2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser Fuel System Problems

Rust is inherently bad on these vehicles. The other day i heard a weird noise under my truck driving down the road. As if I flung a rock up and hit a spring or something. To my dismay, I noticed the fuel tank hanging. One of the straps rusted to the point that it broke allowing the fuel tank to droop.

I filled up my truck with gas. Upon driving to work I noticed a loud clank. I looked under the vehicle but it was dark and saw nothing obvious. I continued down the road and heard knocking only when braking hard. When examined in daylight, I could see that the Fuel Tank Support Strap (Rear) rusted thru and the weight of the tank/fuel caused it to shift toward and rub against the Drive Shaft. The loud clank I would hear was caused by the tank being struck by the Drive Shaft balancing weight. The more I research, the more I see others have experienced the same thing. I made it safe until I could procure parts and make the repair. I examined the area and the replaced straps. The rear strap is doomed to fail. The OEM part is painted but exposed in the left rear tire well. Basically, the strap is doomed to be sandblasted by road debris, salt, sand and plain old dirt. Photos and descriptions of others with similar problems are always in the same location. I feel Toyota should make the Straps from a better quality material not as susceptible to corrosive properties of Salt. This is a serious fuel tank issue. If there was a problem with the front strap the rear strap failure could have dropped the tank on the road. Will it take the death(s) of the occupants of affected vehicle should a fire or explosion occur for Toyota to step up and assume responsibility? Or maybe if the tank falls out of the vehicle and car that runs over it then it explodes and kills those occupants will get Toyota's attention? I have retained the failed part should it be needed at a future date for inspection, etc.

The gas tank strap rusted so the gas tank was hanging low. I fixed the problem myself

Serviced 99% of the time at Toyota dealer. Within a week of having the vehicle serviced by the dealer, I noticed a rattling/banging. One gas strap had completely rusted through, and the other was hanging on by about a quarter inch of material. I always ask the dealer to inspect the frame due to the history of rust problems on FJs—they have never flagged anything but I inspect it as I can myself, but have no way to lift the vehicle up thoroughly. I also have the service fluid applied by Rust Check to prevent/inhibit deterioration. On a sidebar, this summer I was traveling on the interstate when the rear-most crossmember rusted out while I was using a hitch haul to move a dresser to South Carolina.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR TIRE REPAIRS AND THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WERE SEVERELY CORRODED AND THE SUBFRAME WAS ALSO SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.*DT THE CONSUMER PROVIDED PHOTOS. *TR

I HAVE BEEN HAVING NOTHING, BUT PROBLEMS WITH KEEPING MY FJ ALIVE. IT WON'T EVEN KEEP A HOLD LONGER THAN A FEW HOURS. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL TANK AS I CAN NEVER GO LOWER THAN 1/4 OF A TANK BECAUSE IT WILL DIE. I HAVE READ THAT OTHER FJS HAVE HAD THEIR FUEL PUMPS REPLACED UNDER RECALL AND I WOULD LIKE MINE DONE AS WELL.

THE STRAPS THAT HOLD THE GAS TANK UP UNDER THE VEHICLE HAVE RUSTED AWAY AND THE GAS TANK HAS FALLEN OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS NEAR MY HOME.

FUEL STRAPS RUSTED OUT WHILE IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET AND FUEL TANK FELL DOWN. HAD TO GET TRUCK TOWED AND FIXED.

MY FUEL TANK STRAPS WHERE ROTTED OFF I HAD TO GO UNDER THE VEHICLE CHECK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD TO GET STRAPS REPLACED BECAUSE OF HOW ROTTED THEY WHERE

THE STRAPS THAT HOLD THE FUEL TANK INTO THE TRUCK ARE MILD STEEL AND SIT IN A PAN THAT TENDS TO COLLECT WATER THAT IS SPLASHED UP WHILE DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS. ONE OF THE TWO THAT HOLD MINE IN DISINTEGRATED AND DROPPED THE TANK. THE OTHER IS NOT FAR BEHIND. THE REST OF MY UNDERCARRIAGE IS IN MUCH BETTER CONDIFTION THAT THE FUEL TANK RETAINING STRAPS WERE.

WENT AND FILLED MY FJ CRUISER WITH GAS AND SOON AS I DID STRAP HOLDING FRONT OF GAS TANK UP SNAPPED ON BOTH SIDES JUST BOUGHT DAY BEFORE KINDA DISAPPOINTING BUT MAINLY A HUGE HAZARD TO BE DRIVING WITH 140+POUNDS OF GAS HANG THAT LOW FOR A QUICK FIX HAD TO START WITH BUNGEE CORD

THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION INTO REPORTS OF EXCESSIVE FUEL TANK STRAP RUST FOR THE 2007 ' 2014 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THIS IS SAFETY PROBLEMS THAT WILL MOST LIKELY RESULT IN THE FUEL TANK FALLING FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING SERIOUS GASOLINE SPILLING LEADING TO A POTENTIAL EXPLOSIONS AND/OR ACCIDENT. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS PERTAINING TO UNDERNEATH SPARE TIRE CARRIER HOLDERS DUE TO RUST IN MANY OTHER TOYOTA MODELS. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A MUCH GREATER SAFETY CONCERN. MY VEHICLE HAS RUST COVERING THE OUTSIDE AREA IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS. THE INSIDE AGAINST THE TANK IS NOT VISIBLE UNLESS REMOVED MAKING THIS EVEN MORE OF A DANGER DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO INSPECT THEM WITHOUT DISASSEMBLY. IN CONCLUSION WHAT APPEARED AS NORMAL SURFACE RUST CAN INDEED BE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY CONCERNS. THE FUEL TANK STRAPS CAN RUST INSIDE OUT CAUSING FAILURE AND NEED A PROPER PROFESSIONAL INSPECTION.

THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION INTO REPORTS OF EXCESSIVE FUEL TANK STRAP RUST FOR THE 2007 ' 2014 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THIS IS SAFETY PROBLEMS THAT WILL MOST LIKELY RESULT IN THE FUEL TANK FALLING FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING SERIOUS GASOLINE SPILLING LEADING TO A POTENTIAL EXPLOSIONS AND/OR ACCIDENT. CORROSION COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED AS EARLY AS 2008 AND SHOULD BE NOTED: NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10257254 INCIDENT DATE DECEMBER 17, 2008 MY FJ CRUISER IS STORED, COVERED, AND NOT DRIVEN IN THE WINTER AND EXHIBITS FUEL TANK STRAP RUST ABOVE AND BEYOND NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. TOYOTA HAS LONG KNOWN OF SECURING STRAPS AND CABLES THAT WERE NOT TREATED PROPERLY AND YET THEY FAILED TO WARN NEW BUYERS OR OFFER SIGNIFICANT HELP TO FJ CRUISER OWNERS. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS PERTAINING TO UNDERNEATH SPARE TIRE CARRIER HOLDERS DUE TO RUST IN MANY OTHER TOYOTA MODELS. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A MUCH GREATER SAFETY CONCERN.

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

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.

NEW CAR RUSTED VERY QUICKLY. FUEL TANK STRAPS RUSTING ALSO.

MY VEHICLE HAS AN ISSUE WITH FAILING TO QUICKLY RETURN TO IDLE SPEED WHEN I LET OFF THE THROTTLE OR SHIFT GEARS. IT DOES THIS CONSISTENTLY AND REPEATEDLY. THE OTHER DAY IT ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. WHEN I LET OFF THE THROTTLE, THE RPMS WILL CONTINUE AT A RELATIVELY HIGH RPM OR ACTUALLY CLIMB. THEN ABRUPTLY THE THROTTLE WILL "STAIR STEP" DOWN. IN THE SITUATION WHERE IT BECAME VERY DANGEROUS. I AM CRUISING ALONG ABOUT 40-45 MPH IN A DIFFERENT AREA. I POP OVER A LITTLE RISE AND ALL I SEE ARE TAIL LIGHTS AND CARS SPINNING AND SLIDING EVERYWHERE. I EASE OFF THE THROTTLE AND LIKE USUAL, NOTHING HAPPENS IMMEDIATELY. PRECIOUS FEET ARE CHEWED BEFORE THE TRUCK EVEN BEGINS TO SLOW. INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN GRACEFULLY, THE RPM HANG ACTUALLY ACTS ALMOST LIKE A CRUISE CONTROL. AS I JUST START TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE TO ACTUALLY SLOW THE VEHICLE, THE ECU FINALLY DECIDES TO CHOP THE THROTTLE. BY CHOP I MEAN ABRUPTLY CUT OFF FUEL TO THE MOTOR. AT THIS POINT I AM NOTHING BUT GLARE ICE, GOING DOWN HILL ON AN OFF CAMBER TURN. SO INSTEAD OF A GRADUAL REDUCTION AND SMOOTH SHIFT OF WEIGHT, THE CHOPPED THROTTLE ALLOWS THE TAIL TO NOW SLIDE OUT TO THE RIGHT QUITE A BIT. I DON??T DARE TOUCH THE THROTTLE TO TRY AND FINESSE IT A BIT SINCE IT DOESN'T LISTEN TO WHAT I WANT TO DO. THE NON-LINEAR THROTTLE RESPONSE PUT ME IN A SITUATION THAT I ALMOST DIDN'T RECOVER FROM. IT WAS ALMOST AS THOUGH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN, I JAMMED ON THE REAR PARKING BRAKE TO SLIDE THE REAR AROUND. THIS WAS THE EFFECT BECAUSE I WAS GOING DOWN HILL AND TURNING SO THE REAR WHEELS WERE UN-WEIGHTED AND MORE LIKELY TO SLIDE AT THIS POINT. BY SLOWLY LETTING OFF THE THROTTLE I WAS TRYING TO NOT INDUCE ANY ABRUPT WEIGHT TRANSFER TO THE FRONT. I HAD THE RIGHT IDEA, THE ECU DIDN'T! THIS WAS JUST PLAIN INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS HOW THE ECU IS PROGRAMMED! *JB

WHILE TRAVELING A FREEWAY SPEED THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND DISABLED THE POWER BRAKES AND STEERING. I VERIFIED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD 1/4 TANK OF GASOLINE AND ALL OF THE FUSES CHECKED OUT OK. CALLED TOYOTA ROADSIDE SERVICE AND THEY DISPATCHED A TOW TRUCK AND DROPPED OF VEHICLE AT THE NEAREST DEALER. *NM

WHEN DRIVING MY BRAND NEW FJ CRUISER IT STALLED AND LOST ALL POWER. I WAS FORCED TO CALL A TOW TRUCK BECAUSE IT WAS ON A SECLUDED HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. AFTER GETTING IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP THEY STILL HAVE THE VEHICLE AND HAVE DIAGNOSED IT AS THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY AND THEY ARE WAITING FOR PARTS TO BE DELIVERED. THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT IN 6/2006 AND HAS LESS THAN 5000 MILES ON IT. I WAS NOT GIVEN A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM IN SAN JOSE, CA. AFTER THREATENING NOT TO PAY FOR THE TOW-THE TOW TRUCK COMPANY WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DEMANDED PAYMENT-IT WAS ISSUED ON 8/14/06. *NM