62 of the
1,219 complaints filed about the Toyota FJ Cruiser
are about the steering —
5% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2007.
I purchased my beloved 2013 FJ Cruiser from Wellesley Toyota 6.5 years ago and have really enjoyed it. I have had it serviced religiously at McGee Toyota of Hanover since my purchase and expected to continue to enjoy it for many years to come and was just informed by McGee Toyota that the frame is severly rusted out throughout. My truck only has 158K miles on it and I expected this to last at least twice as long. This appears to be the same issue Toyota experienced with the Tundra and Tacoma with premature rusting on their vehicles due to a manufacturing issue. There are numerous complaints online about this issue and even a current class action lawsuit. I have alerted Toyota Corporate of this and they are not standing behind their product.
NHTSA complaint #11717366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Intermediate Steering Shaft Weld Failure: Recall concern. My car was built 7/25/2014. Recalls were initiated for FJ’s within the following date ranges 8/7/2013 - 8/20/2013 for this issue. My FJ has the same issue confirmed by three Toyota Dealership Service Departments. Revisiting the Recall Status is needed. Thank you for your attention.
NHTSA complaint #11701405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring increased steering wheel rotation before the vehicle started to maneuver in either direction. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 197,000.
NHTSA complaint #11619187 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
the brakes are constantly binding up due to rust and need replaced, recently ABS brake lines rusted off causing me to miss a stop sign, very dangerous, Upper rear control arm mount rusted and cracked completely off causing steering and braking problems and had to be replaced to even use this vehicle, , The front rack has been replaced due to excessive rust of lines and fittings, same with transmission cooler lines-rotted off...brake backing plates rotted off.. Even though I have had this undercoated and rust treated, the frame is rusting inside-out...frame braces, everything on the frame is rusted much more than one would expect, even in a salt state like Ohio....my safety was put at risk by faulty brakes, the frame is not safe under hard braking and may cause an accident, the dealer has seen this vehicle, a local independent says "get rid of it"...no warning lamps, just wild things happen with brakes, pulls left, pulls right, front, then back and this past time ...NONE!...only 111,000 miles.
NHTSA complaint #11503872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I have a dangerous steering issue. I tried to get my Toyota dealer to fix it, or adjust it but they said nothing was wrong. I feel they didn't want to even try. This issue has almost led to head-on collisions many times. I have replaced the tires, no help there. I had it aligned, (at dealer I purchased it from) with no improvements at all. What it does is, to stay in the center of the road I can not turn my head away from constantly adding steering input. This is an issue a big one, my car Drifts left or right but rarely goes straight when steered straight, I must constantly make adjustments to its direction. Before I replace the tires again, (the car has only 53,000 miles on it) and align it again I feel this problem must be fixed or properly adjusted to work without constant steering input to stay in my lane. I replaced tires with better than it came with, costing around $750 these are now showing bad wear after less than 20,000 miles and purchase information said I should not need to replace them for 60,000 miles. Additional information is the last 300 feet to my house is a dirt road, but it's not that bumpy and shouldn't be the reason that I can't steer it straight on asphalt.
NHTSA complaint #11482639 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Due to rust on my 2007 FJ Cruiser, I've had many unexpected expenses. I first was losing brake pressure and my brake lines had to be replaced after breaking when in a mechanic's shop. I've also replaced all four calipers, all the rusted pulleys on the engine, lower control arms that were so rusted that they had to be cut out, and hub assemblies for both front wheels. The hub assembly lead to a failed vehicle inspection for safety concerns. The exhaust pipe literally broke apart near the rear frame crossmember and was sitting on it, so had to be replaced. The exhaust manifold rusted apart and separated from the engine block, leading to dangerous fumes in the engine bay and horrible gas mileage. The O2 sensors were rusted in place and giving poor readings and had to be replaced. Turning the steering wheel became difficult and that was due to being extremely rusty, so it had to be replaced. Shifter cable and PRNDL switch had to be replaced due to not shifting into drive or lower gears. The front differential drain plug was so rusted that the dealership would not attempt to remove it. Now there are holes rusted through the body mount brackets, as well as the passenger side floor. The cargo area's floor where the charcoal EVAP canister connects to the vehicle has completely rusted through, and one of the subframe brackets rusted so badly that it was taken off by hand. Both subframe brackets need to be replaced. The rear control arm mounts are very thin due to extreme rust. My mechanic is now replacing coolant lines because they have rusted through and started to leak, and gas tank straps which were on the verge of failing.
NHTSA complaint #11419802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY VEHICLES FRAME/ SUSPENSION HAS DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THE TOYOTA DEALER WONT PASS IT FOR SAFETY INSPECTION. THE FRAME AND SUSPENSION HAVE DISINTEGRATED. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT SINCE NEW AND IS IN OTHERWISE PERFECT CONDITION.
