2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser Owner Complaints

VEHICLE EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE STEERING WHEEL SHAKE INDICATIVE OF WHEELS BEING OFF BALANCE. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO RE-BALANCE 6 TIMES AT 4 DIFFERENT SHOPS THE SYMPTOM PERSISTS INTERMITTENTLY. OTHER FJ OWNERS OF 2010 MODEL YEAR AND NEWER FJ CRUISERS HAVE COMPLAINED THAT THEIR VEHICLES HAVE EXHIBITED THE SAME BEHAVIOR. THE PROBLEM (BASED ON FEED BACK FROM OTHER OWNERS ON INTERNET FORUMS) IS SPREAD ACROSS DIFFERENT MODELS, WHEEL AND TIRE COMBINATIONS. MANY OF THEM HAVE TAKEN THEIR VEHICLES BACK TO TOYOTA WHO CLAIMS THE SHAKING IS NORMAL. HOWEVER THE VEHICLE SEEMS UNSTABLE AT SPEED RANGING FROM 45 TO 60MPH, MOST EVIDENT AT ABOUT 50MPH. *TR

10/6/2011

VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY BETWEEN 55 AND 70 MPH. SEVERAL OTHER FJ OWNERS SEEM TO HAVE THIS ISSUE. DEALER CAN NOT FIX EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE TIRED MULTIPLE WHEEL BALANCES AND TIRE ROTATIONS. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY LIKE THIS. *TR

10/7/2011

SINCE NEW MY VEHICLE HAS HAD A SHAKING STEERING WHEEL WHEN REACHING SPEEDS OVER 55MPH. AFTER TRYING SEVERAL DIFFERENT SETS OF TIRES, WHEELS AND BALANCING MY DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. TOYOTA WILL NOT HELP AND THE STEERING IS SHAKING SO BAD IT FEELS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

8/2/2012

VEHICLE SHIMMY BETWEEN 55 AND 65 MPH AFTER BEING AT DEALER FOR ROUTINE TIRE ROTATION. TIRES WERE REPLACED, REBALANCED & ALIGNMENT DONE MULTIPLE TIMES AND VEHICLE BROUGHT TO 4 DIFF LOCATIONS FOR INSPECTION AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. HAS BEEN TO TOYOTA DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES WITH NO RESOLUTION. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND WILL MOST LIKELY CAUSE OTHER PARTS IN FRONT END/VEHICLE TO FAIL. CONTACTED TOYOTA AND NOTHING WAS DONE TO FIX PROBLEM. *TR

8/15/2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED EXCESSIVE CORROSION THROUGHOUT THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. DURING COLD WEATHER, THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE REAR VIEW CAMERA FOGGED AND FROZE, MAKING THE VISIBILITY BLURRY AND DIFFICULT TO SEE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,500. ..UPDATED 04/26/12 *BF UPDATED 06/15/2012 *JS

4/12/2012

AT 55,000 MILES (6 YEARS OLD) MY FRONT GRAVEL SHIELD HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED OFF AND WAS FOUND IN MY DRIVEWAY. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER AND THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT BOTH CONTROL ARMS AND BOTH FRONT STRUTS WERE VERY BADLY RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE AND AFTER MUCH DEBATE, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS MATTER AND THEREFORE THEY WOULD ONLY REIMBURSE ME 50% OF ALL COSTS TO REPLACE SAID PARTS. I FOUND TOYOTA HAS RECALLS FOR RUST ISSUES ON OTHER MODELS AND WOULD LIKE THIS MATTER LOOKED INTO. DUE TO THE LIMITED PRODUCTION OF THIS VEHICLE TYPE IT IS POSSIBLE IT IS BEING OVERLOOKED. I AM TERRIFIED AT THE THOUGHT THAT I COULD'VE BEEN DRIVING AND MY CONTROL ARMS COULD'VE RUSTED OFF LIKE MY GRAVEL SHIELD DID. A SIX YEAR OLD VEHICLE WITH ONLY 55,000 SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS TYPE OF RUST OR PARTS FALLING OFF.

