Toyota FJ Cruiser Complaints
908 consumer complaints on file.
- #10839755March 3, 2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
KNOWN PROBLEM BY MANUFACTURERS. EXTREME DAMAGE TO WIRING HARNESS AND COMPONENTS WITHIN ENGINE COMPARTMENT BY RODENT. VEHICLE HAS 13,837 MILES ONLY. NEW WIRING STANDARDS REPORTEDLY DRAW RODENTS AND/OR INCREASE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO VEHICLE SYSTEMS. VEHICLE WAS PARKED LESS THAN 7 HOURS AND WHEN TURNED IGNITION TO VEHICLE, INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED EVERY SAFETY WARNING TO INCLUDE ENGINE LIGHT FLASHING. ENGINE SPUTTERED AND REQUIRED TOW. INSURANCE COMPANY REPORTS HIGH NUMBER OF CLAIMS ESPECIALLY RELATED TO NEWER CARS WITH WIRING. DAMAGE TO WIRING IF DRIVEN COULD CAUSE VEHICLE SYSTEMS TO FAIL, FIRE AND COULD CAUSE GRAVE RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH TO OPERATOR AND PASSENGERS. MANUFACTURER DOES NOT COVER IN WARRANTY NOR PROVIDES PREVENTIVE REMEDY TO ISSUE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10837987February 24, 2016POWER TRAIN
I TOOK MY FJ TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID DRAINED AND REFILLED. THEY DECIDED TO DO A COMPLETE REVIEW ALTHOUGH I SEE NO TOOL MAKES THEY TOLD ME I NEED TO REPLACE MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL, AND TOLD ME AS IF THEY JUST KNEW IT WAS AN ISSUE. THE COST WAS $2360. I WENT HOME AND DID SOME VERY BRIEF RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR 2009 AND LATER FJ CRUISERS. IN 2010 THEY CHANGED THE REAR AXLE. A HUGE NUMBER OF OWNERS ON THE FJ CRUISE FORUMS HAVE POINTED OUT THE ISSUE. THE COST AT THE DEALER WOULD BE TO REPLACE IT WITH THE SAME PARTS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN UPDATES AND WOULD FAIL AGAIN. TOYOTA CLEARLY KNOWS THE ISSUE AND MORE THAN LIKELY KNEW WHEN PRODUCING THE ORIGINAL FJS. MY FJ HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD AND ONLY USED FOR NORMAL COMMUTING. I DON'T SPEED OR DRIVE POORLY, AND MY DRIVING RECORD IS COMPLETELY CLEAN. I FOUND A GOOD EXPLANATION ON AN AXLE WEB SITE. THE 2009 & OLDER FJ CRUISERS, 4RUNNERS, AND PRADO 120 UTILIZE THE 8' WHICH DATES BACK TO 1979, AND WAS ORIGINALLY USED IN 3000 LB MINI TRUCKS WITH 80 HORSEPOWER AND 27' TIRES. LATE MODEL MODIFIED TOYOTAS SUCH AS FJ CRUISER RUN AT DOUBLE THE WEIGHT, TRIPLE THE HORSEPOWER, AND MUCH LARGER TIRES TO TOP IT OFF. FOR THIS REASON THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF FAILURES, ENOUGH SO THAT TOYOTA UPGRADED THE REAR TO THE 8.2' ON THE 2010 & NEWER MODELS. IT MAY SEEM LIKE A SMALL UPGRADE BUT THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS SUCH AS BEEFIER CASTING, LARGER BEARINGS, LARGER PINION DIAMETER, LARGER RING GEAR DIAMETER, MORE TOOTH CONTACT, AND A BEEFIER 12 BOLT DIFF CASE. THIS MAKES FOR AN EASY SWAP FOR YOUR VEHICLE AND WILL UTILIZE YOUR EXISTING AXLE SHAFTS, BRAKES, ABS SYSTEM ETC. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE AS THIS COULD FAIL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10826025February 13, 2016POWER TRAIN
REAR DIFF HAS GONE OUT AND IS MAKING A LOUD NOISE AT HIGH SPEEDS. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY KILL EVERYONE IN MY FJ IF ON THE INTERSTATE AND IS A PROBLEM TOYOTA IS AWARE OF. THIS SHOULD WARRANT A RECALL FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10822204January 26, 2016SEAT BELTS
THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IN MY 2007 FJ CRUISER IS FAILING TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY. SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT TO THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE LIFETIME WARRANTY OF THE VEHICLE. INSTEAD, TOYOTA IS TELLING ME THAT I WILL HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THESE PARTS REPLACED. IN DOING SOME RESEARCH I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT OTHERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE TO CORRECT THEIR ERROR IN CRAFTSMANSHIP.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10816628December 28, 2015ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY/WIPER
WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE FAILED TO WORK FOR LONG PERIODS OR HAVE TO PLAY WITH SWITCH TO WORK RIGHT. TOOK CAR IN YEARS AGO WHILE UNDER WARRANTY TO FIX AND RESOLVED PROBLEM FOR A FEW YEARS BUT IS NOW REOCCURRING. ALSO DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WINDOW SWITCH INTERMITTENLY WORKS. I DONT KNOW IF THIS IS CONNECTED TO WIPER SWITCH BUT HAVE SEEN RECALLS ON OTHER TOYOTAS THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND HAD A RECALL BUT NONE FOR FJ. SPECIFICS TURN ON CAR, TURN ON SLECTOR SWITCH FOR WIPERS "SLOW THRU HIGH IT DONT MATTER". WIPERS DONT WORK.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10789091November 8, 2015UNKNOWN OR OTHER
RUST. UNUSUAL RUST EVERYWHERE IN MY 2007 FJ CRUISER. EVEN THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNTS ARE RUSTED. THE REAR BUMPER INSIDE, FRAME, REAR DIFFERENTIAL EVERYTHING IS EXTREMELY RUSTED. EVEN THE TRAILER LIGHT PLUGS ARE FALLING OFF DUE TO RUST. THIS IS A CITY CAR AND WE DON'T TAKE IT TO OFFROAD, AND BEING ONLY 74000 MILES, IT'S SCARY TO LOOK UNDER. IF GIVES THE FEELING THAT ONE DAY WHEELS MAY FALL OFF FROM THE FRAME. I HAVE SEARCHED IN THE INTERNET AND REALIZED THAT MOST FJ CRUISER OWNERS HAVE SAME ISSUE. WE PAID 30+ THOUSAND FOR A CAR WHICH IS FALLING APART WITH RUST IN 7 YEARS. HOPE SOMETHING CAN BE DONE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10788153November 3, 2015STRUCTURE:BODY, POWER TRAIN
REPLACED REAR DIFFERENTIAL $2,500, WAS ADVISED WHEN PICKING UP THE CAR THE FRAME HAS ROTTED OUT. MECHANIC ADVISES LIFE OF VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS. WE WOULD HAVE NEVER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE HAD WE KNOWN. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THIS IS A KNOWN TOYOTA PROBLEM.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10787863November 2, 2015POWER TRAIN
AFTER 76,000 MILES THE REAR AXLE STARTED MAKING A WHINING NOISE. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE REAR AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3700. IF THIS REAR AXLE WOULD HAVE BROKEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. TOYOTA KNEW THAT THE REAR RING AND PINION GEAR WERE DEFECTIVE DUE TO OVER TREATING AT THE FACTORY, BUT FAILED TO NOTIFY ANY OWNERS OF FJ CRUISERS AND TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THAT PARTICULAR PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE HAD NEVER DONE ANY OFF ROADING OF ANY SORT. TOYOTA HAS CAUSED A SITUATION FOR ANYONE THAT OWNS ONE OF THESE VEHICLES TO PUT THEMSELVES AND THEIR PASSENGERS AT GRAVE RISK OF CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT IF THE REAR AXLE GEARS SHOULD FAIL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND OR IN THE PROCESS OF OFF ROADING, WHICH TOYOTA CLAIMS THIS VEHICLE IS DESIGNED TO DO.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10782500October 15, 2015SERVICE BRAKES
RECENTLY, MY FJ CRUISER LOSES BRAKES AND IT HAS ALMOST MADE ME GET INTO A COUPLE ACCIDENTS. THE BRAKE PEDDLE WILL GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND I HAVE HAD TO USE MY E-BRAKE TO STOP. PUMPING THE BRAKE USE TO WORK BUT NOW THE BRAKES WONT COME BACK FOR A WHILE. THIS HAPPENS AT ANY MPH AND THE BRAKE HAVE EVEN GONE OUT WHEN I'M STATIONARY.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10778318September 29, 2015POWER TRAIN
MY 2007 FJ CRUISER HAS ABOUT 125,000 MILES ON IT. LAST WEEK I NOTICED THAT WHEN I DRIVE 45-50 MPH THE TRUCK MAKES A NOISE AND SHAKING IN THE REAR END AND BOUNCES SLIGHTLY. THE TRUCK IS AUTOMATIC BUT WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT FEELS AS IF I'M DRIVING AN AUTOMATIC VEHICLE AND AM IN THE WRONG GEAR. (LOOSE FEELING POWER TRAIN) THEY CHECKED THE UNIVERSALS AND THEY WERE FINE AND CHANGED THE FLUID IN THE REAR PUMPKIN BUT STILL NO FIX. NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME TRY REPLACING THE FLUIDS AND FILTERS IN THE TRANSMISSION. (ANOTHER $180.00 REPAIR BILL) THIS SOUND ONLY HAPPENS WHEN I'M COASTING WITH ACCELERATOR AT 45-50 MPH AND NOT GOING UP ANY HILLS OR HEAVY ACCELERATION. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO DO THE TRANSMISSION SERVICE AND I HOPE IT FIXES THE PROBLEM.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10761652September 4, 2015STRUCTURE:BODY
