2014 Toyota FJ CRUISER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
30 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
31,110 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2014 model year. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 30 complaints (26.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 7 | 23.3% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 13.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 6.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.3% |
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 | 8 |
| Steering | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Suspension | 3 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
Structure:Body: 8; Steering: 4; Electrical System: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline: 3; Service Brakes: 3; Suspension: 3; Engine: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 14 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 |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 3 |
2014: 4; 2015: 3; 2016: 2; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 2; 2020: 8; 2022: 2; 2023: 3; 2024: 1; 2025: 3
Pattern summary
Structure:Body leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 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 10616526 · 2014-07-26 (July 26, 2014)
NEW 2014 FJ CRUISER TRAILS TEAMS EDITION WITH BFGOODRICH T/A KO TIRES CAUSE VIBRATION AND STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10616526 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10626498 · 2014-08-20 (August 20, 2014)
I PURCHASED A NEW FJ CRUISER & PUT 5,039 ON IT & THEN INSTALLED AFTERMARKET WHEELS & TIRES. AFTER 2 WEEKS THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A SHIMMY IN THE STEERING AT 48 TO 65 M.P.H.. I HAD THE TIRES BALANCED 4 TIMES & THE TIRE SHOP ALSO REPLACED THE WHEELS WITH NO SUCCESS AT ELIMINATING THE SHIMMY. I REINSTALLED THE FACTORY WHEELS & TIRES BUT THE SHIMMY IS STILL PRESENT BUT NOT AS PRONOUNCED. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR INFORMATION & FOUND THAT TOYOTA HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR FJ CRUISER MODELS FOR YEARS. THEY HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HO…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10626498 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10626404 · 2014-08-19 (August 19, 2014)
I WAS ON A HIGHWAY AT 70 MILES PER HOUR(SPEED LIMIT OF THAT PART OF HIGHWAY). I STARTED TO TRY TO DECELERATE TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY WITH BRAKING, THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGED, DEPRESSED BRAKE HARDER AND THE ABS STARTED TO ENGAGED BRIEFLY THEN STOPPED. I STARTED TO PUMP THE BRAKES AND THEY FINALLY ENGAGED. I ALMOST FLIPPED THE VEHICLE OVER GOING AROUND THE TURN OF THE EXIT( WHICH I HAD ALREADY COMMITTED TO THE TURN) BECAUSE MY SPEED WAS TOO HIGH. IF THE BRAKES DID NOT CATCH AFTER PUMPING THEM, I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I PROCEEDED…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10626404 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10637022 · 2014-09-17 (September 17, 2014)
WE HAVE HAD A COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE IN THE VEHICLE TWO TIMES SINCE WE HAVE OWNED IT. THE FIRST TIME I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN 15-20 MPH STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE AND THE PEDAL FELT LIKE A BRICK AND WOULD NOT MOVE. I QUICKLY REMOVED MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL AND ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE PEDAL AGAIN. IT DID SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN BUT FELT JITTERY AS THE PEDAL MOVED CLOSER TO THE FLOOR. I DID NOT BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR ASSESSMENT THAT TIME AS IT DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN ON THE WAY HOME, THERE WAS NO SERVICE LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD SI…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10637022 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10839755 · 2016-03-03 (March 3, 2016)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 13,837 miles reported. Look up ODI 10839755 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11155684 · 2018-12-03 (December 3, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM FAILED. WHEN A PASSENGER WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS OFF AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GRAND BLANC TOYOTA MOTORCARS, LTD (9000 HOLLY ROAD, GRAND BLANC, MICHIGAN, [phone removed]) SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND RECALIBRATED THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR; …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11155684 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10960250 · 2017-03-12 (March 12, 2017)
TOYOTA CONTINUES TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM WITH THE RA61F TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLY IN THEIR 2001 TO 2017 TACOMA & FJ CRUISERS THAT MOST PROBABLY AFFECT OVER 20,000 VEHICLES. THE CLUTCH RELEASE BEARINGS CONTINUALLY FAIL ACCOUNTING FOR SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE, EXPENSE, AND RISK FOR THEIR OWNERS OVER THEIR YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. ONLY AFTER 9 YEARS WAS THE PROBLEM OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGED WITH A TOYOTA TSB THAT DID NOTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM (T-SB-0365-10). INSTEAD, THE TSB RECOMMENDATIONS WERE NOTHING MORE THAN A THINLY VEILED ATTE…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,220 miles reported. Look up ODI 10960250 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11316305 · 2020-03-05 (March 5, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE COMING TO A STOP AND PULLING INTO A DRIVE THRU, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V120000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11316305 at NHTSA ↗