Which Kluger do you have?
| Sold | Engine | Camshaft drive | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First (XU20) | 2003 to 2007 | 3.3-litre V6 | Belt and scissor gears |
| Second (XU40) | 2007 to 2013 | 3.5-litre V6 | Chains |
| Third (XU50) | 2014 to 2021 | 3.5-litre V6 | Chains |
| Fourth (XU70) | 2021 on | 2.5-litre hybrid; some have a 2.4-litre turbo petrol | See the service book |
What goes wrong on each Kluger?
2007 to 2013. Two recalls cover the driver's power window switch, the second for a short circuit and fire hazard on cars made from August 2008 to June 2010. On cars made from May 2007 to April 2008, a rubber oil hose for the variable valve timing can develop a pinhole and leak. Listen for abnormal engine noise, and if the oil pressure light comes on, pull over somewhere safe and switch off. A squeal from the engine bay on these cars can be the no.2 idler pulley.
2014 to 2021. Cars built from July 2017 to December 2019 were recalled for a low-pressure fuel pump that can stop, so the engine may stall and not restart. Earlier recalls cover a fuel delivery pipe and the electric power steering on some 2014 cars. On 2014 and 2015 cars the power back door may stop working, which new actuators fix. CarsGuide also notes Bluetooth drop-outs, and white paint that peeled off in sheets on some cars. Toyota fixed most of those, so look over the paint on any used one.
2021 on. Four recalls are listed: the front seat-back frames on 2021 cars, the driver's airbag wiring on 2023 cars, the front lower bumper cover on 2021 to 2023 cars, and the second-row seat recliner, issued in March 2026. An airbag warning light on a 2023 Kluger is the one to act on quickly, because the airbag may not deploy.
Australian Car Reviews, which keeps these lists, says the count shouldn't be read as a measure of reliability. A Kluger with a full service history is usually a better bet than one with a short fault list and gaps in its book.
How often is a Kluger due, and what changes the bill?
CarExpert's 2021 review puts the first five services at 12 months or 15,000 km, V6 or hybrid. An older Kluger may differ, so follow its own Warranty and Service Book.
What moves a Kluger's service is the car itself: hybrid or V6, front-drive or all-wheel drive, how much towing it's done, and whether tyres and brake discs are coming up on the same visit. CarsGuide tells used buyers to watch for missing or skipped services, and to read bald tyres and warped discs as signs of a car that hasn't been cared for.
The hybrid uses a nickel-metal hydride battery with cover of up to 10 years. The car has five years with unlimited kilometres, and seven for the engine and driveline, so read the conditions in your book before you choose where it goes. Servicing by a qualified independent mechanic to Toyota's schedule and specifications doesn't by itself void the new car warranty.
Tell us the year and what the Kluger's doing. A local mechanic who specialises in your car.
If it were our Kluger
We'd run the VIN through vehiclerecalls.gov.au first, because recall work is Toyota's to do. Then we'd take the symptom to a mechanic who works on Toyotas, with the year, the engine and exactly when it happens. On a hybrid, ask how often they see hybrids; a good mechanic will answer straight. For a used Kluger, the service record tells you more than the odometer.