2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser Complaint Log

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL TWO MONTHS AGO AND STATED THAT THE DEALER DID NOT RETURN HER CALLS TO SCHEDULE A APPOINTMENT UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TOYOTA IS RISKING LIVES WITH THE FJ CRUISER - OWNERS ARE CURRENTLY DRIVING WITH A RISK OF NON-FUNCTIONAL SEAT BELTS. AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL ON MONDAY, 5/20, I CHECKED THE TOYOTA WEBSITE AND FOUND THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ON THE LOGGED-IN OWNER SITE: THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR AUTHORIZED TOYOTA DEALER AND SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO PERFORM AN INSPECTION AND INSTALL REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS ON BOTH DOORS ACCESS AT NO CHARGE TO YOU. BASED UPON THE INSPECTION, IN LIMITED CASES, THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR(S) AND/OR ACCESS DOOR(S) MAY BE REPLACED. I IMMEDIATELY MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THAT SAME AFTERNOON. I HAD TO ARGUE WITH THE DEALER THAT THE BRACKETS WERE REQUIRED (THEY WANTED ONLY TO PERFORM THE INSPECTION AND STOP THERE IF NO CRACKS WERE PRESENT). AFTER FINALLY AGREEING THAT YES, THE BRACKETS NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED (THEY HAD 'MISREAD' THE PROCESS FLOW CHART! THEY DON'T APPEAR TO HAVE HAD ANY TRAINING ON WHAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS), THEY SAID THEY HAD NONE IN STOCK AND WOULD ORDER THEM TODAY. THIS MORNING THEY CALLED ME AND SAID THAT TOYOTA HAS "BLOCKED ORDERING OF THOSE PARTS" - AND SUGGESTED THAT IT MIGHT BE BECAUSE THE SOLUTION DOESN'T WORK. CURRENTLY WE ARE DRIVING VEHICLES THAT DO NOT MEET MINIMAL GOVERNMENT SAFETY REQUIREMENTS - BOTH THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER ARE IN DANGER OF HAVING SEAT BELTS MALFUNCTION DURING AN ACCIDENT. THEY SHOULD BE PROVIDING SOME TYPE OF RELIEF (E.G., LOANER CARS UNTIL THE ISSUE IS RESOLVED). THANK YOU. *TR

THE REAR END OF THE POWER TRAIN (REAR AXEL) STARTED MAKING A GRINDING OR WINING NOISE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BALL JOINT FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUTONATION TOYOTA SPOKANE VALLEY (8600 E SPRAGUE AVE, SPOKANE VALLEY, WA 99212, (509) 850-9359) TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

THE FOOT REST BROKE FREE OF ITS ATTACHMENTS AND SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL. *TR

EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME. VEHICLE IS MAINTAINED VERY WELL, BUT FRAME RUST CONTINUES TO GET WORSE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE FJ CRUISER ON ALL THE FORMS ONLINE. TOYOTA HAS YET TO FILE A RECALL ON OUR VEHICLES. OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES THAT USE THE SAME FRAME HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF US WITH A ROTTING IN FRAMES AND TOYOTA WILL DO NOTHING.

LOSS OF BRAKES, TRIED TO STOP. BOTH FEET APPLIED TO BRAKES AND NOTHING. THIS WAS A T STOP WITH A 20' DROP ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD . THIS WAS ON A ROAD DRIVEN CONSTANTLY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. TURNED THE CAR TO THE RIGHT WENT OVER THE CURB THROUGH A YARD HIT A FIRE HYDRANT TOOK IT ACROSS THE STREET JUMPED THE OTHER CURB AND STOPPED IN BRUSH. THERE WERE NO SKID MARKS IN THE GRASS OR ROAD WHERE THE BREAKS HAD BEEN APPLIED. DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG RIPPED OR SHREDDED AT BOTTOM DID NOT INFLATE FULLY, PASSENGERS DID INFLATE CORRECTLY. NO ONE WAS HURT SERIOUSLY OR TAKEN BY EMS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35MPH ON SMOOTH ASPHALT THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME STARTED BRAKING. I APPLIED MY BRAKES LIGHTLY AND NOTHING HAPPENED, PUSHED BRAKE PEDAL HARDER STILL NOTHING AND STARTED TO PANIC THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKES ENGAGED HARD ALMOST CAUSING ME TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND THE CAR BEHIND ALMOST HIT ME. I PURCHASE THE FJ CRUISER USED WITH ABOUT 52,000 MILES ON IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5 TIMES SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. I DO NOT FEEL THE VEHICLE IS SAFE AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE PEOPLE ARE INJURED OR KILLED. I SEE COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME PROBLEM SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE! *TR

