Toyota Prado Problems

It was a common problem and often reported by owners in years gone by. Take it to a Toyota dealer and have them assess it, and perhaps approach Toyota about repairing it for you. Toyota was reluctant to take action on the problem because they claimed it didn't affect the operation of the airbag. Other than that you could perhaps replace the dash.

The Pajero is a rugged vehicle that is very good on-road and off, it is roomy, safe and well equipped, while the Prado is a large, reliable, and tough seven-seater. It’s very comfortable, but the diesel’s performance is lacklustre. It’s hard to beat the Pajero.

You have to consider what type of four-wheel driving you want to do. If it's heavy-duty then go for an older Toyota Landcruiser or Prado, if it's less taxing then a lighter model might do for you. I would suggest a 2006 Toyota Landcruiser Prado or a 2007 Mitsubishi Pajero.

Both are perfect for what you want to do. The LandCruiser has a well-proven record, but it’s heavy and can be costly to run. The Defender, while also a proven off-roader, is more expensive the service and repair and there aren’t Land Rover dealers everywhere, like there are Toyota dealers.

It’s clearly not well and needs attention, so take it to a mechanic and find out what is wrong with it. Any number of things could be wrong with it, from a simple as needing a service to being worn out.

I don’t believe that what you want is out there, and can only reiterate past advice, buy a Patrol/Pajero/Prado/LandCruiser.

One to try would be the Michelin Primacy SUV.

Each time you switch the engine off and then on again you are rebooting the computer. Sometimes that resets things and you can drive on with no further problem, but because it is doing it again and again there must be an underlying problem. I suggest you take it to a mechanic with the diagnostic gear to identify the problem and fix it.

Your choices are limited if you want a four-wheel drive for serious off-roading. You could look at a Mitsubishi Pajero, Nissan Pathfinder, or maybe one of the popular 4WD utes. A ute will do everything you need, and they are quite comfortable on the road.