This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
My vehicles frame/ suspension has deteriorated to the point the Toyota dealer wont pass it for safety inspection. The frame and suspension have disintegrated. This truck has been garage kept since new and is in otherwise perfect condition.
I am the original owner of the vehicle with excessive frame rust occurring within 4 years of owning the vehicle. The rust is so excessive that the Toyota deemed the car too damaged to drive because a majority of the frame was too week and, therefore unsafe to drive
I purchased the car from an individual on Dec. 12, 2020. Less than 30 days ago. I brought it to the body shop to see if they could fix the rattling sound that came from when I hit a bump. The cars body is in great condition. The mileage when I bought the car was 183,800. I assumed I may need to do some work on the car, but the body shop told me that the sound I was hearing was different parts of the undercarriage that had rusted so badly that they where close to falling off. Including the gas tank. They told me that Fj cruisers where known for rusty under bottoms and that I would be a safety risk to myself and others if I drove the car. They also said the car was beyond normal repair. I will attached photos they sent me. I have driven the car 1,500 miles and it is considered undrivable and unfixable. I got a second opinion. Without knowing the results of the first opinion they came to the exact same conclusion. Except they told me to reach out to you.
Severe suspension bracket rust on multiple rear and front components. I luckily was able to avoid an accident when braking but my entire car swayed when the rear lateral support bar bracket broke right off the mount that is welded to the rear due to rust. I then inspected and found multiple rust areas on frame and other suspension brackets. Making this vehicle unsafe to drive. I am aware of Toyota's ongoing dilemma with using this horrible untreated steel and hope the NHTSA addresses this issue. This is not normal corrosion this is an absolute neglect in safety by not having this steel treated on such critical components of a vehicles frame. Had this incident happen on the highway at speeds of 55 mph or greater. Serious injury and/or death can occur. If I am not the only consumer having this issue on Toyota fj crusier vehicles. I hope the NHTSA enforces a recal on these frames and/or critical suspension components. My vehicle is 16 years old, I purchased it from a dealer whom recieved it from the original owner with 57,000 miles on it. Now currently after 4 years of owning this Fj cruiser I only have 71,000 miles on it. Had this bracket caught onto my brake lines which is located directly below this rear bracket I would have lost all ability to stop my vehicle.
My son was driving home from school when he heard a rattle/bang when he took a corner or went over a bump. He told me about the noise as soon as he got home. We took the fj out for a drive and I heard the noise coming from the driver's side. Upon inspecting the exterior drivers side I found that the left side, rear trailing arm mounting point and a section of the fj's frame, had torn away from the frame. The trailing arms was not floating, unattached. We are very luck that the trailing did not drop while my son was driving home, as it would have been driven into the pavement, possibly causing a catastrophic accident. I have called Toyota corporate, who can provide not solution on how to repair this issue. Again, I am lucky my son was on secondary roads and not the highway and the trailing arm fell to the pavement.
- Peabody, MA, USA
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Severe rust issues. Entire rear differential required replacement. All power steering and automatic transmission lines needed replacement, fuel lines are next fuel tank straps rusted and broke off, tank fell down. Brake pad pins required cutting off. Protection plates rusted off. Exhaust system components required replacement due to rust. Entire frame and engine compartment covered in rust. All these items have caused multiple safety issues. Multiple straps and connections for various components are no longer usable due to rust.
My 2007 Fj cruiser has major problems with rust. This includes being informed today that the frame has holes that have rusted through and the vehicle would not pass inspection. I have already put a lot of money into the vehicle replacing rusted parts including replacing the fuel tank straps last year, parts of the suspension and radiator. This seems excessive damage due to rust and creates an unsafe Toyota product.
I am the third owner of a 2007 Toyota Fj cruiser, this vehicle has major rust overtaking the frame and all suspension parts and mounts, even the inside of the frame is rusting out. This seems to be a regular issue. I am very concerned I am going to have suspension parts break off while I'm driving, I have already had to replace the fuel tank straps that rusted in half while driving doen the highway.