EVERY TIME I DRIVE BETWEEN 60 TO 65 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES BACK AND FORTH. ALSO THE FRONT END SHAKES. IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AT TIMES. HAD TIRES RE-BALANCED AND THE 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT CHECKED. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE FRONT END CHECKED. EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT SEEMS COMMON IN A LARGE POPULATION OF FJ'S ON THE ROAD. *TR

BRAKES IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS BECOME UNRESPONSIVE. HAPPENED TWICE WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. ONCE WHEN THE STREETS WERE WET, SHE PUT ON THE BRAKES AND WENT SLIDING ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. ABS DID NOT WORK. THE NEXT TIME COMING OUT OF THE PARKING GARAGE, SHE WENT OVER SOME LOOSE GRAVEL AND APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. SHE REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF HER. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO DAMAGE AND THE OTHER DRIVER WAS NOT A JERK. SHE SAID BOTH TIMES THE BRAKES WERE UNRESPONSIVE. SEE THIS THREAD FOR MORE INFORMATION OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHERS: HTTP://WWW.FJCRUISERFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/PROBLEMS-DEALER-SERVICE/102642-BRAKE-ISSUES-REPORT-YOUR-DATE-MANUFACTURE-VIN.HTML SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET HURT IF IT HAS NOT HAPPENED ALREADY. *TR

WHILE COMING TO A STOP, IF MY 2008 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER HITS A BUMP THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM ACTIVATES KICKING BACK ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THEN, THE BRAKES GRAB AS IF THEY ARE GOING TO LOCK UP AND SKID. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE BRAKE SYSTEM FROM CONTINUING TO DO THIS IS TO RELEASE THE PEDAL COMPLETELY THEN, REAPPLY THE BRAKES. OBVIOUSLY THIS ISN'T WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IN ORDER TO STOP. THERE ARE NUMEROUS CASES LIKE THIS DOCUMENTED ON THIS WEBSITE. HOW MUCH MORE DOCUMENTATION DOES TOYOTA NEED BEFORE THEY TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY? *TR

THERE IS BUCKLING OF THE BODY, RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE, UNDER HOOD APPROXIMATELY WHERE THE HOOD HINGES ATTACH TO BODY. THE MECHANIC HAS ADVISED IT IS A WEAK POINT IN THE BODY WHICH ON SOME VEHICLES THE BODY ACTUALLY CRACKS AND TRANSFERS OVER TO THE FENDER OVER TIME. IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS DUE TO VIBRATION FROM THE BODY FRONT END TO THE REAR FIREWALL. THE ESTIMATED COST TO FIX THIS PROBLEM FROM A TOYOTA CERTIFIED BODY SHOP IS $11,837.02. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA CORPORATE, AND IT IS PENDING. TOYOTA DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

EXTREME RUST AND CRACKING IN FRAME

THE BRAKES JUST FAILED AND WAS SUDDENLY UNRESPONSIVE AT LOW SPEED WHEN I WAS DRIVING OVER SLIGHTLY BUMPY ROAD ON I-10 LOS ANGELES, THE ROAD WAS NOT ICY NEITHER HAD ANY DIRT OR SAND, IT FELT LIKE THAT I HAD NO BRAKES, AND ALMOST HIT THE CAR INFRONT OF ME, LUCKILY IT CAME TO A STOP WHEN I STEPPED THE BRAKES SO HARD THAT IT FEELS LIKE USELESS. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANICS,THEY INSPECTED IT AND TOLD ME THAT IT WAS FINE. THE BRAKE PADS WERE VERY NEW. I REPLACED NEW BRAKE FLUIDS, BUT THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED AGAIN ! I WENT TO FJ CRUISER FORUM,AND LOTS OF PEOPLE HAS ENCOUNTER THIS SAME SITUATION WHEN DRIVING OVER POT HOLES TO CAUSE THE FAILURE IN THE ABS COMPUTER. AND TOYOTA CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT IT!! *TR

