2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser Complaint Log

THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IN MY 2007 FJ CRUISER IS FAILING TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY. SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT TO THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE LIFETIME WARRANTY OF THE VEHICLE. INSTEAD, TOYOTA IS TELLING ME THAT I WILL HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THESE PARTS REPLACED. IN DOING SOME RESEARCH I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT OTHERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE TO CORRECT THEIR ERROR IN CRAFTSMANSHIP.

AFTER 76,000 MILES THE REAR AXLE STARTED MAKING A WHINING NOISE. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE REAR AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3700. IF THIS REAR AXLE WOULD HAVE BROKEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. TOYOTA KNEW THAT THE REAR RING AND PINION GEAR WERE DEFECTIVE DUE TO OVER TREATING AT THE FACTORY, BUT FAILED TO NOTIFY ANY OWNERS OF FJ CRUISERS AND TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THAT PARTICULAR PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE HAD NEVER DONE ANY OFF ROADING OF ANY SORT. TOYOTA HAS CAUSED A SITUATION FOR ANYONE THAT OWNS ONE OF THESE VEHICLES TO PUT THEMSELVES AND THEIR PASSENGERS AT GRAVE RISK OF CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT IF THE REAR AXLE GEARS SHOULD FAIL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND OR IN THE PROCESS OF OFF ROADING, WHICH TOYOTA CLAIMS THIS VEHICLE IS DESIGNED TO DO.

RECENTLY, MY FJ CRUISER LOSES BRAKES AND IT HAS ALMOST MADE ME GET INTO A COUPLE ACCIDENTS. THE BRAKE PEDDLE WILL GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND I HAVE HAD TO USE MY E-BRAKE TO STOP. PUMPING THE BRAKE USE TO WORK BUT NOW THE BRAKES WONT COME BACK FOR A WHILE. THIS HAPPENS AT ANY MPH AND THE BRAKE HAVE EVEN GONE OUT WHEN I'M STATIONARY.

REPLACED REAR DIFFERENTIAL $2,500, WAS ADVISED WHEN PICKING UP THE CAR THE FRAME HAS ROTTED OUT. MECHANIC ADVISES LIFE OF VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS. WE WOULD HAVE NEVER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE HAD WE KNOWN. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THIS IS A KNOWN TOYOTA PROBLEM.

MY 2007 FJ CRUISER HAS ABOUT 125,000 MILES ON IT. LAST WEEK I NOTICED THAT WHEN I DRIVE 45-50 MPH THE TRUCK MAKES A NOISE AND SHAKING IN THE REAR END AND BOUNCES SLIGHTLY. THE TRUCK IS AUTOMATIC BUT WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT FEELS AS IF I'M DRIVING AN AUTOMATIC VEHICLE AND AM IN THE WRONG GEAR. (LOOSE FEELING POWER TRAIN) THEY CHECKED THE UNIVERSALS AND THEY WERE FINE AND CHANGED THE FLUID IN THE REAR PUMPKIN BUT STILL NO FIX. NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME TRY REPLACING THE FLUIDS AND FILTERS IN THE TRANSMISSION. (ANOTHER $180.00 REPAIR BILL) THIS SOUND ONLY HAPPENS WHEN I'M COASTING WITH ACCELERATOR AT 45-50 MPH AND NOT GOING UP ANY HILLS OR HEAVY ACCELERATION. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO DO THE TRANSMISSION SERVICE AND I HOPE IT FIXES THE PROBLEM.

REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE. GEAR WHINE/ GRIND NOISE GETTING LOUDER ON REAR DIFFERENTIAL. GEAR BACKLASH INCREASE. APPARENTLY TOYOTA IS AWARE OF SUBSTANDARD RING AND PINION GEARS IN EARLY FJ CRUISERS AND CHANGED THE DESIGN IN LATER MODELS. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN SUBJECTED TO OFF ROAD CONDITIONS. FEAR GEAR IS GOING TO BREAK AND LEAVE ME STRANDED SOMEWHERE, SO NEED TO REPLACE ASSEMBLY. TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THESE EARLY DIFFERENTIALS AS THE PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON ALL THE FJ FORUM SITES.

