Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1981 Land Cruiser.
This reference page outlines the 1981 Toyota Land Cruiser Overview, although the provided model complaint history data encompasses only the years 1990 to 2025. During that covered period, the highest number of complaints recorded was 29 in 2025, while the lowest was 1 in 2021, leaving the 1981 model year outside the documented reliability range. Consequently, specific details regarding the body, platform, and engine are absent from this record, meaning the 1981 model's standing relative to these complaint figures cannot be determined.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 157.5 in |
| Overall width | 65.7 in |
| Overall height | 76.8 in |
| Wheelbase | 90.2 in |
| Curb weight | 3882 lb |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Land Cruiser of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | SUV 4.0L I-6 | 14.20 sec | 19.40 sec | 155 hp | 4x4 |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
Remedy: REPLACE THE FUEL TANK WITH AN IMPROVED TANK.
IF VEHICLE IS CONTINUOUSLY DRIVEN AT SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH ON EXTREMELY ROUGH ROADS, A BENDING RESONANCE OF THE STEERING TIE ROD MAY OCCUR. THIS COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE FRACTURE AND FAILURE OF THE ROD. Remedy: THE STEERING TIE ROD ASSEMBLY AND RELAY ROD WILL BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
Showing 5 of 15 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSB003220 | 2023-08-17 | Air Bags | TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or… |
| Toyota PRO19-02 | 2022-01-12 | Tires | POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all… |
| T-SB-0032-20 Rev | 2021-02-03 | Equipment | TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or… |
| T-SB-0304-17 Obs | 2020-04-07 | Equipment | TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see… |
| T-SB-0032-20 | 2020-04-06 | Equipment | TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service… |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.