Free Buyer’s Guide
2018 Toyota Prado
A simple guide for buyers with no car knowledge. Do most of the work from home, on the phone. Only go and see the 4WD if you like what you hear. The decision is always yours.
The free guide is below. The full guide is made for this car after you pay.
Most complete
Want the full step-by-step plan for this 2018 Toyota Prado?
The full guide is made for this exact car. It runs to up to 40 pages, with drawings, so you know where to look and what each answer means.
- Drawings of the car, the engine bay and where oil and coolant leaks show up
- A step-by-step walk around, start-up and test drive, with a Yes or No for every check
- A colour on every No that says how serious it is, and a rough repair budget at the end
- Your name, odometer reading and VIN printed on it, if you give them
Which 2018 Prado is it?
Two reports say the petrol V6 was dropped for 2018, and only the 2.8L turbo diesel was sold. If an advert says petrol, ask to see the engine code.
Ask the seller: "Is the engine code 1GD-FTV, and can I see it on the vehicle's plate?"
2.8L turbo diesel 1GD-FTV
Engine code 1GD-FTV · 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic
- 4-cylinder turbo diesel with 130 kW of power
- GX and GXL: manual or auto. VX and Kakadu: auto only
- Permanent 4x4 with low range, which gives extra low gears for rough tracks
Safety rating
ANCAP's page for this body covers builds from August 2013 to December 2022. We could not confirm a star count for it. The rating ran out on 1 January 2023 under ANCAP's six-year rule. The 2025 all-new Prado has 5 stars, but that is a different vehicle. Look up this model on the ANCAP site: https://www.ancap.com.au/safety-ratings/toyota/prado/ddb0dd
The big-money items
You can’t see inside these parts, but you can ask about them.
Diesel particulate filter (DPF) 2.8L TURBO DIESEL
$$$ (over $2,000)The DPF is an exhaust filter that traps soot. A court found the DPFs were not of acceptable quality. Toyota offers a fix and a 10-year warranty.
Ask: "Has the DPF been repaired or replaced, and was the Toyota DPF fix done?"
Fuel pump recall PRADO 2013 TO 2019, CHECK THE VIN
$ (under $500)A recall covers fuel pumps on several Toyota models, including the Prado. Check by VIN if it applies.
Ask: "Is there proof the fuel pump recall work was done, if it applied?"
Dust and limp mode 2.8L TURBO DIESEL
$ (under $500)In 2017 Toyota told dealers that fine dust could cause limp mode. Limp mode is when the vehicle cuts power to protect itself. One report says the air filter seal is not as tight as it should be.
Ask: "Has the air filter been checked, and has it ever gone into limp mode?"
Want to check these yourself?
The full guide shows where each of these parts is on this car and how to check it safely, with a Yes or No for every check.
Get the full guide · $29Regular maintenance
Look for these on the service invoices.
- Engine oil
Oil keeps the moving parts of the engine slippery.
As shown in the logbook
- Fuel filter (diesel)
It catches dirt before the fuel reaches the engine.
As shown in the logbook
- Brake fluid
The liquid that carries your foot push to the brakes.
Every 2 years (our guide)
- Coolant
The liquid that stops the engine getting too hot.
As shown in the logbook
- Gearbox, diff and transfer oils
Oil in the gearbox, the diffs and the transfer case. They send power to the wheels.
As shown in the logbook
- Air filter
It cleans the air before it goes into the engine.
As shown in the logbook
- Tyres
Check the age and the tread. Old tyres go hard.
Replace at 6 years old, even with good tread (our guide). Alignment every 10,000 to 15,000 km (our guide)
- Battery
It starts the engine and runs the electrics.
Most last about 3 to 5 years
Questions to ask on this Prado
These are for this model. The full list of questions, with tick boxes, is in the PDF.
Was the Toyota DPF fix done, and do you have the paperwork?
Good answer: Yes, and the paperwork is on hand. Or the seller can say clearly what was done to the filter.
Why: The DPF is the main known engine issue on this model.
Where are the service records?
Good answer: A full logbook or invoices, with dates and kilometres.
Why: Records show how the vehicle was looked after.
Was it used mostly for short city trips?
Good answer: No, it did a good mix of longer drives.
Why: Short trips can stop the filter from burning off its soot.
Words you might see on an invoice
- DPF
- The exhaust filter that traps soot.
- Regeneration
- The filter burning off its soot. If this does not happen, the DPF blocks.
- ECU reprogram
- A software update for the vehicle's computer.
- Limp mode
- The vehicle cuts power to protect itself.
- Service bulletin
- The maker's note to dealers about a known issue.
- Common rail
- The high-pressure fuel system on this diesel.
Two quick checks at home
All you need is the VIN.
- Recalls: toyota.com.au/toyota-recalls
- Recalls: vehiclerecalls.gov.au
- Money owing: ppsr.gov.au (small fee; check again on the day you pay)
- A PPSR search costs $2.
- It may show if the vehicle is stolen or written off.
- It does not show how much money is owing.
- Check recalls by VIN. Toyota's helpline is on its recall page.
Good to know
- A class action covers Hilux, Prado and Fortuner diesels with a 1GD-FTV or 2GD-FTV engine bought or leased between October 2015 and April 2020.
Free guide or the full guide?
Both are for the exact car you are looking at. Here is what each one holds.
| What it holds | Free guide | Full guide · $29 |
|---|---|---|
| Length | About 12 pages | Up to 40 pages |
| The engines sold that year, with their codes | Yes | Yes |
| The big-money items, with the question to ask | Yes | Yes, and where each part is and how to check it safely |
| Questions to ask the seller on the phone | Yes | Yes |
| Service history | What to look for on the invoices | A table for the odometer reading, with the jobs that should be done by now |
| Drawings of the car, the engine bay and the leaks | No | Yes |
| Step-by-step walk around, start-up and test drive | No | Yes, with a Yes or No for every check |
| How serious each problem is | A simple scorecard | A colour on every No, and a rough repair budget |
| Your name, odometer reading and VIN printed on it | No | Yes, if you give them |
| A PDF to print or open on your phone | Yes | Yes |
A look inside the full guide
Four real pages from a full guide for a 2015 Toyota HiLux. We blur most of each page on purpose, so it cannot be copied. Your own guide is clear, and made for your car.
Your car drawn see-through, with the key parts marked
The engine bay, with numbered pins
A Yes or No for every check, with a colour on each No
A rough repair budget from what you tick
General information only, not an inspection of any vehicle. “Our guide” means our recommendation, not a legal rule. Costs are a rough guide. Information current at October 2026: always check the VIN yourself.