Toyota FJ CRUISER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
906 owner complaints analyzed
17 distinct recall campaigns
41,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 to 2015 model years. Data snapshot: . 662 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 278 of 906 complaints (30.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 185 | 20.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 85 | 9.4% |
| Steering behavior | 67 | 7.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 42 | 4.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 11 | 1.2% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 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 | 278 |
| Suspension | 120 |
| Unknown Or Other | 112 |
| Visibility:Windshield | 69 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 68 |
| Steering | 61 |
| Service Brakes | 53 |
| Power Train | 51 |
Structure:Body: 278; Suspension: 120; Unknown Or Other: 112; Visibility:Windshield: 69; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 68; Steering: 61; Service Brakes: 53; Power Train: 51
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 253 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 103 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 76 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 66 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 98 |
| 150,000 and above | 66 |
Under 25,000: 253; 25,000 to 49,999: 103; 50,000 to 74,999: 76; 75,000 to 99,999: 66; 100,000 to 149,999: 98; 150,000 and above: 66
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (253). 244 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 92 |
| 2008 | 45 |
| 2009 | 50 |
| 2010 | 110 |
| 2011 | 37 |
| 2012 | 47 |
| 2013 | 40 |
| 2014 | 35 |
| 2015 | 23 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 26 |
| 2018 | 28 |
| 2019 | 71 |
| 2020 | 114 |
| 2021 | 77 |
| 2022 | 36 |
| 2023 | 19 |
| 2024 | 14 |
| 2025 | 14 |
| 2026 | 10 |
2006: 5; 2007: 92; 2008: 45; 2009: 50; 2010: 110; 2011: 37; 2012: 47; 2013: 40; 2014: 35; 2015: 23; 2016: 13; 2017: 26; 2018: 28; 2019: 71; 2020: 114; 2021: 77; 2022: 36; 2023: 19; 2024: 14; 2025: 14; 2026: 10
Pattern summary
Structure:Body leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 185 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 85 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 67 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 11019994 · 2017-08-27 (August 27, 2017)
BRAKES FAIL AFTER DRIVING OVER BUMP WHILE APPLYING BRAKES. ALSO, BRAKES LOCK UP SUDDENLY AFTER SOFTLY APPLYING BRAKES.
Owner-reported narrative. 132,459 miles reported. Look up ODI 11019994 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10161834 · 2006-07-07 (July 7, 2006)
THE VEHILE JUST STOPPED RUNNING AT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND STEERING BRAKES FAILED AND COASTED TRYING TO START CAR NO START TRANSMISSION DAMAGED BY EXTENSIVE COAST TO STOP AND STARTER DAMAGEG BY TRYING TO START ON HUGHWAY. THIS WIL CAUSE DEATH OR INJURY--THIS IS A COCEPT VEHICLE PUT OUT TOO EARLY! *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 3,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161834 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10165447 · 2006-08-14 (August 14, 2006)
WHEN DRIVING MY BRAND NEW FJ CRUISER IT STALLED AND LOST ALL POWER. I WAS FORCED TO CALL A TOW TRUCK BECAUSE IT WAS ON A SECLUDED HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. AFTER GETTING IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP THEY STILL HAVE THE VEHICLE AND HAVE DIAGNOSED IT AS THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY AND THEY ARE WAITING FOR PARTS TO BE DELIVERED. THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT IN 6/2006 AND HAS LESS THAN 5000 MILES ON IT. I WAS NOT GIVEN A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM IN SAN JOSE, CA. AFTER THREATENING NOT TO P…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165447 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10257254 · 2009-02-02 (February 2, 2009)
2007 FJ CRUISER WAS SERVICED BY BIG ISLAND TOYOTA MULTIPLE TIMES IN 2008. FEBRUARY 11, 2008 - 31649 MILES ' 30,000 MILE SERVICE, INCLUDES UNDER VEHICLES INSPECTION. APRIL 16, 2008 - 33007 MILES ' SAFETY CHECK INSPECTION, SPARK PLUG REPLACEMENT, CABIN FILTER REPLACEMENT AUGUST 20, 2008 - 34418 MILES ' STEREO INSPECTION FOR WARRANTY ISSUE AUGUST 27, 2008 ' 34582 MILES - WARRANTY REPLACEMENT OF BROKEN STEREO THE FEBRUARY 11 SERVICE STATES THE FOLLOWING PARTS UNDER VEHICLE WERE MARKED "CHECKED AND OKAY": SHOCK ABSORBERS / SUSPENSION STEER…
Owner-reported narrative. 37,679 miles reported. Look up ODI 10257254 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10171990 · 2006-10-27 (October 27, 2006)
WHILE TRAVELING A FREEWAY SPEED THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND DISABLED THE POWER BRAKES AND STEERING. I VERIFIED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD 1/4 TANK OF GASOLINE AND ALL OF THE FUSES CHECKED OUT OK. CALLED TOYOTA ROADSIDE SERVICE AND THEY DISPATCHED A TOW TRUCK AND DROPPED OF VEHICLE AT THE NEAREST DEALER. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 5,149 miles reported. Look up ODI 10171990 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10182004 · 2007-02-08 (February 8, 2007)
ENGINE ACCELERATES TO 1500 RPM WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT COMPLETELY OFF THE THROTTLE WHEN DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS (UNDER 1500 RPM). THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) TO SPEED UP INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN, EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE OF THE "ENGINE BRAKING" THAT ONE WOULD EXPECT. I FEEL THIS PRESENTS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND / OR ICY ROAD CONDITIONS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 21 miles reported. Look up ODI 10182004 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10359945 · 2010-10-11 (October 11, 2010)
THIS IS A TOYOTA ECM COMPUTER ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. I WAS WAITING IN MY 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER AT A TRAFFIC STOP FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE FROM RED TO GREEN. AT THIS TIME, I FELT A HARD "BUMP" AS IF ANOTHER CAR HAD REAR-ENDED MY FJ. THERE WAS THIS REAL HARD "THUMP." THE FJ HAD SHIFTED GEARS ON ITS OWN WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP. EITHER THE TRANSFER CASE DIFFERENTIAL AND/OR THE ELECTRICAL REAR DIFFERENTIAL LOCKED UP. BOTH MY HANDS WERE ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND MY RIGHT FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AT THE TIME. THERE IS NO DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR MAT…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10359945 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10476843 · 2012-09-24 (September 24, 2012)
ANOTHER FENDER BULGE ISSUE. THE BULGE STARTED AT 30K MILES. I'M AT 90K MILES NOW AND THE PASSENGER SIDE BULGE HAS NOW BECOME A TEAR. THE DRIVERS SIDE HAS ALSO BECOME A TEAR. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE IS VERY COMMON ON THE FJ CRUISERS BUILT IN 2007. THIS ISSUE WAS ATTENDED TO ON THE NEWER MODELS. THE CRUMPLE ZONES IS WHERE THESE TEARS APPEAR AND I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND MY PASSENGERS. MY VEHICLE IS NOT THE FIRST THIS HAS HAPPENED TO AND IT WILL NOT BE THE LAST UNTIL TOYOTA RECOGNIZES THIS AS AN EPIC FAILURE ON THEIR PART. I CA…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10476843 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10494414 · 2013-01-23 (January 23, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING AND GAUGES BEGAN TO FLUCTUATE ERRATICALLY AS THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE ABS SYSTEM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE AND GAUGES WOULD NOT PROVIDE A READING. THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10494414 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 1 |
2006: 0; 2007: 8; 2008: 9; 2009: 10; 2010: 10; 2011: 6; 2012: 4; 2013: 4; 2014: 5; 2015: 1