Wrentham, MA
STRUCTURE:BODY
Chassis frame rotted
NHTSA complaint #11735229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser body problems
43 of the 166 complaints about the 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser are about the body and structure — 26% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 33,000 miles.
43
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Body
36
83.7%
Structure
5
11.6%
Frame AND Members
2
4.7%
Body & Structure across every Toyota FJ Cruiser year
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
Worcester, MA
STRUCTURE:BODY
Premature frame rust
NHTSA complaint #11597026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Orlando, FL
STRUCTURE:BODY
After buying my vehicle I have began to notice a growing rust problem that is not due to salt water or other environmental conditions, but clearly a defect in manufacturing. After joining a few Facebook groups with other FJ owners I’ve found countless other people have had the same problem and that without massive trust removal my vehicle is expected to have failures in the frame and suspension at some point.
NHTSA complaint #11465065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Carrollton, TX
STRUCTURE:BODY
The frame of my Truck has started to rust out as to many FJ Cruisers. It's been a known issue that these frame have this problem along with the Toyota Tacoma and Toyota Tundra. Which Toyota have a recall on those two models but they've yet to recognize the Toyota FJ Cruiser for the same issue. If this issue isn't resolved, it can result in weak points in the chassis making those area fail and cause an accident underload. I have had my shop look at it and said they can only treat the affected areas so much but the issue will keep coming back over time as rust does not go away unless its cut out. For the safety for myself, any FJ Owners as well as the roads we share with the public I hope that we get this issue corrected through the Manufacturer. Thank you
NHTSA complaint #11431265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Waukesha, WI
STRUCTURE:BODY
While inspecting a broken rear fuel tank strap, several holes were noticed in the frame of the vehicle. Excessive corrosion was present all along the welds on the frame and its crossmembers. There were spots where I could poke my finger through the frame. There was no warning that this corrosion was happening. I am the third owner of this FJ and it was inspected before I purchased it. The vehicle has not yet been taken to a dealership, police or an insurance company.
NHTSA complaint #11423777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 188,900 miles
Seville, OH
STRUCTURE:BODY
GAS TANK SUPPORT STRAPS FAILED WHILE DRIVING. DEALER INSTALLED TEMPORARY NYLON RATCHET STRAPS UNTIL PARTS ARRIVED.
NHTSA complaint #11406282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 130,000 miles
Roswell, GA
STRUCTURE:BODY
FRAME, SUSPENSION, AND BRAKES HAVE EXTREME DAMAGE FROM RUST. REAR BRAKES ARE NON-FUNCTIONAL BECAUSE OF RUST.
NHTSA complaint #11395507 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,000 miles
Belmont, NC
STRUCTURE:BODY
EXTREME RUST AND CRACKING IN FRAME
NHTSA complaint #11394425 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kasson, MN
STRUCTURE:BODY
EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME AND UNDERCARRIAGE. NEEDED TO BE CLEANED AND TREATED.
NHTSA complaint #11382940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 35,000 miles
Hamilton, OH
STRUCTURE:BODY
THIS VEHICLE STARTED TO DEVELOPE RUST IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE. THE VEHICLE IS A 2008 AND IS SCARY RUSTY ON THE FRAME AND OTHER COMPONENTS. AN ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF RUST COMPARED TO OTHER 2008 ERA VEHICLES. EVENTUALLY ONE OF THESE FAULTY FRAMES ARE GOING TO BREAK IN A HIGH SPEED SCENARIO AND SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH WILL OCCUR. MY OTHERWISE PERFECT FJ CRUISER ONLY HAS 35000 MILES ON IT AND SAT IN STORAGE FOR THE WINTER OF 2016 AND 2017.
NHTSA complaint #11361371 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 143,000 miles
Green Cove Springs, FL
STRUCTURE:BODY
2008 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER FRAME ROTTING FROM INSIDE AND OUT. ALL SUSPENSION COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED DUE PARTS FAILING BECAUSE OF CORROSION THAT BLED OVER FROM THE FRAME TO INCLUDE BOTH FRONT STEERING KNUCKLES, TWO PARTS THAT ONLY EVER GET REPLACED IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. SEVERAL FRAME SUPPORTS HAVE CORRODED FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND ARE FLAKING OFF. BRAKE COMPONENTS THAT RUN ALONG THE FRAME HAVE CORRODED FROM THE FRAME TO THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THEM TO THE LINES THEMSELVES. CAUSE A SLOW BRAKE LEAK OVER TIME THAT EVENTUALLY RESULTED IN A DANGEROUS NEAR ACCIDENT SITUATION THAT WAS CAUSED BY COMPLETE IMMEDIATE LACK OF BRAKE PRESSURE. EVASIVE DRIVING AND A SOUND MIND AVOIDED A LEGITIMATE ACCIDENT, HAD TO TOW THE TRUCK TO A SHOP. UNSAFE TO DRIVE. FRAME WILL NOT HOLD UP IN AN ACCIDENT. 12 YEAR OLD FRAME SHOULD NOT BE ANYWHERE NEAR THIS CONDITION. DUE TO OVERSIGHTS AT THE MANUFACTURER THIS FRAME IS NOW CORRODING FROM THE INSIDE OUT.
