2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser Complaint Log

I BOUGHT MY 2007 TOYOTA FJ BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALER, A YEAR LATER I BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF MY DEALERSHIP THAT THE UNDERSIDE OF MY VEHICLE WAS SHOWING SIGNS OF RUST. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS JUST SURFACE RUST NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. MY VEHICLE WAS KEPT IN THE GARAGE AND DRIVEN VERY LITTLE ON A YEARLY BASIS DUE TO THE FACT THAT I HAVE OTHER VEHICLES TO DRIVE. I DIDN'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION THROUGHOUT THE YEARS UNTIL I HAD TO GO UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE TO INVESTIGATING RATTLING NOISES, WHEN I WENT UNDERNEATH THE SITE WAS DISGUSTING RUST WAS EVERYWHERE SERIOUS RUST. I WENT TO TOYOTA THIS WINTER THEY PUT IT ON A LIFT AND TOOK PHOTOGRAPHS THAT WERE TO BE SENT IN TO TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS FOR ANALYSIS THEY PRETTY MUCH TOLD ME AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT I WAS ON MY OWN. ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS ON OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES BECAUSE OF CHASSIS OR BODY RUST ISSUES NOTHING ON MY FJ CRUISER, I HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER FJ CRUISER OWNERS IN SOME BUT NOT ALL ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THEIR VEHICLES DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS WOULD YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SEVERE NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF TOYOTA THANK YOU. *TR

I HAVE DISCOVERED BULGING AND CRACKING ISSUES IN THE ENGINE BAY INNER FENDER APRONS AT THE LOCATION OF THE CRUMPLE SAFETY ZONES. TOYOTA DEALER AND CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSONNEL ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT WILL NOT ESCALATE MY COMPLAINT OR ALLOW ME TO SPEAK WITH A SUPERVISOR. FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWS THAT THERE IS A HIGH AMOUNT OF OWNERS EXPERIENCING SOME BULGING AND CRACKING ISSUES WITH 2007 AND SOME EARLY 2008 MODELS. THE BULGES AND CRACKS IN THE INNER FENDERS SEEM TO BE ATTRIBUTED TO A TOYOTA DESIGN FLAW THROUGH CERTAIN VIN NUMBERS. SOME SPECULATION WAS MADE THAT AFTERMARKET STEEL BUMPERS HAD PUT EXTRA WEIGHT AND STRESS ON THE FENDERS, CAUSING THEM TO CRACK, BUT HUNDREDS OF FJ'S EQUIPPED WITH AFTERMARKET BUMPERS SUFFERED NO DAMAGE. IT IS RUMORED THAT TOYOTA ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM IN MOST 2008 MODELS BY BOXING THE INNER FENDER AND ADDING A THIRD LAYER OF METAL AND A NEW BOLT INSIDE THE FENDER. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AS IT NEGATES THE ABSORPTIVE PROPERTIES OF THE FRONTAL CRUMPLE ZONE, IN ADDITION TO THE OBVIOUS STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS. *TR

THE ABS ON OUR 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER GIVES YOU THE FEELING OF NOT WORKING WHEN IT STARTS TO ENGAGE . THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS SPEEDING UP INSTEAD OF STOPPING. THIS HAPPENS WHEN YOU TRY TO STOP WHEN GOING OVER A ROUGH SURFACE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY THE DEALER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE FRAME NEAR THE ENGINE MOUNT AND THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS INDICATING THE ENGINE WAS FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,000.

05-14-2010 I HAVE BEEN VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS FENDER BULGE AND /CRACKING PROBLEM ON THE FJ'S. WELL IT WAS MY TURN, A BULGE RIGHT THERE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE CRUMPLE ZONE. LETS FACE IT, IF THE CRUMPLE ZONE IS ALREADY CRUMPLED BEFORE YOU GET IN AN ACCIDENT, HOW IS IT GOING TO HELP YOU IF YOU GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY CONTACTED THE FTS, FIELD TECHNICIAN SPECIALIST. THE FTS WANTED TO SEE IF THE FJ TO SEE IF IT WAS STOCK. I DID HAVE ONE MODIFICATION. AFTER READING EVERYTHING I COULD GET MY HANDS FROM THE FORUMS MEMBERS ON THIS SUBJECT I DECIDED TO HAVE A READYLIFT LEVELING KIT, INSTALLED IN THE FRONT ONLY TO PREVENT THE TIRES FROM HITTING THE INTER FENDER WELLS. THE LIFT ONLY RAISED THE FRONT 2.25 INCHES AND THE DRIVE REMAINED THE SAME. ANY MODIFICATION PROBLEMS THAT TOYOTA MAY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH CAN BE HANDLED WITH A COPY OF THE MAGNUSON ' MOSS WARRANTY ACT OF 1975. THE FIELD TECHNICIAN SPECIALIST CHECKED OUT BULGE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE CRUMPLE AND THEY VERIFIED FRONT INNER FENDER WAS BULGED AND RECOMMEND THE REPLACEMENT OF THE RIGHT & LEFT FRONT INNER FENDERS. 06-28-2010 I GOT THE FJ BACK FROM THE BODY SHOP ON THURSDAY THE 24TH. BOTH THE APRON SUB-ASSEMBLIES & REINFORCEMENT SUB-ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED. UNDER THE HOOD I COULDN'T EVEN TELL IF IT WAS WORKED ON. AFTER ALL THAT I HAVE READ AND THE FOLKS I HAVE TALKED TO I'M GLAD TOYOTA STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE AND FIXED THE PROBLEM. LET'S HOPE IT STAYS FIXED. *TR

I THINK BY NOW IT'S FAIRLY OBVIOUS THAT TOYOTA HAS A REAL PROBLEM WITH THE RA61F 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BECAUSE ITS PILOT SHAFT/ BELL HOUSING ISSUE THAT CAUSES THE T/O BEARING TO MAKE NOISE. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. SOMEONE'S GOT TO GET THIS OUT THERE, AND GET MEDIA ATTENTION DRAWN TO THIS. *TR

