IllustrationSEVER RUSTING OF FRAME, BREAK AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS AND BRACKETS. THIS 2008 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER IS QUICKLY BECOMING A SAFETY HAZARD ON THE ROADS. I HAVE A 92 SABB AND A 93 VW THAT DON'T HAVE HAVE THE RUST ISSUES THIS TOYOTA HAS. TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THE FJ CRUISERS FOR FAULTY FRAMES AND UNDERCARRIAGE LONG AGO.
2008 Toyota Fj Cruiser
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Fj Cruiser years
Owner complaints for the 2008 Toyota Fj Cruiser are substantially higher than the model-year median of 26.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Fj Cruiser years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
390–25K
2325–50K
950–75K
1075–100K
6100–150K
10150K+
97 reports with mileage · 27 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Structure. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
124 reportsEXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FUEL TANK STRAPS AND VEHICLE FRAME. UNDERBODY OF THIS VEHICLE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO U.S CORROSION STANDARDS SINCE I'VE NOT SEEN ANY AMERICAN VEHICLES WITH THIS WIDESPREAD RUST ISSUE.
THE VEHICLE HAS A SEVERELY RUSTY FRAME. REST OF THE FJ BODY IS MINT WITH A TOTAL OF 80K MILES. THE REAR CROSS SECTION WHERE THE GEM HITCH BOLTS TO IS PARTICULARLY BAD AND HAS HOLE. THE HITCH ITSELF IS ALSO SITTING A LITTLE CROOKED WHICH I BELIEVE IS DUE TO THE POOR STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE CROSS BAR. TOWING IS OUT OF THE QUES…
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THE VEHICLE HAS A SEVERELY RUSTY FRAME. REST OF THE FJ BODY IS MINT WITH A TOTAL OF 80K MILES. THE REAR CROSS SECTION WHERE THE GEM HITCH BOLTS TO IS PARTICULARLY BAD AND HAS HOLE. THE HITCH ITSELF IS ALSO SITTING A LITTLE CROOKED WHICH I BELIEVE IS DUE TO THE POOR STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE CROSS BAR. TOWING IS OUT OF THE QUESTION AT THIS POINT BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I AM VERY WORRIED WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN AN EVENT I GET REAR ENDED.
WE BOUGHT OUR FJ CRUISER NEW IN 2008. I HAVE METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED (WITH SEVICE RECORDS FROM TOYOTA DEALERSHIP), AND I HA E ALWAYS KEPT IT METICULOUS INSIDE AND OUT. THE VEHICLE IS A 2008 WITH 100K MILES AND LOOKS BRAND NEW UP TOP... HOWEVER THE UNDERCARRIAGE IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STORY. NO MATTER HOW OFTEN I CLEANED THE…
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WE BOUGHT OUR FJ CRUISER NEW IN 2008. I HAVE METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED (WITH SEVICE RECORDS FROM TOYOTA DEALERSHIP), AND I HA E ALWAYS KEPT IT METICULOUS INSIDE AND OUT. THE VEHICLE IS A 2008 WITH 100K MILES AND LOOKS BRAND NEW UP TOP... HOWEVER THE UNDERCARRIAGE IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STORY. NO MATTER HOW OFTEN I CLEANED THE FRAME, SUSPENSION, AND DRIVETRAIN I COULD NOT KEEP THE RUST AT BAY, NOW I'M EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT MY FAMILIES SAFETY. I'M WORRIED BRACKETS ARE ABOUT TO RUST OFF, AND BODY MOUNTS AND BOLTS ARE SHOWING SEVERE RUST, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A CARS UNDERCARRIAGE RUST SO QUICKLY AND COMPLETELY IN ALL MY LIFE. THIS NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED BEFORE PEOPLE START GETTING HURT WHILE DRIVING WITH THESE WITH THESE UNSAFE CHASSIS AND COMPONENTS. AND MY GAS TANK STRAPS ARE ROTTING FAST. I HAVE OWNED TOYOTA'S MY WHOLE LIFE. I CURRENTLY OWN 5 DIFFERENT LAND CRUISERS. WE LOVED OUR FJ AND BOUGHT IT BECAUSE WE THOUGHT IT WOULD LAST.
EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME. VEHICLE IS MAINTAINED VERY WELL, BUT FRAME RUST CONTINUES TO GET WORSE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE FJ CRUISER ON ALL THE FORMS ONLINE. TOYOTA HAS YET TO FILE A RECALL ON OUR VEHICLES. OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES THAT USE THE SAME FRAME HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF US WITH A ROTTIN…
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EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME. VEHICLE IS MAINTAINED VERY WELL, BUT FRAME RUST CONTINUES TO GET WORSE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE FJ CRUISER ON ALL THE FORMS ONLINE. TOYOTA HAS YET TO FILE A RECALL ON OUR VEHICLES. OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES THAT USE THE SAME FRAME HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF US WITH A ROTTING IN FRAMES AND TOYOTA WILL DO NOTHING.