THE FOOT REST ASSEMBLY WHICH IS PLASTIC AND FASTENED TO THE FLOOR BOARD WITH PROTRUDING SCREWS, SNAPPED OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE DANGEROUS ASPECT OF IT, WAS THAT IT SLID TOWARDS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND CAUSED ME TO SKILLFULLY PULL OVER THE VEHICLE WHILE SLIDING THE PART FROM UNDER PEDAL WITH LEFT FOOT. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A BULGE ON THE DRIVER SIDE ENGINE BAY FENDER APRON. I HAVE SEEN MANY ONLINE AND MET OTHERS IN PERSON WHO SHARE THIS PROBLEM ON THE FJ CRUISERS. THIS CONCERNS ME BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE IS NOW COMPROMISED AND DON'T KNOW HOW THIS WILL AFFECT THE SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. *TR

FIRMLY APPLYING BRAKES TO SLOW FOR TRAFFIC, ABS STOPPED VEHICLE VERY QUICKLY, THEN ACTED AS IF ABS WAS WORKING BUT WITH MINIMAL BRAKING POWER. INCIDENT HAPPENED ON SMOOTH, DRY PAVEMENT. VEHICLE MOVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. *TR

DRIVER DOOR ACTUATOR WORKS INCONSISTENTLY . SPOKE WITH DEALER AND TOLD NEED REPLACEMENT. WENT ON LINE AND SEE IT IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM. NO ACCIDENT OR DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE FAILURE WOULD UNEXPECTEDLY OCCUR WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DEFLATED THE TIRES AND THE MALFUNCTION CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 11/10/11 *BF

I ATTEMPTED TO SUBMIT MY VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT TOYOTA OF LONGVIEW, IN LONGVIEW, TEXAS, IN RESPONSE TO SAFETY RECALL NOTICE TITLED "CERTAIN 2008 THROUGH 2011 MODEL YEAR FJ CRUISER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TRD ACCESSORY WHEELS AND TOYOTA-RECOMMENDED LIGHT TRUCK TIRES." I REQUESTED THE TPMS ECU BE REPLACED, THE COLD TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE BE REVISED AND A NEW TIRE/LOADING LABEL INSTALLED. TOYOTA OF LONGVIEW REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECOMMENDED WORK UNLESS I PAID A $99.00 DIAGNOSTIC FEE. THE RECALL NOTICE STATED THESE COMPONENTS WILL BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE TO ME. I BELIEVE THESE COMPONENTS MUST BE REPLACED NOTWITHSTANDING THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT MECHANIC'S OPINION. PLEASE ADVISE ON HOW TO PROCEED.

I ATTEMPTED TO SUBMIT MY VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT TOYOTA OF LONGVIEW, IN LONGVIEW, TEXAS, IN RESPONSE TO SAFETY RECALL NOTICE TITLED "CERTAIN 2008 THROUGH 2011 MODEL YEAR FJ CRUISER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TRD ACCESSORY WHEELS AND TOYOTA-RECOMMENDED LIGHT TRUCK TIRES." I REQUESTED THE TPMS ECU BE REPLACED, THE COLD TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE BE REVISED AND A NEW TIRE/LOADING LABEL INSTALLED. TOYOTA OF LONGVIEW REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECOMMENDED WORK UNLESS I PAID A $99.00 DIAGNOSTIC FEE. THE RECALL NOTICE STATED THESE COMPONENTS WILL BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE TO ME. I BELIEVE THESE COMPONENTS MUST BE REPLACED NOTWITHSTANDING THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT MECHANIC'S OPINION. PLEASE ADVISE ON HOW TO PROCEED.

