2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser problems and recalls

Owners have filed 40 complaints on the 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser, and NHTSA has issued 5 recalls. The most cited component is the Structure (11 complaints).

40
Complaints
5
Recalls
0
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
0
Injuries
47.8
Severity index

Severity index 47.8 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 47.8p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 104 of 130 by severity index among 2012 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 20% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2012 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

StructureStructure: 11 complaints (27.5%)11 28%SteeringSteering: 9 complaints (22.5%)9 22%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 8 complaints (20.0%)8 20%Seat BeltsSeat Belts: 5 complaints (12.5%)5 12%SuspensionSuspension: 5 complaints (12.5%)5 12%WheelsWheels: 3 complaints (7.5%)3 8%SeatsSeats: 2 complaints (5.0%)2 5%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 1 complaints (2.5%)1 2%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
STRUCTURE1127.5%
STEERING922.5%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER820.0%
SEAT BELTS512.5%
SUSPENSION512.5%
WHEELS37.5%
SEATS25.0%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM12.5%

Complaints filed per year

0472011: 12012: 42013: 72014: 32015: 12017: 22018: 22019: 22020: 42021: 42022: 42023: 22024: 22025: 12026: 1 (partial year)1112137141517181920212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20111
20124
20137
20143
20151
20172
20182
20192
20204
20214
20224
20232
20242
20251
2026 (year to date)1
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.4x those in 2020 to 2022 (5 against 12).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
14V47500004/08/2014EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELSToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2014 FJ Cruiser and Tacoma vehicles equipped with accessory wheels and tires installed by Toyota or dealers prior to the vehicle's first sale. The affected vehicles may list incorrect spare ti
13V16300025/04/2013EXTERIOR LIGHTINGToyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2007-2013 FJ Cruiser vehicles manufactured January 25, 2006 through February 23, 2013 and equipped with a Toyota Auxiliary Driving Lamp Kits mounted to the front bumper. These lamp assemblies include 55 watt bulbs
13V09800015/03/2013SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGEToyota is recalling certain model year 2007 through 2013 FJ Cruiser passenger vehicles. The retractors for the front driver and passenger seat belts are mounted in the access door (rear door) panels of the vehicle. Due to insufficient strength of the access door panel, cracks m
12E04600017/10/2012EQUIPMENTToyota is recalling certain Toyota Racing Development (TRD) brake kits, P/N PTR09-35070, and TRD High-Performance brake kits, P/N PTR09-35100, installed by Toyota vehicle processing centers and sold by Toyota dealers as an optional accessory for model year 2007 through 2012 Toyot
13V12300009/04/2013EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELSSoutheast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota L

Other Toyota FJ Cruiser model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 3 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-14. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.