FRAME HAS RUST THROUGHOUT. HAD TO REPLACE GAS STRAPS BECAUSE RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKE. REPAIR AXEL BEARING.

2007 FJ CRUISER, AT 34066 MILES ON OCTOBER 22 2009 VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN ALVIN,TX FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE COMPLAINT OF THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAKING A HIGH PITCHED SQUEAK. AT THAT TIME THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION UNDER WARRANTY, BUT AT THAT TIME THERE WASN'T A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED A BROKEN TRANSMISSION WITH ONE THAT WAS PRONE TO FAIL AGAIN. AS OF TODAY APRIL06 2015 THE VEHICLE IS SQUEAKING ONCE AGAIN FROM TRANSMISSION. TOYOTA KNOWS OF THE CONDITION. TSB 036510 IS A FIX FOR THE ISSUE BUT IS ONLY COVERED UNDER 60K MI. *TR

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.

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, I HIT A RELATIVELY SMALL POTHOLE ON THE ROAD. IMMEDIATELY AS THE VEHICLE WENT DOWN ON ONE SIDE, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED, ABOUT 4 INCHES FROM THE MIDDLE BOTTOM UP. THERE HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY BEEN ANY DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD AND NOTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD DURING THIS INCIDENT. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ENTIRELY, FROM THE LEFT TO THE RIGHT. AFTER BEING INSPECTED BY THE TOYOTA DEALER, THE WINDSHIELD HAS TO BE ENTIRELY REPLACED AT OWNERS COST. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD, NOR WAS THIS AN ACCIDENT OR A MAJOR INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. TOYOTA KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM THAT DUE TO THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED, THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR THE WINDSHIELD TO CRACK. I ALSO SENT A REPORT TO TOYOTA INFORMING THEM OF THIS PROBLEM.

NOISE FROM REAR OF VEHICLE PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED OVER 3-4 WEEKS. EXTREME WHINE/HUM WITH WHEEL ROTATION WITH CORRESPONDING DECREASED GAS MILEAGE. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE REAR BEARINGS WERE "SHOT" AND THE REAR DIFFERENTIALS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE COMPLETED ALL REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE THE ENTIRE ALMOST 9 YEARS THAT I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES. ESTIMATED COST FOR DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR IS ~$2000. CAR HAS 115,000 MILES. WOULDN'T EXPECT AN EXPENSE OF THIS MAGNITUDE WHEN ALL MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN COMPLETED BY DEALERSHIP. *TR

VEHICLE HAS LOUD HUMMING OR WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. NOISE STARTS AROUND 25 MPH AND CONTINUES TO GET LOUDER THE FASTER THE VEHICLE GOES. PROBLEM DIDN'T BEGIN UNTIL AROUND 120500. NOTIFIED DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THAT COULD BE DONE OTHER THAN REPLACE THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND BEARINGS. *TR

FRAME IS SEVERELY RUSTED, HAS CRACKS & CORROSION, & IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE

RECENTLY I NOTICED MY FJ CRUISER HAS INNER FENDER CRACKS UNDER THE HOOD INSIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, BIGGER THAN 5 INCHES LONG, ON THE BOTH SIDES OF SHEET METAL OF THE FENDER, AND THE HOOD HAS BULGES ALSO AT BOTH SIDES. I CALL TOYOTA AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND THEY JUST TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE HAS A CHASSIS AND THIS SHOULD NOT BOTHER ME. ALSO THEY TELL ME THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, SO THEY CANT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I DO A SEARCH OVER THE INTERNET FOR INNER FENDER CRACKS, AND FOUND THIS TO BE A RECURRENT PROBLEM IN THE SAME PLACE THAT CRACKS OCCUR ON THE FJ CRUISER, SOME VEHICLES CRACKS ARE BIGGER AND SOME ARE SMALLER, BUT IT IS JUST MATTER OF TIME TO HAPPENS. I AM NOT A CAR TECHNICIAN, BUT I AM REALLY WORRIED ABOUT MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY, SO I OPT TO NOT DRIVE WITH MY FAMILY MEMBERS, I DON'T REALLY KNOW IF THOSE CRACKS CAN MAKE THE VEHICLE COLLAPSE AT THE FRONT. I REALLY NEED SOME PROFESSIONAL HELP.