RECENTLY I NOTICED MY FJ CRUISER HAS INNER FENDER CRACKS UNDER THE HOOD INSIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, BIGGER THAN 5 INCHES LONG, ON THE BOTH SIDES OF SHEET METAL OF THE FENDER, AND THE HOOD HAS BULGES ALSO AT BOTH SIDES. I CALL TOYOTA AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND THEY JUST TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE HAS A CHASSIS AND THIS SHOULD NOT BOTHER ME. ALSO THEY TELL ME THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, SO THEY CANT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I DO A SEARCH OVER THE INTERNET FOR INNER FENDER CRACKS, AND FOUND THIS TO BE A RECURRENT PROBLEM IN THE SAME PLACE THAT CRACKS OCCUR ON THE FJ CRUISER, SOME VEHICLES CRACKS ARE BIGGER AND SOME ARE SMALLER, BUT IT IS JUST MATTER OF TIME TO HAPPENS. I AM NOT A CAR TECHNICIAN, BUT I AM REALLY WORRIED ABOUT MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY, SO I OPT TO NOT DRIVE WITH MY FAMILY MEMBERS, I DON'T REALLY KNOW IF THOSE CRACKS CAN MAKE THE VEHICLE COLLAPSE AT THE FRONT. I REALLY NEED SOME PROFESSIONAL HELP.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10759195August 25, 2015POWER TRAIN
REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE. GEAR WHINE/ GRIND NOISE GETTING LOUDER ON REAR DIFFERENTIAL. GEAR BACKLASH INCREASE. APPARENTLY TOYOTA IS AWARE OF SUBSTANDARD RING AND PINION GEARS IN EARLY FJ CRUISERS AND CHANGED THE DESIGN IN LATER MODELS. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN SUBJECTED TO OFF ROAD CONDITIONS. FEAR GEAR IS GOING TO BREAK AND LEAVE ME STRANDED SOMEWHERE, SO NEED TO REPLACE ASSEMBLY. TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THESE EARLY DIFFERENTIALS AS THE PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON ALL THE FJ FORUM SITES.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10750168August 20, 2015WHEELS
ON 7/18/15 AT ABOUT 11:10 AM IN THE NEWLY PAVED PARKING LOT OF THE LOWES, LATHAM, NEW YORK, THE ALLOY RIM OF DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL SPLIT (RIM INTO TWO PIECES) CAUSING THE TIRE TO BLOW OUT AND THE VEHICLE TO GRAZE THE A LIGHT POLE. THE TIRE, WHEEL AND RIM DID NOT HIT ANYTHING PRIOR TO THE RIM FAILURE. THERE WERE NO POTHOLES OR OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE LOT. EVEN IN GRAZING THE LIGHT POLE, THE TIRE DID NOT MAKE CONTACT WITH THE POLE, ONLY THE OUTER FENDER FLARE MADE CONTACT. THIS WAS A SPONTANEOUS FAILURE OF THE RIM. INSURANCE INVESTIGATION CONFIRMS THE RIM FAILURE. TOYOTA DENIES RIM FAILURE. THE RIM AND ALL PARTS REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10733037July 9, 2015STRUCTURE:BODY, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WOKE UP AND FOUND MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM DRIVER'S SIDE CORNER TO THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION, IT APPEARS THAT IF IT WAS CAUSED BY ANYTHING STRIKING IT, IT WAS MOST LIKELY A LARGE BUG. THE SUSPECTED POINT OF IMPACT WAS NOT PITTED AND THE GRIME AT THAT POINT RUBS AWAY EASILY. I WAS TOLD BEFORE BUYING THIS VEHICLE THAT THE WINDSHIELD HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE ALREADY. TALKING WITH OTHER FJ CRUISER OWNERS, I FOUND OUT THAT CRACKED WINDSHIELDS ON THESE VEHICLES ARE FAIRLY COMMON AND IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT I FILE A COMPLAINT HERE. HOPEFULLY IN THE LONG RUN, SOMETHING WILL BE DONE ABOUT THIS RECURRING ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR READING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10669018June 22, 2015AIR BAGS
2011 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. CUSTOMER WOULD LIKE THE CAR TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL REGARDING PREMATURE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. *TA TOYOTA CLAIMED THERE WERE SIGNS OF WATER IN THE ENGINE INTAKE AIR SYSTEM AND THERE WAS NO MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT WITH THE AIR BAGS. THE CONSUMER STATED HIS SON DID DRIVE THROUGH A FIELD WITH WATER AND MUD. HOWEVER, IT WAS AFTER THE AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED, SO THE PRESENCE OF WATER HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DEPLOYMENT. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10724746June 11, 2015SUSPENSION
