2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser Complaint Log

Rust damage to frame

Frame rust through.

No dealer is willing to fix recalls.

Took vehicle to a machine shop to have frame undercoated. The machinist found that the frame had holes in it due to rust. He found that the tab gusset bracelet was cracked ( the part of the frame that holds the A-Arm in place). He said that the vehicle was not safe to drive and needs a new frame. The vehicle has 109,000 miles on it. Toyota should have a recall on all Toyota FJ.I contacted Toyota and was denied any help in this matter.

The contact owns a 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware that the passenger’s side seat belt was inoperable. The seat belt was not able to stretch or lock into place. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000. The VIN was not available.

Vehicle's frame was excessively rusted creating structure issues. Among the issues is that I can no longer tow anything with this vehicle because the rear structure is unsafe. Multiple other structural issues have been identified by a service center.

Noticed rust on suv/frame confirmed by Faulkner Toyota Dealership, mechanic informed too address this problem soon.

Excessive underbody and frame rust.

Frame rusted

Too much frame rust on vehicle. Rust seems to be most prevalent around welds where cross members meet the frame. This frame is the same frame used for a number of other Toyota vehicles. In some places the rust is nearly bad enough for crucial body members to separate which would cause a severe accident. The frame on the Toyota FJ Cruiser is the same frame used in the vehicles outlined in the successful class action lawsuit, "Brian Warner et al. v. Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc." in the UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA Case No. 2:15-cv-02171-FMO-FFM. That lawsuit only specified Toyota Tacoma, Tundra, and Sequoia vehicles though the frames are the exact same. My Frame is still under warranty.

MY PROBLEM MY TOYOTA FJ CRUISER BURNED 12 AM MIDNIGHT OCTOBER 18 2020 WAS PARKING AT FRONT AT MY HOUSE IT BURNED COMPLETELY IN THE ENGINE AREA I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. IF THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I WANT TO KNOW IF OTHERS VANS EXPERIENCES PROBLEMS.

GENERAL PERSONAL USE. FRAME IS RUSTING AT AN ALARMING RATE. I FEEL IT IS CRUCIAL FOR ME TO GET THE EXISTING RUST REMOVED AND THE FRAME PROTECTED IF I WANT THIS VEHICLE TO LAST ME A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF YEARS WITHOUT ANY STRUCTURAL FAILURES. IT HAS A LITTLE OVER 100K MILES ON IT.

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT AND LEAVES PASSENGER IN DANGER IN CASE OF COLLISION OR IMMEDIATE BRAKING. THIS IS A MANUFACTURER LIABILITY. SEAT BELT HANGS LOOSELY AND DOES NOT LOCK WHEN BRAKES ARE USED.

PASSENGER SEATBELT RECOLL DOES NOT WORK.

I AM ONE OF THE MANY WHO ARE EXPERIENCING RUST PROBLEMS WITH MY FJ. RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE ALL CALIPERS REPLACED DUE TO RUST. OIL PAN COVER AND COMPONENTS AROUND IT ARE STARTING TO SHOW SIGNIFICANT RUST. RUST IS IN THE EARLY STAGES IN SEVERAL AREAS OF THE FRAME BUT VERY EARLY STAGES. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE RUST WILL BEGIN TO AFFECT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE.

THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS MALFUNCTIONING. THERE WAS A RECALL OF 209,000 OF MY EXACT MAKE AND MODEL (YEARS 2007-2013) WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. TOYOTA CLAIMS MY VIN IS NOT ON THEIR LIST FOR RECALLS AND WANTS $416.18 TO FIX THE SEATBELT RETRACTOR. IT SEEMS ABSURD THAT THEY WON'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE.

SPEEDS ABOVE 55 MPH CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO CONSTANTLY SHAKE. IT SEEMS TO BE A CONSISTENT ISSUE REGARDLESS OF THE TYPES OF TIRES AND BALANCING THAT IS USED.

