Toyota Prado Problems

There is a new Prado due in 2017, although we're not sure of the exact timing. We understand there will be some styling changes, but no major changes to the specifications that should affect your decision.

You haven't given us the weight of the caravan you want to tow, which goes a long way to determining the best car for you. We'll err on the side of caution and go for cars with a towing capacity of at least 2500 kg that fall within your budget. It's always best to go for the latest model you can afford, which means around 2103 in your case. I'm guessing you're over the Pathfinder given your experience with the holed piston in your current car, but the Nissan is an option for you. So too are the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Mitsubishi Pajero, although the Pajero's rear suspension is prone to sagging when heavily loaded and I would rule that out on that basis. If you can stretch your budget a little you could consider the Landrover Discovery 4, which does everything you want well, but is the most expensive of this bunch. For me the pick of the bunch for me is the Toyota Prado, for performance, economy, and reliability. The only issue for you could be that the Prado's towing rating is 2500 kg, the lowest of the cars we mention here.

The Everest has a longer list of safety features, a higher towing capacity, is more family-friendly, and drives nicer; the Prado is more refined, but feels dated, the Discovery Sport is a true off-roader with car-like road manners. The Discovery for mine. Another to try is the Toyota Fortuner.

They all have child seat anchorages in the second row, but you're right that the Everest has anchorages in the second and third rows. The Everest would be the one to go for; it's got the most up-to-date cabin and would be best suited to your needs.

One possibility that has affected the Toyota diesel in the past is fuel leaking past the fuel-injector seals and contaminating the oil causing a build-up of sludge that eventually blocks the oil pick-up and starves the engine of oil. It's a long shot, but a possible explanation.

This is typical of a problem with the Prado blowing engines at high mileage. It was due to carbon buildup on the oil pickup in the sump, the carbon resulting from a leaking fuel-injector seal that allowed fuel into the oil and contaminate it. The dealer's report would suggest that this is not the case, as they appear to have checked the fuel and oil systems for contamination and carbon buildup. You could have an independent mechanic check the engine for you to see if they could find a cause that contradicts the dealer's findings.

There are plenty of SUV choices to look at, such as a Toyota Prado or Jeep Grand Cherokee. Both should serve your needs well.

The Sorento is a long-term CarsGuide favourite and one of the best things is the basic package is so good you don't have to spend big to get a car that will work well for the long haul. It definitely gets The Tick.

There is always a risk when buying a used car, particularly one as old as yours and having done so many kilometres that something could go wrong with it. You really have no protection under the law; you can only hope that the dealer looks on at your predicament favourably.

One thing you might care to explore is the possibility that the engine failed due to the oil pickup becoming blocked with an accumulation of carbon deposits and starving the engine of oil.

There were a number of instances of this problem happening on the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine in the HiLux and LandCruiser. The failure of yours appears very similar to the earlier failures reported in the HiLux, but proving that this was the cause of your problem would be difficult, time consuming, and stressful.

I’m also putting out the call to Prado owners. This is a new problem, and the replacement unit is likely to be updated. But make sure it's logged in the service record in an unlikely event of future dramas.