I LEASE A TOYOTA 2007 FJ CRUISER WHICH CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE WAS TO STEERING COLUMN AREA. 911 WAS CALLED /POLICE AND FIRE RESPONDED. THE FIRE WAS VISIBLE FROM THE BLINKER ARM HOLE. FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY MYSELF. TOYOTA TIL THIS DAY HAS NOT TOLD ME THE CAUSE. IT HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP SINCE. I DON'T WANT THE CAR. TOYOTA HAS BEEN CALLED NUMEROUS TIMES. YET NO ONE GIVES ME AN ANSWER. I DON'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANY TOYOTA OWNER. A GUY NAMED TROY OFFERED ME A $1000.00 DOLLARS TO BE ON MY MERRY WAY. I DON'T WANT IT. ESPECIALLY AFTER THEIR COVERUP. *TR

I CURRENTLY OWN A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER AND HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM. AS OF YET IT HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IN MY VEHICLE, BUT SOONER OR LATER SOMEONE WILL BE KILLED IF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT CORRECTED. WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND APPLYING THE BRAKES IF YOU SHOULD HAPPEN TO HIT A RUT IN THE ROAD YOU SEEM TO LOOSE YOUR ABS AND THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO ACT VERY ERRATIC UNTIL YOU COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, ALMOST TO THE POINT OF LOSING CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE AT LEAST A DOZEN OR MORE TIMES IN THE 2 1/2 YEARS I'VE OWNED IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED A SQUEAKING AND METAL POPPING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT FRAME RAIL NEAR THE RIGHT MOTOR MOUNT WAS BROKEN. THE DEALER ALSO ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A BODY SHOP TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 61,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,976. UPDATED 11/05/10. *LJ

CRACKS AND BULGES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE INNER FENDERS APPEARED OUT OF NO WHERE.. I NOTICED THEM DURING AN OIL CHANGE. I DON'T OFF ROAD, ITS ALMOST STRICTLY A COMMUTING VEHICLE. I'M WORRIED THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND WANT IT REMEDIED ASAP. *TR

ABS SYSTEM FAILURE IN 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THE ABS, VSC, AND VSC TRAC AND SKIDDING LIGHT CAME ON ON OR ABOUT MARCH 22, 2010. TOYOTA DEALER HAD TROUBLE FINDING "PROBLEM" ALBEIT THEY SAID THE VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES OR ALMOST NO BRAKES. THEY REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY AND IN AN UNRELATED ISSUE REPLACE ILDLER PULLEYS. PICKED UP VEHICLE THAT WAS ALLEGED REPAIRED AND DRIVEN BY TECHNICIANS TO VERIFY IT WAS REPAIRED AND BRAKES WORKED. WITHIN ABOUT 20 MILES OF DRIVING, BRAKES BECAME VERY SOFT AND CAR WAS HARD TO STOP IN A REASONABLE DISTANCE WITHOUT VEERING. CALLED DEALERSHIP FROM VEHICLE ON MARCH 27, 2010 AND WAS TOLD TO BRING IT IN MONDAY, BUT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE UNITL MONDAY. I WAS TOLD JAMMING ON THE BRAKES MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SKID UNCONTROLABLE AND THAT THE ABS SYSTEM AND VSC WOULD NOT CAUSE BRAKE FAILURE. I DROVE THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 200 MILES ON A TRIP TO SEE MY MOTHER AND FATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STOP IN A RELIABLE AND SAFE MANNER.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, PROCEEDING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE SURGED WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED THERE WAS A SLOW RESPONSE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED UNTIL THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL POSITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPONTANEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 18,000. UPDATED 6/1/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE INCIDENTS HAPPENED ON DRY ROADS AND THE INCIDENTS HAS HAPPENED THREE OTHER TIMES WITHIN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. NO FLOOR MATS WERE INVOLVED DURING THE INCIDENTS. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 06/04/10.*JB

MY TOYOTA FJ CRUISER ONCE AGAIN SCARED THE LIFE OUT OF ME. THE VEHICLE AGAIN STARTED TO ACCELERATE AT HIGH SPEED WHEN TRAVELING DOWN HILL. I LIVE IN PR WITH LOTS OF HILLS. I WENT TO A DORADO DEALER WHO TOLD ME MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAD LESS THAN 36K MILES BUT HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR MORE THAN 3 YEARS. I BELIEVE THE VEHICLE IS A PROBLEM WHICH MERITS YOUR ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE HAS DONE THIS TO ME MANY TIMES. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM AND BRING US PEACE OF MIND. *TR

I HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA FJ. THE STEERING SEEMS TERRIBLY WEAK AND UNPREDICTABLE. IT DRIVES LIKE A VEHICLE THAT HAS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MILES ON IT, BUT THE STEERING HAS BEEN LIKE THIS SINCE I PURCHASED IT. I'VE HAD THE WHEELS ALIGNED THREE TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. TOYOTA SAYS THE THERE IS NO ISSUE BUT THAT THE STEERING ON THIS STYLE VEHICLE IS JUST SENSITIVE. WHILE I REALLY ENJOY THE VEHICLE, I'M ALWAYS ON FULL ALERT WHEN DRIVING KNOWING THAT AT ANY GIVEN TIME, THE STEERING MAY SUDDENLY TAKE THE VEHICLE LEFT OR RIGHT WITH NO PREDICTABILITY. I'VE DRIVEN A LARGE NUMBER OF SUVS AND PICKUP TRUCKS. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED A NEWER VEHICLE THAT REQUIRES SO MUCH ATTENTION TO THE STEERING. IT MAY GO LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN THE ROADWAY SURFACE CHANGES, WHEN ENCOUNTERING UNEVEN ROADWAY SURFACES, WHEN TRANSITIONING FROM WET TO DRY OR ICE TO CLEAR PAVEMENT, OR FOR SEEMINGLY NO REASON AT ALL. OFTEN I FIND MYSELF ACTUALLY COUNTER STEERING (INPUTTING OPPOSITE TENSION ON THE WHEEL) TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM GOING LEAVING THE LANE I'M TRAVELING IN. IT IS VERY UNPREDICTABLE WHILE CHANGING LANES. AS I BEGIN A SLOW MOVE TO AN ADJACENT LANE, THE STEERING MAY SUDDENLY JUST PULL ME OVER TO WHICH I THEN HAVE TO COUNTER STEER TO KEEP FROM GOING TOO FAR. *TR