2/15/2017

THE DAY I BOUGHT MY NEW TOYOTA FJ I TOOK IT TO A TIRE SHOP FOR LARGER OFF-ROAD TIRES. I WATCHED THE TECH AS HE CHANGED TIRES AND REMOUNTED THE WHEELS. HE CAREFULLY TIGHTENED THE LUG NUTS WITH A TORQUE WRENCH, BUT ON ONE, IT WAS OBVIOUS TO HIM AND ME BOTH THAT THE TIGHTENING EFFORT SUDDENLY GOT EASIER. HE MADE ANOTHER EASY 1/4 TURN AND THE STUD CAME OFF. THE MANAGER LOOKED AT THE STUD AND SAID IT HAD TO HAVE BEEN OVERTIGHTENED PREVIOUSLY BY THE FACTORY OR WAS DEFECTIVE. THEY FIXED IT. ABOUT 4 MONTHS LATER I WAS PUTTING ON MY WHEELS AFTER INSTALLING A SUSPENSION LIFT. I USED A TORQUE WRENCH SET AT 80LBS AND BEFORE IT EVER GOT TO A NORMAL TIGHT THE STUD TWISTED OFF. PLEASE LOOK AT THIS FORUM THREAD: HTTP://WWW.FJCRUISERFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/PROBLEMS-DEALER-SERVICE/85927-BROKEN-WHEEL-STUDS.HTML THERE ARE LIKELY MORE THREADS ON THIS SUBJECT AND THERE IS ALSO MENTION OF SIMILAR THREADS ON A TOYOTA TACOMA SITE. I HAVE REMOVED/REPLACED MANY DOZENS OF WHEELS IN MY LIFETIME AND BEFORE BUYING THIS FJ HAD NEVER BROKEN A STUD EVEN THOUGH I PUT FAR MORE EFFORT INTO TIGHTENING STUDS. *TR

7/14/2012

SINCE NEW MY VEHICLE HAS HAD A SHAKING STEERING WHEEL WHEN REACHING SPEEDS OVER 55MPH. AFTER TRYING SEVERAL DIFFERENT SETS OF TIRES, WHEELS AND BALANCING MY DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. TOYOTA WILL NOT HELP AND THE STEERING IS SHAKING SO BAD IT FEELS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

8/2/2012

THE ISSUE STARTED ON 8/23/2012 WHILE DRIVING ON I-95 IN SC, MY 2011 FJ CRUISER TRAIL TEAMS EDITION TIRE PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. THE VERY NEXT DAY, I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN WEST COLUMBIA, SC TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AS THE LIGHT HAD TURNED OFF THAT NIGHT. HOWEVER, THEY DID DISCOVER AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF ERROR CODE MESSAGES FROM THE CPU SYSTEM AND THOUGHT THIS MAY HAVE CAUSED THE LIGHT TO INTERMITTENTLY TURN ON/OFF. THE DEALERSHIP RESET ALL ERROR MESSAGES AND RELEASED THE VEHICLE BACK TO ME. AS IT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, I THOUGHT THERE WAS NO REASON TO WORRY ABOUT IT. A WEEK LATER, WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON I-95 IN NC, THE SAME INDICATOR LIGHT TURNED BACK ON, THIS TIME FOR THE REMAINDER OF MY TRIP HOME TO MD. AFTER CONTACTING TOYOTA OF BOWIE TO INSPECT THE ISSUE, THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT AND RELEASED THE VEHICLE BACK TO ME. SOON THEREAFTER, THE SAME INDICATOR LIGHT TURNED BACK ON UNTIL MID-JANUARY 2013 WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO GA, THE INDICATOR LIGHT TURNED OFF. I HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED AT I-95 TOYOTA (NEAR BRUNSWICK, GA) AND THEY INDICATED NO ISSUES WERE FOUND WITH THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH I ADVISED THEM OF THE INCIDENTS. THEY CONCLUDED THAT WHEN I RETURN HOME TO HAVE THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT THEN. WHILE RETURNING HOME TO MD, THE INDICATOR LIGHT TURNED BACK ON AND HAS STAYED ON EVER SINCE. CONSIDERING I HAVE NOT RECEIVED NOTICE FROM TOYOTA FOR THE SAFETY RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE, I DISCOVERED THEM THROUGH THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THIS MORNING TO HAVE A FEW CURRENT RECALLS THAT THE DEALERSHIP KNOWS ABOUT TO BE FIXED AND WILL ADVISE TOYOTA OF ANNAPOLIS (KOON'S) (WHERE I ORIGINALLY PURCHASED THE VEHICLE) OF THE INDICATOR LIGHT ISSUE AND CONCERN. IF ANY FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ME. *TR