2008 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER HAS CRACKS ON THE INNER FENDER WELLS. I AM A MEMBER OF AN ONLINE COMMUNITY AND IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED THAT IN MANY FJS CRACKS DEVELOP ON THE INNER FENDER WELLS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE FOOT REST ON THE DRIVER SIDE CAME LOOSE AND GOT STUCK UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT PREVENTED ME FROM BEING ABLE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE AND I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN ENOUGH TO REACH DOWN AND CLEAR THE BRAKE SO I COULD STOP. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT I MADE A LANE CHANGE WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT WHEN IT TURNED YELLOW. I APPLIED THE BRAKES SLIGHTLY HARDER THAN NORMAL AT WHICH POINT THE CAR TOOK OVER AND APPLIED 100% BRAKING FORCE. THE CAR SLAMMED TO A STOP AND BOTH THE PASSENGER AND I WERE WHIPPED FORWARD AND WERE LUCK TO HAVE NOT BEEN REAR ENDED. I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH ALL THE SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS CONTROLLERS. *TR

I HAVE IMPACTED MORE THAN THREE VEHICLES BEHIND THE ABOVE MENTIONED VEHICLE BECAUSE THE BACK PART IS TOO HIGH AND IT AFFECTS VISIBILITY TO LOWER CARS. THIS CAR DOES NOT HAVE ANY REVERSE CAMERA OR SENSOR. *TR

THROWOUT BEARING FAILING, THREATENS TO LEAVE VEHICLE STRANDED OR CAUSE TRANSMISSION TO LOCK UP CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT APPLIED CONTINUOUS ABRUPT PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES UNTIL THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER YET THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE.

2008 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER, BUILD DATE:10/07. HAVE HAD UNNERVING EXPERIENCES WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON MY FJ.(1) WHEN BRAKING OVER A NON SMOOTH ROAD THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATES FOR A LONG PERIOD AND DOES NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. (2) HAD TO PANIC STOP AND HIT THE BRAKES HARD, THEY LOCKED UP, THERE WAS NO BRAKING JUST THE ABS TOOK OVER AND LOCKED UP THE BRAKES HARD TO THE POINT THAT I WAS GLAD I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT, BECAUSE I WOULD'VE BEEN LYING IN THE STREET.(3) THE PEDAL WILL BE HARD ONE TIME AND MUSHY THE NEXT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. WHEN THE PEDAL IS MUSHY THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK APPROPRIATELY, NEARLY REAR ENDING PEOPLE OR LOCKING UP THE BRAKES TO STOP. (4) WHEN AT A STOP THE PEDAL WAS MUSHY AND I TRIED TO "PUMP"UP THE PEDAL BY PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON (RELATED TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM) THE DASH AND AN ANNOYING ALARM SOUNDED, HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES NOW. (5) WHEN THE PEDAL IS MUSHY I CAN PUSH IT DOWN ALL THE WAY TO THE STOPPING POINT/FLOOR WITH NO RESISTANCE. CALLED THE DEALER THEY SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HAD ANY "ISSUES". *TR

WHEN BRAKING SUDDENLY OVER UNEVEN ROAD THE TOYOTA FJ FAILS TO STOP IN A SAFE AND CONSTANT MANNER. *TR

I OWN A 2008 FJ CRUISER AND HAVE HAD BRAKE ISSUES. AS I APPROACH A STOP LIGHT AND TRY TO STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES SOFT AND NOTHING HAPPENS. I PUMP THE BRAKES 3-4 TIMES BEFORE THE BRAKES SUDDENLY ENGAGE AND STOP ABRUPTLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES SINCE DECEMBER 2009 AND MY DEALER TELLS ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. THIS SCARES THE [XXX] OUT OF ME AND I ALMOST ENDED UP IN THE BACK SEAT OF A BENZ THIS LAST TIME. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH AN UNKNOWN OBJECT STRUCK THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THERE WERE NO MARKINGS OF WHERE THE OBJECT STRUCK. A CRACK BEGAN TO FORM IN THE WINDSHIELD SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WAS EXTREMELY BRITTLE AND THE DESIGN OF THE WINDSHIELD WAS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A ROAD HAZARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 22,000.

I HAVE A 2008 FJ CRUISER MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SINCE I'VE OWNED THE TRUCK. ON MAY 10TH, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 70-80 MPH. THE TRUCK TO THE RIGHT OF ME SEEMED LIKE HE WANTED TO CHANGE LANES IN TO MY LANE. I HIT THE BREAKS TO LET HIM IN BUT THE BRAKING POWER BEING APPLIED TO THE ROTORS WAS A LOT HARDER THEN WHAT I NEEDED. IN OTHER WORDS, IT SEEMED LIKE THE COMPUTER THOUGHT MY BRAKE PEDAL WAS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR WHEN IN REALITY, I JUST NEEDED A QUICK BRAKE. ANYWAY, THE WHEELS LOCKED UP TO AND RELEASED. IT SCARED ME HOW HARD THE TRUCK STOPPED-- ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BEHIND ME. THE BRAKES THEN RELEASED AND I KEPT GOING, BUT COULD SMELL THE BURNT RUBBER FOR ANOTHER MILE. THIS WAS A CEMENT HIGHWAY ROAD THAT MAY HAVE HAD SOME CRACKS IN IT BUT I DON'T REMEMBER IF BEING PARTICULARLY UNEVEN. JUST SEEMED LIKE THE COMPUTER MISUNDERSTOOD HOW MUCH ACTUAL PRESSURE I APPLIED TO THE PEDAL AND OVER BRAKED. THE FIRST TIME THIS EVER HAPPENED WAS PROBABLY A YEAR AGO WHEN I WAS GOING AROUND 20MPH. AGAIN, DON'T REMEMBER THE CONDITION OF THE ROAD BEING OVERLY TERRIBLE. *TR

MY TOYOTA FJ CRUISER HAS AN ISSUE INVOLVING THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. IF I HIT A BUMP WHILE DECELERATING, THE ABS PULSES IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP SAFELY AT MY ORIGINAL PLANNED STOPPING POINT. IF, FOR EXAMPLE, I AM DECELERATING AND PLAN ON STOPPING WITHIN 100 YARDS AT A STOP SIGN, AND I HIT A POT HOLE, THE ABS WILL PULSE (ENGAGE BRAKES BRIEFLY, DISENGAGE THEM, THEN ENGAGE AGAIN REPEATEDLY) IN SUCH A FASHION THAT I WILL STOP SEVERAL YARDS BEYOND THE STOP SIGN. THE PULSE PATTERN OF THE ABS ON THE FJ CRUISER IS DANGEROUSLY LONG, AND HAS CAUSED SEVERAL NEAR MISSES ON MY PART IN A VARIETY OF SITUATIONS (MISSING STOP SIGNS / LIGHTS, ALMOST REAR-ENDING SOMEONE DUE TO HITTING A BUMP/ENGAGING ABS WHILE STOPPING,ETC.) *TR

2008 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. WHEN COMING TO STOP GOING DOWN A HILL, WENT OVER A POT HOLE WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AND STARTED TO JERK FORWARD. THE BRAKE PEDAL HIT THE FLOOR HAD TO RELEASE FOOT SO THAT THE PEDAL WILL COME UP VEHICLE ALMOST WENT THROUGH INTERSECTION. NO BRAKES POWER FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. DEALER STATES THAT NOTHING IS WRONG, TYPICAL BEHAVIOR FOR THIS VEHICLE. *TR

I PURCHASED NEW A 2008 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER 2 WHEEL DRIVE WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SINCE OWNERSHIP FROM MARCH 2009 TO DATE, I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A LURCHING FORWARD OF THE VEHICLE WHILE THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND AT A FULL STOP. THIS LURCHING FORWARD OCCURS WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON AND AT THE TIME THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER CLUTCH ENGAGES. MOST OF THE TIME, WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER CLUTCH ENGAGES, THE ENGINE RPM ONLY INCREASES ABOUT 100 RPM, BUT FREQUENTLY, WHEN THE A/C CLUTCH ENGAGES THE ENGINE RPM INCREASES 300 TO 400 RPM WITH NORMAL BRAKE PRESSURE WHILE STOPPED, 100 RPM ENGINE INCREASES CAUSE NO PROBLEM, BUT WITH 300 TO 400 RPM ENGINE INCREASES, NORMAL BRAKE PRESSURES WHILE STOPPED ARE NOT ADEQUATE AND THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE BILL PENNY TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT (HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA) ON 02/23/2010 AND THE SERVICE REPORT STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE MY OWNERSHIP BEGAN. *TR

I DRIVE A 2008 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THIS EVENING WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT A BUSY INTERSECTION, I HIT A SMALL BUT HARD BUMP IN THE ROAD AND COMPLETELY LOST MY BRAKES MOMENTARILY. ABOUT A SECOND LATER THE BRAKING WAS RESTORED, BUT NOT BEFORE I WENT THROUGH THE STOP AND ENTERED A BUSY FOUR LANE HIGHWAY NARROWLY ESCAPING A CRASH AS AN ON-COMING CAR SWERVED. THIS BRAKE PROBLEM SOUNDS EERILY SIMILAR TO THE ALREADY RECALLED PRIUS, AND SINCE TOYOTA HAS NOT BEEN VERY PROACTIVE IN ITS RECALLS I BELIEVE THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM ON YET ANOTHER VEHICLE MODEL. WHAT SHOULD I DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM? *TR

MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY WHILE TRAVELING OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE, POTHOLE OR BUMP. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS. COMPLAINED TO DEALER LAST SEPTEMBER. THEY LOOKED AT VEHICLE AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. I CAN DUPLICATE THE ISSUE ON OUR ROAD WHICH IS UNEVEN AND HAS BUMPS. HAPPENED THIS MORNING AS I CAME TO WORK. SUV SPEEDS UP WHILE PRESSING BRAKE OVER BUMPS THEN BRAKES CATCH AND IT IF WERE NOT FOR A SEAT BELT I WOULD GO THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD! *TR

2008 FJ CRUISER FOOTREST ON LEFT SIDE OF DRIVER FLOORBOARD BROKE LOOSE AND CAN INTERFERE WITH SAFE OPERATION OF OTHER DRIVER'S PEDALS. FAILURE OCCURRED AT 30,600 MILES. DANGER AVOIDED BY IMMEDIATELY PULLING OVER TO SAFE AREA AND REMOVING BROKEN FOOTREST FROM DRIVER'S AREA. DEALER CALLED IMMEDIATELY AND REPLACEMENT TO FOLLOW. PHOTOS OF THIS ARE AVAILABLE. *TR

WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 30MPH, WENT TO APPLY BRAKES, ABS KICKED IN AND LOST MOST IF NOT ALL BRAKING ABILITY RESULTING IN ROLLING THE STOP AND ENDING UP IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY 4 LANE DIVIDED ROAD. THE SECTION OF THE STREET APPROACHING THE STOP SIGN HAS QUITE A FEW FILLED POT HOLES AND IS BUMPY. THIS IS PROBABLY THE 4TH OR 5TH TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED AT THE SAME INTERSECTION OR IN SIMILAR ROAD/DRIVING CONDITIONS. *TR

WHEN ROLLING TO A STOP SIGN MY 2008 FJ CRUISER RAN OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT AND THE BRAKES WENT HAYWIRE. I ALMOST RAN THE STOP SIGN WITH NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. *TR

ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES GO TO 100% FORCE WHEN APPLYING MINIMAL FORCE TO THE PEDAL. THIS BEHAVIOR HAS OCCURRED AT STREET SPEEDS OF 35-40 AND WHEN COMING OFF OF A FREEWAY. THE FORCE IS STRONG ENOUGH THAT EVERYONE IN THE CAR IS LAUNCHED FORWARD TO THE POINT THAT THE SEATBELT LOCK ENGAGES. I HAVE TRIED REMOVING MY FOOT FROM THE PEDAL AND REAPPLYING PRESSURE BUT THE BRAKES IMMEDIATELY ENGAGE AT 100%. ONLY AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS COME TO A COMPLETE STOP DO THE BRAKES BEGIN TO WORK NORMALLY AGAIN. *TR

BRAKE ISSUE: UNRESPONSIVE AT FIRST... THE PEDAL STUTTERS A BIT AND DOESN'T SEEM TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE. THEN I RELEASE AND RE-APPLY AND THEN IT BECOME OVER-RESPONSIVE. THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED TO ME APPROXIMATELY 3 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED IN 12/2008. ALL INCIDENTS OCCURRED AS I WAS COMING TO A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. WHEN THE CONTACT WOULD DRIVE THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE RPMS WOULD RISE REGARDLESS IF HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE PEDAL WOULD OCCASIONALLY STICK TO THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE.THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING PROPERLY AND THAT THE HIGH ENGINE IDLE WAS DUE TO THE VEHICLE BURNING OFF IGNITION FUMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN SERVICED AT THE TIIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4563, AND THE CURRNT MILEAGE IS 4867.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND TRYING TO AVOID CRASHING INTO SOME HORSES, THE VEHICLE SLID OFF OF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. A ROD ENGINE FAILED AND CAUSED THE CRASH TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP BUT THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,600. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000.