THIS JUST HAPPENED TO ME AGAIN TODAY, I HAVE AN 07 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER BOUGHT IN MID 06, I WAS DRIVING IN PA (WHERE YELLOW LIGHTS ARE SHORTER THAN MY NORMAL NJ ONES), THE LIGHT TURNED YELLOW RIGHT BEFORE I GOT TO AN INTERSECTION SO I GAVE A LITTLE EXTRA BRAKING, JUST AS I HIT A SERIES OF SMALL POTHOLES, ABS KICKED IN, THE NORMAL ABS FEELING HAPPENED IN THE PEDAL, BUT THEN EVEN AFTER THE POTHOLES WHERE THE ROAD WAS FINE, THE ABS SHOULD HAVE "DISENGAGED", THERE WAS NO LONGER THE NORMAL ABS "PULSING", INSTEAD I HAD A NEAR DEAD PEDAL. I HAD TO PUSH DOWN WITH ALL MY MIGHT TO SLOOOOOOOWLY BRING THE TRUCK TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION (FROM 5MPH TO 0 IN ABOUT 20 FEET). INSTINCT SAYS BRAKE HARDER WHEN YOU ARE NOT SLOWING DOWN, BUT I DON'T THINK I COULD HAVE PUSHED ANY HARDER. I AM REALLY GLAD THIS WAS JUST TO AVOID A YELLOW LIGHT AND NOT TO AVOID A CAR CROSSING MY PATH, I SURELY WOULD HAVE NAILED IT AS THE TRUCK SLOWLY ROLLED TO A STOP WITH MAYBE 10% BRAKING DESPITE ME STANDING ON THE BRAKES. I HAVE FOUND FROM EXPERIENCE THE ONLY WAY TO RECOVER FROM THE DEAD PEDAL IS TO LET OFF IT COMPLETELY, AND THEN YOU HAVE A NORMAL PEDAL AGAIN. THIS HAS ONLY HAPPENED TO ME MAYBE 6-7 TIMES IN MY 50,000 MILES ON THE FJ, BUT SO FAR I HAVE BEEN LUCKY AND MOST OF THE TIME IT IS SIMPLY STOPPING AT A YELLOW AND NOT BECAUSE I NEED A REAL EMERGENCY STOP. I WAS 100% STOCK FOR THE FIRST 5-6 TIMES, AND THIS LAST TIME I HAVE SLIGHTLY BIGGER TIRES AND A LIFT. THEY WILL PROBABLY JUST BLAME IT ON THE MY LIFT AND TIRES, BUT ITS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE 100% STOCK. ONE DAY I AM GOING TO KILL SOMEONE, OR MYSELF. THE POLICE WILL JUST WRITE IT UP AS "FAILURE TO STOP, DRIVERS FAULT", BUT SOME OF YOU WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS WILL KNOW OTHERWISE. *TR

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT YESTERDAY, THURSDAY, 18FEB10, AT AROUND 3:40 P.M. ON THE INTERSECTION OF WESTHEIMER AND BELTWAY 8. I DRIVE A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THERE ARE 2 LIGHTS BEFORE I HAVE TO TURN LEFT ON THE BELTWAY TO HEAD TOWARDS I-10. I STOPPED AT THE FIRST LIGHT ON THE RED LIGHT BEHIND SEVERAL CARS AS THERE WAS SOME TRAFFIC. THEN THE LIGHT AHEAD TO TURN LEFT ON THE BELTWAY TURNED GREEN SO ALL OF THE VEHICLES TRAVELED TO THE NEXT LIGHT AND STARTED GOING THRU THE GREEN LIGHT UNTIL IT TURNED YELLOW. THE 1ST CAR AT THE LIGHT STOPPED AND EACH VEHICLE STOPPED BEHIND THEM INCLUDING ME. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT INSTEAD OF MY CAR STOPPING WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES IT FELT LIKE THE BREAKS TRIED TO GRAB BUT THEY DIDN'T GRAB AND MY FJ CRUISER KEPT ON GLIDING UNTIL I HIT THE CAMRY IN FRONT OF ME. THE CAMRY HIT THE LEXUS IN FRONT OF HER AND THE LEXUS HIT A BUICK IN FRONT OF HER. IT WAS VERY SCARY AS I EXPECTED MY BRAKES TO BRAKE WHEN I HIT THEM BUT INSTEAD IT FELT LIKE MY BRAKES TRIED TO BRAKE BUT THEY COULDN'T. THE COPS CAME AND GAVE ME A TICKET FOR "FAILURE TO CONTROL SPEED" EVEN THOUGH I WAS ONLY GOING VERY SLOW SINCE THERE WAS SO MUCH TRAFFIC BUT IT WAS MY FAULT BECAUSE I HIT THE CAR FROM BEHIND. THE FJ, THE LEXUS AND THE BUICK WERE MINIMALLY DAMAGED BUT THE CAMRY IN FRONT OF ME HAD THE BACK-END SMASHED IN. THE POLICE CAME AND TOOK OUR INFORMATION AND THEY CHECKED OUT THE OWNER OF THE CAMRY BECAUSE HER NECK HURT. I REPORTED THE ACCIDENT TO MY ALLSTATE INSURANCE AND TOLD THEM ABOUT MY BRAKE PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM THAT IN THE PAST THE ONLY THING I HAD NOTICED WAS MY CAR HAD PROBLEMS IN 2 INSTANCES WHEN I WAS GOING OVER BUMPS. IT FELT LIKE THE BRAKES HAD TROUBLE GRABBING. *TR I TOOK MY CAR INTO A ALLSTATE AUTHORIZED DEALER CLOSE BY "DON MCGILL TOYOTA" TO HAVE MY CAR FIXED BUT MOST OF ALL TO HAVE MY BREAKS CHECKED. I WON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING MY FJ CRUISER ANY MORE UNTIL THE DEALER CAN SURE ME THAT THE BREAK PROBLEM IS FIXED! I AM SO SCARED!