4/23/2013

CRUSE CONTROLL QUIT WORKING IN MOTION.

7/21/2018

JUNE 19, 2016 MY WIFE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AT THE TOP OF OUR DRIVEWAY, WHICH HAS A SLIGHT DECLINE TO THE FRONT OF OUR HOUSE. SHE LEFT IT RUNNING, PUT IT IN PARK, PUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. SHE GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, WALKED BACK DOWN TO THE HOUSE AND BACK UP, THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, RUNNING INTO THE HOUSE. THE VEHICLE BOUNCED BACK FROM THE HOUSE ABOUT 10-12 FEET. IT WAS STILL RUNNING, WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE STILL ON, BUT THE GEAR SHIFT WAS NOW IN REVERSE. MY WIFE THEN TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, WHERE THE VEHICLE SAT FOR ABOUT 5 DAYS. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND THE WALL INTO THE HOUSE HAD TO BE REBUILT. $10,000 REPAIR TO THE VEHICLE, $16,000 TO THE HOUSE. TOYOTA SENT AN ENGINEER TO REVIEW THE DAMAGE AND PULL EDR READINGS. HE STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS WORKING PROPERLY, THE GEAR SHIFT WAS WORKING PROPERLY, AND THAT HE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE (EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE COULD NOT RUN AT THAT TIME). HE ALSO STATED THAT HE COULD NOT PULL ANY READINGS FROM THE EDR. TOYOTA WAS NOT EASY TO WORK WITH, AND THEIR COMMUNICATION WITH ME LEFT A LOT TO BE DESIRED.

8/23/2016

RUST TO THE FRAME OF THE CAR NOT CONSUMMATE WITH THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE, RUST TO THE STRAPS THAT SECURE THE FUEL TANK. POINTS THAT AFFIX THE BRAKE LINES TO THE VEHICLE FRAME HAVE RUSTED TO THE POINT THEY'RE NO LONGER AFFIXED TO THE FRAME. THE RATE AT WHICH RUST GESTATES ON THIS VEHICLE (AND I AM MUCH MORE ATTENTIVE THAN THE TYPICAL CONSUMER) IS UNSAFE AND WILL CONTINUE TO CREATE UNSAFE CONDITIONS AS THESE VEHICLES RAPIDLY DETERIORATE. THE RUST PREVENTION METHODS USED BY THE FACTORY ARE ENTIRELY INADEQUATE.

3/19/2021

JUNE 19, 2016 MY WIFE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AT THE TOP OF OUR DRIVEWAY, WHICH HAS A SLIGHT DECLINE TO THE FRONT OF OUR HOUSE. SHE LEFT IT RUNNING, PUT IT IN PARK, PUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. SHE GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, WALKED BACK DOWN TO THE HOUSE AND BACK UP, THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, RUNNING INTO THE HOUSE. THE VEHICLE BOUNCED BACK FROM THE HOUSE ABOUT 10-12 FEET. IT WAS STILL RUNNING, WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE STILL ON, BUT THE GEAR SHIFT WAS NOW IN REVERSE. MY WIFE THEN TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, WHERE THE VEHICLE SAT FOR ABOUT 5 DAYS. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND THE WALL INTO THE HOUSE HAD TO BE REBUILT. $10,000 REPAIR TO THE VEHICLE, $16,000 TO THE HOUSE. TOYOTA SENT AN ENGINEER TO REVIEW THE DAMAGE AND PULL EDR READINGS. HE STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS WORKING PROPERLY, THE GEAR SHIFT WAS WORKING PROPERLY, AND THAT HE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE (EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE COULD NOT RUN AT THAT TIME). HE ALSO STATED THAT HE COULD NOT PULL ANY READINGS FROM THE EDR. TOYOTA WAS NOT EASY TO WORK WITH, AND THEIR COMMUNICATION WITH ME LEFT A LOT TO BE DESIRED.

