Seat Belt complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (buckles, retractors, anchors and pretensioners).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware that the passenger's side seat belt was inoperable. The seat belt was not able to stretch or lock into place. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000. The VIN was not available.
The passenger side seat belt retractor is malfunctioning. There was a recall of 209,000 of my exact make and model (years 2007-2013) with the exact same problem. Toyota claims my VIN is not on their list for recalls and wants $416.18 to fix the seatbelt retractor. It seems absurd that they won't take responsibility for this safety issue.
Seat belt does not retract properly, it hangs up after a few inches. The frequency of this problem is 90% of the retracts. I told the dealer 4 times, they stated they couldn't find the problem. I scoff. Steering my car requires constant input to go straight, especially on the freeways. Before I know it I'm in the next lane. There is no neutral area in the center while going straight. I had an alignment and replaced all the tires, it still has this hazard. Brakes they pulse when slowing only at high speed. (65 MPH) I do not ride the brakes, or run the car hard. This happened after normal driving. Seems like warped disks, but I do not stop fast, or drive like I'm racing. Note: headlights had to be readjusted because they did not point up the road enough, making huge blind spot at over 40 MPH. I had dealer re-adjust, they pointed the down so far they made it worse. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser. The contact stated that the front driver's side seat belt did not retract. The vehicle was taken to plaza Toyota [phone], located at 2721 nostrand ave, brooklyn, ny 11210) where it was stated that the vehicle was out of warranty. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the contact would be called back. The contact was not called back. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
Driver seat belt wont retract. Defect on recall and reportedly repaired on 08-15-13 at carson city Scion, nevada. The defect remains as seat belt will not retract. I purchased vehicle used in July, 2016; seat belt retracted then but was very loose requiring adjustment constantly. I contacted Toyota of salinas on 2/28/17 and spoke with service manager don correll. Correll informed me his company would not repair the defect as Toyota in carson city already did. I then showed him, and service assistant ivan gonzales of the defect and advised them the safety defect was not properly repaired and remains defective and unsafe due to repair deficiency as it was self evident the alleged repair was not done properly. Correll's response was: : we are not going to fix your car".
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser. The contact stated that the front passenger seat belt seized. The contact was unable to use the seat belt. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 13V098000 (seat belts). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 82,000.
The contact owns a 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser. The contact stated that the driver's side seat belt failed to retract, causing the contact to have to manually put the seat belt in place. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times and progressed where the seat belt would not retract. The contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V098000 (Seat Belts) and the dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 191,700. The contact stated vehicle has been repaired, and this case may be closed.
The contact owns a 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser. The contact stated that the front driver's side seat belt retractor and locking mechanism was inoperable, failing to secure the driver as needed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V098000 (Seat Belts). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 100,000.
Related recalls (1)
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which Toyota FJ Cruiser years have seat belt problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2007 (24), 2008 (13) and 2012 (5) model years. Seat Belt complaints make up 4% of all complaints for the 2007.
Is there a recall for Toyota FJ Cruiser seat belt problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 13V-098 (anchorage, Mar 15, 2013). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Toyota FJ Cruiser seat belt problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 89,000 miles; 20% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front (1 mentions), followed by the front › retractor (1).
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.