Toyota FJ Cruiser years to avoid (and the best years)

Which Toyota FJ Cruiser years should you avoid?

No Toyota FJ Cruiser model year stands out from the others in NHTSA owner complaints. The typical Toyota FJ Cruiser year has 30 complaints on file. The busiest year is the 2010 (66).

What are the best Toyota FJ Cruiser years?

The Toyota FJ Cruiser years with the fewest complaints on file are the 2013 (23), 2011 (23) and 2014 (30). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.

NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.

Every model year

Most reported problem areas

Share of the 92 complaints sorted by system, all years together.

• Steering, suspension & tires28 (30%)
• Structure & body21 (23%)
• Brakes13 (14%)
• Other systems12 (13%)
• Airbags & seat belts9 (10%)

Recalls (17)

• Fuel system · 20V012000 · Jan 2020 · model year 2014

  If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

• Safety · 16V396000 · Jun 2016 · model year 2010

  If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

• Steering · 15V081000 · Feb 2015 · model year 2014

  If the intermediate steering shaft weld fails, there would be a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

• Safety · 14V828000 · Dec 2014 · model year 2014

  Accessories that detach from a vehicle may result in a vehicle crash and/or personal injury.

• Safety · 14V743000 · Nov 2014 · model year 2010

  Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.

• Suspension · 14V539000 · Sep 2014 · model year 2014

  In this condition, one or both bolts could become loose during driving and fall out. If both bolts fall out from the front lower ball joint or the front suspension lower arm, these components could detach from the steering knuckle or the front cross members, causing a loss of steering control, which could increase the risk of a crash.

• Safety · 14V475000 · Aug 2014 · model years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

  If the spare tire is inflated to the incorrect pressure provided on the placard, tire failure may occur while it is being driven on, increasing the risk of a crash.

• Exterior lighting · 13V163000 · Apr 2013 · model years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013

  Light intensities above the maximum allowable limit could cause increased glare for oncoming traffic and increase the risk of a crash.

• Safety · 13V123000 · Apr 2013 · model years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013

  An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.

• Seat belts · 13V098000 · Mar 2013 · model years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013

  If cracks occur in the panel around the lower retractor anchor, the seat belt retractor could become detached, which could increase the risk of injury to an occupant in the event of a crash.

• Airbags · 13V014000 · Jan 2013 · model year 2010

  If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.

• Safety · 12E046000 · Oct 2012 · model years 2010, 2011, 2012

  If a brake tube becomes damaged and leaks fluid, it may result in increased stopping distances, and in some cases, loss of vehicle front braking performance, which could increase the risk of a crash.

• Tires · 11V185000 · Mar 2011 · model year 2011

  DRIVERS WILL NOT RECEIVE A WARNING FROM THE TIRE PRESSURING MONITOR THAT ONE OR MORE TIRES ARE UNDERINFLATED INCREASING THE RISK THAT A VEHICLE WILL BE DRIVEN WITH ONE OR MORE UNDERINFLATED TIRES AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A TIRE FAILURE THAT MAY LEAD TO A CRASH.

• Tires · 11V148000 · Mar 2011 · model years 2010, 2011

  FAILURE TO WARN OF TIRE DEFLATIONS IS A NON-COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 138 AND COULD LEAD TO TIRE FAILURE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

• Safety · 10E043000 · Sep 2010 · model year 2010

  AN IMPROPERLY DEPLOYED AIRBAG COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY.

• Safety · 10V035000 · Feb 2010 · model year 2010

  THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.

• Safety · 10V036000 · Feb 2010 · model year 2010

  A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.