8/23/2016

My Toyota fj cruiser has frame rot issues. Will not pass an inspection because of the frame rot problem.my Toyota has less than 79000 miles on it and looks to be in excellent condition on the interior and exterior. Toyota knows about the problem and refuses to take responsibility for it .Is there anything I can do about it.. Got a verbal quote to replace ( it's gonna cost about 9500 to repair ) could be more after they start to replace and if they find more problems.

2/20/2023

ON APRIL 30TH, 2011 I PURCHASED A NEW, 2011 FJ CRUISER VIN# [XXX] FROM JERRY DURANT TOYOTA. EIGHT WEEKS PRIOR, ON MARCH 4TH, 2011 TOYOTA SUBMITTED A REPORT (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID# 11V148000) - INDICATING ITS INTENT TO CONDUCT A RECALL OF CERTAIN TOYOTA VEHICLES WITH "ACCESSORY" (TRD) WHEELS. MY FJ CRUISER WAS A "TRD" MODEL VEHICLE. MY VIN CAN BE SEARCHED AT TOYOTA AT HTTP://TOYOTA-B0B.IMAGESPM.INFO/ I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL AT THE TIME I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, NOR WAS THE RECALL REMEDY PERFORMED BEFORE DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE TO ME BY THE DEALER, AS REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW. ON MAY 10TH, 2011 I DELIVERED THE VEHICLE TO TEXAS TOYOTA OF GRAPEVINE FOR A WHEEL BALANCE ISSUE UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS THEN NOTIFIED BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR OF AN ACTIVE RECALL ON MY NEW FJ. DURANT TOYOTA MAINTAINS THAT THE INTENT TO RECALL DOES NOT MARK THE START DATE OF THE RECALL AND THAT THE OFFICIAL RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 5TH, 2011. THERE IS NO PUBLIC INFORMATION TO SUPPORT THE MAY 5TH DATE, AND DURANT FAILED TO PROVIDE PROOF (AS REQUESTED) OF INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORTING THE MAY 5TH START DATE. DURANT AND TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION DENIED MY REQUEST TO CANCEL THE SALE AND RETURN THE VEHICLE BASED ON THE DEALER'S FAILURE TO DISCLOSE AND REPAIR THE RECALL PRIOR TO SALE. DURANT/TMC REQUESTED THAT I SEEK ARBITRATION WITH TOYOTA; HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THIS CASE IS VERY CLEAR AND DOES NOT WARRANT AN ARBITRATED/COMPROMISED SOLUTION BUT RATHER AND FULL RETURN/REFUND IN A STRAIGHFORWARD PROCESS. IN SUMMARY, DURANT KNEW OF THE RECALL INTENT AND KNEW THE RECALL TO BE SPECIFIC TO THE TRD EDITION TRUCKS AND SUVS, INCLUDING MY FJ CRUISER. DURANT CLAIMS TO HAVE RUN THE VEHICLE VIN PRIOR TO DELIVERY AND RECEIVED A CLEAR REPORT. CLAIMING THAT MY VIN WOULD NOT HAVE APPEARED UNDER SEARCHES UNTIL MAY 5TH. DURANT KNEW, BASED ON THE 4 MARCH FILING, THE RECALL WOULD EVENTUALLY INCLUDE TRD FJS, INCLUDING MY VIN. DEALER: JERRY DURANT TOYOTA 5100 U.S. 377 GRANBURY TX [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFO

6/23/2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED EXCESSIVE CORROSION THROUGHOUT THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. DURING COLD WEATHER, THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE REAR VIEW CAMERA FOGGED AND FROZE, MAKING THE VISIBILITY BLURRY AND DIFFICULT TO SEE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,500. ..UPDATED 04/26/12 *BF UPDATED 06/15/2012 *JS

4/12/2012

VEHICLE SHIMMY BETWEEN 55 AND 65 MPH AFTER BEING AT DEALER FOR ROUTINE TIRE ROTATION. TIRES WERE REPLACED, REBALANCED & ALIGNMENT DONE MULTIPLE TIMES AND VEHICLE BROUGHT TO 4 DIFF LOCATIONS FOR INSPECTION AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. HAS BEEN TO TOYOTA DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES WITH NO RESOLUTION. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND WILL MOST LIKELY CAUSE OTHER PARTS IN FRONT END/VEHICLE TO FAIL. CONTACTED TOYOTA AND NOTHING WAS DONE TO FIX PROBLEM. *TR

8/15/2012

RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FROM TOYOTA TO HAVE THE AUXILIARY LIGHT KIT REPLACED DUE TO IT BEING A HAZARD. BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO THE TOYOTA DEALER 4 TIMES OVER A 6 MONTH PERIOD TO HAVE THE REPLACEMENT DONE, AND YET IT HAS STILL NOT BEEN PERFORMED. WE WILL CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SINCE IT IS LIKELY ONLY A HAZARD TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC MORE SO THAN TO OURSELVES, BUT WE ARE UPSET THAT THE TOYOTA DEALER HAS NOT YET COMPLETED THE REPLACED THE HAZARDOUS LIGHTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECALL NOTICE. NOTE, THE DATE OF FIRST INCIDENT IS APPROXIMATE. DEALER INFO: BIG TWO TOYOTA OF CHANDLER, 480-302-4651. THEY ARE LOCATED IN CHANDLER ARIZONA. *TR

12/18/2013

2011 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. CUSTOMER WOULD LIKE THE CAR TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL REGARDING PREMATURE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. *TA TOYOTA CLAIMED THERE WERE SIGNS OF WATER IN THE ENGINE INTAKE AIR SYSTEM AND THERE WAS NO MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT WITH THE AIR BAGS. THE CONSUMER STATED HIS SON DID DRIVE THROUGH A FIELD WITH WATER AND MUD. HOWEVER, IT WAS AFTER THE AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED, SO THE PRESENCE OF WATER HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DEPLOYMENT. *JB

6/22/2015

HELLO, I WAS SOLD A USED VEHICLE BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (CA) THAT HAS A BROKEN WINDSHIELD. THEY STATE THEY WILL NOT ASSIST ME IN ANY WAY FOR A BROKEN WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD HAS MULTIPLE CRACKS AND CHIPS IN IT STREWN ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. IT CAUSES SERIOUS VISUAL DISTURBANCE, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT SINCE THE CHIPPED GLASS DISTORTS LIGHTS AND VEHICLES, ALMOST BLURS THE VIEW. INITIALLY, I BELIEVED IT WAS TRACES OF TREE SAP, I MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO REMOVE THIS 'TREE SAP' SPOTS, ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT THEY WOULDN'T GO AWAY BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY BROKEN GLASS.

8/28/2018

RUST TO THE FRAME OF THE CAR NOT CONSUMMATE WITH THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE, RUST TO THE STRAPS THAT SECURE THE FUEL TANK. POINTS THAT AFFIX THE BRAKE LINES TO THE VEHICLE FRAME HAVE RUSTED TO THE POINT THEY'RE NO LONGER AFFIXED TO THE FRAME. THE RATE AT WHICH RUST GESTATES ON THIS VEHICLE (AND I AM MUCH MORE ATTENTIVE THAN THE TYPICAL CONSUMER) IS UNSAFE AND WILL CONTINUE TO CREATE UNSAFE CONDITIONS AS THESE VEHICLES RAPIDLY DETERIORATE. THE RUST PREVENTION METHODS USED BY THE FACTORY ARE ENTIRELY INADEQUATE.

3/19/2021