I own a 2007 FJ Cruiser with very low mileage (below 80,000). It has a terrible carriage rust problem. I thought I'd had it remediated, finally, after endlessly searching for someone to address it. Dry ice treatment and undercoating were applied recently. I replaced the wheels and tires, as well. All seemed well and it passed inspection. But, then the power steering started stiffening. So I had that attended to. The mechanic then told me the rack and pinion and a plethora of other issues were happening due to rust and corrosion - at an additional $$$$$$ cost. So far, this summer, I have spent close to $5,000 to resurrect this vehicle. I can't afford to invest anymore or justify doing so. I am looking to sell. But first I am investigating the FJ class-action against Toyota.
I understand this class-action was denied in part last year in California. I plan to check any legal status that might still exist. My hope is that Toyota will acknowledge the problem with the FJs, recall and FIX the problem or at least reimburse me all my repair/remediation expenses. I know they won't do anything unless there is a lot of pressure and outcry to do so.
Although, my FJ spent the first 16 years of its life in NJ (which many claim is the cause and of course is plausible - I don't disagree but not to this degree), it was not driven that much, garaged and well cared for. I did not really notice the rust issue until January 2021 when I took it to the local Toyota dealership. I think I was taking it there for an oil change. They were surprised that I'd driven it there because the brakes were so bad. I had it towed home and spent the next many months searching for someone to fix it. No one wanted to touch it until this summer 2023.
The gentleman who dry iced and coated informed me about the lawsuit. I never received any kind of notice (thus far) from Toyota about any recall. So now I am garnering information and investigating the best I can and am starting with your site.
My FJ looks brand new (except for a dent on passenger side door, which I intended to have fixed till now). The inside is pristine. I just personally detailed the entire vehicle. The new rims/hub-caps are really nice, as the old ones were pealing and pitted. Would be nice if Toyota fessed up because there is surely something rotten happening.
Toyota knew they had a problem with the steel on these frames but will not accept responsibility or liability. My FJ is not able to be driven safely any longer due to the amount of rust on the frame and gas tank straps.
The frame is completely rusted out. The car is not driveable and dangerous. I purchased the undercoating at great expense as well, didn't matter. Apparently Toyota has had this problem with other models. The car is worthless.
Just found out from my mechanic that the rear frame on my 2007 FJ Cruiser is rusted through and is the cause of my complaint about banging noise coming from the rear when turning. I'm not sure what action I can take since I just received the report today. I've searched for solutions and found a class action suit against Toyota that was dismissed late last year (2022). Now my challenge is look for a reputable place in SE Mass/RI that can repair the frame or buy another vehicle even though I really like the FJ. I'll edit this with pictures when I get them from my mechanic.
I was surprised to hear from my mechanic that the frame was very rusty back in approx. 2013. I thought nothing of it until I started watching FJ Cruiser videos on YouTube and came across videos regarding rusty frames. Recently I took my truck in for rear shocks and was called by the manager. He told me that he wanted to show me something. It was the rust whole in the frame. I was keeping up with the FJ Cruiser rusty frame class action lawsuit and was disappointed to see that the judge dismissed the case. I'm going to research having it fixed because I love this truck. Hopefully the case will be re filed and there will be a resolution to this issue. One would agree that if you look at Toyotas’ rust complaint history, you can see that this is nothing new to them and have not fixed the problem. Why not include the fj cruiser when they recalled their other trucks, Sequoias, Tacoma's, etc..
- Roberto R.,
Allegany, NY, US
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I took vehicle to have brakes and tires checked since while driving the brakes went on me. Toyota dealership stated the vehicle was dangerous due to the frame corrosion. I contacted the BBB but they had nothing to do with recalls on the FJ Cruiser frame and I am still paying on the vehicle as well. Also the brake line had to be redone due to the way they were installed, causing the brake line to break.
All vsc, vsb, and dash lights are constantly on and won't go off, as well as when the truck hits 50 miles an hour, steering is hard to control and shakes uncontrollably. If anyone can help me, please let me know I have two more years of payments. Thank you.
Toyota has known since the beginning there was a rust problem on ALL FJ Cruisers, as it's the same frame as all of the Tacoma's they recalled and fixed. Time to fix this NOW!!!
This problem was first noticed in 2015. I have now been told by the dealership that it needs patching and that it's going to cost me $1,500 to patch two holes. I just had a second opinion and they showed me where there are 5-6 big openings in the frame, between the sizes of a quarter to some 2 inches in diameter. This has gone on long enough. The FJ Cruiser is an amazing truck and has outperformed many vehicles in its class, there is no reason why Toyota shouldn't step up to the plate and replace the frames on these trucks. They should want to stand behind this vehicle, other than the frame issue we have been very happy with its performance.
The entire frame, body mounts, suspension mounts and all parts attached to the frame have either fallen off or are going to fail. First the skid plates and exhaust shields rotted off in 2013. Then the frame really went downhill from there. Last year in May 2021, the inspection station told me not to being it back because it will not pass. There are sections of the frame missing. Cannot use the hitch because the rear section is ready to fall off. I expected more from Toyota. I've owned 4 4Runners, 2 Tundras and this 2007 FJ. I'm done with Toyota.
The frame and suspension have catastrophically failed. The vehicle is unsafe to drive. Rust treatment was applied every year, the vehicle saw only weekend use and almost no winter driving. I reached out to Toyota May 9th, 2019. They refused to help. I attempt to find assistance through a local Toyota dealer. Toyota still refused to help.
