2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser Complaints

Below are complaints posted by owners of 2011 FJ Cruisers on the NHTSA web site that may be accessed here:

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchComplaints

Date Complaint Filed: 04/23/2013
Component(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , WHEELS

Date of Incident: 08/23/2012
NHTSA ID Number: 10509216

Vehicle MakeModelModel Year(s)

• TOYOTAFJ CRUISER2011

• Crash:No
• Fire:No
• Number of Injuries:0
• Number of Deaths:0

Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION

Vehicle Identification No. (VIN): JTEBU4BF6BK...

SUMMARY:

THE ISSUE STARTED ON 8/23/2012 WHILE DRIVING ON I-95 IN SC, MY 2011 FJ CRUISER TRAIL TEAMS EDITION TIRE PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. THE VERY NEXT DAY, I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN WEST COLUMBIA, SC TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AS THE LIGHT HAD TURNED OFF THAT NIGHT. HOWEVER, THEY DID DISCOVER AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF ERROR CODE MESSAGES FROM THE CPU SYSTEM AND THOUGHT THIS MAY HAVE CAUSED THE LIGHT TO INTERMITTENTLY TURN ON/OFF. THE DEALERSHIP RESET ALL ERROR MESSAGES AND RELEASED THE VEHICLE BACK TO ME. AS IT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, I THOUGHT THERE WAS NO REASON TO WORRY ABOUT IT. A WEEK LATER, WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON I-95 IN NC, THE SAME INDICATOR LIGHT TURNED BACK ON, THIS TIME FOR THE REMAINDER OF MY TRIP HOME TO MD. AFTER CONTACTING TOYOTA OF BOWIE TO INSPECT THE ISSUE, THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT AND RELEASED THE VEHICLE BACK TO ME. SOON THEREAFTER, THE SAME INDICATOR LIGHT TURNED BACK ON UNTIL MID-JANUARY 2013 WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO GA, THE INDICATOR LIGHT TURNED OFF. I HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED AT I-95 TOYOTA (NEAR BRUNSWICK, GA) AND THEY INDICATED NO ISSUES WERE FOUND WITH THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH I ADVISED THEM OF THE INCIDENTS. THEY CONCLUDED THAT WHEN I RETURN HOME TO HAVE THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT THEN. WHILE RETURNING HOME TO MD, THE INDICATOR LIGHT TURNED BACK ON AND HAS STAYED ON EVER SINCE. CONSIDERING I HAVE NOT RECEIVED NOTICE FROM TOYOTA FOR THE SAFETY RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE, I DISCOVERED THEM THROUGH THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THIS MORNING TO HAVE A FEW CURRENT RECALLS THAT THE DEALERSHIP KNOWS ABOUT TO BE FIXED AND WILL ADVISE TOYOTA OF ANNAPOLIS (KOON'S) (WHERE I ORIGINALLY PURCHASED THE VEHICLE) OF THE INDICATOR LIGHT ISSUE AND CONCERN. IF ANY FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ME.

Date Complaint Filed: 02/21/2013
Component(s): STEERING , SUSPENSION , WHEELS

Date of Incident: 04/09/2011
NHTSA ID Number: 10499625

Vehicle MakeModelModel Year(s)

• TOYOTAFJ CRUISER2011

• Crash:No
• Fire:No
• Number of Injuries:0
• Number of Deaths:0

Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION

Vehicle Identification No. (VIN): JTEBU4BF9BK...

SUMMARY:

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

Date Complaint Filed: 08/15/2012
Component(s): SUSPENSION , TIRES

Date of Incident: 03/05/2012
NHTSA ID Number: 10470831

All Products Associated with this Complaint

Vehicle MakeModelModel Year(s)

• TOYOTAFJ CRUISER2011

• Crash:No
• Fire:No
• Number of Injuries:0
• Number of Deaths:0

Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION

Vehicle Identification No. (VIN): Not Available

SUMMARY:

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 SAFE TO DRIVE AND WILL MOST LIKELY CAUSE OTHER PARTS IN FRONT END/VEHICLE TO FAIL. CONTACTED TOYOTA AND NOTHING WAS DONE TO FIX PROBLEM. *TR

Date Complaint Filed: 08/06/2012
Component(s): STEERING

Date of Incident: 10/12/2011
NHTSA ID Number: 10469353

Vehicle MakeModelModel Year(s)

• TOYOTAFJ CRUISER2011

• Crash:No
• Fire:No
• Number of Injuries:0
• Number of Deaths:0

Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION

Vehicle Identification No. (VIN): JTEBU4BFXBK...

