2011 Toyota FJ CRUISER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Toyota FJ CRUISER has 38 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (21% of all complaints), specifically: vehicle exhibited excessive steering wheel shake indicative of wheels being off balance. after attempting to re-balance 6 times at 4 different shops the symptom persists intermittently. other fj owners of 2010 model year and newer fj cruisers have complained that their vehicles have exhibited the.

1 crash report

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

STEERING

8 complaints

21%

• VEHICLE EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE STEERING WHEEL SHAKE INDICATIVE OF WHEELS BEING OFF BALANCE. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO RE-BALANCE 6 TIMES AT 4 DIFFERENT SHOPS THE SYMPTOM PERSISTS INTERMITTENTLY. OTHER FJ OWNERS OF 2010 MODEL YEAR AND NEWER FJ CRUISERS HAVE COMPLAINED THAT THEIR VEHICLES HAVE EXHIBITED THE
• VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY BETWEEN 55 AND 70 MPH. SEVERAL OTHER FJ OWNERS SEEM TO HAVE THIS ISSUE. DEALER CAN NOT FIX EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE TIRED MULTIPLE WHEEL BALANCES AND TIRE ROTATIONS. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY LIKE THIS. *TR
• SINCE NEW MY VEHICLE HAS HAD A SHAKING STEERING WHEEL WHEN REACHING SPEEDS OVER 55MPH. AFTER TRYING SEVERAL DIFFERENT SETS OF TIRES, WHEELS AND BALANCING MY DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. TOYOTA WILL NOT HELP AND THE STEERING IS SHAKING SO BAD IT FEELS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“VEHICLE EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE STEERING WHEEL SHAKE INDICATIVE OF WHEELS BEING OFF BALANCE. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO RE-BALANCE 6 TIMES AT 4 DIFFERENT SHOPS THE SYMPTOM PERSISTS INTERMITTENTLY. OTHER FJ OWNERS OF 2010 MODEL YEAR AND NEWER FJ CRUISERS HAVE COMPLAINED THAT THEIR VEHICLES HAVE EXHIBITED THE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

6 complaints

16%

• SINCE NEW MY VEHICLE HAS HAD A SHAKING STEERING WHEEL WHEN REACHING SPEEDS OVER 55MPH. AFTER TRYING SEVERAL DIFFERENT SETS OF TIRES, WHEELS AND BALANCING MY DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. TOYOTA WILL NOT HELP AND THE STEERING IS SHAKING SO BAD IT FEELS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY.
• VEHICLE SHIMMY BETWEEN 55 AND 65 MPH AFTER BEING AT DEALER FOR ROUTINE TIRE ROTATION. TIRES WERE REPLACED, REBALANCED & ALIGNMENT DONE MULTIPLE TIMES AND VEHICLE BROUGHT TO 4 DIFF LOCATIONS FOR INSPECTION AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. HAS BEEN TO TOYOTA DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES WITH NO RESOLUTION. NOT SAF
• VEHICLE EXHIBITS STEERING SHIMMY BETWEEN 55-65 MPH, VEHICLE CAN NOT MAINTAIN STABLE PERFORMANCE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TOYOTA HAVE REPLACE BOTH WHEEL AND TIRES AND HAVE THE SAME RESULT. FJ CRUISERS ARE HAVING A PROBLEM, AND TOYOTA WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ON THIS SAFTEY ISSUE. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“SINCE NEW MY VEHICLE HAS HAD A SHAKING STEERING WHEEL WHEN REACHING SPEEDS OVER 55MPH. AFTER TRYING SEVERAL DIFFERENT SETS OF TIRES, WHEELS AND BALANCING MY DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. TOYOTA WILL NOT HELP AND THE STEERING IS SHAKING SO BAD IT FEELS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

5 complaints

13%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED EXCESSIVE CORROSION THROUGHOUT THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. DURING COLD WEATHER, THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED T
• AT 55,000 MILES (6 YEARS OLD) MY FRONT GRAVEL SHIELD HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED OFF AND WAS FOUND IN MY DRIVEWAY. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER AND THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT BOTH CONTROL ARMS AND BOTH FRONT STRUTS WERE VERY BADLY RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE AND AFT
• THE VEHICLE HAS HEAVY RUST ALL ALONG THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND FRAME. I HAVE FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND TO REMOVE AS MUCH OF THIS RUST AS POSSIBLE TOYOTA WILL CHARGE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN $800 AND $1,000.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED EXCESSIVE CORROSION THROUGHOUT THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. DURING COLD WEATHER, THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