AFTER LEAVING THE CAR WASH I APPLIED BRAKES WITHOUT ANY STOPPING POWER FOR ~ 40 FT WITH FULL PRESSURE. I SLOWLY CAME TO A STOP USING FIRST GEAR WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I ASSUMED IT MAY BE WET BRAKES BUT ONCE STOPPED I REAPPLIED THE BRAKES AND NOTICED THE BRAKES WERE WORKING PROPERLY. EXITING AN OFF RAMP AT ~ 40MPH I GENTLY APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW AND SUDDENLY THE BRAKES WERE AT ALMOST FULL PRESSURE CAUSING ME TO RELEASE THE BRAKES TO AVOID SKIDDING. *TR

ROAD DEBRIS DURING NORMAL COMMUTE HIGHWAY DRIVING HAS RESULTED IN MULTIPLE HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL CRACKS IN THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD TWICE AND THE WINDSHIELD RECENTLY CRACKED AGAIN. MY COMPANY OWNS SIX 2007 FJ CRUISERS AND FOUR OF THE VEHICLES WINDOWS CRACKED WITHIN THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF OPERATION. PREVIOUS TO THE FJ CRUISER, I COMMUTED ALONG THE SAME ROUTE IN ANOTHER VEHICLE FOR FOUR YEARS AND DID NOT SUSTAIN DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD. *TR

MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY WHILE TRAVELING OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE, POTHOLE OR BUMP. I ALMOST REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME YESTERDAY IN THE RAIN. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY MODEL YEAR 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER TO WORK ON THE MORNING OF 2/9/2010 AT 0730. WHILE BRAKING FOR A RED LIGHT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE WENT OVER A WET STORM SEWER DRAIN GRATE. THE SLICK SURFACE OF THE DRAIN GRATE CAUSED THE TIRE TO SKID. THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND THE BRAKES RELEASED, ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO PROCEED UNIMPEDED TOWARD THE INTERSECTION. I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER. THE VEHICLE STOPPED JUST INTO THE INTERSECTION. THERE WAS NO COLLISION. I DO NOT KNOW IF PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER HAD ANY EFFECT OR IF THE SYSTEM MANAGED TO APPLY THE BRAKES ITSELF AFTER THE TIRES WERE ON PAVEMENT AGAIN. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SITUATION. THE CONSEQUENCE WAS THAT THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED ABOUT 10 FEET INTO THE INTERSECTION, E.G. BEYOND THE "STOP" LINE. IF THE BRAKES HAD NOT RELEASED THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE STOPPED BEHIND THE WHITE "STOP" LINE. ACCORDING TO THE TOYOTA DEALER THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *TR

BRAKES FAIL MOMENTARILY AFTER RIDING OVER A BUMPY ROAD. THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE RECALL ON THE TOYOTA PRIUS. *TR

THERE IS A SMALL POT HOLE ON THE OFF RAMP THAT I USE TO COME HOME FROM WORK. EVERY TIME I HIT IT, MY BRAKES FREAK OUT AND I HAVE TO PUMP THEM TO RECOVER AND GET MY BRAKES BACK. I DRIVE A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. (THIS IS MY SECOND FJ CRUISER. MY FIRST ONE DID THE SAME THING ON THIS POT HOLE.) IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME I HIT IT. DIDN'T THINK MUCH ABOUT IT UNTIL I SAW THE RECALL INVESTIGATION ON THE PRIUS BAKES. SOUNDS JUST LIKE WHAT MY FJ DOES. *TR

I BOUGHT MY FJ USED IN MARCH WITH ABOUT 26K ON IT. LOVE THIS TRUCK TO DEATH UNTIL THE BRAKE FAILURE SLIDE!!!. I WAS COMING TO A STOP AT A BUSY INTERSECTION, I LIVE IN A BUSY CITY "NEWARK NJ" (I KNOW I KNOW, HOLD BACK THE JOKE/SARCASM JUST FOR A BIT ;-)). ANYWHO, I WAS ONLY DOING ABOUT 25 OR LESS AND ABOUT 5-10 MILES ON A FLAT SURFACE MY CAR STARTED TO SLIDE, I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS OIL ON THE GROUND OR SOMETHING SO DIDN'T PAY IT MUCH MIND. IT WAS A VERY SLOW SLIDE BUT IT STILL SLID A FEW FEET WHERE I HAD TO PUMP THE PEDAL TO STOP. IT DID IT AGAIN WHEN I WAS COMING TO AN OFF RAMP ON RT 22. THIS TIME THE TRUCK SLID SUPER FAR THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSING JUST AS HARD AGAINST MY FOOT AS I PRESSED DOWN TO STOP IT, LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME. SCARED THE CRAP OUT OF ME!! THIS IS WHEN I FOUND THIS FORUM AND SEARCHED FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I FOUND A FEW POST PRINTED THEM ALL OUT WITH SUGGESTED FIXES AND BROUGHT THEM TO THE DEALER. I SHOWED THE SERVICE TECHS, AND THEY LIKE TOOK A QUICK LOOK AND THROUGH THEM TO THE SIDE. I SAID DON'T YOU WANT TO KEEP THESE. THEY SAID NO WE DON'T NEED THIS STUFF. THEY CHECKED A BUNCH OF STUFF SAID BRAKES AND PADS WERE GOOD, AND SAID THE PROBLEM WAS THE BRAKE FLUID, SO THEY CHANGED IT. ROAD AROUND FOR ABOUT ANOTHER MONTH OR SO AND WITH NO PROBLEMS. UNTIL IT HAPPENED AGAIN THIS TIME WHILE I'M IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON MY WAY TO WORK. AGAIN SLOW PACE BUT I STILL HAD TO DIP AROUND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND ON TO THE SHOULDER TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME REALLY SUCKS!! ALSO IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME WITH DIFFERENT TIRE PRESSURES. I WON'T LET MY MOM EVER DRIVE OR BORROW MY TRUCK BECAUSE OF THIS. IF THERE IS NO RECALL SOON I WILL RATHER SELL MY TRUCK THEN KILL SOMEONE. :-( *TW

