Body complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Frame corrosion and complete frame failure. The area compromised affected the steering of the vehicle. Luckily, the failure was discovered before failure at Highway speeds . No warning of any kind prior to failure. The vehicle is currently at a Toyota dealership awaiting a complete frame replacement . Should the failure have occurred at Highway speed, this would have been a catastrophic event as the front end/ steering would have been dramatically affected
The contact owns a 2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser. The contact stated that while cleaning underneath the vehicle, the contact discovered that the subframe was severely corroded. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer made aware of the failure and advised them contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser. Upon having the vehicle inspected by a State Inspector, the contact was informed that there was significant corrosion on the undercarriage of the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer and was informed that the corrosion failure was a result of normal wear and tear. The contact was referred to an independent mechanic who specialized in vehicle undercoating to prevent further corrosion damage to the vehicle. Despite the vehicle being treated for the corrosion damage, the contact was recently informed that the corrosion damage had worsened, and that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The manufacturer was notified of the failure; the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
The frame on my vehicle is incredibly rusty. Upon further research, I've found that this is a chronic problem FJ Cruisers. Many frames have rusted to the point where there is structural damage thereby rendering the vehicle unsafe to drive. I know that Toyota issued a recall for Tacoma trucks for this very issue, and I would like to have a recall issued for the FJ as I'm incredibly concerned for my safety.
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.
At 55,000 miles (6 years old) my front gravel shield had completely rusted off and was found in my driveway. I took my car to my Toyota service center and they notified me that both control arms and both front struts were very badly rusted and needed to be replaced. I called Toyota corporate and after much debate, I was told there was no recall for this matter and therefore they would only reimburse me 50% of all costs to replace said parts. I found Toyota has recalls for rust issues on other models and would like this matter looked into. Due to the limited production of this vehicle type it is possible it is being overlooked. I am terrified at the thought that I could've been driving and my control arms could've rusted off like my gravel shield did. A six year old vehicle with only 55,000 should not have this type of rust or parts falling off.
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 updated 06/15/2012
Frequently asked questions
Which Toyota FJ Cruiser years have body problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2007 (238), 2008 (42), 2010 (13), 2012 (12) and 2013 (10) model years. Body complaints make up 40% of all complaints for the 2007.
Is there a recall for Toyota FJ Cruiser body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for any Toyota FJ Cruiser model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Toyota FJ Cruiser body problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 64,000 miles; 46% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the body (279 mentions), followed by the frame and members (14).
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.