WHEELS

5 complaints

13%

• THE DAY I BOUGHT MY NEW TOYOTA FJ I TOOK IT TO A TIRE SHOP FOR LARGER OFF-ROAD TIRES. I WATCHED THE TECH AS HE CHANGED TIRES AND REMOUNTED THE WHEELS. HE CAREFULLY TIGHTENED THE LUG NUTS WITH A TORQUE WRENCH, BUT ON ONE, IT WAS OBVIOUS TO HIM AND ME BOTH THAT THE TIGHTENING EFFORT SUDDENLY GOT EAS
• SINCE NEW MY VEHICLE HAS HAD A SHAKING STEERING WHEEL WHEN REACHING SPEEDS OVER 55MPH. AFTER TRYING SEVERAL DIFFERENT SETS OF TIRES, WHEELS AND BALANCING MY DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. TOYOTA WILL NOT HELP AND THE STEERING IS SHAKING SO BAD IT FEELS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY.
• VEHICLE EXHIBITS STEERING SHIMMY BETWEEN 55-65 MPH, VEHICLE CAN NOT MAINTAIN STABLE PERFORMANCE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TOYOTA HAVE REPLACE BOTH WHEEL AND TIRES AND HAVE THE SAME RESULT. FJ CRUISERS ARE HAVING A PROBLEM, AND TOYOTA WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ON THIS SAFTEY ISSUE. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE DAY I BOUGHT MY NEW TOYOTA FJ I TOOK IT TO A TIRE SHOP FOR LARGER OFF-ROAD TIRES. I WATCHED THE TECH AS HE CHANGED TIRES AND REMOUNTED THE WHEELS. HE CAREFULLY TIGHTENED THE LUG NUTS WITH A TORQUE WRENCH, BUT ON ONE, IT WAS OBVIOUS TO HIM AND ME BOTH THAT THE TIGHTENING EFFORT SUDDENLY GOT EAS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TIRES

2 complaints

• ON APRIL 30TH, 2011 I PURCHASED A NEW, 2011 FJ CRUISER VIN# [XXX] FROM JERRY DURANT TOYOTA. EIGHT WEEKS PRIOR, ON MARCH 4TH, 2011 TOYOTA SUBMITTED A REPORT (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID# 11V148000) - INDICATING ITS INTENT TO CONDUCT A RECALL OF CERTAIN TOYOTA VEHICLES WITH "ACCESSORY" (TRD) WHEELS. MY FJ C
• VEHICLE SHIMMY BETWEEN 55 AND 65 MPH AFTER BEING AT DEALER FOR ROUTINE TIRE ROTATION. TIRES WERE REPLACED, REBALANCED & ALIGNMENT DONE MULTIPLE TIMES AND VEHICLE BROUGHT TO 4 DIFF LOCATIONS FOR INSPECTION AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. HAS BEEN TO TOYOTA DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES WITH NO RESOLUTION. NOT SAF

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“ON APRIL 30TH, 2011 I PURCHASED A NEW, 2011 FJ CRUISER VIN# [XXX] FROM JERRY DURANT TOYOTA. EIGHT WEEKS PRIOR, ON MARCH 4TH, 2011 TOYOTA SUBMITTED A REPORT (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID# 11V148000) - INDICATING ITS INTENT TO CONDUCT A RECALL OF CERTAIN TOYOTA VEHICLES WITH "ACCESSORY" (TRD) WHEELS. MY FJ C”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

WHEELS(~50K mi)

$500

TIRES(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 38 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
STEERING: VEHICLE EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE STEERING WHEEL SHAKE INDICATIVE OF WHEELS BEING OFF BALANCE. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO RE-BALANCE 6 TIMES AT 4 DIFFERENT SHOPS THE SYMPTOM PERSISTS INTERMITTENTLY. OTHER FJ OWNERS OF 2010 MODEL YEAR AND NEWER FJ CRUISERS HAVE COMPLAINED THAT THEIR VEHICLES HAVE EXHIBITED THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: SINCE NEW MY VEHICLE HAS HAD A SHAKING STEERING WHEEL WHEN REACHING SPEEDS OVER 55MPH. AFTER TRYING SEVERAL DIFFERENT SETS OF TIRES, WHEELS AND BALANCING MY DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. TOYOTA WILL NOT HELP AND THE STEERING IS SHAKING SO BAD IT FEELS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED EXCESSIVE CORROSION THROUGHOUT THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. DURING COLD WEATHER, THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
WHEELS: THE DAY I BOUGHT MY NEW TOYOTA FJ I TOOK IT TO A TIRE SHOP FOR LARGER OFF-ROAD TIRES. I WATCHED THE TECH AS HE CHANGED TIRES AND REMOUNTED THE WHEELS. HE CAREFULLY TIGHTENED THE LUG NUTS WITH A TORQUE WRENCH, BUT ON ONE, IT WAS OBVIOUS TO HIM AND ME BOTH THAT THE TIGHTENING EFFORT SUDDENLY GOT EAS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)