Toyota FJ Cruiser Complaints

908 consumer complaints on file.

#10384283February 24, 2011
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
I OWN TWO 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISERS, AND BOTH OF THE WINDSHIELDS HAVE CRACKED. I'VE LOOKED UP ON SEVERAL FORUMS, BLOGS, ETC..., IN REGARDS TO THIS PROBLEM AND IT SEEM THAT MANY OTHER TOYOTA FJ CRUISER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THE DESIGN AND THE QUALITY OF THE WINDSHIELDS THEY INSTALLED ON THESE VEHICLES ARE SUB STANDARD AND HINDER THE SAFETY OF THESE VEHICLES IN AN ACCIDENTAL ROLLOVER. TOYOTA FAILS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM AND BLAMES ROAD DEBRIS FOR THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE FOR AN INVESTIGATION TO BE OPEN SO THE CAN DETERMINE THE INTEGRITY OF THE WINDSHIELD, AND HOPEFULLY A RECALL WILL BE ORDERED TO REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379818February 1, 2011
WHEELS
BROKEN WHEEL STUDS ON 2010 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. 3 WHEEL STUDS ON REAR TIRES BROKE DURING A NORMAL TIRE ROTATION AND BALANCE. DEFECTIVE STUDS WERE REPLACED W/ AFTERMARKET STUDS. CONSEQUENCES COULD BE A LOSS OF A WHEEL DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. *LN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378287January 22, 2011
AIR BAGS
ON JAN.7TH AROUND 10:00PM MY SON AND HIS COUSIN AND HER BOY FRIEND WAS GOING TO THE STORE FOR SNACKS. THE ROAD WAS COVERED WITH SNOW AND HE HAD THE FJ CRUISER IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE. THE FJ CRUISER SLID OFF THE ROAD AND FLIPPED OVER INTO THE RIVER. THE VEHICLE HAS SEVERAL AIR BAGS IN IT AND NOT ONE OF THEM DEPLOYED. THANK GOD, THEY WERE NOT HURT, ALTHOUGH THEY DID GO TO THE HOSPITAL. NEED LESS TO SAY THE FJ CRUISER WAS TOTALED. NO ONE OF THE AIR BAGS WENT OFF. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10375317January 9, 2011
WHEELS
2010 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER WHEEL STUDS FAILED WHEN REMOVING BOLTS TO ROTATE TIRES. AMERICAN TIRE CENTER OF PALMDALE CALIFORNIA ORIGINALLY INSTALLED FOUR NEW TIRES WITH LESS THAN 10K MI. ON ODOMETER. AT APPROXIMATELY 15K MI. WHEN SAME COMPANY ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE WHEELS FOR ROUTINE TIRE ROTATION THE WHEEL STUDS BEGAN BREAKING ONE AFTER THE OTHER. 4 OUT OF 6 WHEEL STUDS FAILED ON FRONT RIGHT WHEEL ALONE. AMERICAN TIRE CENTER REPLACED THE BROKEN STUDS, HOWEVER, WHEN OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO PERFORM PRECAUTIONARY WHEEL STUD REPLACEMENT THE DEALER, (WITHOUT PERFORMING INSPECTION) SAID IT WAS AMERICAN TIRE CENTER WHO LIKELY OVERTORQUED BOLTS AND THAT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. LUGS WERE ALL DEFORMED AT SPECIFIC POINT ALONG THE MIDDLE OF THE SHAFT AND HAD A STRETCHED "TAFFY-LIKE" APPEARANCE BUT ONLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LUG. REPLACEMENT COST FOR COMPLETE WHEEL LUG REPLACEMENT WAS ESTIMATED AT $600.00 BY HUNTINGTON BEACH TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. BROKEN WHEEL STUDS RETAINED BY OWNER FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. FURTHER ACTION SUSPENDED UNTIL OWNER RETURNS FROM MILITARY DUTY OVERSEAS. VIN NOT IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE TO COMPLAINANT DUE TO OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10375102January 7, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY
2007 FJ CRUISER ENGINE BAY BODY RIPS, NOTICED AT APPROXIMATELY 75K. NO OFF ROADING SINCE PURCHASED USED DECEMBER 2007 WITH 32K ALREADY CLOCKED. RIPS ARE SYMMETRICAL ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ENGINE BAY INNER FENDER APRON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10374666January 4, 2011
AIR BAGS
TL *THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH IN THE SNOW, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH WENT INTO A DITCH, HITTING SEVERAL TREES. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS IN THE VEHICLE DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372455December 26, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER HAS A DEFINITE AND VERY SERIOUS BRAKE PROBLEM! ON AT LEAST 6 TO 8 OCCASIONS BRAKES HAVE LOCKED UP AND CAUSED TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE! ON SOME OCCASIONS, I FEEL THAT A LESS-EXPERIENCED DRIVER COULD HAVE CRASHED!! ONE OCCASION WAS AT 55 MPH WHILE PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS OCCASIONAL SCARY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN REPORTED BY NUMEROUS OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE ON THE FJ CRUISER FORUM, BUT THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA!!! HELP!!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10371760December 20, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR/TONE RING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED THE ANTI LOCK AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS BEGAN ILLUMINATING ON THE DASHBOARD. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WAS BROKEN. HE ATTEMPTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BECAUSE THE WHEELS WERE LOCKED. WHILE TOWING THE VEHICLE A LOUD POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD AND ALL OF THE WHEELS EXCEPT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEELS BEGAN TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE SPEED SENSOR WIRE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,000. UPDATED 02/02/11 *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10370370December 13, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT
SUMMARY: THE PRIMARY SAFETY SYSTEM (BRAKES) IN MY 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER FAILED TWICE. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP UTILIZING TOYOTA NATIONAL RESOURCES WERE UNABLE TO ISOLATE THE PROBLEM. THE SOLUTION WAS TO COMPLETELY REPLACE BRAKE SYSTEM AND CHARGE IT TO ME. THE LACK OF AVAILABILITY OF PARTS NATIONALLY (BACKORDER) RESULTED IN A COMPLETELY UNREASONABLE REPAIR TIMEFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF SERVICE FOR 49 DAYS AND COST $2503.99 TO REPAIR. OCTOBER 1, 2010 DRIVING IN TRAFFIC DEPRESS BRAKE. THE PEDAL GOES COMPLETELY TO FLOOR BOARD. NO INDICATION OF PROBLEMS VIA INTERIOR WARNING LIGHTS. OCTOBER 6, 2010 PROBLEM DETERMINED TO BE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. PART ORDERED (47025-35111 CYLINDER SUB-ASSEMBLY) THROUGH INTERNET SITE OF LAKELAND TOYOTA IN FLORIDA. THE COST OF THE PART IS $981.37 AND THE PART IS ON BACKORDER. ESTIMATED DELIVER IS 10/26/10. OCTOBER 26, 2010 PART ARRIVES AND IS INSTALLED. MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS ARE INDICATED ON INTERIOR DISPLAY. NOVEMBER 1, 2010 TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DETERMINES THE NEW MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLIES COMPUTER IS DEFECTIVE. NOVEMBER 4, 2010 TOYOTA DEALERSHIP REPLACES NEW MASTER CYLINDER COMPUTER WITH MY OLD COMPUTER. THE RESULT IS THE WARNING LIGHTS TURNING OFF AND INDICATES THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED. THE MECHANIC TAKE THE VEHICLE ON A TEST DRIVE ACTIVATES THE ANTILOCK BRAKES WHICH RESULTS IN AN UNEXPECTED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE SERVICE MANAGER REFUSES TO RETURN THE VEHICLE CLAIMING IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. NO WARNING LIGHTS ARE INDICATED ON THE VEHICLE. NOVEMBER 10, 2010 TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WITHIN THE NEW MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLIES IS FAULTY. BRAKE SOLENOID COMPONENTS ARE ALSO DETERMINED TO BE FAULTY AND A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. TOYOTA RECOMMENDS THAT COMPLETE BRAKE ASSEMBLY (47050-35072 $1823.87) BE REPLACED. THIS IS VIRTUALLY THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE. THIS ASSEMBLY IS ON BACKORDER AS WELL. NOVEMBER 18, 2010 VEHICLE REPAIRED AND RETURNED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10370032December 4, 2010
WHEELS
WHEEL STUD BROKE OFF WHEN CHANGING TO WINTER TIRES. A TORQUE WRENCH WAS USED TO PREVENT OVERTORQUEING. THE CAR HAS 3247 MILES. NO ONE HAD TOUCHED THE WHEELS UNTIL TODAY. ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM SEEN WITH 2010 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER AND 2010 TOYOTA 4RUNNER MODELS. NHTSA SHOULD ASK TOYOTA TO INSTITUTE A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE DEALERS TO INSPECT AND REPLACE ANY DAMAGED WHEEL STUDS. HTTP://WWW.FJCRUISERFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/PROBLEMS-DEALER-SERVICE/85927-BROKEN-WHEEL-STUDS.HTML HTTP://WWW.TOYOTA-4RUNNER.ORG/5TH-GEN-T4RS/66780-WHEEL-LUG-STUD-BROKE-90-FT-LBS-2010-4RUNNER.HTML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10368616December 1, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP, CAUSING ME TO SLAM MY BREAKS WHILE I WAS DOING 40-ISH. 2. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO BAKE STUMBLE AS THE BREAKS SLOWED THE CAR, THEN CAME LOSE CAUSING THE CAR TO LUNGE FORWARD, THEN MOMENTARILY BRAKE, THEN LOSE BRAKING AGAIN. THIS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST SLAM IN TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. 3. I HAVE NOT TAKEN CORRECTIVE ACTION AS THIS SHOULD ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA AS THERE ARE MANY MANY PEOPLE DESCRIBING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10368132November 29, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DRIVING A NEW 2010 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER WITH APPROXIMATELY 600 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. MODERATE RAIN. WHEN TURNING OFF A PAVED ROADWAY ONTO A FLAT, WET, AND MUDDY SURFACE I HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF TOTAL MOMENTARY BRAKE FAILURE. THIS OCCURRED AS MY LEFT FRONT TIRE LEFT THE ROAD SURFACE AND HIT THE SLICK MUD. MY SPEED WAS UNDER 20 MPH AND I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN BRAKING POWER BY RELEASING THE BRAKE AND THEN RE-APPLYING IT. MY ASSUMPTION AT THE TIME WAS IT WAS THE RESULT OF SOME KIND OF WEIRD ABS BEHAVIOR. I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES VERY LIGHTLY TO GRADUALLY SLOW MY VEHICLE. THE BRAKES BEHAVED NORMALLY UNTIL THE FIRST TIRE HIT THE SLICK MUDDY SURFACE. SOMEHOW THE SYSTEM CAUSED ALL 4 WHEELS TO LOSE ALL BRAKING POWER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10368010November 28, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, VISIBILITY, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