I OWN AN 07 FJ CRUISER AND MY WIFE AN 08, THAT HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS THE PRIUS. WHEN EVER I GO OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD AT LOW SPEED AND BRAKE THE BRAKES FAIL TO WORK IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE CAR IS ON A BUMPY OR SLIPPERY SURFACE, OR WHEN IT DRIVES OVER POTHOLES I GET THAT SAME THING. I HAVE 26K ON THE VEHICLE AND LOVE IT BUT NOW IM CONFUSED ABOUT THAT BRAKE PROBLEM OR IF THERE IS ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM! HELP!!!!!!!!!! *TR

THE BRAKE PEDAL DROPS TO THE FLOOR, AND THE BRAKES STOP WORKING OVER BUMPS WHILE BRAKING. IM ASSUMING THIS IS THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. BUT IT FEELS VERY DANGEROUS. THE BRAKES COMPLETELY GIVE OUT AND YOU CONTINUE TO ROLL FORWARD WITHOUT STOPPING. ONLY WAY TO MAKE IT GO AWHILE WHEN IT OCCURS IS TO LET YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND RE-APPLY. BUT YOU ARE AT RISK AT REAR ENDING SOMEONE SINCE THE VEHICLE STOPS MANY FEET FARTHER THEN YOUR SUPOSSED TO. THIS ALSO HAPPENED ON MY 2007 TOYOTA TACOMA (WHICH I SOLD) IM ASSUMING IT HAD THE SAME BRAKING SYSTEM AS MY CURRENT TOYOTA. I BELIEVE THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE IS DEFECTIVE. *CN

WHILE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE AT ABOUT 35 MPH I EXPERIENCE SUDDEN APPLICATION OF THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE AND THE SKID INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. THE APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE CAUSED ME THE SWERVE TO THE RIGHT. HAD I BEEN AT HIGHWAY SPEED I SUSPECT THAT THE FJ WOULD HAVE ROLLED. *TR

I OWN A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. MY BRAKES DO EXACTLY WHAT IS DESCRIBED WITH THE 2010 PRIUS. ON UNEVEN ROAD SURFACES AND ON SHARP CURVES, THE BRAKES PERIODICALLY AND MOMENTARILY FAIL. BUT A QUICK PUMP ON THE BRAKES WITH THE FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR USUALLY RESTORES THEM INSTANTLY. I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED AND SO FAR IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT THEY ARE IN GOOD SHAPE. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED IS STATED HEREIN UNDER THE HEADING "APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE:". *TR

SPEED CONTROL SPEEDS UP VEHICLE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TO DISENGAGE SPEED CONTROL AND SLOW VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DISENGAGE THE SPEED CONTROL BY USING THE BRAKE PEDAL. *TR

2007 TOYOTA CRUISER TRD - TIE ROD BROKE. I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT. I GOT OUT AND LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE. ONE TIRE WAS POINTED ONE WAY AND ONE THE OTHER. THERE WEREN'T ANY EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. SHORTLY BEFORE THE TIE ROD BROKE, STEERING FELT AS IF I WAS ON ICE FOR A FEW SHORT MOMENTS. FORTUNATELY, I WASN'T DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE TIE ROD BROKE. VEHICLE WAS UNDRIVEABLE AND TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN EDMONDS, WA. THE TIE ROD WAS REPLACED BY TOYOTA. DEALERSHIP HAD NO INFORMATION AS TO HOW IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. NO REASON WAS GIVEN. CAR WAS 2 WEEKS OUT OF WARRANTY AND DEALERSHIP WASN'T GOING TO COVER THIS SAFETY ISSUE. AFTER APPLYING SOME PRESSURE, THEY DID HANDLE THE PROBLEM. *TR

I DRIVE A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER AND HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH BRAKING ON AT LEAST THREE OCCASIONS. I HAVE HEARD FROM MANY OTHER FJ CRUISER DRIVERS WHO HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM: WHEN DRIVING AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEEDS (BELOW 40 MPH) AND ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, SUCH AS AT A STOPLIGHT, THE BRAKES WILL LOCK UP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE TO ROLL FORWARD EVEN WHILE THE BRAKE IS BEING PRESSED. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE ABS KICKS IN AS YOU CAN FEEL THE "SCRAPING" FEELING THROUGH THE PEDAL. FROM ALL OTHER ACCOUNTS AND BASED ON MINE, IT SEEMS THE COMMON FACTOR IS ROLLING OVER UNEVEN TERRAIN WHILE BRAKING, SUCH AS A POTHOLE, MANHOLE COVER, OR JUST BUMPY ASPHALT. SO FAR I WAS FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE ANOTHER CAR DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. HOWEVER, I CAM DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO ROLLING THROUGH A RED LIGHT WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A COLLISION WITH THE TRAFFIC WHICH HAD THE GREEN LIGHT. THERE ARE AT LEAST DOZENS OF THESE SAME REPORTS WHICH I'VE READ ON JUST ONE FJ CRUISER OWNER FORUM. ALL ARE CONSISTENT WITH BRAKING OVER UNEVEN TERRAIN WHICH RESULTS IN THE VEHICLE CONTINUING TO ROLL FORWARD. *TR

2007 FJ CRUISER: WHEN BRAKING OVER UNEVEN SURFACE THE ABS KICKS IN AND CAUSE MY BRAKES TO GO FROM 100% TO 20%. I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND READ COUNTLESS REPORTS ONLINE AND THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SIMILAR ISSUE TO THE ABS PROBLEM WITH THE PRIUS AND IS A SOFTWARE ISSUE WITH THE FJ CRUISERS ABS.