Have owned the vehicle for over 4 years and rust on frame has gotten progressively worst. Vehicle has become unsafe to drive due to rear suspension likely to collapse due to holes in frame. Dangerous to drive and if vehicle where to be in an accident the whole structure could collapse. Very unhappy with Toyota experience.
Severe rust on critical suspension components despite frequen undercarriage washing and care. Control arms and tank straps will need to be replaced and mounts welded
I am one of the original purchasers of a 2007 Fj cruiser in August of 2006. I ordered my vehicle in July 2006. I received a scale model of my fj with seriel number below 500, which I was told indicated that I was one of the first 500 purchasers of the new model I had read on the newly established fjcruiserforums.com that the new frames where arriving with rust on the welds. When my vehicle arrived I pointed out rust on the frame just from shipping and told the dealer that I needed the frame undercoated. I also showed the dealer the Fj cruiser forum posts they complied. I have used this vehicle for work for many years. I have taken it in almost weekly for an undercarriage wash if I was using it weekly. Most all of my miles are highway. The rust has not abated. I have wire brushed the frame multiple times, sprayed it with rust preventive paint, squirted oil inside the frame. It still has not stopped the rust. Now I finally have a hole in the frame. It is not in a critical area but I cannot tell if there are areas that it may also be weak. Toyota has admitted to frame issue on the Tacoma and Toyota sequoia. Are they not addressing this because there are fewer of the fj's on the road? this frame should be replaced. It was defective when it was sold.
While driving around 45 mph the fj became loose and low in the rear. At the same time all the ABS and traction control light came on. While looking for the problem we found that the lateral traction bar mounts welded to the axle had rotted and collapsed severing the ABS wire. The upper part of the axle was no longer connected to the vehicle. Toyota does not offer a replacement part other than a complete axle.
2007 Toyota Fj cruiser frame rotting from inside and out. Rear upper control arm mounts rusting looking like its about to break off. Unsafe to drive. 13 year old frame should not be anywhere near this condition.
My vehicle is getting pretty rusty, even with proper maintenance and cleaning. The frame and suspension components pretty soon are going to become unsafe. I'm not going to be able to drive the truck anymore, the value is still pretty high, it just have 118.000 miles.
Frame and suspension components are very rusty to the point of a safety concern. I replaced the rear bumper with an aftermarket one to discover the rear bumper support was so rusted it wouldn't be of any help in the event of being rear ended by another car. Also, the rear bumper comes stock with 2 sensors so when backing up will let you know when you get close to something. Both sensors were non-transferable to the new bumper because they were so rusted on the inside when you tried to remove them they crumbled into bits, a combination of metal and plastic. The rust worked its way up the wires as well. Numerous brackets underneath the truck which hold what appears to be electrical components the vehicle would need to operate. If one of these components broke and needed to be replaced I would need to buy new brackets along with the new component - new screws would also be required along side a holy prayer that the old screws don't snap off while attempting to remove them. By the time I was done paying off my vehicle and having more free income to put towards other priorities I was consistently delayed with repaires the vehicle needed to keep functioning. I had to pay for new transmission lines because the ones on there were so rusted, in a lump sum I was not prepared for. Power steering lines were replaced once and the power steering still has an issue holding fluid. I am going to chose today's date as the date this occurred because now I am at my wit's end with the rust. I took my truck to have the A/C recharged to be told its going to be about $2000 to replace all the lines and the condenser that is rusted plus labor. While on the lift the mechanic told me to come take a look underneath my truck and he showed me how extensive the rust has become and that I might need to have some work done about the rust first before he can fix the A/C.
Quoting Toyota exactly, ' tech inspected found frame rotting away were left rear body mount meets frame, customer was advised to speak to Toyota North America customer service.'
The rust on the frame is mind blowing. Rust holes in frame and gas tank straps, and suspension parts. This is dangers and someone can be injured or dead.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- West Chester, PA, USA