SET BELT BROKEN

EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE UNDERSIDE OF CAR - ALL OVER THE FRAME AND AXELS

I HAD TO REPLACE THE DRIVE SHAFT AT 105K MILES. IT WAS WORE OUT INTERNALLY AND MAKING A HUGE JOLT. THERE IS NO REASON A DRIVE SHAFT SHOULD WEAR OUT AT THIS MILEAGE. I HAVE NOT BEEN HAPPY WITH THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE OWNED MANYTOYOTAS. THEY USUALLY HOLD UP BETTER THAN THIS. WHEN BRAKING OR HITTING THE GAS AFTER BEING STOPPED IT WAS A JOLT LIKE YOU HAD BEEN REAR ENDED. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT A LOT OF DIS ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE. IT SHOULD BE RECALLED

I DROVE ON I-10 LA GRANGE WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR VIBRATED AND TILTED TO THE RIGHT. THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE TREAD PEELED OFF AND THE TIRE BLEW. WE REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO BRIDGESTONE WITH CASE NUMBER 748575. THE COMPANY SENT ME A LETTER AND SAID IT WAS PRESSURE PROBLEM. BUT JUST BEFORE THE TIRE BLEW, THE PRESSURE LIGHT WAS NOT ON. SO I BELIEVE THE QUALITY AND SAFETY IS AT ISSUE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE IT AND RECALL THE PRODUCT, DUELER H/T 684 II P265/70R17. I BOUGHT THE FOUR TIRES ABOUT A YEAR AGO.

Frame and undercarriage compromised by excessive rust on 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser. Substandard materials/process used in manufacturing by Toyota on the FJ cruiser undercarriage and frame, causing excessive rust damage. Widespread problem in the United States with excessive rust compromising the stability and safety of the vehicles. Toyota authorized Dealerships are no help. Expect consumers to pay out of pocket to repair frame.

THE WINDSHIELD OF THE FJ CRUISER SEEMS TO BE UNUSUALLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO PITTING UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. WHEN THE SUN OR ONCOMING HEADLIGHTS SHINE ON THE WINDSHIELD IT BECOMES EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD. THE WINDSHIELD SUDDENLY APPEARS TO BE DIRTY AND TRANSLUCENT. REFERENCE VEHICLE IS A TOYOTA CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE. IN OVERCAST CONDITIONS THE WINDSHIELD IS FINE AND APPEARS FINE FROM A DISTANCE. HOWEVER, CLOSER INSPECTION REVEALS MASSIVE PITTING THAT APPEARS AT FIRST LIKE DIRT. INSPECTION OF THE HOOD PAINT, ROOF, WIPER ARMS, PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENSES AND TRIM REVEAL NO SIMILAR DAMAGE. ONLINE FORUMS SEEM TO CONFIRM THIS AND OWNERS PREVIOUSLY DRIVING THE SAME ROUTES AND USING VEHICLES WITH VERY FLAT WINDSHIELDS SUCH AS JEEPS SEEM TO BE REPORTING THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NEW TO THEM AFTER PURCHASING THE FJ CRUISER. MANY REPORT THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD NUMEROUS TIMES FOR PITTING. I HAVE VEHICLES WITH OVER 200K MILES ON THEM WITH NO SUCH APPARENT PITTING. THIS SEEMS TO BE A WEAKNESS WITH THE GLASS AND IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN LIGHT HITS IT AND THE ROAD AHEAD IS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE. HERE IS ONE ONLINE THREAD: HTTP://WWW.FJCRUISERFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/GENERAL-DISCUSSION/38932-WINDSHIELD-PITTED.HTML. *TR