1-CRUISE CONTROL OVER-SPEEDING. IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM EXCEED THE SET VEHICLE SPEED IN THESE THREE CONDITIONS 1A.ONE THE CRUISE CONTROL RESUMES SPEED AFTER DECELERATION. 1B.WHILST THE VEHICLE NEGOTIATE UPHILL DRIVING CONDITION 1C. IF THERE IS A STRONG HEAD WIND. THIS WILL KEEP THE DRIVER DISTRACTED TO JUST MONITOR HIS/HER SPEED SO THAT HE/SHE WILL NOT GET FLASHED FOR SPEEDING ! 2-SPEEDOMETER READING DEVIATION COMPARE WITH GPS SPEED READING WHEN THE ODOMETER READING IS 87.5 MPH YOU ARE ACTUALLY DOING 81.88 MPH. 3-ABS ABNORMAL OPERATION WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED ON UNPAVED PEBBLES LADEN ROAD. IT WAS OBSERVED THAT YOU LOSE BREAKING POWER OR THE CAR APPLIES THE BREAK SO STRONG IN A WAY IT PANIC THE DRIVER WHICH MIGHT LEAD TO A CRASH, THIS BEHAVIOR OF THE BREAKS IS IRRELEVANT TO THE DEPRESSING PRESSURE ON THE BREAK PEDAL BY THE DRIVER. 4-A/C AIRFLOW FOOT MODE AIR FLOWING AT WINDSHIELD DEFOGGER. IT WAS OBSERVED THAT IF THE (FOOT ONLY) MODE IS SELECTED THE AIR WILL GET OUT OF THE FOOT EXIST AS WELL AS THE UPPER WINDSHIELD DEFOGGER AND IF USED WITH THE A/C SWITCHED ON IT WILL LEAD TO CONDENSATION OF THE FOG ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD (AS COLD AIR WILL COOL DOWN THE WINDSHIELD) WHICH WILL BLOCK THE VISIBILITY! 5-REAR CAMERA MONITOR EXHIBITS DARK PATCH ON BOTH UPPER AND LOWER CORNERS OF THE SCREEN (IF FITTED) ! 6-REMOTE START FUNCTION EXHIBIT STARTER MOTOR OVER-RUN CONDITION AFTER ENGINE HAS STARTED (IF THE CAR HAS A REMOTE STARTUP-FACILITY) I HAVE TAKEN THE ISSUES WITH THE LOCAL AGENCY OF MY CAR IN MY COUNTRY AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE SIMILAR COMPLAINS ABOUT THE SAME WITH REGARDS TO THE US VERSION OF THE FJ CRUISER 2009. IT WILL BE GREAT IF YOU INVESTIGATE THESE COMPLAINS AS THE FACTORY IS DENYING THAT THERE IS ANY MANUFACTURER DEFECTS ! WHICH I TOTALLY DISAGREE AS I AM SURE THERE IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECTS WHICH THE FACTORY IS TRYING TO HIDE IN ORDER TO AVOID A RECALL. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION QUERY PLEASE CONTACT ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10367321November 23, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT I MADE A LANE CHANGE WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT WHEN IT TURNED YELLOW. I APPLIED THE BRAKES SLIGHTLY HARDER THAN NORMAL AT WHICH POINT THE CAR TOOK OVER AND APPLIED 100% BRAKING FORCE. THE CAR SLAMMED TO A STOP AND BOTH THE PASSENGER AND I WERE WHIPPED FORWARD AND WERE LUCK TO HAVE NOT BEEN REAR ENDED. I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH ALL THE SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS CONTROLLERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365320November 10, 2010
SUSPENSION, STEERING
2010 FJ CRUISER STEERING WHEEL SHAKE/VIBRATION. ONLY OCCURS WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE BETWEEN 55 MPH AND 65 MPH. DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON IDENTICAL ROAD CONDITIONS BELOW 55 MPH OR ABOVE 65 MPH DOES NOT CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE/VIBRATE. STEERING WHEEL SHAKE/VIBRATION OCCURS DURING THE ABOVE MENTIONED SPEEDS, REGARDLESS OF ROAD CONDITIONS. DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL AND REFUSES TO ADDRESS SAFETY ISSUE. STEERING WHEEL SHAKE/VIBRATION OCCURS EVEN WITH DIFFERENT TIRE/WHEEL COMBINATIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10362692October 27, 2010
STRUCTURE
