2008 Toyota FJ CRUISER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
123 owner complaints analyzed
9 distinct recall campaigns
30,300 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 96 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 36 of 123 complaints (29.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 40 | 32.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 9 | 7.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 5.7% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 4.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 0.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body | 36 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 17 |
| Seat Belts | 13 |
| Suspension | 13 |
| Service Brakes | 12 |
| Unknown Or Other | 10 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 8 |
| Structure | 5 |
Structure:Body: 36; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 17; Seat Belts: 13; Suspension: 13; Service Brakes: 12; Unknown Or Other: 10; Service Brakes, Electric: 8; Structure: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 39 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 23 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 39; 25,000 to 49,999: 23; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 9
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (39). 27 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 27 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 12 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2007: 1; 2008: 7; 2009: 10; 2010: 27; 2011: 6; 2012: 12; 2013: 5; 2014: 3; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 7; 2018: 4; 2019: 5; 2020: 12; 2021: 10; 2022: 4; 2023: 4; 2024: 2; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Body leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 40 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 9 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10297345 · 2009-12-29 (December 29, 2009)
BRAKES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN THE CAR HITS ANY KIND OF ROUGH PATCH IN THE ROAD WHILE BRAKES ARE BEING APPLIED. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION BECAUSE IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP THE CAR WHEN THIS OCCURS. OCCURS REPEATEDLY AND NOT LIMITED TO AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND DEALER WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ISSUE INSTEAD CLAIMING THAT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WORK. THIS IS AN ABSURD EXCUSE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10297345 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10305506 · 2010-02-04 (February 4, 2010)
THIS IS A SPORADIC OCCURRENCE AND CANNOT BE REPRODUCED DELIBERATELY: WHEN BRAKING SUDDENLY AT 40 MPH AND BELOW, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT SLOW DOWN NOTICEABLY. IT APPEARS ONLY MINIMAL BRAKING FORCE IS EXERTED AT THESE OCCURRENCES, DESPITE MAXIMUM BRAKE FORCE ON THE PEDAL. THIS HAPPENS ALSO ON DRY PAVEMENT, RULING OUT SKIDDING AS CAUSE OF FAILED DECELERATION. THE MASSIVELY PROLONGED BRAKING DISTANCE CAUSED TWO NEAR-MISSES. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW, WITH THE BRAKE DEFECT FIRST NOTICED DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION (FIRST 15,000 MILES). THE D…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10305506 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11301447 · 2020-01-23 (January 23, 2020)
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, T…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11301447 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11301796 · 2020-01-25 (January 25, 2020)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11301796 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10267195 · 2009-04-29 (April 29, 2009)
OVER THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE, CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE FRONT INNER FENDER STRUCTURE, WHICH HAVE NOW TURNED INTO LARGE SPLITS IN THE CRUMPLE ZONES. THE CAUSE IS A RESULT OF BODY MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE FRAME AND BODY. TOYOTA HAS DENIED WARRANTY COVERAGE DUE TO LARGE TIRES INSTALLED ON VEHICLE, YET HAS REDESIGNED THE INNER FENDER STRUCTURE OF THESE VEHICLES THREE TIMES DUE TO THIS SAME ISSUE WITH STOCK VEHICLES. AS THE TEARS IN THE FENDER STRUCTURE PROGRESS, THE FRONT CLIP OF THE VEHICLE HAS BEGUN TO DRIFT, AND THE HOOD GAP AND FENDER GAPS AR…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10267195 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10313429 · 2010-02-23 (February 23, 2010)
I PURCHASED NEW A 2008 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER 2 WHEEL DRIVE WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SINCE OWNERSHIP FROM MARCH 2009 TO DATE, I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A LURCHING FORWARD OF THE VEHICLE WHILE THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND AT A FULL STOP. THIS LURCHING FORWARD OCCURS WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON AND AT THE TIME THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER CLUTCH ENGAGES. MOST OF THE TIME, WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER CLUTCH ENGAGES, THE ENGINE RPM ONLY INCREASES ABOUT 100 RPM, BUT FREQUENTLY, WHEN THE A/C CLUTCH ENGAGES THE ENGINE RPM INCREASES 300 TO 400 RPM WITH NORMAL …
Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10313429 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10470815 · 2012-08-15 (August 15, 2012)
EVERY TIME I DRIVE BETWEEN 60 TO 65 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES BACK AND FORTH. ALSO THE FRONT END SHAKES. IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AT TIMES. HAD TIRES RE-BALANCED AND THE 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT CHECKED. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE FRONT END CHECKED. EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT SEEMS COMMON IN A LARGE POPULATION OF FJ'S ON THE ROAD. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 32,735 miles reported. Look up ODI 10470815 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11341612 · 2020-07-27 (July 27, 2020)
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 RESU…
Owner-reported narrative. 143,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11341612 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11457301 · 2022-03-18 (March 18, 2022)
My Toyota FJ Cruiser 2008 "FUEL PUMP" failed to indicate the amount of gasoline I had in the tank, the car completely stop working on the freeway while I was driving approximately at 70 MPH right in the fast lane, the car/motor just ugly shook and suddenly it stall/shut down... luckily the cars behind me were able to maneuver their cars and avoided a possible crash. I tried to start the car again and gave me some forward jumps until i got it off of the road. the gas panel indicator was still reading 1/2 filled tank but not gas inside tank...…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11457301 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11217826 · 2019-06-04 (June 4, 2019)
THERE APPEARS TO BE A SHORT IN SOME WIRING. MY TURN SIGNAL/HAZARDS FUSE BLOWS EVER TIME I TRY TO TURN THEM ON.
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11217826 at NHTSA ↗