THE DESIGN OF THE VENTILATION SYSTEM IN THE FJ CRUISER (AND OTHER TOYOTAS) ALLOWS EASY ACCESS FOR DISEASE-CARRYING RODENTS TO ENTER THE VENTILATION SYSTEM AND THE CABIN. IN THE SOUTHWEST DEER MICE ARE CARRIERS OF ANTIVIRUS, A SEVERE RESPIRATORY DISEASE SPREAD VIA THE FECES AND URINE OF THESE MICE. (NEARLY 30% OF THE DEER MICE IN NEW MEXICO ARE INFECTED AND EVERY YEAR PEOPLE CONTRACT THE VIRUS USUALLY VIA SWEEPING MOUSE DROPPINGS WHILE CLEANING ENCLOSED AREAS. CHECK THE CDC WEBSITE.) BECAUSE THE MICE CAN EASILY ACCESS THE CABIN FILTER AND BLOWER THEY COULD SPREAD THIS VIRUS TO OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTS AND DIRECTLY BY INFESTING THE INTERIOR. MY LOCAL DEALER HAS DEALT WITH MANY RODENT NESTS INFESTING TOYOTAS--SOONER OR LATER SOMEONE WILL BE INFECTED WITH THIS DEADLY VIRUS. THECENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL DOCUMENTS THE SERIOUS THREAT OF ANTIVIRUS. I PARK A HONDA ACCORD AND A CIVIC NEXT TO MY FJ AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS INFESTATION PROBLEM. THE AIR VENT UNDER THE WINDSHIELD COWL AND ALL OPEN VENTS NEED TO BE SCREENED TO KEEP RODENTS OUT OF THE VEHICLE. UNDER WARRANTY TOYOTA SHOULD RETROFIT WITH SCREENING ALL ACCESS POINTS THAT ALLOW RODENTS TO ENTER THE CABIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A WHEEL CHAIR LIFT INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE AND WHEN IT WAS BEING UTILIZED, THE REAR BUMPER WOULD SINK TWO INCHES. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WOULD RISE BY TWO INCHES. THE TOTAL WEIGHT FOR THE WHEEL CHAIR LIFT AND THE WHEEL CHAIR WAS 300 POUNDS. THE WEIGHT CAPACITY FOR THE VEHICLE WAS LABELED AS 500 POUNDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION HOWEVER NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,600.

A VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. I APPLIED BRAKES TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. APPLICATION OF BRAKES LED TO RIGHT FRONT TIRE LOCK UP AND SKID, WITH STRONG VEER TO LEFT. NO ANTILOCK BRAKE ACTIVITY OCCURRED. WITHIN A WEEK OF THE PANIC STOP ABOVE, THE BRAKES NOW ACTING ODDLY; SMALL BUMPS IN PAVEMENT (FREEWAY EXPANSION JOINTS) WILL CAUSE ABS TO ENGAGE. BRAKE PEDAL BECOMES NON-RESPONSIVE. I CALLED THE DEALER WHO SAID THIS WAS NORMAL BRAKE BEHAVIOR. I PLAN ON SCHEDULING A SERVICE CALL TO DOCUMENT THE ISSUE. I'VE OWNED MANY CARS AND SUV'S - ALL PURCHASED NEW WITH ANTILOCK BRAKES. THIS IS PLAIN SCARY BEHAVIOR; I NO LONGER TRUST THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES AND FULLY EXPECT BRAKE FAILURE AND CRASH IS IMMINENT. *TR

The windshield makes a very loud defining noise while driving. This happens most often when it is windy. It often sounds like the windshield will be ripped off. The noise has gotten progressively worse over the years.

I HAVE PURCHASED AN FJ CRUISER FROM CITY TOYOTA IN DALY CITY, CA ON 7/12/2012. DURING MY 15,000 MI MAINTENANCE CHECK UP, THE SERVICE MANAGER DISCOVERED THAT THE LUG NUT STUDS ON THE WHEELS BROKE WHEN HE WAS TORQUING. HE ADMITTED THAT THEY WERE MADE IN CHINA AND THAT HE HAS FORWARDED THIS ISSUE TO TOYOTA CORP BECAUSE HE SAID IT'S FACTORY-RELATED AND HAVE ENCOUNTERED SIMILAR ISSUES. I AM VERY CONCERNED WHETHER THE NEW REPLACEMENT STUDS THEY WILL PUT IN MY TRUCK WOULD BE SAFE OR AS DANGEROUS AS THE PREVIOUS. I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS FACTORY STUDS THAT ARE DEFECTIVE. THEY I DON'T HAVE THE VEHICLE NOW AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING A RENTAL CAR THEY PAID FOR. I CANT GO TO WORK OUT OF STATE SINCE THEY RESTRICTED ME FROM USING THE RENTAL CAR OUTSIDE CA. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE DEFECT. A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10.