NHTSA complaint #11414098 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY STEERING HAD BECOME STIFF, NO STEERING FLUID LEAKS OR ISSUES WITH THE RACK, DEALER DROVE VEHICLE SAID NOTHING IT WRONG. I GOT HOME AND TOOK A BETTER LOOK, THE U JOINTS ON THE LOWER INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT ARE RUSTED AND ROTTED. THE STEERING IN NOTICEABLY TIGHT AND HAS TROUBLE RETURNING TO CENTER.
NHTSA complaint #11403423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEVERE SUSPENSION BRACKET RUST ON MULTIPLE REAR AND FRONT COMPONENTS. I LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT WHEN BRAKING BUT MY ENTIRE CAR SWAYED WHEN THE REAR LATERAL SUPPORT BAR BRACKET BROKE RIGHT OFF THE MOUNT THAT IS WELDED TO THE REAR DUE TO RUST. I THEN INSPECTED AND FOUND MULTIPLE RUST AREAS ON FRAME AND OTHER SUSPENSION BRACKETS. MAKING THIS VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I AM AWARE OF TOYOTA'S ONGOING DILEMMA WITH USING THIS HORRIBLE UNTREATED STEEL AND HOPE THE NHTSA ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE. THIS IS NOT NORMAL CORROSION THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE NEGLECT IN SAFETY BY NOT HAVING THIS STEEL TREATED ON SUCH CRITICAL COMPONENTS OF A VEHICLES FRAME. HAD THIS INCIDENT HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS OF 55 MPH OR GREATER. SERIOUS INJURY AND/OR DEATH CAN OCCUR. IF I AM NOT THE ONLY CONSUMER HAVING THIS ISSUE ON TOYOTA FJ CRUSIER VEHICLES. I HOPE THE NHTSA ENFORCES A RECAL ON THESE FRAMES AND/OR CRITICAL SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. MY VEHICLE IS 16 YEARS OLD, I PURCHASED IT FROM A DEALER WHOM RECIEVED IT FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER WITH 57,000 MILES ON IT. NOW CURRENTLY AFTER 4 YEARS OF OWNING THIS FJ CRUISER I ONLY HAVE 71,000 MILES ON IT. HAD THIS BRACKET CAUGHT ONTO MY BRAKE LINES WHICH IS LOCATED DIRECTLY BELOW THIS REAR BRACKET I WOULD HAVE LOST ALL ABILITY TO STOP MY VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #11385464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FRAME AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS ARE VERY RUSTY TO THE POINT OF A SAFETY CONCERN. I REPLACED THE REAR BUMPER WITH AN AFTERMARKET ONE TO DISCOVER THE REAR BUMPER SUPPORT WAS SO RUSTED IT WOULDN'T BE OF ANY HELP IN THE EVENT OF BEING REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER CAR. ALSO, THE REAR BUMPER COMES STOCK WITH 2 SENSORS SO WHEN BACKING UP WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOU GET CLOSE TO SOMETHING. BOTH SENSORS WERE NON-TRANSFERABLE TO THE NEW BUMPER BECAUSE THEY WERE SO RUSTED ON THE INSIDE WHEN YOU TRIED TO REMOVE THEM THEY CRUMBLED INTO BITS, A COMBINATION OF METAL AND PLASTIC. THE RUST WORKED ITS WAY UP THE WIRES AS WELL. NUMEROUS BRACKETS UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK WHICH HOLD WHAT APPEARS TO BE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO OPERATE. IF ONE OF THESE COMPONENTS BROKE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED I WOULD NEED TO BUY NEW BRACKETS ALONG WITH THE NEW COMPONENT - NEW SCREWS WOULD ALSO BE REQUIRED ALONG SIDE A HOLY PRAYER THAT THE OLD SCREWS DON'T SNAP OFF WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THEM. BY THE TIME I WAS DONE PAYING OFF MY VEHICLE AND HAVING MORE FREE INCOME TO PUT TOWARDS OTHER PRIORITIES I WAS CONSISTENTLY DELAYED WITH REPAIRES THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO KEEP FUNCTIONING. I HAD TO PAY FOR NEW TRANSMISSION LINES BECAUSE THE ONES ON THERE WERE SO RUSTED, IN A LUMP SUM I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR. POWER STEERING LINES WERE REPLACED ONCE AND THE POWER STEERING STILL HAS AN ISSUE HOLDING FLUID. I AM GOING TO CHOSE TODAY'S DATE AS THE DATE THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE NOW I AM AT MY WIT'S END WITH THE RUST. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO HAVE THE A/C RECHARGED TO BE TOLD ITS GOING TO BE ABOUT $2000 TO REPLACE ALL THE LINES AND THE CONDENSER THAT IS RUSTED PLUS LABOR. WHILE ON THE LIFT THE MECHANIC TOLD ME TO COME TAKE A LOOK UNDERNEATH MY TRUCK AND HE SHOWED ME HOW EXTENSIVE THE RUST HAS BECOME AND THAT I MIGHT NEED TO HAVE SOME WORK DONE ABOUT THE RUST FIRST BEFORE HE CAN FIX THE A/C.