PURCHASED VEHICLE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HAD SLIGHT PROBLEM WITH STEERING THEN WE NOTICED THE CAR WAS ON A SLANT. TWO TO THREE INCH DIFFERENCE FROM LEFT BUMPED TO GROUND AND THE RIGHT BUMPER. BROUGHT TO A DEALER TWO TIMES AND STILL AN INCH DIFFERENCE. I THEN MEASURED TWO OTHE FJ CRUISERS IN THEIR LOT AND NOTICED IT IS ON ALL THE FJ'S WE WERE TOLD NOTHING THEY CAN DO THEY CONTACTED HEADQUARTERS AND THEY ARE SORRY. THE CAR IS OFF FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT HELP ME AND FIX THE PROBLEM.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10714953May 6, 2015SEAT BELTS
AN UNDETECTABLE LEAK IN THE BODY OR DOOR OF OUR VEHICLE IS ALLOWING RAIN WATER TO ACCUMULATE INSIDE THE DOOR. THE WATER SATURATES THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT AND IS COMPROMISING THE INTEGRITY OF THE WEBBING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10703862April 6, 2015POWER TRAIN
2007 FJ CRUISER, AT 34066 MILES ON OCTOBER 22 2009 VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN ALVIN,TX FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE COMPLAINT OF THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAKING A HIGH PITCHED SQUEAK. AT THAT TIME THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION UNDER WARRANTY, BUT AT THAT TIME THERE WASN'T A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED A BROKEN TRANSMISSION WITH ONE THAT WAS PRONE TO FAIL AGAIN. AS OF TODAY APRIL06 2015 THE VEHICLE IS SQUEAKING ONCE AGAIN FROM TRANSMISSION. TOYOTA KNOWS OF THE CONDITION. TSB 036510 IS A FIX FOR THE ISSUE BUT IS ONLY COVERED UNDER 60K MI. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10700563March 18, 2015STRUCTURE:BODY
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, I HIT A RELATIVELY SMALL POTHOLE ON THE ROAD. IMMEDIATELY AS THE VEHICLE WENT DOWN ON ONE SIDE, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED, ABOUT 4 INCHES FROM THE MIDDLE BOTTOM UP. THERE HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY BEEN ANY DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD AND NOTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD DURING THIS INCIDENT. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ENTIRELY, FROM THE LEFT TO THE RIGHT. AFTER BEING INSPECTED BY THE TOYOTA DEALER, THE WINDSHIELD HAS TO BE ENTIRELY REPLACED AT OWNERS COST. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD, NOR WAS THIS AN ACCIDENT OR A MAJOR INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. TOYOTA KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM THAT DUE TO THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED, THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR THE WINDSHIELD TO CRACK. I ALSO SENT A REPORT TO TOYOTA INFORMING THEM OF THIS PROBLEM.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10693479March 6, 2015STRUCTURE:BODY, VISIBILITY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY AT 30 MILES PER HOUR, IN A RESIDENTIAL STREET, WHEN SUDDENLY I HEARD A NOISE AND NOTED THAT THE WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A FIVE INCH CRACK, STARTING FROM THE BOTTOM CENTER GOING UP. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE CRACK MOVED SIGNIFICANTLY, TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT OF THE WINDSHIELD MOVING TO COVER THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS NO PRIOR DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD, THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN TAKEN OFF ROAD. THE CRACK SEEMS TO HAVE DEVELOPED DUE TO PRESSURE STRESS- A DEFECT FROM MANUFACTURING. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER REPORTS FROM OTHER OWNERS OF THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE WITH SIMILAR REPORTS, OFTEN TIMES, EVEN AFTER HAVING THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND MANUFACTURING ERROR.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0