2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER FRAME ROTTING FROM INSIDE AND OUT. REAR UPPER CONTROL ARM MOUNTS RUSTING LOOKING LIKE ITS ABOUT TO BREAK OFF. UNSAFE TO DRIVE. 13 YEAR OLD FRAME SHOULD NOT BE ANYWHERE NEAR THIS CONDITION.

THIS IS A COMPLAINT UPON TOYOTA AND AS THEY HAVE BEEN AWARE OF MANUFACTURED DEFECT IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL GEARS AND BEARINGS OF MOST IF NOT ALL 2007 FJ CRUISERS. ALL THAT ARE MADE IN 2006 FOR SALE IN 2007 HAVE OR WILL HAVE A DIFFERENTIAL GO OUT AS IT IS A "2000 DOLLAR TIME BOMB WAITING TO HAPPEN AS THE TOYOTA SERVICE MANAGER STATED" I ASKED THE MANAGER IF ANY ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ANY OF THESE REPAIRS AS IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL 07'S AND HE SAID TOYOTA JUST ASSISTED ONE THEY DID A FEW MONTHS BACK AND IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. WITH THIS INFORMATION IT SEEMED IT COULD BE A POSSIBILITY SINCE TOYOTA IS VERY AWARE OF THE MANUFACTURED DEFECT OF THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. SO I LEFT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND MADE MY CALL RIGHT AWAY AS TO JUST BE FRUSTRATED AS THEY STATED THEY COULD NOT ASSIST IN ANYWAY OTHER THAN FILE A CLAIM. STILL THE CASE EVEN AFTER MENTIONING THAT TOYOTA ASSISTED IN PAYING FOR SOME OF THE COST OF THIS DEFECTIVE PART REPLACEMENT OF ANOTHER SAME YEAR NOT THAT LONG AGO AND STILL GOT A BIG NO WAY CAN WE HELP IN ANYWAY WITH COSTS AS IT IS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD, BUT TO ME IT COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD AS I HAVE HEARD THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL CAN GO OUT AND NO POWERTRAIN AT ALL AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT AND COULD IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION TURNING, UP A HILL, PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE, PULLING A TRAILER, ETC. MY DIFFERENTIAL COVER IS ALSO STARTING TO GET HOT AND SMELL FROM I IMAGINE FRICTION. ANYHOW SO MANY INCIDENTS OF THE SAME CASE WITH THE SAME YEAR AND SAME PROBLEM, ITS HARD TO SAY HOW MANY REALLY COMPLAINTS AND CLAIMS THEY HAVE GOTTEN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD MORE THAN A THOUSAND CASES. PLEASE TAKE THIS SERIOUS AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO OWN UP TO IT FOR ALLOWING A TIME BOMB WAITING TO HAPPEN AND SOME OF THOSE CUSTOMERS HAD IT HAPPEN AS SOON AS 65,000 MILES JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. MANY OTHERS EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM EVEN AT EARLIER MILEAGE JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON A DIVIDED HIGHWAY WITH DIRT SHOULDERS AT THE POSTED SPEED (65 MPH) AND AS AN 18 WHEELER PAST ME AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, IT FORCED ME OFF OF THE RIGHT HAND SHOULDER. THE DROP OF THE ASPHALT TO THE SHOULDER CAUSED THE STEERING TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND I FOUND MYSELF INTO THE SHOULDER AND FORCED INTO A 180 DEGREE SPIN. THE STEERING ON THE FJ HAS BEEN HORRIBLE SINCE 95,000 TO 100,000 MILES AND STARTED AT AROUND 75,000. I HAVE SPOKE TO MANY FJ AND TACOMA OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND READ IN MULTIPLE FORUMS AND BLOGS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE HOME BREWED REMEDIES FOR IT BUT I BELIEVE IT IS AN ISSUE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD ADDRESS. *TR

I WAS CLEANING THIS VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THERE ARE TEARS IN THE SHEET METAL OF THE BODY. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION ONLINE, I FOUND SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I AM FILING A COMPLAINT IN THE HOPES THAT TOYOTA TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE. IN A CRASH I DO NOT KNOW HOW WELL THE DEFECTIVE BODY PANELS WILL HOLD UP AND PROTECT THE PEOPLE IN THE CAR. *TR

BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT THE IMPACT OF A HEAD ON COLLISION WHICH TOTALLED THE CAR MY SON WAS DRIVING,AND HE SUSTAINED HEAD,BACK AND NECK INJURIES BECAUSE OF THAT.THE CAR LOCKED UP AFTER THE CRASH,DISABLING HIM TO EXIT THE CAR AND HAD TO BE PULLED OUT FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION FROM THIRD GEAR INTO FOURTH GEAR DUE TO A CLUTCH MALFUNCTION. AS RESULT, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND BOTH REAR BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

I WAS DRIVING ON A SURFACE STREET AND FELT A STRANGE BUT AND THEN A DISTINCT THUMP, THUMP,THUMP, SOUND BEGAN EMITTING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, I CONTACTED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEAL BUT THEY FAILED TO PROVIDE ME WITH ANY HELPFUL INFORMATION REGARDING ANY RECALLS REGARDING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. SINCE I HAD THE VEHICLE AT A SHOP ALREADY AND IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, I ALLOWED AN OUTSIDE SHOP TO DO THE WORK. 1EA RING AND PINION GEAR SET, 1EA BEARINGS KIT, 1EA SEALS KIT, SYNTHETIC OIL, AND LABOR FOR A TOTAL OF $2002.20 I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE A VEHICLE WITH 41.000 MILES ON WOULD HAVE IT REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAIL IN THE MANNER THAT THIS UNIT FAILED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

DEALER REFUSES TO HONOR RECALL LETTER ISSUED BY TOYOTA CORP. I HAVE BEEN TO DEALER TWICE AND THEY SAY IT DOESN'T APPLY EVEN THOUGH IT DOES. *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR NO LONGER RETRACTS SEATBELT. LEAVING THE BELT LOOSE AND MY CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DANGER IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THE SEAT BELT SYSTEMS ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK AND OUTLIVE THE LIFE OF THE CAR.

Frame has very premature rust issues. Structure of the vehicle is comprised due to well known issue of poor frame coating during manufacture of vehicle.

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER WITH 95K MILES ON IT. ALL WAS FINE FOR ABOUT A MONTH UNTIL I STARTED EXPERIENCING UNEXPLAINED ACCELERATING AND RPM SURGING WHEN DRIVING BELOW 30 MPH AND REGULARLY WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. IT'S NOT A HUGE REV, BUT RATHER THE ENGINE WILL SUDDENLY RISE FROM NORMAL IDLE RPM TO ABOUT 1300 RPM, THEN BACK DOWN AGAIN. I CAN FEEL THE TRANSMISSION GRABBING AND I HAVE TO KEEP THE BRAKE DEPRESSED TO KEEP FROM TAKING OFF. THE SURGE GENERALLY LASTS FOR LESS THAN 10 SECONDS AND THEN GOES AWAY FOR A SHORT TIME. I CAN GET IT TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM (AT A STOP, IN GEAR) ALMOST ANYTIME. IF YOU ARE NOT PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION AND HAPPEN TO LIFT YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE WILL LURCH FORWARD START TO ACCELERATE UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS. I FEAR THAT THIS WILL CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT SOMEDAY, AND SOMEONE COULD GET HURT OR KILLED. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHO SAYS THAT HE CAN'T QUITE FIGURE IT OUT. *TR

THIS PROBLEM STARTED WITH MY 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER (6 SPEED MANUAL) WITH ONLY 84K MILES. THERE IS THIS SQUEAKY NOISE COMING UNDER THE VEHICLE AND EVERY TIME I PRESSED THE CLUTCH ABOUT 1-2 INCHES THAT NOISE GOES AWAY. AFTER TAKING THIS TO THE MECHANIC WE HAVE FOUND THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE THROW OUT BEARING, AFTER MUCH INVESTIGATION I ALSO FOUND THAT THIS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL TRANSMISSION. AND MORE THAN 65% DRIVER HAVE THIS ISSUE IN THE PAST. I HAVE CONTACTED THE TOYOTA OF NORTH AMERICA HQ AND THEY BLUNTLY REFUSES TO TAKE CARE OF IT, AND ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS NOT A BIG ISSUE. TOYOTA FORUM OR EVEN A SIMPLE SEARCH FROM THE WEBSITE WILL EXPLAIN THAT HOW MUCH OF A ISSUE IS THIS WITH CONSUMER WHO OWNS THIS TYPE TRANSMISSION. I URGE NHTSA TO ADDRESS TOYOTA TO TAKE CARE OF THIS MAJOR PROBLEM AND RECALL ALL OF THIS FOR CONSUMER NEEDS. THANK YOU. *TR