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I AM WRITING TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION AN ISSUE THAT I FEEL SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA DUE TO THE SIMPLE NUMBER OF OCCURRENCES FOUND IN SEARCHES ON THE INTERNET DATING BACK TO 2007. VEHICLE: 2010 TOYOTA MODEL: FJ CRUISER WINDSHIELD: UNREASONABLE/PREMATURE CRACKING VIN #: [XXX] THE ANGLE AT WHICH THE WINDSHIELD IS MOUNTED IS OF GRAVE CONCERN TO ME, SIMPLY BECAUSE OF MY RECENT EXPERIENCE 2 DAYS AGO. WHILE DRIVING TO THE GYM I RECEIVED 2 MERE PEBBLES HITTING MY WINDSHIELD, AND IMMEDIATELY 2 CRACKS DEVELOPED RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT LONG RUNNING CRACKS, I AM NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT THE KIND THAT SPREAD LIKE SUN RAYS IN ALL DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. BUT I AM MERELY SAYING THAT THE MARKS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD HARDLY EVEN SHOW AN INDENTION IN THE GLASS. AND YET THE CRACKS ARE DEEP IN THEIR SINGLE SPOTS AND AS OF YET THEY HAVE NOT STARTED TO SPREAD. I AM NOT A TAIL GAITER, NOR WAS I TOO CLOSE TO THE VEHICLE IN FROM OF ME WHEN THIS EVEN TOOK PLACE. CONSIDERING THE SOUND THAT IT MADE WHEN I HEARD IT I SIMPLY CANNOT BELIEVE THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE THAT HAS OCCURRED. IF YOU SIMPLY DO A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR "FJ CRUISER WINDSHIELD ISSUES/COMPLAINTS" YOU WILL FIND A PLETHORA OF COMPLAINTS/BLOGS/RANTS & RAVES ABOUT HOW THIS HAS HAPPENED FROM 2007 ONWARDS AND ALL COMPLAINTS HAVE SEEMINGLY FALLEN ON DEAF EARS. REPAIRS RANGE ANYWHERE FROM AROUND $500 - $1200 DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU GO TO REPLACE IT. AND AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED THAT AFTER SPENDING $38,000.00 ON A VEHICLE THIS SIMPLY SHOULDN'T HAPPEN. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT HONDA FACED IN CERTAIN YEAR/MODEL "HONDA ELEMENTS". NOT ONLY WAS THERE ISSUE COMPLAINED ABOUT ENOUGH TO GET FREE REPLACEMENTS BUT IT ALSO SPURRED HONDA TO TOTALLY RE-DESIGN THE WINDSHIELD FOR THE FOLLOWING YEARS. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ISSUES AS I AM SORELY DISAPPOINTED. I DO NOT FEEL AS THOUGH I SHOULD COME OUT OF POCKET FOR THIS REPAIR NOR THAT OF MY INSURANCE COMPANY! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10362068October 23, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
AFTER A "PANIC STOP" IN MY 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER, THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. WHEN AT A STOP LIGHT, THE BRAKES WILL SLOWLY FADE UNTIL THE PEDAL IS ON THE FLOOR AND THE TRUCK WILL ROLL FORWARD. THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND I WILL HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE IT. THIS IS HAS OCCURRED WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND IS DOCUMENTED ON FJCRUISERFORUMS.COM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10359945October 11, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THIS IS A TOYOTA ECM COMPUTER ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. I WAS WAITING IN MY 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER AT A TRAFFIC STOP FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE FROM RED TO GREEN. AT THIS TIME, I FELT A HARD "BUMP" AS IF ANOTHER CAR HAD REAR-ENDED MY FJ. THERE WAS THIS REAL HARD "THUMP." THE FJ HAD SHIFTED GEARS ON ITS OWN WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP. EITHER THE TRANSFER CASE DIFFERENTIAL AND/OR THE ELECTRICAL REAR DIFFERENTIAL LOCKED UP. BOTH MY HANDS WERE ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND MY RIGHT FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AT THE TIME. THERE IS NO DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR MAT. THE FJ GOT A STRONG GRIP ON THE ROAD AND IT LURCHED FORWARD. THERE WAS A LOT OF EXTRA POWER AND A LOT MORE TRACTION THAN IN THE NORMAL "D" MODE FOR DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT. INSTINCTIVELY, I PRESSED DOWN HARDER ON THE BRAKE IN ORDER TO KEEP THE FJ FROM MOVING INTO THE INTERSECTION. TWO SECONDS LATER, THERE WAS ANOTHER "THUMP" AND THE FJ SHIFTED BACK INTO THE NORMAL ROAD GEAR "D." I BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT THE ECM COMPUTER SENT A MALFUNCTIONING SIGNAL AND LOCKED UP ONE OR BOTH OF THE DIFFERENTIALS. THIS HAPPENED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON DRY PAVEMENT AND STOP WHEN THERE WAS NO DRIVER COMMAND TO SHIFT GEARS. THE SENSATION I FELT IS SIMILAR TO USING MY FJ FOR OFF-ROAD DRIVING AND SHIFTING INTO 4WD "LOW," BUT THIS WAS MUCH MORE SEVERE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE ECM COMPUTER MIGHT MALFUNCTION HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 70 MPH. IT COULD SEND A SIMILAR COMMAND TO LOCK UP EITHER THE TRANSFER CASE DIFFERENTIAL OR ELECTRIC REAR DIFFERENTIAL. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE FJ BECOMES A 5,000 LB. FLYING MISSILE, BASICALLY OUT OF CONTROL. I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO STEER THE FJ OR TO NAVIGATE TURNS PROPERLY. IT WOULD BECOME A DANGER NOT ONLY TO MYSELF, BUT TO ALL OTHER CARS IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. SOMETHING IS DANGEROUSLY WRONG WITH TOYOTA'S ECM COMPUTER SYSTEM IN THE FJ CRUISER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10354834September 10, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2008 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. WHEN COMING TO STOP GOING DOWN A HILL, WENT OVER A POT HOLE WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AND STARTED TO JERK FORWARD. THE BRAKE PEDAL HIT THE FLOOR HAD TO RELEASE FOOT SO THAT THE PEDAL WILL COME UP VEHICLE ALMOST WENT THROUGH INTERSECTION. NO BRAKES POWER FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. DEALER STATES THAT NOTHING IS WRONG, TYPICAL BEHAVIOR FOR THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10354945September 10, 2010
STRUCTURE:BODY
I HAVE DISCOVERED BULGING AND CRACKING ISSUES IN THE ENGINE BAY INNER FENDER APRONS AT THE LOCATION OF THE CRUMPLE SAFETY ZONES. TOYOTA DEALER AND CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSONNEL ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT WILL NOT ESCALATE MY COMPLAINT OR ALLOW ME TO SPEAK WITH A SUPERVISOR. FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWS THAT THERE IS A HIGH AMOUNT OF OWNERS EXPERIENCING SOME BULGING AND CRACKING ISSUES WITH 2007 AND SOME EARLY 2008 MODELS. THE BULGES AND CRACKS IN THE INNER FENDERS SEEM TO BE ATTRIBUTED TO A TOYOTA DESIGN FLAW THROUGH CERTAIN VIN NUMBERS. SOME SPECULATION WAS MADE THAT AFTERMARKET STEEL BUMPERS HAD PUT EXTRA WEIGHT AND STRESS ON THE FENDERS, CAUSING THEM TO CRACK, BUT HUNDREDS OF FJ'S EQUIPPED WITH AFTERMARKET BUMPERS SUFFERED NO DAMAGE. IT IS RUMORED THAT TOYOTA ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM IN MOST 2008 MODELS BY BOXING THE INNER FENDER AND ADDING A THIRD LAYER OF METAL AND A NEW BOLT INSIDE THE FENDER. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AS IT NEGATES THE ABSORPTIVE PROPERTIES OF THE FRONTAL CRUMPLE ZONE, IN ADDITION TO THE OBVIOUS STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Toyota FJ Cruiser