed a tyre again.
In fact the D2a was one of the best vehicles i have ever had.

The D4 has been good as well,had a couple of little issues,but nothing near a show stopper.

We recently had to replace a diff in one of our Tojo work vans.It was just out of warranty,the dealer was not interested,and their comment was those vans never do diffs.Well i happened to come across a few reviews on them on the internet, and diffs were one of the most common issues.

Must admit that I do love my D4.

Had a concerning issue the other day though.

Jumped in after SWMBO had driven it, and as soon as I started it, a big warning came up on the dash. :eek:

Wondering what she had done to my car, I had a closer look.

"Washer Fluid Low"

I mean, with the amount of rain that we have since I bought it 12 months ago, you would have thought that it would have filled itself up. :censored:

I was so stressed by this apparent failure of my beloved D4, that I went back inside, and grabbed the keys to the Prius. :o







Disclaimer: I have never owned, nor driven a Prius, and have no intentions of doing either. No Land Rovers were harmed in the writing of this story.

Interesting stuff. Thanks again.

Personally, I have no desire to drive a LC nor a Prado coz I just don't like them. The D4 seems to me a much better drive and I don't have to put up with the LCs fuel consumption nor the Prados gutlessness among there other "failings". However, if we are going to be non-anecdotal about this, Land Rovers remain the least reliable car on the road (US figures 2012) and for a luxury brand, that's appalling. To put it in perspective, LRs are less reliable than a Great Wall that costs about 1/4 as much.

Given everything that's been said here, maybe I really do have a Monday morning build car and I should sell it and try again. Who knows?

I had the low battery every fault code problem. I just stopped and started the D4 again and it was ok. Reported it at the next service that's when I was told it was a battery.