NHTSA complaint #11337227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THERE IS WIDESPREAD AND SIGNIFICANT RUSTING ON THE FRAME AND DRIVETRAIN COMPONENTS. WELL-MAINTAINED, AND NOT LOCATED IN A SALTY ENVIRONMENT, NOR AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE ROADS ARE EVER SALTED. THIS VEHICLE IS UTILIZES THE SAME FRAME AS ANOTHER TOYOTA VEHICLE (4RUNNER), AND THAT VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED WITH THE FRAME-RUSTING RECALL DURING THE SAME TIME PERIOD THIS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED.
NHTSA complaint #11256485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HAD VEHICLE IN SHOP, NEW TIRES AND BALANCE. ALL FOUR TIRES HAD TO BE REBALANCE. HAD BRAKES DONE,( ROTORS AND PADS AND ALL FOUR TIRES REBALANCE). ONE MONTH LATER STEERING STARTED ACTING UP. STIFFING UP. NOW DEALERSHIP SAIDS NO RECALL. DIFFERENT SITES SAYING STEERING SHIFT NEEDS A WELT. DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE TO FIX IT.(600.00).
NHTSA complaint #11203036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 50-60 MPH. HAVE HAD TIRES BALANCED, ALIGNED AND EVEN HAD TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DO A HIGH-SPEED BALANCE. HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR AT LEAST 3 YEARS. TRUCK IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AT TIMES DUE TO THE SHAKING.
NHTSA complaint #11121960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT PROPERLY, IT HANGS UP AFTER A FEW INCHES. THE FREQUENCY OF THIS PROBLEM IS 90% OF THE RETRACTS. I TOLD THE DEALER 4 TIMES, THEY STATED THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. I SCOFF. STEERING MY CAR REQUIRES CONSTANT INPUT TO GO STRAIGHT, ESPECIALLY ON THE FREEWAYS. BEFORE I KNOW IT I'M IN THE NEXT LANE. THERE IS NO NEUTRAL AREA IN THE CENTER WHILE GOING STRAIGHT. I HAD AN ALIGNMENT AND REPLACED ALL THE TIRES, IT STILL HAS THIS HAZARD. BRAKES THEY PULSE WHEN SLOWING ONLY AT HIGH SPEED. (65 MPH) I DO NOT RIDE THE BRAKES, OR RUN THE CAR HARD. THIS HAPPENED AFTER NORMAL DRIVING. SEEMS LIKE WARPED DISKS, BUT I DO NOT STOP FAST, OR DRIVE LIKE I'M RACING. NOTE: HEADLIGHTS HAD TO BE READJUSTED BECAUSE THEY DID NOT POINT UP THE ROAD ENOUGH, MAKING HUGE BLIND SPOT AT OVER 40 MPH. I HAD DEALER RE-ADJUST, THEY POINTED THE DOWN SO FAR THEY MADE IT WORSE. I ADJUSTED THEM AGAIN, MYSELF. THE FACTORY OFF ROAD PACKAGE IT CAME WITH, I'M SURE WAS THE PROBLEM. THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED BY FACTORY BEFORE SALE. SPEED CONTROL WHEN GOING UPHILL AND SET AT 60MPH AND DRIVING AT SAFE DISTANCE FROM CAR IN FRONT, IT SPEEDS UP, GETTING DANGER CLOSE, AND MUST BE DISABLED BEFORE HITTING CAR IN FRONT. WILL YOU PAY FOR THESE FIXES?
NHTSA complaint #11115094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SPEEDS ABOVE 55 MPH CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO CONSTANTLY SHAKE. IT SEEMS TO BE A CONSISTENT ISSUE REGARDLESS OF THE TYPES OF TIRES AND BALANCING THAT IS USED.
NHTSA complaint #11103415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE IT IS UNSAFE ON SLIPPERY WEATHER CONDITIONS. DIFFICULT TO CONTROL 3 TIMES I'VE USED THIS CAR ON ICY CONDITIONS GOING NO MORE THAN 35 OR 40 MILES AN HOUR AND I HAVE SLIPPED THE MOST RECENT TIME WAS EASTER AND THE CAR LITERALLY ROLLED OUT OF CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #11083153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 50-60 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIBRATION MADE THE VEHICLE UNCONTROLLABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MILLER TOYOTA (LOCATED AT 8566 SUDLEY RD, MANASSAS, VA 20110, (703) 369-3040) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A BENT WHEEL; HOWEVER, REPLACING IT WOULD NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
NHTSA complaint #11013700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.