NHTSA complaint #11341612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 160,903 miles
Middle Island, NY
STRUCTURE:BODY
SEVERE RUST ON ALL PARTS OF THE FRAME 'UNDERCARRIAGE', BRAKE LINES, GAS TANK STRAPS. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED BY FJ OWNERS AND NOTHING DONE BY THE MANUFACTURER. TRUCK WAS NEVER DRIVEN THROUGH SALT WATER NOR IS IT STORED BY THE WATER FRONT. I AM FRIGHTENED THAT IN AN ACCIDENT THE WHOLE BODY OF THE TRUCK WILL JUST COME OFF THE FRAME.
NHTSA complaint #11341709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 73,000 miles
Coatesville, PA
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE FRAME AND SUSPENSION PIECES ON MY FJ HAVE RUSTED DUE TO POOR COATINGS AND MATERIALS USED BY TOYOTA.
NHTSA complaint #11329319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 216,000 miles
Chatham, IL
STRUCTURE:BODY
VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN DRIVEWAY MY FRAME, SOME SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, AND MY ROCKER PANELS WERE FALLING APART IN MY HANDS
NHTSA complaint #11316792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 39,000 miles
Fall River, MA
STRUCTURE:BODY
SEVER RUSTING OF FRAME, BREAK AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS AND BRACKETS. THIS 2008 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER IS QUICKLY BECOMING A SAFETY HAZARD ON THE ROADS. I HAVE A 92 SABB AND A 93 VW THAT DON'T HAVE HAVE THE RUST ISSUES THIS TOYOTA HAS. TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THE FJ CRUISERS FOR FAULTY FRAMES AND UNDERCARRIAGE LONG AGO.
NHTSA complaint #11306740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 33,000 miles
Hamilton, OH
STRUCTURE:BODY
EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FUEL TANK STRAPS AND VEHICLE FRAME. UNDERBODY OF THIS VEHICLE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO U.S CORROSION STANDARDS SINCE I'VE NOT SEEN ANY AMERICAN VEHICLES WITH THIS WIDESPREAD RUST ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11301796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Colorado Springs, CO
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE VEHICLE HAS A SEVERELY RUSTY FRAME. REST OF THE FJ BODY IS MINT WITH A TOTAL OF 80K MILES. THE REAR CROSS SECTION WHERE THE GEM HITCH BOLTS TO IS PARTICULARLY BAD AND HAS HOLE. THE HITCH ITSELF IS ALSO SITTING A LITTLE CROOKED WHICH I BELIEVE IS DUE TO THE POOR STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE CROSS BAR. TOWING IS OUT OF THE QUESTION AT THIS POINT BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I AM VERY WORRIED WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN AN EVENT I GET REAR ENDED.
NHTSA complaint #11301736 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 30,000 miles
Villa Hills, KY
STRUCTURE:BODY
WE BOUGHT OUR FJ CRUISER NEW IN 2008. I HAVE METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED (WITH SEVICE RECORDS FROM TOYOTA DEALERSHIP), AND I HA E ALWAYS KEPT IT METICULOUS INSIDE AND OUT. THE VEHICLE IS A 2008 WITH 100K MILES AND LOOKS BRAND NEW UP TOP... HOWEVER THE UNDERCARRIAGE IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STORY. NO MATTER HOW OFTEN I CLEANED THE FRAME, SUSPENSION, AND DRIVETRAIN I COULD NOT KEEP THE RUST AT BAY, NOW I'M EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT MY FAMILIES SAFETY. I'M WORRIED BRACKETS ARE ABOUT TO RUST OFF, AND BODY MOUNTS AND BOLTS ARE SHOWING SEVERE RUST, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A CARS UNDERCARRIAGE RUST SO QUICKLY AND COMPLETELY IN ALL MY LIFE. THIS NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED BEFORE PEOPLE START GETTING HURT WHILE DRIVING WITH THESE WITH THESE UNSAFE CHASSIS AND COMPONENTS. AND MY GAS TANK STRAPS ARE ROTTING FAST. I HAVE OWNED TOYOTA'S MY WHOLE LIFE. I CURRENTLY OWN 5 DIFFERENT LAND CRUISERS. WE LOVED OUR FJ AND BOUGHT IT BECAUSE WE THOUGHT IT WOULD LAST.
NHTSA complaint #11301447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 45,000 miles
Shelburne Falls, MA
STRUCTURE:BODY
EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME. VEHICLE IS MAINTAINED VERY WELL, BUT FRAME RUST CONTINUES TO GET WORSE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE FJ CRUISER ON ALL THE FORMS ONLINE. TOYOTA HAS YET TO FILE A RECALL ON OUR VEHICLES. OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES THAT USE THE SAME FRAME HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF US WITH A ROTTING IN FRAMES AND TOYOTA WILL DO NOTHING.
