10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 74,281 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
Structural frame failure from rust
- Medway, MA, USA
Rust found in the frame throughout, tank straps as well
- Edina, MN, USA
2007 Toyota Fj cruiser. There is widespread and significant rusting on the frame and drivetrain components. Well-maintained, and not located in a salty environment, nor an environment where the roads are ever salted. This vehicle is utilizes the same frame as another Toyota vehicle (4runner), and that vehicle was involved with the frame-rusting recall during the same time period this vehicle was manufactured.
- Memphis, TN, USA
My vehicle has substantial frame rot in the rear section of the frame and the rear bumper reinforcement. I have attempted to cut out rotten sections of the frame and welded in steel plates to keep the frame from collapsing. I have also bought a new section of frame from Toyota to replace the bumper reinforcement. I was told by Toyota that there are currently no recalls on Fj cruiser frames and that the frames are not faulty. But the amount of frame rot on this 12 year old vehicle seems excessive. I am afraid that the vehicle would collapse in the event of a rear end collision. So far, no components have failed or fallen off during driving.
- Cisne, IL, USA
The fuel tank straps we're completely rusted out. I found this out when I noticed my tank was hanging down after arriving at a destination. I drove home carefully and jacked the vehicle up climbed under to see what the problem was in the straps were disintegrated. I noticed how rusty the frame was looking so I poked it with my finger and my finger went right through. I have taken exceptionally good care of this vehicle but nothing could have prevented this problem because the frame rusted from the inside out and is most likely a design flaw in engineering by Toyota.
- Rutland, MA, USA
While inspecting excessive rust from my frame and the parts of the frame that have failed (already reported), we noticed the gas straps. They are completely rusted and over 3/4 broken because of the rust.
- Villa Hills, KY, USA
Excessive rust of the frame. Have found multiple holes in structural areas such as the transmission cross member welds meeting the frame. Failure of the frame coating all over. Frame rot from the inside causing holes from the inside out. Also rusting from areas such as control arms, rear end links, and differential mounts. Will provide more pictures when I have the availability to do so.
- Pasadena, MD, USA
Frame on rear passenger side corroded and right rear stabilizer bar completely detached from the frame while driving on interstate highway
- Marshfield, WI, USA
Driver's seat broke while I was driving the vehicle. A bolt snapped off under the seat for the mechanism that controls the up and down height adjustment. The seat was in the highest position possible when it happened and as a result, the seat dropped about 7-8 inches to the floor, causing a back injury for me. When this happened, the driver's seat geometry was off so significantly that the backrest was reclined too far and I couldn't see out the windshield or reach the pedals. I am disabled and it is a miracle that I was' in an accident as a result of this. I contacted Toyota and there had been a service bulletin to repair the driver's seat in my vehicle, but the dealership never informed me of it, even though I had complained several times about the seat losing its height setting. Now Toyota will not repair the seat because it is out of warranty. I am the original owner of the car and it has 111,000 miles on it. The seat mechanisms broke while I was driving over a rough section O city street in san diego, California at about 12 mph. I was driving in a straight line and slowing down to stop at a red light when it happened. I can't drive the car for more than a few minutes at a time with the broken seat because it is too painful for my back injury.
- San Diego, CA, USA
A few weeks ago I was working on my vehicle and I had to remove the rear bumper then I found the chassis damaged by so much deep rust, that for a moment I just thought to brush and put an anti corrosive but the damage is not fixed with brushing and painting. I call Toyota for a frame recall and they don't have any yet. My vehicle it's not safe to pull anything. I also feel that one of these days the body can be detached from the chassis.
- Baltimore, MD, USA
Vehicle will not changed gear from park to drive
- Tracy, CA, USA
The frame has rusted beyond expectations, wrong kind of metal or lack of treatment on metal causing oxidation, causing a safety issue of the power steering braking loose and causing potentially injuries or death to passengers. Vehicule is at home
- Wailuku, HI, USA
Rust. Unusual rust everywhere in my 2007 Fj cruiser. Even the front motor mounts are rusted. The rear bumper inside, frame, rear differential everything is extremely rusted. Even the trailer light plugs are falling off due to rust. This is a city car and we don't take it to offroad, and being only 74000 miles, it's scary to look under. If gives the feeling that one day wheels may fall off from the frame. I have searched in the internet and realized that most Fj cruiser owners have same issue. We paid 30+ thousand for a car which is falling apart with rust in 7 years. Hope something can be done.
- Centerville, MA, USA
I was driving approximately at 30 miles per hour, in a residential street, when suddenly I heard a noise and noted that the windshield developed a five inch crack, starting from the bottom center going up. A few days later, the crack moved significantly, to the left and right of the windshield moving to cover the entire windshield. There was no prior damage to the windshield, the vehicle has never been in an accident and it has never been taken off road. The crack seems to have developed due to pressure stress- a defect from manufacturing. There are numerous other reports from other owners of this type of vehicle with similar reports, often times, even after having the windshield replaced. This is a safety concern and manufacturing error.
- Columbia, MD, USA
I own a 2007 Toyota Fj cruiser sport utility vehicle. I've owned the vehicle for 24 months and currently have 16,000 miles driven. The safety problem is the design of the Fj cruiser windshield. I have now replaced the windshield six (6) times due to small rocks hitting the windshield. The safety issue is that the vertical position of this windshield absorbs the full impact of any road debris as opposed to deflecting. Of the six windshield incidents, 2 of those have been severe enough to completely penetrate the windshield and in to the passenger cabin. This poses a very serious safety issue if a rock should pierce the windshield on the drivers side and injure or distract the driver thus posing a safety risk to others in the vehicle or in close proximity. In addition, the impact is severe enough that the noise of the impact poses a dangerously high distraction. The impact is violent enough that I would equate the sound to exploding fireworks or a handgun sound in the cabin of the vehicle.
- Sammamish, WA, USA
The paint on my new vehicle is chipping off.
- Sayville, NY, USA
Numerous paint flaking; even on non leading surfaces windshield pitting and sparkling in sunlight.
- Columbus, GA, USA
- Dearborn Heights, MI, USA