Toyota Kluger Problems

There’s no good reason to not buy a Falcon, parts will be available for many years yet. There’s the Commodore, but it too is out of production. Other than that there’s no similar sized car available for you. You need to think about getting an SUV, such as a Toyota Kluger, Kia Sorento, Mazda CX-5.

The Kluger would meet your requirements nicely, so too would a diesel Territory. You could also look at a Kia Sorento.

You don’t say how old your Kluger is, so it’s hard to say what your best course of action would be. If it’s still under warranty then ask for it to be fixed under that cover, if it’s not get a mechanic to establish the cause of the problem and have it repaired.

It's not uncommon for the clear coat to peel off on cars of this age, it’s a result of the paint technology of the time, and there’s no alternative to repainting it. I doubt that you would get any help from Toyota with the cost of re-spraying it; the car is eight years old.

We contacted Toyota about your concern and a spokesman responded with the following: "We are very sorry to learn that your reader has experienced this accident. I can confirm that the power back door fitted to the 2011 Kluger indeed includes jam protection functionality, which reverses the direction of the door, should it detect an obstruction or resistance. Additionally, when the power back door is either opening or closing, the vehicle hazard lamps flash and an audible warning sounds, to notify the occupants and passers-by that the door is either coming up or down. During the final 330 mm (approx.) of the closing arc, the speed at which the back door closes reduces prior to engaging the lock mechanism. While the above safety features are built into the door mechanism, as with any automated function or technology, it is important that the operator ensures conditions are safe and appropriate at all times during usage. I hope your reader's son makes a full and speedy recovery."

It's not a safety issue. Your car is nine years old; pay the money to have it fixed.

You first need to decide the level of off-roading you will be doing because that will determine if you need a four-wheel drive or you only need an all-wheel drive SUV. From what you have told us I suspect that an SUV, such as a Kia Sorento, Toyota Kluger, or a Nissan X-Trail would be the best all-round vehicle for you. All of those would fit your budget, they will all go off-road to a reasonable degree, and they're all reliable. The Mitsubishi Triton is a hard-riding ute, which I don't think is what you want, but the Suzuki Grand Vitara is a good vehicle and would also fit your needs.

Toyota spokesman told us that there have been "no service campaigns or recalls related to the components referenced", but he would like to have a member of his team reach out to gather more information on your "concerns and organize a time to give the vehicle a thorough inspection." I suggest you contact Toyota's customer service people and arrange for that inspection. Other than that you could consult suspension experts like Pedders to see what they might be able to suggest.

You've singled out two of the best in the class. Others to consider are the Mazda CX-9 and the Toyota Kluger, but it's hard to go past the Sorento and Santa Fe. Comparison information is available if you click on car reviews and go to the models you are interested in.

The Discovery 4 is highly regarded by owners. It’s a very capable off-roader, comfortable and refined on the road, and there are few issues to worry about. Service costs are high if you use a factory dealer, but there are plenty of independent mechanics able to take care of it for you. When checking a Discovery check for use off-road, and look for one that has been pampered within the town boundaries. If you don’t want a car that will go off-road perhaps look at a Toyota Kluger 7-seater or a Mazda CX-9.