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILS TO RETRACT. TOYOTA SAYS THE ENTIRE SEAT BELT AND RETRACTOR NEEDS REPLACING DUE TO RUSTING OF SPRINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RETRACTOR. THE TRUCK HAS LOW MILES, IS 7 YEARS OLD AND STORED/DRIVEN IN A WARM, DRY AND INLAND CLIMATE. THERE IS NO REASON FOR RUSTING PARTS. A QUICK SEARCH REVEALS OTHER FJ CRUISERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE CONCERNING THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS FAILING TO RETRACT. *TR

I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THERE WAS A LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND THE ENGINE JUST STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I COULDN'T START IT BACK UP. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGN WHATSOEVER AND I DIDN'T THINK IT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE FUEL BECAUSE IT STILL READ THAT I HAD A LITTLE UNDER 1/4 OF GAS. UPON PUTTING FUEL, THE CAR STARTED BACK UP. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE A FAULTY FUEL FLOAT OR SENSOR AND IS FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM BASED ON THE THREAD FROM WWW.FJCRUISERFORUMS.COM. I THINK TOYOTA SHOULD PUT OUT A TSB ON THIS OR DO A RECALL ON THIS SPECIFIC PART. IT'S A VERY HIGH SAFETY CONCERN WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOUR VEHICLE DIES. THIS CAN DEFINITELY CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT HAD THIS HAPPENED AT A BUSIER ROAD. *TR

DUE TO THE STEEP VERTICAL ANGLE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND THE PLACEMENT OF THE DEFROSTER VENT SEVERAL INCHES BACK FROM THE WINDSHIELD, THE WINDSHIELD CANNOT BE KEPT CLEAR BY THE DEFROSTER. THE AIRSTREAM FROM THE DEFROSTER DOES NOT HIT THE LOWER 1/3 OF THE WINDSHIELD AND THE LEFT HAND DRIVER SIDE AND NO AMOUNT OF AIR EVEN AT MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE WILL KEEP THE WINDSHIELD FROM ICING OVER. THE WIPER BLADES BECOME ENCRUSTED WITH ICE AND FAIL TO KEEP THE WINDSHIELD CLEARED. IN EVEN A MODEST SNOWSTORM, VISIBILITY QUICKLY DROPS TO NEARLY ZERO. MY WIFE NEARLY WRECKED THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. IN ADDITION, DUE TO THE LARGE THERMAL GRADIENT ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD CAUSED BY THIS ISSUE, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKS IN A HORIZONTAL LINE EXTENDING ACROSS NEARLY THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD AT THE LOCATION OF THE DEFROSTER AIRSTREAM CONTACT. THIS PHENOMENON HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES! I HAVE TALKED TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY ARE IN COMPLETE DENIAL ABOUT THE ISSUE AND CLAIM "EVERYTHING IS WORKING AS DESIGNED". THIS IS A FATAL PROBLEM AS THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN IN A SNOWSTORM AND I WOULD NOT BE THE SLIGHTEST BIT SURPRISED IF THERE HAVE BEEN ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF IT. USING FMEA (FAILURE MODE EFFECTS ANALYSIS) I WOULD RATE THE PROBABILITY OF THIS FAILURE OCCURRING TO BE A 1 (GUARANTEED TO HAPPEN) AND EFFECTS ARE CATASTROPHIC (LOSS OF OPERABILITY). *TR

