This 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser Has Well Over 500,000 Miles On The Odometer, And Despite a VSC WThe Owner Isn't Planning On Selling It Anytime Soon

This high-mileage SUV shows why Toyota is still a prime choice for long-term vehicles, but also displays a well-known issue on the dashboard.

Posted: January 29, 2026 - 4:55AM
Author: Dimitar Angelov

2008 Toyota Land Cruiser with 546k miles on the odometer, on the original engine and transmission

The Toyota Land Cruisers of old are, often, described as indestructible and while browsing through the Facebook group, Impossible Mileage, I found one that certainly lives up to the legend. A member of the forum posted a 2008 Land Cruiser 200 Series that belongs to a friend of his. Here’s what he says:

“This is my buddy’s 2008 Land Cruiser with 546,000 miles. He’s had it for 16 years and it still runs and looks like new.”

I always love seeing high-mileage cars that look, sound, and go like new. It is no surprise that this 200 Series has had the same owner since new. The proven body-on-frame platform and Toyota’s 5.7-liter V-8 are two of the main reasons to keep your Toyota for a long time, especially with all the newer models featuring much more complex, downsized powertrains.

This is especially true after Toyota's 3.4-liter twin-turbo V-6 got an extended recall due to metal debris.

That 38R-FE V-8 is an amazing engine, and one of the main reasons why the second-generation Toyota Tundra is a long-term truck for many. I would say the same applies to the 200 Series Land Cruiser, and any other Toyota and Lexus models that has V-8.

This particular Land Cruiser has 546,000 miles on the odometer, supposedly, from a single owner. The mileage had been accumulated over 16 years, according to the group member. Being a 2008 model year, the SUV is, technically, 18 years old. Whether the owner bought the Land Cruiser as a slightly used, two-year-old vehicle is not mentioned. It seems almost everything is working properly on this particular example.

Forum members pay more attention to the VSC warning light

2008 Toyota Land Cruise 200 Series 5.7 V-8

While 546,000 miles is impressive even for a Land Cruiser V-8, the group members address a “glaring issue”. Even a company that prides itself on reliability, like Toyota, makes an effort to design dashboard warning messages that are easy to spot.

In this particular case, the 200 Series Land Cruiser has the VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) message displayed on the instrument cluster, and it causes a debate over the root cause. The issue is well-known and documented, but it seems that different owners who have had the warning message point out different causes.

One member says: “I've had many an encounter with the VSC / Trac lights on my 423k mile tundra. Usually it pertains to ABS codes, sometimes transmission codes. Nothing to do with how the engine runs.”

While another replies: “Toyota/Lexus has the check engine light come with the VSC/trac light altogether. This light can mean you have an engine problem, or as simple as an exhaust leak or a bad cat.”

Another member says: “I have a VSC light on in my gx from a gas cap. Runs perfectly fine.”

Many other owners have pointed out faulty speed sensors. This is a widespread issue among Toyota and Lexus models of age.

At over 500,000 miles, it is normal for stuff to go wrong on a car. With approximately 30,000 individual components, something will eventually wear out or break. The Land Cruiser 200 has a few common issues, including coolant leaks (particularly from the radiator and expansion-tank cap), dust in the airbox, torque-converter issues, transfer-case actuator, and more.

These are mostly age-related issues, and models from 2016 and newer are said to be improved. Nevertheless, this particular Toyota Land Cruiser is still going strong, and the owner isn’t planning to sell anytime soon.

What would you do if you had a high-mileage Toyota like this one? Would you trade for a new vehicle or would you keep this one? If you have a similar car story, feel free to share in the comments below.

This Is The Ultimate Toyota Land Cruiser Pickup Truck, And You Can't Have It Just Yet

Toyota Owners Have Spoken: The Fifth-Generation 4Runner Is A Much Better SUV Than The Sixth Gen

Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota and Nissan are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

Image source: Brad Bias on Mileage Impossible via Facebook