2012 Toyota FJ CRUISER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Toyota FJ CRUISER has 49 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is body/structure problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: 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 th. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BODY/STRUCTURE

10 complaints

20%

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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“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 TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

9 complaints

18%

• 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
• 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
• 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

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

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

8 complaints

16%

• 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.
• 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 stab
• 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.

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

“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.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

7 complaints

14%

• 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 MANA
• 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 CON
• 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

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

“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 MANA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

5 complaints

10%

• 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
• 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
• 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.

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

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 49 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: 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 TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 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.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SEATS/RESTRAINTS: 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 MANA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)