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U.S. public vehicle records

2013 Toyota FJ CRUISER: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

23 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

20,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 23 complaints (39.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Fuel system concerns417.4%
Braking behavior28.7%
Steering behavior28.7%
Transmission and shifting14.3%

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.

Structure:Body
9
Suspension
6
Air Bags
3
Steering
3
Power Train
2
Service Brakes
2
Unknown Or Other
2
Visibility/Wiper
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Structure:Body9
Suspension6
Air Bags3
Steering3
Power Train2
Service Brakes2
Unknown Or Other2
Visibility/Wiper2

Structure:Body: 9; Suspension: 6; Air Bags: 3; Steering: 3; Power Train: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Visibility/Wiper: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
5
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
2
100,000 to 149,999
1
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0005
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9991
75,000 to 99,9992
100,000 to 149,9991
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 13 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.

2012
1
2013
3
2014
2
2016
1
2019
3
2020
2
2021
6
2022
1
2024
1
2025
1
2026
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20121
20133
20142
20161
20193
20202
20216
20221
20241
20251
20262

2012: 1; 2013: 3; 2014: 2; 2016: 1; 2019: 3; 2020: 2; 2021: 6; 2022: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 2

Pattern summary

Structure:Body leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10489446 · 2012-12-21 (December 21, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, SHE NOTICED THERE WAS A BLIND SPOT ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AS SHE ATTEMPTED TO ENTER ANOTHER LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 250. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10489446 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10506123 · 2013-04-03 (April 3, 2013)

CPSC: I1330412A. 2013 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. CONSUMER STATED THAT RODENTS HAVE BEEN EATING THE WIRES UNDER THE HOOD OF HER VEHICLE. *LN THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE WIRES WERE MADE WITH SOME TYPE OF SOY, THAT ATTRACTED THE RODENTS AND SO FAR IT HAS COST $800 IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10506123 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10508791 · 2013-04-19 (April 19, 2013)

VEHICLE HAS A SHIMMY OR SHAKING AS FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT SPEEDS OF 45 MPH OR HIGHER. THIS SEEMS MUCH MORE PRONOUNCED WHEN DRIVING ON A CURVE THAN ON A STRAIGHT HIGHWAY. HAVE HAD THE FRONT TIRES BALANCED BY THE TOYOTA DEALER 3 TIMES SO FAR, AND THE BALANCING IS SPOT ON (I WATCHED THEM BALANCE THEM), BUT SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL STILL CONTINUES. THE TIRES DID NOT TAKE EXCESSIVE WEIGHTS EITHER. I HAVE STOCK TRD WHEELS WITH BF GOODRICH 265-75/16 TIRES - WHICH CAME WITH THE 2013 TEAM TRAILS EDITION. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS A TIR…

Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10508791 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10509449 · 2013-04-24 (April 24, 2013)

WHEN DRIVING IN SNOW CONDITIONS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BUILD UP AMAZING AMOUNTS OF ICE. I SPOKE WITH DEALERSHIP AND THEY CLAIM IT DOES THAT BECAUSE OF THE ANGLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. I WAS HAVING TO PULL OVER AND STOP TO BREAK THE ICE OFF MY WIPERS BECAUSE THEY STOPPED CLEARING THE WINDSHIELD AND I WOULD LOOSE VISIBILITY. ALSO, THE UNDERSIDE OF THE FJ CRUISER BUILDS UP AND COLLECTS ICE LIKE NOTHING I HAVE EVER SEEN. I AM A OVER THE ROAD TRUCK DRIVER AND HAVE DRIVEN IN ALL TYPES AND LEVELS OF BAD WEATHER, I HAVE NEVER SEEN ICE BUILD UP LIKE IT DOES …

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10509449 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10637842 · 2014-09-21 (September 21, 2014)