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY FJ CRUISER IS SHUDDERING. IT FIRST STARTED AT LOW SPEEDS OF 25 MPH, IT NOW DOES IT AT HIGHER RATES OF SPEED (50 MPH). I WAS LED TO BELIEVE THAT IT WAS MY TIRES SINCE THEY ARE 21 INCH TIRES. I BROUGHT IT TO A DEALERSHIP A FEW WEEKS AGO (AUGUST 2014) AND WAS TOLD IT IS THE TRANSMISSION. I THEN DID MY RESEARCH AND HAVE LEARNED THAT NUMEROUS DRIVERS OF THE 2007 FJ CRUISER ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE, AND NOW THAT THE CAR HAS OVER 100,000 MILES ON IT, IT IS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. ONE JUST NEEDS TO GOOGLE "2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER SHUTTERING TRANSMISSION" AND YOU WILL FIND CLOSE TO 60 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VERY SAME ISSUE. PLEASE HELP US. TOYOTA KNOWS THIS IS AN ISSUE AND NEEDS TO STEP UP. THIS FIX IS COSTLY... CLOSE TO $5000.00 TO REBUILD A TRANSMISSION. *TR

CRACKS HAVE APPEARED ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES ON THE INSIDE OF FRONT FENDERS. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS ON THE INTERNET INCLUDING FORUMS AND EVEN FACEBOOK PAGES. IN SOME CASES THE FENDERS HAVE BULGED OUT. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY CLAIM THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. THEY COULD NOT TELL ME IF THIS COMPROMISES THE STRUCTURAL SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE IN THE 2007 AND EARLY 2008 MODELS. I LOOKED AT A FRIEND'S 2007 FJ CRUISER AND HE ALSO HAS THESE CRACKS. IT IS INTERESTING THAT TOYOTA HAS NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS ISSUE BUT SEEMS TO HAVE REMEDIED IT IN NEWER MODELS. THE FOLLOWING IS TOYOTA'S RESPONSE (IN PART) TO MY COMPLAINT: "WE ARE UNABLE TO WEIGH THE LEGITIMACY OF THE INFORMATION FOUND DURING YOUR ONLINE RESEARCH, AS THE DETAILS OF THE INDIVIDUAL CONCERNS ARE NOT KNOWN TO US. FOR THAT REASON WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTACT OUR OFFICES REGARDING YOUR TOYOTA VEHICLE, SALES, OR SERVICE EXPERIENCE SO THAT IT CAN BE FULLY ADDRESSED, AND ANY TRENDS IDENTIFIED. THE WARRANTY FOR THE FENDERS IS THE WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE FRONT INSIDE FENDERS IS 3 YEARS OR 36,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST FROM THE VEHICLE'S DATE OF FIRST USE. OUR RECORDS INDICATE THAT DATE IS SEPTEMBER 2, 2007. ONCE THE VEHICLE IS BEYOND THESE WARRANTY PARAMETERS, THE COST OF REPAIRS BECOMES THE OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY. PLEASE BE AWARE THE INFORMATION YOU HAVE PROVIDED IS USED IN COMBINATION WITH WARRANTY CLAIMS AND OTHER CUSTOMER CONTACTS TO TRACK TRENDS WITH OUR VEHICLES. IF IN THE FUTURE A SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN (SSC)/RECALL OR WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT IS ISSUED THAT WOULD COVER YOUR SPECIFIC ISSUE, AND YOU HAVE ALREADY MADE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE, TOYOTA WOULD REVIEW YOUR REPAIRS FOR REIMBURSEMENT AT THAT TIME. " *TR

THE CHASSIS IS SO CORRODED AND FULL OF RUST IT HAS GOT TO A POINT OF LOOSING THE STRENGTH AND INTEGRITY OF THE WHOLE BODY. THIS IS VERY WORRISOME SPECIALLY IF THE CAR IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE FRONT PART CHASSIS CANNOT RESIST THE IMPACT. THIS HAS TO BE RECALLED BY TOYOTA OR AT LEAST FIXED IN SOME WAY LIKE THEY DID WITH THE TACOMA AND TUNDRAS. *TR

WHEN TRYING TO PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE I COULD NOT MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER. IT WAS FROZEN. THE ABS, ALL THE TRAC ANNUNCIATOR LIGHTS STAYED ON. I HAD TO BYPASS THE GEAR SHIFT TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR. I WENT ON LINE TO LOOK UP POSSIBLE CAUSES AND WAS TOLD TO CONTACT SOME OF THE AUTO PARTS COMPANIES LIKE AUTO ZONE ETC. AND HAVE THEM HOOK UP THEIR COMPUTER TESTER TO TROUBLESHOOT THIS PROBLEM. I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO TAKE IT BY YET. *TR