AFTER ACCELERATING FROM LOW SPEEDS THE STEERING SOMETIMES HAS A LARGE AMOUNT OF MOVEMENT LEFT & RIGHT FROM VERY SMALL STEERING INPUTS. RESULTING IN A "DEATH WOBBLE" SORT OF A FEELING. THIS HAPPENED BEFORE AND AFTER A LIFT KIT AND TIRES WERE INSTALLED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING IN SNOW OR ANY WET, SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WOULD ENGAGE WITHOUT DRIVER INTENT. IMMEDIATELY, THERE WOULD BE A 3 SECOND LOSS OF BRAKING POWER AS IF HE RELEASED HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND THE WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 79,000.

TOYOTA FJ CRUISER WINDSHIELD CRACKS AND CHIPS EASILY. WE'VE HAD OUR FJ FOR TWO YEARS AND ARE ON OUR 4TH WINDSHIELD. THE SMALLEST BIT OF DEBRIS CREATES A CHIP AND SOMETIMES IT SEEMS TO BEGIN TO CRACK AT THE DRIVERS SIDE FOR NO REASON. DEALER OFFERS NO SOLUTION EXCEPT TO CHARGE $500 A POP TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD. THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AS IT IS MENTIONED ON NUMEROUS WEB BLOGS AND FORUMS. INCIDENT DATE BELOW IS ARBITRARY AS WE'VE BEEN DRIVING WITH A CRACKED WINDSHIELD FOR QUITE A WHILE B/C WE SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE YET ANOTHER WINDSHIELD AT THIS TIME.*TR

I EXPERIENCED BRAKING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS WITH MELTING SNOW IN TOWN AT SPEEDS FROM 0 TO 30 MPH. BRAKES FELT EXTREMELY MUSHY AND VEHICLE ONLY SLOWED BY APPLYING EXTRAORDINARY PRESSURE TO BRAKE PEDAL. AT STOP, PEDAL CONTINUED TO DEPRESS ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR AND DESPITE STANDING ON BRAKE, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO CREEP FORWARD. I AM 6' 1" TALL AND OVER 190 POUNDS, DEPRESSING THE PEDAL AS HARD AS I COULD, COMPLETELY STANDING ON PEDAL, I COULD NOT KEEP THIS VEHICLE FROM MOVING AHEAD. I BELIEVE IF THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN BEING DRIVEN BY A SHORTER, LIGHTER PERSON, THE POTENTIAL FOR A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN GREATLY INCREASED. VEHICLE EXHIBITED SAME FAILURE TWO OR THREE MORE TIMES WHILE DRIVING HOME (TOTAL OF 5 MILE TRIP). NEXT DAY INSPECTED FLUID RESERVOIR, LINES AND HUBS FOR ANY FLUID. RESERVOIR WAS AT PROPER LEVEL AND NO SIGN OF ANY LEAKAGE. SINCE THAT ISOLATED INCIDENT VEHICLE BRAKES HAVE PERFORMED APPROPRIATELY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT OR WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WOULD SIT IDLE, THE ENGINE RPMS WOULD INCREASE ABNORMALLY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD PROCEED TO LUNGE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE HE ADVISED THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL AND DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION IN THE PROPELLER SHAFT, CAUSING THE SOLENOID TO STICK. THE DEALER DID NOT INVESTIGATE THE VEHICLE ANY FURTHER AND TO DATE, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DEMONSTRATE THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 45,000.

I OWN A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE THROTTLE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE IS A JOKE AT BEST AND DANGEROUS AT WORST. THE VEHICLE ENGINE RPM WILL NOT GO BELOW 12-1800RPM WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING UNLESS THE SPEED IS SOMEWHERE BELOW 5MPH. THIS CAN BE VERY ANNOYING AT TIMES AND DANGEROUS AT OTHERS. DRIVING ON ICE, TOWING A TRAILER, DRIVING IN HILLY TERRAIN. THERE IS NO ENGINE BRAKING AVAILABLE AT ANY SPEED ABOVE 5MPH. WHEN THE SOFTWARE DOES FINALLY CLOSE THE THROTTLE COMPLETELY IT DOES SO ABRUPTLY CAUSING A JERKY CONDITION THAT CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL ON ICE. AT 20MPH, FOR INSTANCE DRIVING IN A SCHOOL ZONE, THE THROTTLE CANNOT BE SET TO MAINTAIN A STEADY SPEED. THE VEHICLE ALTERNATES BETWEEN ACCELERATING AND ALMOST COMPLETE THROTTLE SHUT OFF. THERE IS NO IN BETWEEN. I HAVE SEEN THIS SAME BEHAVIOR WHEN DRIVING OFF ROAD IN STEEP TERRAIN. NOT ONLY IS IT ANNOYING BUT IT IS DANGEROUS. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TO TOYOTA TWICE AND THEY CLAIM IT IS NORMAL FOR THIS MODEL AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE. THE OTHER THING THAT IT DOES IS HOLD THE LAST RPM FOR SEVERAL SECONDS WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. NOT SO MUCH DANGEROUS AS ANNOYING AND CAUSES EXCESSIVE WEAR ON DRIVELINE COMPONENTS AND IS ALSO EXTREMELY WASTEFUL OF FUEL. *TR

THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BEING REPORTED ON TOYOTA BASED FORUMS. WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKES AND ONLY ONE SIDE (LEFT OR RIGHT) OF THE VEHICLE IS OVER SOME ROUGH TERRAIN, THE BRAKES RELEASE EVEN WITH THE BRAKE CONTINUALLY BEING PRESSED. IT LEAVES THE VEHICLE ROLLING INSTEAD OF STOPPING UNTIL YOU HIT THE BRAKES AGAIN. SOME PEOPLE HAVE CLAIMED IT WILL ENGAGE AGAIN IF KEEPING IT DEPRESSED, BUT ONLY AFTER MORE THAN A SECOND HAS PAST. I CAN RECREATE THIS ACTION TIME AND TIME AGAIN WITH THE SAME FAILURE HAPPENING EVERY TIME. *TR

PURCHASED FJ CRUISER IN 2010 WITH APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES ON IT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, UPON ACCELERATION AT LOW SPEED, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING; HOWEVER, THE VIBRATION STOPPED AS I ACCELERATED TO A HIGHER SPEED. I NOTICED THAT THIS ONLY OCCURRED WHEN I STARTED WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN D(RIVE) BUT NEVER OCCURRED IF I STARTED WITH GEAR SHIFT IN D2. COMPLAINED TO DEALERSHIP(TOYOTA SOUTH IN MORROW, GA) WHILE STILL WITHIN THE 60,000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. THE DEALERSHIP NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THEY EVEN SUGGESTED THAT I REPLACE MY U-BOLT. IN 2013, AFTER STARTING MY FJ, I HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND, SO I IMMEDIATELY TURNED IT OFF AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE DUE TO OIL STARVATION. I PARKED THE VEHICLE IN MY GARAGE UNTIL THIS YEAR(2016). I HAD IT TOWED TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP FOR ANOTHER DIAGNOSIS. HOWEVER, THIS YEAR I'M FINALLY TOLD THAT MY ENGINE IS FINE, BUT I NEED ANOTHER TRANSMISSION. THIS IS THE SAME TRANSMISSION THAT I COMPLAINED ABOUT WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. TO MAKES MATTERS EVEN WORSE, THE SHADY DEALERSHIP KEPT NO RECORD OF MY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. I CONTACTED TOYOTA'S CORPORATE OFFICE, BUT OF COURSE, THEY PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE.

1. THE 'UNRESPONSIVE' ISSUE - THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS (UNDER 40MPH) AND ONE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE HITS A POTHOLE, UNEVEN PAVEMENT, OR LOOSE GRAVEL. THE RESULT IS THAT THE BRAKES BECOME MOMENTARILY UNRESPONSIVE UNTIL YOU RELEASE AND PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN. IT DEFINITELY FEELS LIKE THE BRAKE ELECTRONICS/SOFTWARE ARE CONFUSED AND GET CAUGHT IN A MOMENTARY GLITCH AS IT FIGURES OUT WHAT TO DO. 2. THE 'OVERRESPONSIVE' ISSUE - THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN UNDER VERY SIMILAR CONDITIONS TO THE OTHER ISSUE - I.E., LOW SPEED BRAKING OVER UNEVEN OR BROKEN PAVEMENT. THE RESULT IS THAT THE BRAKES BECOME SUPER SENSITIVE TO THE POINT THAT NORMAL BRAKING FLINGS YOU AND YOUR PASSENGERS HARD INTO TO YOUR SEATBELT RESTRAINTS, AS IF YOU ARE SLAMMING ON YOUR BRAKES. THE BRAKE PEDAL GETS A LITTLE MUSHY AND THEN WHAM... THE BRAKES KICK IN BIG TIME. I AM PRETTY SURE THAT THIS CONDITION IS CREATED BY THE BRAKE ASSIST FUNCTION. *TR

THE FIRST INCIDENCE OCCURRED IN DECEMBER 2009. THERE WERE PATCHES OF ICY SNOW ALONG OUR STREET. I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN (THE SPEED LIMIT IS 25 MPH) AND APPLIED THE BRAKES. I APPLIED THE BRAKES SOONER THAN WHAT I WOULD HAVE NORMALLY DUE TO THE ROAD CONDITIONS. AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL MADE CONTACT WITH A PATCH OF ICY SNOW. MUCH TO MY SURPRISE, IT WAS AS IF I HAD NOT APPLIED ANY BRAKES AT ALL, AND MY FJ CRUISER CONTINUED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WHICH ENTERED ONTO A MAIN THOROUGHFARE. THERE WAS NO BRAKING ACTION AND IT WAS AS IF I HAD NEVER PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I REALLY THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO GO THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND BE HIT BROADSIDE AND STARTED TO PREPARE FOR AN ACCIDENT. FORTUNATELY, I RELEASED AND REAPPLIED BRAKE PRESSURE, AND MY FJ CRUISER CAME TO A STOP. SINCE THIS WAS THE FIRST BRAKING INCIDENT I PASSED IT OFF DUE TO THE SNOWY CONDITIONS OF THE ROAD. THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED AGAIN IN DECEMBER 2009. I WAS ON A STREET THAT WAS UNDER HEAVY CONSTRUCTION AND THERE WAS A LOT OF LOOSE GRAVEL ON THE ROAD. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 TO 30 MPH. THIS TIME WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, I EXPERIENCED THE OPPOSITE EFFECT. THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND ACTUALLY SKIDDED TO A STOP AS IF I HAD APPLIED THE BRAKES IN A PANIC SITUATION (LIKE I WAS GOING TO REAR-END THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME). THE THIRD BRAKING INCIDENT HAPPENED IN JANUARY 2010. WHILE DRIVING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD (THE SPEED LIMIT IS 25 MPH), I APPROACHED THE STOP SIGN AND APPLIED THE BRAKES. AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL CONTACTED A PATCH OF ICY SNOW. AGAIN, IT WAS AS IF I HAD NOT APPLIED THE BRAKES AT ALL, AND MY FJ CRUISER CONTINUED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AS IF I HAD NEVER PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NOT ANY TRAFFIC AS I SLID THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. I RELEASED AND REAPPLIED BRAKE PRESSURE AND MY FJ CRUISER CAME TO A STOP. *TR