IN THE 60-70 MPH RANGE THE STEERING WHEEL SHIMMIED BACK AND FORTH AS MUCH AS 1-2 INCHES. THE VEHICLE FEELS UNSTABLE IN THIS RANGE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10637842 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10667244 · 2014-12-19 (December 19, 2014)

DECEMBER 17, 2014 I WAS ENROUTE TO WORK BETWEEN 9:00-9:30 AM. AND AS I AM DRIVING ALONG HUGHEY ROAD APPROACHING ROBINSON STREET A CROSS ROAD THE LIGHT TURNED YELLOW, SO I APPLIED MY BRAKES WHILE GOING OVER THE RAIL ROAD TRACKS AND I LOSS MY BRAKES ENDING UP IN THE INTERSECTION AND MY FRONT END IN THE PEDESTRIAN WALK WAY NEARLY RUNNING OVER TWO PEDESTIRANS, THEY WERE SO CLOSE THEY COULD TOUCH MY TRUCK. IT WAS A THREE LANE ROAD AND I WAS IN THE MIDDLE THE TWO OTHER CARS WERE ABLE TO STOP BUT I WASN'T AND KEPT GOING WITH MY FOOT PLANTED FIRMLY ON…

Owner-reported narrative. 12,889 miles reported. Look up ODI 10667244 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10909738 · 2016-09-26 (September 26, 2016)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. WHILE A PASSENGER WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE OVERWEIGHT PASSENGER TRIGGERED THE AIR BAG SENSOR AND CAUSED IT TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10909738 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11245781 · 2019-08-22 (August 22, 2019)

FRAME RUST, REAR BUMPER RUSH, UNDER CARRIAGE RUST, FRONT LOWER A-ARM RUST, DIFFERENTIAL RUST.

Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11245781 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

13V098000 · Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage

Reported: 2013-03-15 (March 15, 2013)

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2007 through 2013 FJ Cruiser passenger vehicles. The retractors for the front driver and passenger seat belts are mounted in the access door (rear door) panels of the vehicle. Due to insufficient strength of the access door panel, cracks may develop in the panel if the access door is repeatedly and forcefully closed over an extended period of time.

Consequence: If cracks occur in the panel around the lower retractor anchor, the seat belt retractor could become detached, which could increase the risk of injury to an occupant in the event of a crash.

Remedy: The safety recall began on June 6, 2013. Toyota will mail an interim letter to owners late in April 2013. Remedy notifications to the owners for the repair will begin in late May 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
13V123000 · Equipment:Other:Labels

Reported: 2013-04-09 (April 9, 2013)

Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Consequence: An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.

Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
13V163000 · Exterior Lighting

Reported: 2013-04-25 (April 25, 2013)

Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2007-2013 FJ Cruiser vehicles manufactured January 25, 2006 through February 23, 2013 and equipped with a Toyota Auxiliary Driving Lamp Kits mounted to the front bumper. These lamp assemblies include 55 watt bulbs and due to this wattage and mounting angle, the combination of the upper beam headlamps plus the auxiliary lamps are too bright and exceed the maximum light output allowed for an upper beam headlamp. Therefore, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."

Consequence: Light intensities above the maximum allowable limit could cause increased glare for oncoming traffic and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the 55 watt bulbs with 35 watt bulbs, free of charge. The recall began on June 6, 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
14V475000 · Equipment:Other:Labels

Reported: 2014-08-04 (August 4, 2014)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2014 FJ Cruiser and Tacoma vehicles equipped with accessory wheels and tires installed by Toyota or dealers prior to the vehicle's first sale. The affected vehicles may list incorrect spare tire size and/or cold tire inflation information on the tire placard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."

Consequence: If the spare tire is inflated to the incorrect pressure provided on the placard, tire failure may occur while it is being driven on, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: For the involved vehicles, overlay stickers to correct the tire placard will either be mailed to owners or provided to dealers for placement over the incorrect information on the placard. The recall is expected to begin in September 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

NHTSA campaign record ↗