Most common 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser problems
Share of the 41 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Toyota FJ Cruiser complaints by model year
Best FJ Cruiser years: 2009, 2013, 2011. Years to avoid: 2007, 2008, 2010. Compare all years →
2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser recalls (4)
Equipment › Other › Labels
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.
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.
Exterior lighting
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.
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.
Equipment › Other › Labels
Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011…
Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed.
Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
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.
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.
What 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser owners say
Body & structure
Too much frame rust on vehicle. Rust seems to be most prevalent around welds where cross members meet the frame. This frame is the same frame used for a number of other Toyota vehicles. In some places the rust is nearly bad enough for crucial body members to separate which would cause a severe accident. The frame on the Toyota FJ Cruiser is the same frame used in the vehicles outlined in the successful class action lawsuit, "Brian Warner et al. v. Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc." in the UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA Case No. 2:15-cv-02171-FMO-FFM. That lawsuit only specified Toyota Tacoma, Tundra, and Sequoia vehicles though the frames are the exact same. My Frame is still under warranty.
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 stability and safety of the vehicles. Toyota authorized Dealerships are no help. Expect consumers to pay out of pocket to repair frame.
Steering
Vehicle affected since new. Steering shimmy occurs as vehicle approached 63 and 68 MPH on a variety of roadways. At peak vibration or shimmy, the steering wheel moves rotationally one to two inches. Attempts to "hold" the wheel steady are unsuccessful. The energy input to the steering system is beyond my ability to hold. Vehicle has been taken to dealers for service. Tires have been balanced by Toyota and Goodyear. Goodyear states the tires balance okay, but balance changes with 1000 miles use. Alignment has been checked and found within specification. Last attempt to repair Toyota wrote "vehicle vibration can't be improved, other FJ Cruiser's on the lot used for comparison exhibit more shimmy and should be repaired." since Toyota has had recalls on the FJ Cruiser for tire mounting issues, it seems this issue should be evaluated. …
As Toyota and many, many FJ Cruiser owners are well-aware, there is a steering vibration issue that occurs somewhere in the 55-65 MPH range that causes the steering wheel to shake back and forth pretty violently. As one of the previous complaints stated, there is a very active community of FJ Cruiser owners on internet forums that also have this problem...but I don't think they're aware of this complaint process or have the time to do it, or something. I'm using after-market wheels and tires that were professionally installed by very competent people, so I'm very confident it's not an issue with my wheels or tires. I would like to echo other complaints and say that the vehicle needs to be recalled and fixed.
Suspension
Too much frame rust on vehicle. Rust seems to be most prevalent around welds where cross members meet the frame. This frame is the same frame used for a number of other Toyota vehicles. In some places the rust is nearly bad enough for crucial body members to separate which would cause a severe accident. The frame on the Toyota FJ Cruiser is the same frame used in the vehicles outlined in the successful class action lawsuit, "Brian Warner et al. v. Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc." in the UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA Case No. 2:15-cv-02171-FMO-FFM. That lawsuit only specified Toyota Tacoma, Tundra, and Sequoia vehicles though the frames are the exact same. My Frame is still under warranty.
Took vehicle to a machine shop to have frame undercoated. The machinist found that the frame had holes in it due to rust. He found that the tab gusset bracelet was cracked ( the part of the frame that holds the A-Arm in place). He said that the vehicle was not safe to drive and needs a new frame. The vehicle has 109,000 miles on it. Toyota should have a recall on all Toyota FJ.I contacted Toyota and was denied any help in this matter.
2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 20 / 19 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD | 17 / 20 / 18 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | 4WD | 15 / 18 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser a good car?
Based on 41 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 FJ Cruiser rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the FJ Cruiser at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser?
The body & structure — 12 complaints, 29% of all complaints for this model year, most often about body. Next are the steering (9) and suspension (5).
How many recalls does the 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser, the most recent from August 4, 2014 (labels). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Toyota FJ Cruiser?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2009, 2013 and 2011. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2007, 2008 and 2010. See the full Toyota FJ Cruiser years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 7,000 miles; 79% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.