Suspension complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Excessive frame rust causing safety issue with suspension and crash danger. Yes my vehicle is available for inspection. My safety as well as other drivers safety are put at risk if the suspension fails causing my vehicle to veer into on-coming traffic. The problem is on going and can be confirmed by a dealer or independent service. My vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, but is available for inspection upon request. No warnings lamps. This is an undercarriage issue that is hidden by the tires and the body that sits on the frame.
Purchased vehicle driving the vehicle had slight problem with steering then we noticed the car was on a slant. Two to three inch difference from left bumped to ground and the right bumper. Brought to a dealer two times and still an inch difference. I then measured two othe FJ cruisers in their lot and noticed it is on all the FJ's we were told nothing they can do they contacted headquarters and they are sorry. The car is off from one side to the other and they are aware of this problem but will not help me and fix the problem.
I went down the road & hit a bump my car rocked a little so I stopped to check the lug nuts & see if anything was wrong. I did not see anything. So, I continued to go pick my friend up as I was driving down the freeway anytime I hit a bump the car rocked more the faster I went. So I slowed down & watched traffic around me. Picked my friend up, went on the ramp and hit another bump and bam, my vehicle went so high up in the air my friend thought we were going to roll over. I immediately got off the freeway & there was a dealership right there. I asked if they could look at it & they wouldn't, they were too busy. I managed to baby it all the way back to my dealership. They said the control bar came away from the frame that was rotted. I called my insurance co. they said nothing they could do because of wear & tear. They did not view anything but pictures. …
I purchased my beloved 2013 FJ Cruiser from Wellesley Toyota 6.5 years ago and have really enjoyed it. I have had it serviced religiously at McGee Toyota of Hanover since my purchase and expected to continue to enjoy it for many years to come and was just informed by McGee Toyota that the frame is severly rusted out throughout. My truck only has 158K miles on it and I expected this to last at least twice as long. This appears to be the same issue Toyota experienced with the Tundra and Tacoma with premature rusting on their vehicles due to a manufacturing issue. There are numerous complaints online about this issue and even a current class action lawsuit. I have alerted Toyota Corporate of this and they are not standing behind their product.
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.
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.
My issue started around June, I get the wheel shake/ shimmy at speeds of 55-65. Toyota sees the shake is there and then balances the tires and says its fixed . Toyota inspected the truck saying nothing is broken bent or anything saying they don't think anything is wrong. You can still see the shake is there and they keep blaming that the road is causing the shake. Saying its a crowing. In the road. I've went to a Toyota dealer to get it inspected they say nothing is wrong and then 2 more times I went there and then they admit it and try fixing it. I am very upset with Toyota and corporate . I feel scared to drive it above 50 because there is a bad shake. And feels unsafe its causing the car to be all over the road.
Related recalls (1)
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2014 FJ Cruiser vehicles equipped with an optional "Trail Teams Ultimate Edition" package, in which the front shock absorbers and springs were replaced at vehicle processing centers.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners of vehicles with the optional package installed, and dealers will inspect the torque of the bolts. If the bolts are found to be loose, dealers will retighten them to the proper torque.
Frequently asked questions
Which Toyota FJ Cruiser years have suspension problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2007 (78), 2008 (14), 2010 (7), 2011 (6) and 2013 (6) model years. Suspension complaints make up 13% of all complaints for the 2007.
Is there a recall for Toyota FJ Cruiser suspension problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 14V-539 (lower ball joint, Sep 8, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Toyota FJ Cruiser suspension problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 106,000 miles; 25% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front (1 mentions), followed by the rear (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.