AIRBAGS FAILED TO INFLATE UPON HITTING A GUARDRAIL. *TR

THE TOYOTA FJ CRUISER DEVELOPS BULGES IN THE ENGINE BAY OVER TIME WITH NORMAL DRIVING. THESE ARE IN THE CRUMPLE ZONES AND EVENTUALLY RIP. TOYOTA FAILS TO FIX THIS TO SPITE HAVING HUNDREDS OF DOCUMENTED CASES. MINE IS ONE OF THEM. HTTP://WWW.FJCRUISERFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/TOYOTA-FJ-CRUISER-POLLS/37556-DO-YOU-HAVE-INNER-FENDER-BULGES-CRACKING.HTML. *TR

WHEN BRAKING ON AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE THE BRAKES MOMENTARILY FAIL. *TR

I DRIVE A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE AUGUST 2006. TWO TIMES SINCE I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE, IT HAS ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY. EACH TIME, IT HAS TAKEN ME OFF GUARD. ONE TIME I WAS IN A 35 MPH ZONE AND IT GOT UP TO 50 OR 60 MPH. IN BOTH INCIDENTS, I SWITCHED THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV. I WAITED FOR THE ENGINE TO RETURN TO NORMAL BEFORE PUTTING IT BACK INTO DRIVE. BOTH TIMES, I THINK I WAS GOING A SLOW ENOUGH SPEED THAT THE BRAKE HELPED SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN ALSO. I HAVE INSPECTED MY FLOOR MAT AND IT WAS NEVER NEAR THE GAS PEDAL DURING ANY OF THE INCIDENTS. I ASSUMED THAT THESE WERE JUST RARE OCCURRENCES. NOW, AFTER HEARING OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS DESCRIBE SIMILAR ISSUES, I'M WONDERING IF THIS IS RELATED TO A MECHANICAL DEFECT. *TR

AFTER READING THAT THIS DEPARTMENT WAS "OPENING A FORMAL INVESTIGATION OF THE TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID MODEL YEAR 2010 TO LOOK INTO ALLEGATIONS OF MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY WHILE TRAVELING OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE, POTHOLE OR BUMP", I REALIZED THAT THIS EXACTLY DESCRIBES MY EXPERIENCE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WITH MY 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. I DID NOT REPORT THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP. I THOUGHT IT WAS MY FAULT FOR MY SPEED WHEN HITTING THE UNEVEN SURFACE. I DON'T KNOW REALLY WHY I DIDN'T ASK ABOUT THIS BUT THIS DEFINITELY HAPPENED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. *TR

WHILE OPERATING A 2007 TOYOTA FJ (59,956 MILES) ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT AS IF IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. YOU WOULD PRACTICALLY HAVE TO STAND ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GET THE BRAKES TO FUNCTION. FOR SOME DRIVERS, IT WOULD BE EASY TO ASSUME THAT THE BRAKES WENT OUT COMPLETELY. THIS LOSS OF BRAKES COULD HAVE LED TO AN ACCIDENT. FORTUNATELY, IT DID NOT. TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE TOYOTA DEALER FOR SERVICE, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE 'ABS HYDRAULIC BOOSTER', PART NUMBER 4705035052, HAD MALFUNCTIONED. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT. IT IS ALSO A COSTLY PART AT $2,145.99, PLUS LABOR. *TR

DEFECTIVE PAINT. EXCESSIVE CHIPPING OF PAINT ON THE VEHICLE. ESPECIALLY AROUND THE FRONT WINDOW AND SIDE PANELS. NOT DUE TO ROCKS. LOOKS LIKE POLKA DOTS ALL OVER. *TR

MY TOYOTA FJ CRUISER ACCELERATES BY ITSELF. TYPICALLY, WHEN IT IS STOPPED AND IDLING, LIKE AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. IT DOES THIS WHEN EITHER I OR MY MOTHER IS DRIVING IT. THE PARTICULAR EVENT I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT HAPPENED IN AUGUST 2009. I WAS AT A STOPLIGHT, IN THE CENTER LANE, AND WAS GOING TO CHANGE LANES WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED. I TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT BEFORE THE LIGHT CHANGED. WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY INTO THE LEFT LANE. I DID NOT TOUCH THE GAS PEDAL. MY VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY A PICKUP TRUCK APPROACHING IN THE LEFT LANE. THE YOUNG GIRL DRIVING THE PICKUP TRUCK WAS TALKING ON HER CELL PHONE AND DID NOT EXPECT MY VEHICLE TO MOVE IN FRONT OF HER SO FAST. DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE WAS ABOUT $1,800. I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO A LOCAL SHOP FOR 30K SERVICE AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER AND THEY DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. I HAVE SEEN THAT TOYOTA CLAIMS THERE IS NO PROBLEM, BUT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. I REALLY NEVER KNOW WHEN MY VEHICLE IS GOING TO SURGE. I HAVE SENT A LETTER TO TOYOTA REQUESTING THEM TO FIX MY VEHICLE AND PAY FOR THE ACCIDENT. I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM YET, BUT IT HAS ONLY BEEN A FEW DAYS. *TR

I HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER AND THE FRONT INNER FENDER ARE BULGING AND TEARING AT THE CRUMPLE ZONE. I'VE CONTACTED RIVERSIDE AUTO WHERE I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW AND THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME THERE'S NOTHING THEY WILL DO TO FIX THE ISSUE, TOYOTA HAS REDESIGNED THE INNER FENDER 3 TIMES SO THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. *TR