2016 Toyota Land Cruiser 2.8L Diesel · SS65 JMS

Front-tyre wear has been the recurring mechanical theme of this Land Cruiser's MOT record, surfacing as advisories in 2020, repeated again in 2026, and ultimately culminating in a failure on 16 April 2026 when the engine management lamp (MIL) was also flagged as indicating a malfunction. The vehicle was returned for a retest just four days later on 20 April 2026, at which point it passed; the MIL issue must therefore have been rectified between those tests, while the front-tyre advisories carried over unchanged because the tyres had not yet been replaced. This is the only failure recorded across seven tests spanning 2020 to 2026, with all other annual examinations returning clean passes and no advisories. Aside from a minor cracking advisory on the nearside rear tyre noted in March 2025, the chassis, suspension, braking, and exhaust systems have not produced any flagged items. Against its ten-year age, the recorded mileage of 69,940 miles equates to an average accumulation of roughly 6,994 miles annually, which is broadly typical for a vehicle of this vintage and suggests reasonably consistent rather than sporadic use. There are no extended gaps in the testing history that would imply a prolonged period off the road, and the MOT intervals proceed annually without interruption from 2020 through 2026. This steady usage pattern is mechanically reassuring for a Land Cruiser of this generation, as it tends to correlate with regular warm-up cycles, consistent fluid circulation, and maintained component movement rather than the drying-out and corrosion issues that can afflict long-stationary vehicles. No mileage inconsistency is apparent between successive tests. For a prospective buyer, the immediate priority is to confirm whether the engine management warning lamp issue that caused the April 2026 failure has been properly diagnosed and resolved, rather than simply cleared from the dashboard. A Land Cruiser of this age running an MIL can stem from anything ranging from a loose fuel cap or oxygen sensor degradation through to more substantive catalytic converter or DPF-related faults, and any rectification work should be evidenced by invoice or diagnostic printout. On a test drive, listen for any hesitation, misfire, or rough idle that might suggest the underlying cause persists, and verify that the warning lamp extinguils promptly and remains off under load and at motorway speeds. The repeated front-tyre edge wear advisories are also worth scrutinising physically, as they are now appearing for the second time in the record and may indicate a suspension geometry issue rather than simply tyre age. On a road test, pay particular attention to any steering pull to either side, uneven steering effort, or a knocking or clonking noise from the front suspension over uneven surfaces, all of which could point to worn bushes, deteriorating track-rod ends, or weak coil springs that are common wear items on a vehicle of this age and weight. The nearside rear tyre cracking advisory from 2025 should likewise be confirmed as addressed with a replacement, and a thorough under-bonnet and underside inspection is advisable to check for any oil misting around the engine, signs of differential or transfer case seepage, and the condition of the brake pipes and flexible hoses, none of which have been flagged to date but are all areas to verify on a high-mileage, heavy-duty 4x4 of this vintage.