SUMMARY:

STEERING COLUMN SHAKES BETWEEN SPEEDS 55-65 MPH, HAVE HAD THE WHEELS AND TIRES REBALANCED WITH A ROAD FORCE MACHINE WITHOUT ANY RESOLVE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

Date Complaint Filed: 08/02/2012
Component(s): STEERING , SUSPENSION , WHEELS

Date of Incident: 08/02/2012
NHTSA ID Number: 10469052

Vehicle MakeModelModel Year(s)

• TOYOTAFJ CRUISER2011

• Crash:No
• Fire:No
• Number of Injuries:0
• Number of Deaths:0

Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION

Vehicle Identification No. (VIN): Not Available

SUMMARY:

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. *TR

Date Complaint Filed: 07/14/2012
Component(s): WHEELS

Date of Incident: 01/31/2011
NHTSA ID Number: 10465618

Vehicle MakeModelModel Year(s)

• TOYOTAFJ CRUISER2011

• Crash:No
• Fire:No
• Number of Injuries:0
• Number of Deaths:0

Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION

Vehicle Identification No. (VIN): JTEBU4BF1BK...

SUMMARY:

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 EASIER. HE MADE ANOTHER EASY 1/4 TURN AND THE STUD CAME OFF. THE MANAGER LOOKED AT THE STUD AND SAID IT HAD TO HAVE BEEN OVERTIGHTENED PREVIOUSLY BY THE FACTORY OR WAS DEFECTIVE. THEY FIXED IT. ABOUT 4 MONTHS LATER I WAS PUTTING ON MY WHEELS AFTER INSTALLING A SUSPENSION LIFT. I USED A TORQUE WRENCH SET AT 80LBS AND BEFORE IT EVER GOT TO A NORMAL TIGHT THE STUD TWISTED OFF. PLEASE LOOK AT THIS FORUM THREAD: HTTP://WWW.FJCRUISERFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/PROBLEMS-DEALER-SERVICE/85927-BROKEN-WHEEL-STUDS.HTML THERE ARE LIKELY MORE THREADS ON THIS SUBJECT AND THERE IS ALSO MENTION OF SIMILAR THREADS ON A TOYOTA TACOMA SITE. I HAVE REMOVED/REPLACED MANY DOZENS OF WHEELS IN MY LIFETIME AND BEFORE BUYING THIS FJ HAD NEVER BROKEN A STUD EVEN THOUGH I PUT FAR MORE EFFORT INTO TIGHTENING STUDS. *TR

Date Complaint Filed: 04/12/2012
Component(s): STRUCTURE , VISIBILITY

Date of Incident: 11/15/2011
NHTSA ID Number: 10454963

Vehicle MakeModelModel Year(s)

• TOYOTAFJ CRUISER2011

• Crash:No
• Fire:No
• Number of Injuries:0
• Number of Deaths:0

Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION

Vehicle Identification No. (VIN): JTEBU4BF5BK...

SUMMARY:

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 THAT THE REAR VIEW CAMERA FOGGED AND FROZE, MAKING THE VISIBILITY BLURRY AND DIFFICULT TO SEE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,500. ..UPDATED 04/26/12 *BF UPDATED 06/15/2012 *JS

Date Complaint Filed: 10/07/2011
Component(s): STEERING

Date of Incident: 10/07/2011
NHTSA ID Number: 10429035

Vehicle MakeModelModel Year(s)

• TOYOTAFJ CRUISER2011

• Crash:No
• Fire:No
• Number of Injuries:0
• Number of Deaths:0

Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION

Vehicle Identification No. (VIN): Not Available

SUMMARY:

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

Date Complaint Filed: 10/06/2011
Component(s): STEERING

Date of Incident: 08/15/2011
NHTSA ID Number: 10428997

Vehicle MakeModelModel Year(s)

• TOYOTAFJ CRUISER2011

• Crash:No
• Fire:No
• Number of Injuries:0
• Number of Deaths:0

Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION

Vehicle Identification No. (VIN): Not Available

SUMMARY:

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 SAME BEHAVIOR. THE PROBLEM (BASED ON FEED BACK FROM OTHER OWNERS ON INTERNET FORUMS) IS SPREAD ACROSS DIFFERENT MODELS, WHEEL AND TIRE COMBINATIONS. MANY OF THEM HAVE TAKEN THEIR VEHICLES BACK TO TOYOTA WHO CLAIMS THE SHAKING IS NORMAL. HOWEVER THE VEHICLE SEEMS UNSTABLE AT SPEED RANGING FROM 45 TO 60MPH, MOST EVIDENT AT ABOUT 50MPH. *TR

Date Complaint Filed: 06/23/2011
Component(s): TIRES

Date of Incident: 04/30/2011
NHTSA ID Number: 10408727

Vehicle MakeModelModel Year(s)

• TOYOTAFJ CRUISER2011

Tire Brand NameTire Line / Tire Size Production Dates

• B.F.GOODRICHT/A -

• Crash:No
• Fire:No
• Number of Injuries:0
• Number of Deaths:0

Manufacturer: B.F. GOODRICH TIRE CO. , TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION

Vehicle Identification No. (VIN): JTEBU4BF4BK...

SUMMARY:

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 CRUISER WAS A "TRD" MODEL VEHICLE. MY VIN CAN BE SEARCHED AT TOYOTA AT HTTP://TOYOTA-B0B.IMAGESPM.INFO/ I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL AT THE TIME I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, NOR WAS THE RECALL REMEDY PERFORMED BEFORE DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE TO ME BY THE DEALER, AS REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW. ON MAY 10TH, 2011 I DELIVERED THE VEHICLE TO TEXAS TOYOTA OF GRAPEVINE FOR A WHEEL BALANCE ISSUE UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS THEN NOTIFIED BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR OF AN ACTIVE RECALL ON MY NEW FJ. DURANT TOYOTA MAINTAINS THAT THE INTENT TO RECALL DOES NOT MARK THE START DATE OF THE RECALL AND THAT THE OFFICIAL RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 5TH, 2011. THERE IS NO PUBLIC INFORMATION TO SUPPORT THE MAY 5TH DATE, AND DURANT FAILED TO PROVIDE PROOF (AS REQUESTED) OF INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORTING THE MAY 5TH START DATE. DURANT AND TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION DENIED MY REQUEST TO CANCEL THE SALE AND RETURN THE VEHICLE BASED ON THE DEALER'S FAILURE TO DISCLOSE AND REPAIR THE RECALL PRIOR TO SALE. DURANT/TMC REQUESTED THAT I SEEK ARBITRATION WITH TOYOTA; HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THIS CASE IS VERY CLEAR AND DOES NOT WARRANT AN ARBITRATED/COMPROMISED SOLUTION BUT RATHER AND FULL RETURN/REFUND IN A STRAIGHFORWARD PROCESS. IN SUMMARY, DURANT KNEW OF THE RECALL INTENT AND KNEW THE RECALL TO BE SPECIFIC TO THE TRD EDITION TRUCKS AND SUVS, INCLUDING MY FJ CRUISER. DURANT CLAIMS TO HAVE RUN THE VEHICLE VIN PRIOR TO DELIVERY AND RECEIVED A CLEAR REPORT. CLAIMING THAT MY VIN WOULD NOT HAVE APPEARED UNDER SEARCHES UNTIL MAY 5TH. DURANT KNEW, BASED ON THE 4 MARCH FILING, THE RECALL WOULD EVENTUALLY INCLUDE TRD FJS, INCLUDING MY VIN. DEALER: JERRY DURANT TOYOTA 5100 U.S. 377 GRANBURY TX [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR