There are 32 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiserin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Premature frame rust
The frame of my Truck has started to rust out as to many FJ Cruisers. It's been a known issue that these frame have this problem along with the Toyota Tacoma and Toyota Tundra. Which Toyota have a recall on those two models but they've yet to recognize the Toyota FJ Cruiser for the same issue. If this issue isn't resolved, it can result in weak points in the chassis making those area fail and cause an accident underload. I have had my shop look at it and said they can only treat the affected areas so much but the issue will keep coming back over time as rust does not go away unless its cut out. For the safety for myself, any FJ Owners as well as the roads we share with the public I hope that we get this issue corrected through the Manufacturer. Thank you
While inspecting a broken rear fuel tank strap, several holes were noticed in the frame of the vehicle. Excessive corrosion was present all along the welds on the frame and its crossmembers. There were spots where I could poke my finger through the frame. There was no warning that this corrosion was happening. I am the third owner of this FJ and it was inspected before I purchased it. The vehicle has not yet been taken to a dealership, police or an insurance company.
SEVERE RUST ON ALL PARTS OF THE FRAME 'UNDERCARRIAGE', BRAKE LINES, GAS TANK STRAPS. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED BY FJ OWNERS AND NOTHING DONE BY THE MANUFACTURER. TRUCK WAS NEVER DRIVEN THROUGH SALT WATER NOR IS IT STORED BY THE WATER FRONT. I AM FRIGHTENED THAT IN AN ACCIDENT THE WHOLE BODY OF THE TRUCK WILL JUST COME OFF THE FRAME.
EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FUEL TANK STRAPS AND VEHICLE FRAME. UNDERBODY OF THIS VEHICLE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO U.S CORROSION STANDARDS SINCE I'VE NOT SEEN ANY AMERICAN VEHICLES WITH THIS WIDESPREAD RUST ISSUE.
THE VEHICLE HAS A SEVERELY RUSTY FRAME. REST OF THE FJ BODY IS MINT WITH A TOTAL OF 80K MILES. THE REAR CROSS SECTION WHERE THE GEM HITCH BOLTS TO IS PARTICULARLY BAD AND HAS HOLE. THE HITCH ITSELF IS ALSO SITTING A LITTLE CROOKED WHICH I BELIEVE IS DUE TO THE POOR STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE CROSS BAR. TOWING IS OUT OF THE QUESTION AT THIS POINT BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I AM VERY WORRIED WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN AN EVENT I GET REAR ENDED.
WE BOUGHT OUR FJ CRUISER NEW IN 2008. I HAVE METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED (WITH SEVICE RECORDS FROM TOYOTA DEALERSHIP), AND I HA E ALWAYS KEPT IT METICULOUS INSIDE AND OUT. THE VEHICLE IS A 2008 WITH 100K MILES AND LOOKS BRAND NEW UP TOP... HOWEVER THE UNDERCARRIAGE IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STORY. NO MATTER HOW OFTEN I CLEANED THE FRAME, SUSPENSION, AND DRIVETRAIN I COULD NOT KEEP THE RUST AT BAY, NOW I'M EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT MY FAMILIES SAFETY. I'M WORRIED BRACKETS ARE ABOUT TO RUST OFF, AND BODY MOUNTS AND BOLTS ARE SHOWING SEVERE RUST, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A CARS UNDERCARRIAGE RUST SO QUICKLY AND COMPLETELY IN ALL MY LIFE. THIS NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED BEFORE PEOPLE START GETTING HURT WHILE DRIVING WITH THESE WITH THESE UNSAFE CHASSIS AND COMPONENTS. AND MY GAS TANK STRAPS ARE ROTTING FAST. I HAVE OWNED TOYOTA'S MY WHOLE LIFE. I CURRENTLY OWN 5 DIFFERENT LAND CRUISERS. WE LOVED OUR FJ AND BOUGHT IT BECAUSE WE THOUGHT IT WOULD LAST.
FRAME RUSTED WAY TOO EARLY IN ITS LIFE TIME
EXTENSIVE FRAME RUST, HEAVY RUST ON REAR CROSSMEMBER AND REAR AXLE, BODY MOUNTS
EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME AND UNDERCARRIAGE. NEEDED TO BE CLEANED AND TREATED.
GAS TANK SUPPORT STRAPS FAILED WHILE DRIVING. DEALER INSTALLED TEMPORARY NYLON RATCHET STRAPS UNTIL PARTS ARRIVED.
BOTH INNER FRONT FENDERS ARE CRACKED. I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS HAPPENED, THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY SORT OF ACCIDENT.
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.
EXTREME RUST AND CRACKING IN FRAME
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
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
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
DRIVERS SIDE INNER FENDER CRUMPLE ZONE HAS BULGES PROTRUDING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 32 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026