FRAME RUSTED, REAR CROSS-MEMBER RUSTED, GAS TANK STRAPS RUSTED, SUSPENSION RUSTED/COMPROMISED

HEAD A SLIGHT GRINDING SOUND SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR(2007 FJ CRUISER WITH 56K MILES) TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT INSPECTED AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. BEARINGS IN THE REAR DIFF NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE JOB WOULD COST ESTIMATED 1700 DOLLARS TO FIX. REALLY BUMMED TO HEAR THAT AS I DONT DRIVE AGGRESSIVE WITH THIS CAR OR DRIVE IT OFF ROAD AT ALL. KEEP READING OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS CAR YEAR AND TOYOTA HAS NOT DONE A RECALL? I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE TO BUY TOYOTAS BECAUSE THEY ARE RELIABLE, NOT A HAPPY CAMPER AT ALL. THE COMPANY NEED TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND RECALL SOMETHING KNOWN TO BE BAD!

BAD VIBRATION WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. END RESULT WAS THE ROTORS,BRAKE PADS, AND BOTH CALIPERS HAD TO BE REPLACED!! AN $800.00 BILL! DEALER STATED IT WAS PROBABLY DUE TO ROAD SALT ERROSION!! THESE VEHICLES ARE PROMOTED AS OFF-ROAD/4WD GO ANYWHERE VEHICLES! I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE CALIPERS ON ANY VEHICLE I'VE EVER OWNED. I FEEL IT HAS TO DO WITH THE QUALITY OF STEEL THEY USE IN THESE VEHICLES AS I'VE HAD TO ALSO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION COOLERS LINES DUE TO RUST ERROSION/LEAKING OF THE METAL LINES! THE FRAME,SKID PLATES AND UNDER FRAME METAL ARE ALL FLAKING WITH RUST ERROSION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE SUV STARTS TO SHAKE. I HAD MY ROTORS RESURFACED AND IT WENT AWAY. NOW IT'S BACK. I SPOKE WITH A CERTIFIEDTOYOTA MECHANIC. HE TOLD ME THAT THE TRUCKS ARE KNOWN FOR HAVING UNDER SIZED ROTOR AND BRAKE PADS AND THAT IS WHY THAT HAPPENS. I COULD BUY A NEW ROTORS AND IT WOULD STILL HAPPEN. IS WHAT HE TOLD ME. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RECALL ON ALL TOYOTA TRUCKS AND SUVS. THANK YOU *TR

2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE POOR DRIVING VISIBILITY AND OTHER MULTIPLE DEFECTS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD DIFFICULTY SEEING ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT INTERSECTIONS. IT APPEARED THE DECISION TO GO WITH A HALF DOOR ON THE VEHICLE WITH A SHORT FRAME WAS THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE POOR VISIBILITY. ALSO, THE INABILITY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE FROM THE BACK SEAT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, WAS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT THE FRONT PASSENGER OPENING THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR FIRST. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED SPACE LEFT BETWEEN THE END OF THE ROOF AND THE BEGINNING OF THE REAR DOOR DRAINED SO POORLY THAT LEAVES AND OTHER NATURAL DEBRIS WOULD BUILD UP TO THE POINT THAT, WHEN IT RAINED, WATER WOULD LEAK INTO THE CARGO AREA. ALSO, DESPITE THE CLAIMED GAS MILEAGE REPORTED ON THE WINDOW STICKER (20 MPG) THE CONSUMER NEVER ACHIEVED MORE THAN 17.1 MPG, EVEN THOUGH THE BULK OF HIS DRIVING WAS DONE ON THE HIGHWAY.

THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT, I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING PRIOR, AND I TRIED TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND BRING IT TO A STOP. I GOT IT TO BE ABOUT 40 MPH BEFORE I HIT THE CEMENT RAILING ON THE BRIDGE. PLEASE CALL [XXX] AT [XXX] CLAIM NUMBER PA[XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE INNER FENDER OF MY 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER HAS DEVELOPED A NOTICEABLE TEAR, BETWEEN THE DESIGNED SAFETY CRUMPLE ZONES. THIS AREA IS OBVIOUSLY NOT STURDY ENOUGH TO SUPPORT NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS OVER TIME. ONCE THIS WEAK POINT IN THE INNER FENDER TORE, IT DISTORTED THE OUTSIDE FENDER DISTANCE (GAPS) BETWEEN THE FENDER AND THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. I FIND THIS TEAR TO BE AN ALARMING ALTERATION IN MY FJ CRUISER AND I WORRY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND MY FAMILY. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS IS COMMON AND IF A FIX HAS BEEN DISCOVERED! *TR

LOUD GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR. *TR

SEVERE RUSTING ON THE FRAME. VEHICLE FEELS VERY LOOSE WHILE DRIVING OR HITTING A BUMB AS RUST PROGRESSES.

VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT INTO SHOP WITH VERY HARD TO APPLY BRAKES. VEHICLE HAD BLOWN FUSE FOR A.B.S. AND REPEATEDLY KEPT BLOWING FUSE WHEN INSTALLED. THIS DESIGN OF BRAKE SYSTEM USES AN ELECTRIC MOTOR AND ACCUMULATOR FOR POWER ASSIST AND WITHOUT THIS WORKING IT HAS NO POWER ASSIST. THERE IS NO WAY ANYONE COULD STOP THIS VEHICLE QUICKLY IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. I BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I AM AN A.S.E. MASTER CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN. *TR

THE DRIVER'S LEFT FOOT REST CAME LOOSE AND WENT UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL. I WAS ABLE TO CLEAR THE PEDAL BEFORE BRAKING. I THINK THIS COULD BE A WIDE-SPREAD ISSUE AFTER LOOKING AT SEVERAL INTERNET POSTS. *TR

THIS VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP FROM PURCHASE FROM GREATBRIDGE AUTO SALES ON 2/28/13. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE IT HAD A COMPLEMENTARY 3000MILE/90 WARRANTY. WHEN I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT, IT SHUDDERED AND HAD DIFFICULTY SHIFTING GEARS.. IT IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE VERY NEXT MORNING IT WAS INSPECTED BY A KNOWN MECHANIC AND IT WAS DEEMED THE TORQUE CONVERTER. WE CONTACTED THE GM WHO ADVISED US TO CALL THE INSURANCE THAT THEY USE. UPON FILING A CLAIM, THEY ONLY COVER 1000.00 OF WORK IN THAT 3000MILE WARRANTY. BUT THE CAR REPAIR WAS 1700.00. ON TOP OF THAT I CALLED TOYOTA, DID MY RESEARCH FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAVE HAD COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET, FJ FORUMS, EDMUNDS ETC... DESCRIBING THIS ISSUE WHICH CONVENIENTLY OCCURS RIGHT AFTER THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY ENDS. MY PROBLEM IS THAT TOYOTA, HAS KNOWN ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS AND REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT BECAUSE IT IS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY AND THAT IS ALL THEY WILL SAY..CONSUMER REPORTS HAS STOPPED RECOMMENDING THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND NO ONE SEEMS TO MAKE TOYOTA ACCOUNTABLE.IT IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR FOR A VEHICLE THAT BARELY HAS THE ENGINE BROKEN IN WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS DISABLED..IT ALSO INTERFERES WITH THE GAS MILEAGE WHICH IS NOT ACCURATE BECAUSE THE ENGINE HAS TO DO SO MUCH MORE WORK WITH THE BAD TORQUE CONVERTER. WE HAVE TAKEN ALL THE STEPS POSSIBLE AND ALL TOYOTA CORPORATE SAYS IS THAT THEY HAVE NO RECORD OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP *TR

I BOUGHT THIS CAR WHEN THE MILEAGE WAS 36000. I STILL OWN THIS TRUCK, THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THIS VEHICLE IS TOO MUCH NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR SIDE. I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE BEARING IS BAD ON ONE SIDE OF THE WHEEL. I GOT BOTH REAR BEARING REPLACED BUT THE NOISE REMAIN THE SAME.I TALK TO TOYOTA BUT NO FIX AT ALL. STILL DRIVING IT WITH EAR PLUG. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY BUT THE NOISE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.