I have been forced to abandon a vehicle with 72K miles and, beside the frame failure, is in perfect condition. I was forced to buy another vehicle after a few months. This has place been a significant hardship on my family. Still to date Toyotas refuses to assist, meanwhile the Tacoma Frames that “might†have a non-visible frame defect are being replaced.
Current FJ owners need compensation from Toyota. On the one hand, restoration is expensive. It takes a lot to fix a bad frame, especially one that is nearly gone. On the other hand, there is a serious safety concern here. A high impact collision is much less survivable without a solid frame in vehicles of this type.
Rear cross member completely failed due to excessive rust. The remainder of the vehicle has excessive rust and corrosion that is not present in my other Toyota of the same year and driving condition(s). The failure of the cross member makes it impossible to tow ANYTHING and this is the vehicle that I used to tow a cart for business purposes.
When is the wealthy Toyota Corporation going to recall chassis for FJ Cruiser owners? Does anyone know if there is a class action lawsuit started? The tow truck driver wouldn't even tow my FJ. The same chassis that is on the other recalled Toyotas. SO LAME - SO MUCH MONEY!
Update from Jan 12, 2023: Wow can't belive a liberal judge in California sided with Toyota. Time to consider what to do with my completely rotted/rusted 07 FJ!
Update from Jan 21, 2023: Class action lawsuit dismissed for now?? Hmmm held in a court in California where the Toyota USA Headquarters is. How much did Toyota pay to some liberal judges to get this lawsuit dismissed? Meanwhile FJ owners like myself have a completely rotted chassis and in my case a $32k bought in 2007 just going to the boneyard!!!
This FJ only has 133K miles, the frame is disintegrating. This week the rear trailing arm mounting point tore away from the frame while my son was driving. There is no good metal to weld it back in.
This summer the trailer hitch tore away from the rear structural support.
We have kept the FJ in good condition, treating the frame with rust inhibitors with no success.
The way these FJ frames are rusting out is a safety issue.
Absolutely not acceptable for a 13 year old vehicle, especially from a respected manufacturer like Toyota, to have the frame rust through, to the point of being a major safety hazard if driven.
Just discovered that Toyota is ignoring issues with FJ Cruisers' severe premature frame rust issues after discovering this weekend that I could poke my finger through my side frame! I wanted Toyota to issue a recall and make it right for the FJ Cruiser owners. (Like I also discovered after doing more research this weekend that they replaced Tacoma, Tundra and Sequoia frames for the SAME issues.)
I bought this vehicle used with significant rusting of the frame and underbody components. I thought that it may be treatable having done a lot of research on how to restore/save the frame. I paid a client to use their body shop and help to descale all of the frame and components using wire wheels and other brushes. We coated everything with Chassis Saver, and used Eastwood Internal Frame treatment on all of the inner frame structure. I then used a second coat of Chassis Saver over every piece I could. One year later, all of the rust is breaking back through. I have not driven the vehicle in inclement weather conditions- snow, salt, brine, etc. Many of the small parts are rusting to where I may be able to break them off by hand. I am concerned about the tank strap and many thinner brackets, such as the control arm mounts, as they are thinner metal and may be subject to failure. Should this happen at high speeds, there may be a serious accident that may occur.
Frame rust is really bad. Factory should have used better metal for brackets and prepped for anti-corrosion. Multiple parts will need to be placed and lots of work to eliminate the cancer that is rust.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I own a 2007 FJ Cruiser with very low mileage (below 80,000). It has a terrible carriage rust problem. I thought I'd had it remediated, finally, after endlessly searching for someone to address it. Dry ice treatment and undercoating were applied recently. I replaced the wheels and tires, as well. All seemed well and it passed inspection. But, then the power steering started stiffening. So I had that attended to. The mechanic then told me the rack and pinion and a plethora of other issues were happening due to rust and corrosion - at an additional $$$$$$ cost. So far, this summer, I have spent close to $5,000 to resurrect this vehicle. I can't afford to invest anymore or justify doing so. I am looking to sell. But first I am investigating the FJ class-action against Toyota.
I understand this class-action was denied in part last year in California. I plan to check any legal status that might still exist. My hope is that Toyota will acknowledge the problem with the FJs, recall and FIX the problem or at least reimburse me all my repair/remediation expenses. I know they won't do anything unless there is a lot of pressure and outcry to do so.
Although, my FJ spent the first 16 years of its life in NJ (which many claim is the cause and of course is plausible - I don't disagree but not to this degree), it was not driven that much, garaged and well cared for. I did not really notice the rust issue until January 2021 when I took it to the local Toyota dealership. I think I was taking it there for an oil change. They were surprised that I'd driven it there because the brakes were so bad. I had it towed home and spent the next many months searching for someone to fix it. No one wanted to touch it until this summer 2023.
The gentleman who dry iced and coated informed me about the lawsuit. I never received any kind of notice (thus far) from Toyota about any recall. So now I am garnering information and investigating the best I can and am starting with your site.
My FJ looks brand new (except for a dent on passenger side door, which I intended to have fixed till now). The inside is pristine. I just personally detailed the entire vehicle. The new rims/hub-caps are really nice, as the old ones were pealing and pitted. Would be nice if Toyota fessed up because there is surely something rotten happening.
- Crystal D., Wilmington, US