FRAME RUSTED WAY TOO EARLY IN ITS LIFE TIME
EXTENSIVE FRAME RUST, HEAVY RUST ON REAR CROSSMEMBER AND REAR AXLE, BODY MOUNTS
I HAVE COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA ABOUT THE RUST FORM THE START OF OWNERSHIP, THERE RESPONSE WAS THAT THE FRAMES WERE MADE IN AMERICA. DOES MATTER WHERE IT WAS MADE JUST THE SUPER POOR QUALITY OF THE METAL. I BELIEVE THIS IS THE SAME FRAME AS THE TUNDRA'S AND THEY ARE ALL RECALLED WHY NOT THE FJ CRUISERS?
THE FRAME ON MY FJ CRUISER IT LITERATELY ROTTING TO NOTHING. AS ARE MOST PRODUCED FROM 2007 - 2012 I HAVE BEGGED TOYOTA FOR HELP AND A RESOLUTION LIKE WITH THE TUNDRA AND TACOMA FRAME ROTTING ISSUES. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT OR KILLED. MY CONTROL ARE IN ROTTING AWAY FROM THE FRAME. AS YOU CAN…
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THE FRAME ON MY FJ CRUISER IT LITERATELY ROTTING TO NOTHING. AS ARE MOST PRODUCED FROM 2007 - 2012 I HAVE BEGGED TOYOTA FOR HELP AND A RESOLUTION LIKE WITH THE TUNDRA AND TACOMA FRAME ROTTING ISSUES. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT OR KILLED. MY CONTROL ARE IN ROTTING AWAY FROM THE FRAME. AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PICTURE THE THIS IS BAD BAD. FJ CRUISER WAS STATIONARY.
THERE APPEARS TO BE A SHORT IN SOME WIRING. MY TURN SIGNAL/HAZARDS FUSE BLOWS EVER TIME I TRY TO TURN THEM ON.
Official recalls
916V396000 · Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler
Jun 2, 2016
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.
14V743000 · Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler
Nov 19, 2014
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
14V475000 · Equipment:other:labels
Aug 4, 2014
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2014 FJ Cruiser and Tacoma vehicles equipped with accessory wheels and tires installed by Toyota or dealers prior to the vehicle's first sale. The affected vehicles may list incorrect spare tire size and/or cold tire inflation information on the tire placard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: For the involved vehicles, overlay stickers to correct the tire placard will either be mailed to owners or provided to dealers for placement over the incorrect information on the placard. The recall is expected to begin in September 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
13V163000 · Exterior Lighting
Apr 25, 2013
Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2007-2013 FJ Cruiser vehicles manufactured January 25, 2006 through February 23, 2013 and equipped with a Toyota Auxiliary Driving Lamp Kits mounted to the front bumper. These lamp assemblies include 55 watt bulbs and due to this wattage and mounting angle, the combination of the upper beam headlamps plus the auxiliary lamps are too bright and exceed the maximum light output allowed for an upper beam headlamp. Therefore, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Light intensities above the maximum allowable limit could cause increased glare for oncoming traffic and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the 55 watt bulbs with 35 watt bulbs, free of charge. The recall began on June 6, 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
13V098000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Mar 15, 2013
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2007 through 2013 FJ Cruiser passenger vehicles. The retractors for the front driver and passenger seat belts are mounted in the access door (rear door) panels of the vehicle. Due to insufficient strength of the access door panel, cracks may develop in the panel if the access door is repeatedly and forcefully closed over an extended period of time.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: The safety recall began on June 6, 2013. Toyota will mail an interim letter to owners late in April 2013. Remedy notifications to the owners for the repair will begin in late May 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
11V148000 · Tires:pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems
Mar 4, 2011
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2011 FJ CRUISER, LAND CRUISER, TACOMA, SEQUOIA AND TUNDRA VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 138, "TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS)." WHEN FACTORY-INSTALLED WHEELS AND TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH TOYOTA AUTHORIZED ACCESSORY WHEELS AND LT TIRES PRIOR TO FIRST SALE, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS WERE NOT RE-CALIBRATED CORRECTLY AND THEREFORE DO NOT START ILLUMINATING THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING TELLTALE AT THE REQUIRED MINIMUM ACTIVATION PRESSURE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: FOR THE LAND CRUISER, SEQUOIA, TACOMA AND TUNDRA VEHICLES, THE DEALER WILL RE-CALIBRATE THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM ON AFFECTED VEHICLES AND INSTALL AN UPDATED TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION LABEL AT NO CHARGE. FOR THE FJ CRUISER VEHICLES, THE TPMS CANNOT BE RESET SO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) FOR THE TPMS WILL BE REPLACED. TOYOTA IS CURRENTLY DEVELOPING THE REMEDY ECU. IF AN OWNER IS NOT CERTAIN WHETHER HIS OR HER VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH THESE ACCESSORIES, PLEASE CONTACT ANY TOYOTA DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION AT NO CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
10V035000 · Equipment:other:labels
Feb 3, 2010
GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATES TOYOTA AT 713-580-3300.
10V036000 · Equipment:other:labels
Feb 3, 2010
SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.
09V223000 · Equipment:other:labels
Jun 15, 2009
TOYOTA IS RECALLING 27,080 MODEL YEAR 2005 THROUGH 2010 PASSENGER CARS BUILT FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 TO MAY 4, 2009. THESE VEHICLES WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: INCORRECT LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE BEING OVERLOADED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND PROVIDE THEM WITH A NEW, ACCURATE LABEL TO BE INSTALLED OVER THE INACCURATE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-888-270-9371.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.