DURING SPEEDS OF 55-65 THE STEERING WHEEL STARTS TO SHIMMY. WE TOOK VEHICLE INTO OUR LOCAL SERVICE DEALER (NOT TOYOTA) AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A REAR CONTROL ARM BUSHING. WE THEN TRAVELED 2 HOURS TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP (THE ONE WHERE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE) AND WERE TOLD IT NEEDED A ROAD FORCE BALANCING AND IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT STOCK TIRES. AFTER EXPLAINING TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT THIS WAS A WELL NOTED PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT PERFORM THE ROAD FORCE BALANCING AT ALL BECAUSE OF THE STYLE OF TIRES WE HAD AND THAT IT WOULD NOT DO ANY GOOD ANYWAYS (NOTE - THE TIRES ARE THE SAME SIZE AS THE STOCK TIRES). *TR

MY TRUCK'S STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY BETWEEN 55 AND 65 MPH WHEN OUTFITTED WITH OFF ROAD LT CATEGORY TIRES. THE SHAKE IS OFTENTIMES VIOLENT AND ENERGETIC, AND CAN MAKE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE TRUCK IS A DEDICATED OFF ROAD CAPABLE SUV AND SHOULD EASILY TOLERATE SUCH TIRES. THERE IS A VERY ACTIVE ONLINE COMMUNITY OF FJ CRUISER OWNERS, AND THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN DISCUSSED THERE AD INFINITUM WITHOUT SOLUTION, AND HERE IS A LINK TO ONE OF THE BETTER THREADS WHERE IT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED ... HTTP://WWW.FJCRUISERFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/NEWBIE-DISCUSSIONS/113533-2010-FJ-TRAIL-TEAMS-EDITION-SHAKING-HIGH-SPEED.HTML THE PHENOMENON STRONGLY SUGGESTS A TIRE BALANCING ISSUE, BUT MANY ATTEMPTS ALONG THOSE LINES BY MYSELF AND OTHERS HAVE FAILED. THE CURRENT CONSENSUS AMONG MEMBERS OF THE ABOVE FORUM WHO ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE IN VEHICLE MECHANICS IS THAT CHANGES TOYOTA MADE TO THE SUSPENSION/POWER STEERING SYSTEMS IN 2010 TO MAKE THEM MORE SENSITIVE ARE THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. SOME SORT OF UNDAMPENED VIBRATIONAL RESONANCE OR HARMONICS SEEM TO FEED BACK THROUGH THESE SYSTEMS FROM MANY TIRE BRANDS AND TYPES TO CAUSE THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA'S DEALERSHIPS SEEM LARGELY UNABLE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE SINCE IT SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN/ENGINEERING ISSUE. TOYOTA THE MANUFACTURER HAS RECOGNIZED THIS PROBLEM IN VARIOUS MODELS OF VEHICLES IT PRODUCES AND HAS PROVIDED RECALLS. SO FAR IT SEEMS UNWILLING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM WITH FJ CRUISERS. THOSE OF US AFFLICTED WITH THE PROBLEM TRY TO DEAL WITH IT BY AVOIDING THE 55 TO 65 MPH SPEED, BUT THAT IS DIFFICULT. I PERSONALLY SPEED A LOT WHICH IS DANGEROUS TO MYSELF AND OTHERS BECAUSE THE VIBRATIONS TEND TO GO AWAY AROUND 70 TO 75 MPH FOR WHATEVER REASONS, AND I FEEL I'M SAFER DRIVING AT 70 MPH WITHOUT VIBRATIONS, THAN AT 55 - 60 WITH VIBRATIONS. *TR

STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY BETWEEN 50-60MPH. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER WHICH HAVE BALANCED THE WHEELS AND TIRES BUT I AM STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. VEHICLE FEEL VERY UNSAFE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKING AT HIGHWAYS SPEEDS. OTHER FJ OWNERS HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