BRAKES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN THE CAR HITS ANY KIND OF ROUGH PATCH IN THE ROAD WHILE BRAKES ARE BEING APPLIED. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION BECAUSE IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP THE CAR WHEN THIS OCCURS. OCCURS REPEATEDLY AND NOT LIMITED TO AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND DEALER WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ISSUE INSTEAD CLAIMING THAT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WORK. THIS IS AN ABSURD EXCUSE. *TR

2008 TOYOTA FJ HAVE EXPERIENCE MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY WHILE TRAVELING OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE, POTHOLE OR BUMP SIMILAR AS TO WHAT HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH PRIUS. VEHICLE CONTINUES FORWARD WITHOUT SLOWING DOWN EVEN THOUGH BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED AFTER HITTING A POTHOLE. RELEASE AND REAPPLICATION OF BRAKES OFTEN RESULTS IN EMERGENCY HARD BRAKING. NO ACCIDENT OCCURED BUT VEHICLE TRAVELED WELL INTO INTERCHANGE.

DRIVERS SIDE INNER FENDER CRUMPLE ZONE HAS BULGES PROTRUDING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR

2008 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER, INNER FENDER APRON BULGES IN CRUMPLE ZONE'S. THIS VEHICLE IS USED AS A DAILY DRIVER AND HAS BEEN OFF ROAD FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 OF THE 19744 MILES THAT ARE CURRENTLY ON IT. MY VEHICLE IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND NOT ABUSED. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FJ CRUISER MODEL, SO MUCH AS TOYOTA HAS REDESIGNED THIS PART OF THE BODY STRUCTURE 3 TIMES. I FEEL STRONGLY THAT THIS DEFECT WILL ENDANGER THE SAFETY OF MY SELF AND CHILDREN SHOULD I BE INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. PLEAS DO YOUR DO DILIGENCE AND INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE. TOYOTA GENERALLY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND WILL BLAME IT ON ABUSE OR MISUSE. *TR

I HAVE REPEATEDLY COMPLAINED ABOUT THE ACCELERATOR HESITATION IN MY 2008 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED IT, BRAND NEW. I KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH HERS. SHE COMPLAINED TO PAULEY TOYOTA, FT. SMITH, ARKANSAS I COMPLAINED TO FAYETTEVILLE AUTO PARK TOYOTA IN FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS. BOTH DEALERS SOLUTION WAS TO RESET COMPUTER. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A CHRONIC ISSUE WITH NO PERMANENT SOLUTION. THE DANGER LIES ESPECIALLY WHEN MERGING ONTO HIGHWAYS, THE HESITATION SLOWS THE VEHICLE DOWN AND ENGINE REVS. PLEASE HELP. THERE IS NO SPECIFIC INCIDENT DATE SO I WILL CHOOSE AN ARBITRARY DATE IN ORDER TO SUBMIT *TW

2008 FJ CRUISER, 4800 MILES, MANUAL TRANS, NO MODIFICATIONS, PASSENGER SIDE FENDER INNER IS COLLAPSING (CRACKS IN THE STEEL FENDER INNER AND GROSS DEFORMATION OF THE SHEET METAL) WITHIN THE ENGINE BAY IN AREA OF CRUMPLE ZONE CREASES/GUSSETS. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE CRASH WORTHINESS OF THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DECREASED. ADDITIONALLY THERE IS A MAJOR HOOD ALIGNMENT ISSUE . HOOD ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS CAN BE DIRECTLY RELATED TO HOOD LATCH FAILURES WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY TO BOTH THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT AS WELL AS POSE A HAZARD TO OTHERS ON THE ROAD. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FENDER CRACK OR HOOD ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS AND PROVIDE A COUNTERMEASURE/REPAIR AND CLAIMS THAT THEY HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY SEEN THESE FAILURES. *TR