Toyota FJ Cruiser 2007–2014

Summary

8 model years in 1 generation, 907 owner complaints in total.
No model year stands out as the most complained-about of its generation.
These are complaint counts, not failure rates: they are not divided by how many cars were sold, because no public source reports U.S. sales by model year.
Half of the complaints that give a mileage were filed by 42,000 miles (663 of them give one).
Owners reported 26 crashes, 8 fires, 18 injuries and 0 deaths across these model years.
19 recalls and 0 federal investigations cover these model years.

2007–2014

Each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints. Fewer than three years of this generation are comparable, so no year is named.

Model year	All complaints	First three years	Most reported system	Note
2007	593	173	Body & Structure
2008	124	45	Body & Structure	not compared
2009	7	2	Powertrain	not compared
2010	66	30	Brakes	not compared
2011	23	12	Steering	not compared
2012	41	15	Body & Structure	not compared
2013	23	6	Body & Structure	not compared
2014	30	9	Body & Structure	not compared

Every model year

A model year gets its own page when four sources cover it, it holds at least 50 complaints, and it either compares with the other years of its generation or shows one system in 40% or more of the complaints that name a component. The rest are listed here with their figures.

Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Bulletins	Combined MPG	Page
2007	593	9	163	16–18	yes
2008	124	11	165	16–18	listed here
2009	7	12	172	16–18	listed here
2010	66	12	190	17–19	listed here
2011	23	7	206	17–19	listed here
2012	41	5	203	16–19	listed here
2013	23	4	205	16–18	listed here
2014	30	5	197	16–18	listed here

What owners report across all years

System	Complaints	Share	Median mileage
Body & Structure	332	39%	59,000 mi
Brakes	136	16%	35,750 mi
Suspension	121	14%	97,000 mi
Windows, Wipers & Visibility	92	11%	3,500 mi
Powertrain	65	8%	79,000 mi

Shares are over complaints that name a component; a complaint naming several systems is counted under each.

Body & Structure

Owner report The vehicle within less than 15 years had structural creams rust that had compromised the safety of my vehicle and it is rotting out with holes, the fuel tank is rusted and lose, and may fall, repairs are expensive and it is my only car. They’re all also rust holes right through the body and floor in multiple locations…

Owner report My frame is corroding at a rapid rate and needs to be addressed by Toyota! I truly believe that this was cheap way of selling cars without the proper undercoating affecting these trucks later on most Toyota trucks had the frames replaced buy the dealers with the same problems that these fj cruisers have, this needs to …

Brakes

Owner report Please consider opening or expanding an investigation into frame, underbody, brake-line, and suspension-mount corrosion affecting Toyota FJ Cruisers. I own a 2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser 4WD. A professional inspection found multiple fluid leaks, heavy rust, rusted exhaust, leaking rear shocks, and brake line/hose concerns. A…

Owner report I am the owner of a Toyota FJ Cruiser (Year:2007), VIN: [XXX] ]) equipped with the TRD High-Performance Brake Kit, which is under recall campaign C0R / NHTSA 12E046. I recently experienced a serious safety issue involving the front TRD brake crossover tube. While driving, I suddenly noticed a soft brake pedal and sig…

Suspension

Owner report 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 th…

Owner report Frame and undercarriage have excessive wear for age of vehicle despite normal maintenance and care. Rust and corrosion has made the vehicle unsafe to drive.

Largest recalls

Campaign	Component	Filed	Vehicles
20V012000	FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP	2020-01-13	1,830,752
10V035000	EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS	2010-02-03	271,417
13V098000	SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE	2013-03-15	209,000
13V163000	EXTERIOR LIGHTING	2013-04-25	208,000
12E046000	EQUIPMENT	2012-10-17	200,000

Whether a recall has been done on a specific car depends on its VIN; check it at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Open investigations

None open.

Service bulletins

Toyota issued 1,501 service bulletins covering these model years, most often about equipment.

A bulletin tells dealers how to fix a known condition. It is not a recall and not a defect finding. Most bulletins cover several model years at once, so a bulletin listed here may not be specific to one year. The number of bulletins tracks how long and how widely a model was sold, so it is not a measure of reliability.

Date	Component	Summary
2026-01-07	UNKNOWN OR OTHER	Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Serv…
2025-06-13	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant…
2024-12-06	STRUCTURE:BODY	Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood…
2024-12-06	STRUCTURE:BODY	The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicl…
2024-12-05	STRUCTURE:BODY	Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow the Removal Procedure …
2024-12-03	STRUCTURE:BODY	Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can be identified by the …
2024-07-29	STRUCTURE:BODY	Some 2005 – 2024 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Serv…
2024-07-12	STRUCTURE:BODY	Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood…
2024-07-12	STRUCTURE:BODY	To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and in…
2024-07-12	STRUCTURE:BODY	The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicl…

How to read this page

Complaint counts are not failure rates. A model that sells more cars draws more complaints, and owners file more after news coverage or a recall. That is why years are compared only with other years of the same generation, over the same span, and never with other models.

Sources

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications (data as of 2026-10-28).
U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov: engines and fuel economy.

This page summarises public records; it is not a mechanical inspection.