VEHICLE AFFECTED SINCE NEW. STEERING SHIMMY OCCURS AS VEHICLE APPROACHED 63 AND 68 MPH ON A VARIETY OF ROADWAYS. AT PEAK VIBRATION OR SHIMMY, THE STEERING WHEEL MOVES ROTATIONALLY ONE TO TWO INCHES. ATTEMPTS TO "HOLD" THE WHEEL STEADY ARE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE ENERGY INPUT TO THE STEERING SYSTEM IS BEYOND MY ABILITY TO HOLD. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALERS FOR SERVICE. TIRES HAVE BEEN BALANCED BY TOYOTA AND GOODYEAR. GOODYEAR STATES THE TIRES BALANCE OKAY, BUT BALANCE CHANGES WITH 1000 MILES USE. ALIGNMENT HAS BEEN CHECKED AND FOUND WITHIN SPECIFICATION. LAST ATTEMPT TO REPAIR TOYOTA WROTE "VEHICLE VIBRATION CAN'T BE IMPROVED, OTHER FJ CRUISER'S ON THE LOT USED FOR COMPARISON EXHIBIT MORE SHIMMY AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED." SINCE TOYOTA HAS HAD RECALLS ON THE FJ CRUISER FOR TIRE MOUNTING ISSUES, IT SEEMS THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE EVALUATED. NEWS: RECALLS: TOYOTA FJ CRUISER WASHINGTON, D.C.-- JULY 29, 2006 ' TOYOTA WILL RECALL MORE THAN 9400 EARLY-MODEL 2007 FJ CRUISERS BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL TIRE DEFECTS. NHTSA ALSO REPORTED THAT THE INNER BEAD OF TIRES ON THE FJ CRUISER MAY BE DAMAGED. THE RECALL AFFECTS VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE OR DUNLOP TIRES. IF A BEAD IS DAMAGED, A BULGE MAY DEVELOP ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE, AND AIR MAY LEAK. NHTSA NOTED THAT THIS IS NOT A TIRE RECALL BUT A TOYOTA RECALL. CUSTOMERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO THEIR TOYOTA DEALER. *TR

AS TOYOTA AND MANY, MANY FJ CRUISER OWNERS ARE WELL-AWARE, THERE IS A STEERING VIBRATION ISSUE THAT OCCURS SOMEWHERE IN THE 55-65 MPH RANGE THAT CAUSES THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE BACK AND FORTH PRETTY VIOLENTLY. AS ONE OF THE PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS STATED, THERE IS A VERY ACTIVE COMMUNITY OF FJ CRUISER OWNERS ON INTERNET FORUMS THAT ALSO HAVE THIS PROBLEM...BUT I DON'T THINK THEY'RE AWARE OF THIS COMPLAINT PROCESS OR HAVE THE TIME TO DO IT, OR SOMETHING. I'M USING AFTER-MARKET WHEELS AND TIRES THAT WERE PROFESSIONALLY INSTALLED BY VERY COMPETENT PEOPLE, SO I'M VERY CONFIDENT IT'S NOT AN ISSUE WITH MY WHEELS OR TIRES. I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO OTHER COMPLAINTS AND SAY THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED. *TR

STEERING WHEEL BEGINS SHAKES AT SPEEDS OF 50 TO 60 MPH. HAVE BALANCED, ROAD BALANCED TIRES AND STILL THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES, AT THIS SPEED I AM CONCERNED THERE IS SOMETHING WITH THE SUSPENSION/TIRES THAT MAY CAUSE A CRASH IN THE FUTURE. *TR

AS THE VEHICLE GOES BETWEEN THE SPEED 61 AND 68 THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD VIBRATE AND SHAKE ABOUT 2 TO 3 INCHES.I WENT TO TWO TOYOTA DEALERS AND THEY BLAME THE TIRES .I BROUGHT FOUR NEW TIRES WITH NO SUCCESS.PLEASE HELP... *TR

THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF MY FJ CRUISER SINKS AND FALLS WHILE DRIVING. THE SEAT FALLS DOWNWARD AND TILTS BACK AND AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND FOOT CONTROLS CREATING A SERIOUS TRAFFIC HAZARD TO THE DRIVER, OCCUPANTS AND OTHER PERSONS. I HAVE WORKED WITH TWO TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS INCLUDING SERVICE MANAGERS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGERS, EACH OF WHICH HAVE SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM TO FJ CRUISERS FROM THE INITIAL 2007 YEAR THROUGH THE CURRENT MODEL. I HAVE ALSO WORKED WITH THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE WHO REAFFIRMED THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE FROM 2007 THROUGH THE CURRENT MODEL, BUT THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT HAVE A REPAIR FOR THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA DEVELOPED AN INITIAL TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IN 2008, BUT THE NOTED REPAIR FAILED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AND THE BULLETIN WAS RECALLED. TOYOTA HAS DETERMINED THE PROBLEM IS AN "ANNOYANCE" AND CAN BE RESOLVED BY RE-ADJUSTING THE SEAT AS NECESSARY WHEN IT DROPS, NECESSITATING THE RELEASE OF THE SEAT BELT WHICH TIGHTENS AS THE SEAT DROPS. TO DATE, TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AND I AM FOLLOWING THE CALIFORNIA LEMON LAW FOR ADJUDICATION OF THE MATTER. I HAVE ADVISED TOYOTA THAT IF I AM IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THE SEAT MALFUNCTION, THAT I WILL ADVISE ALL PARTIES AND INSURANCE COMPANIES AND PROVIDE ALL MY VEHICLE DOCUMENTATION. *TR

THE DRIVERS SEAT SINKS/FALLS WHILE DRIVING. THE MALFUNCTION OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY BASED UPON DRIVERS WEIGHT, VEHICLE SPEED AND LOAD, DRIVING CONDITIONS AND ROAD CONDITIONS. AS THE SEAT FALLS, THE SEAT BELT TIGHTENS. THE SEAT FALLS AT AN ANGLE DOWN AND AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE FOOT CONTROLS MAKING DRIVING UNSAFE. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO HAMER TOYOTA IN NORTH HILLS, CALIFORNIA, AND TO FRONTIER TOYOTA IN VALENCIA, CALIFORNIA. I HAVE MET WITH SERVICE MANAGERS AND CUSTOMERS RELATIONS MANAGER. AT BOTH LOCATIONS, THE SERVICE PERSONNEL AND THE SERVICE MANAGER HAS STATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS COMMON TO TOYOTA FJ CRUISERS FROM 2007 TO CURRENT, BUT THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT DEVELOPED A REPAIR FOR THE PROBLEM. ON THE FJ CRUISER FORUMS/BLOGS, FJ CRUISER OWNERS REFER TO IT AS THE "SINKING SEAT SYNDROME." I MET WITH TOYOTA MANAGEMENT STAFF, KAYLA SULLIVAN, WHO SAID TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THE SEAT MALFUNCTION PROBLEM WITH FJ CRUISERS BUT THAT THERE WAS NO REPAIR FOR THE PROBLEM. [XXX] ADMITTED THAT TOYOTA HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. SHE SAID TOYOTA HAD REPLACED ENTIRE SEAT ASSEMBLIES IN THE PAST BUT THAT THE PROBLEM RECURRED, SO THAT SHE WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE THE SEAT IN MY VEHICLE TO BE REPLACED WITH AN EXACT PART THAT IS KNOWN TO MALFUNCTION. I WAS KISSED OFF. I ENTERED INTO THE PROCESS WITH CALIFORNIA DISPUTE SETTLEMENT PROGRAM WHO DENIED MY REQUEST TO HAVE TOYOTA TAKE MY VEHICLE BACK UNDER THE LEMON LAW. CDSP STATED THAT THE SEAT MALFUNCTION COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED AND EXAMINED AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THUS COULD NOT BE EVALUATED. I WAS KISSED OFF. MY VEHICLE WAS PAID OFF, WAS UNDER WARRANTY, AND TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS AND TOYOTA MOTORS BOTH ADMITTED KNOWLEDGE THAT THE SEAT MALFUNCTION WAS COMMON TO TOYOTA FJ CRUISERS FROM 2007 TO PRESENT. THE MALFUNCTION IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR DRIVERS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

VEHICLE SHIMMY BETWEEN 60MPH AND 70MPH. TIRE BALANCE AND ALIGNMENT WERE PERFORMED BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE NEW (4 MILES). *KB