NHTSA complaint #11297743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 214,000 miles
Chatham, IL
STRUCTURE:BODY
FRAME RUSTED WAY TOO EARLY IN ITS LIFE TIME
NHTSA complaint #11288930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
East Springfield, PA
STRUCTURE:BODY
EXTENSIVE FRAME RUST, HEAVY RUST ON REAR CROSSMEMBER AND REAR AXLE, BODY MOUNTS
NHTSA complaint #11278808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 96,000 miles
Charlestown, RI
STRUCTURE:BODY
I HAVE COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA ABOUT THE RUST FORM THE START OF OWNERSHIP, THERE RESPONSE WAS THAT THE FRAMES WERE MADE IN AMERICA. DOES MATTER WHERE IT WAS MADE JUST THE SUPER POOR QUALITY OF THE METAL. I BELIEVE THIS IS THE SAME FRAME AS THE TUNDRA'S AND THEY ARE ALL RECALLED WHY NOT THE FJ CRUISERS?
NHTSA complaint #11232182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 120,000 miles
Tucson, AZ
STRUCTURE:BODY
BOTH INNER FRONT FENDERS ARE CRACKED. I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS HAPPENED, THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY SORT OF ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #11015573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 68,000 miles
Rockwall, TX
Crash
2 injured
STRUCTURE:BODY
A VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING VERY SLOWLY ON A RURAL INTERSTATE AS MY TOYOTA FJ CRUISER APPROACHED IN THE SAME LANE. THE DRIVER OF THE FJ CRUISER BRAKED QUICKLY TO AVOID HITTING THE SLOW MOVING VEHICLE. HOWEVER, AN 18-WHEELER BEHIND IT COULD NOT STOP FAST ENOUGH. IT REAR-ENDED MY FJ CRUISER SENDING THE FRONT-END COLLIDING DIRECTLY INTO THE BACK OF THE SLOW MOVING VEHICLE. AS THE 18-WHEELER CONTINUED FORWARD, MY FJ CRUISER WAS SQUEEZED OUT FROM BETWEEN THE TWO VEHICLES AND PUSHED INTO ANOTHER LANE. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER OF MY FJ CRUISER WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR INJURIES. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AT ANY TIME DURING THE COLLISION WITH THE SLOW MOVING VEHICLE. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT AND REAR OF MY VEHICLE RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS.
NHTSA complaint #10652305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 37,317 miles
Santa Monica, CA
STRUCTURE:BODY
THERE IS BUCKLING OF THE BODY, RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE, UNDER HOOD APPROXIMATELY WHERE THE HOOD HINGES ATTACH TO BODY. THE MECHANIC HAS ADVISED IT IS A WEAK POINT IN THE BODY WHICH ON SOME VEHICLES THE BODY ACTUALLY CRACKS AND TRANSFERS OVER TO THE FENDER OVER TIME. IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS DUE TO VIBRATION FROM THE BODY FRONT END TO THE REAR FIREWALL. THE ESTIMATED COST TO FIX THIS PROBLEM FROM A TOYOTA CERTIFIED BODY SHOP IS $11,837.02. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA CORPORATE, AND IT IS PENDING. TOYOTA DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.
NHTSA complaint #10546934 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 59,000 miles
Washougal, WA
STRUCTURE
THE FOOT REST BROKE FREE OF ITS ATTACHMENTS AND SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL.
NHTSA complaint #10488868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 46,000 miles
Lakewood, CA
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A BULGE ON THE DRIVER SIDE ENGINE BAY FENDER APRON. I HAVE SEEN MANY ONLINE AND MET OTHERS IN PERSON WHO SHARE THIS PROBLEM ON THE FJ CRUISERS. THIS CONCERNS ME BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE IS NOW COMPROMISED AND DON'T KNOW HOW THIS WILL AFFECT THE SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
NHTSA complaint #10443626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 18,000 miles
FL, FL
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
2008 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER HAS CRACKS ON THE INNER FENDER WELLS. I AM A MEMBER OF AN ONLINE COMMUNITY AND IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED THAT IN MANY FJS CRACKS DEVELOP ON THE INNER FENDER WELLS.
NHTSA complaint #10419331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 16,000 miles
LAS Vegas, NV
STRUCTURE
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE FOOT REST ON THE DRIVER SIDE CAME LOOSE AND GOT STUCK UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT PREVENTED ME FROM BEING ABLE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE AND I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN ENOUGH TO REACH DOWN AND CLEAR THE BRAKE SO I COULD STOP.
NHTSA complaint #10384604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 30,600 miles
Palm Desert, CA
STRUCTURE
2008 FJ CRUISER FOOTREST ON LEFT SIDE OF DRIVER FLOORBOARD BROKE LOOSE AND CAN INTERFERE WITH SAFE OPERATION OF OTHER DRIVER'S PEDALS. FAILURE OCCURRED AT 30,600 MILES. DANGER AVOIDED BY IMMEDIATELY PULLING OVER TO SAFE AREA AND REMOVING BROKEN FOOTREST FROM DRIVER'S AREA. DEALER CALLED IMMEDIATELY AND REPLACEMENT TO FOLLOW. PHOTOS OF THIS ARE AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10308862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.