2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser: raw data

Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.

vehicle2012 / toyota / fj-cruiser
known issues4 clusters (reviewed 2026-09-10)
complaints40 on file (2011-11-28 → 2026-08-07)
recalls5
investigations0
fars6 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
indexedyes
licenseCC BY 4.0 (derived)

Known Issues clusters all years →

Frame and undercarriage rustSTRUCTURE13 complaints2019-12 → 2026-08fj-cruiser-2012-frame-undercarriage-rust
  • 11535465 Took vehicle to a machine shop to have frame undercoated. The machinist found that the frame had holes in it due to rust. He found that the tab gusset bracelet was cracked ( the part of the frame that holds the A-Arm in place). He said that the vehicle was not safe to drive and
  • 11420678 Too much frame rust on vehicle. Rust seems to be most prevalent around welds where cross members meet the frame. This frame is the same frame used for a number of other Toyota vehicles. In some places the rust is nearly bad enough for crucial body members to separate which would
  • 11301602 I AM ONE OF THE MANY WHO ARE EXPERIENCING RUST PROBLEMS WITH MY FJ. RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE ALL CALIPERS REPLACED DUE TO RUST. OIL PAN COVER AND COMPONENTS AROUND IT ARE STARTING TO SHOW SIGNIFICANT RUST. RUST IS IN THE EARLY STAGES IN SEVERAL AREAS OF THE FRAME BUT VERY EARLY
Steering wheel shimmy at highway speedSTEERING10 complaints2011-11 → 2018-06fj-cruiser-2012-steering-shimmy-highway-speed
  • 10499349 VEHICLE AFFECTED SINCE NEW. STEERING SHIMMY OCCURS AS VEHICLE APPROACHED 63 AND 68 MPH ON A VARIETY OF ROADWAYS. AT PEAK VIBRATION OR SHIMMY, THE STEERING WHEEL MOVES ROTATIONALLY ONE TO TWO INCHES. ATTEMPTS TO "HOLD" THE WHEEL STEADY ARE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE ENERGY INPUT TO THE
  • 10494685 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER
  • 10437470 VEHICLE SHIMMY BETWEEN 60MPH AND 70MPH. TIRE BALANCE AND ALIGNMENT WERE PERFORMED BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE NEW (4 MILES). *KB
Driver seat sinking while drivingSEATS2 complaints2013-07 → 2014-03fj-cruiser-2012-driver-seat-sinking
  • 10574293 THE DRIVERS SEAT SINKS/FALLS WHILE DRIVING. THE MALFUNCTION OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY BASED UPON DRIVERS WEIGHT, VEHICLE SPEED AND LOAD, DRIVING CONDITIONS AND ROAD CONDITIONS. AS THE SEAT FALLS, THE SEAT BELT TIGHTENS. THE SEAT FALLS AT AN ANGLE DOWN AND AWAY FROM THE STEERING
  • 10531505 THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF MY FJ CRUISER SINKS AND FALLS WHILE DRIVING. THE SEAT FALLS DOWNWARD AND TILTS BACK AND AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND FOOT CONTROLS CREATING A SERIOUS TRAFFIC HAZARD TO THE DRIVER, OCCUPANTS AND OTHER PERSONS. I HAVE WORKED WITH TWO TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS
Passenger seat belt retractor failureSEAT BELTS5 complaints2018-02 → 2023-10fj-cruiser-2012-seat-belt-retractor-failure
  • 11551078 The contact owns a 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware that the passenger’s side seat belt was inoperable. The seat belt was not able to stretch or lock into place. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle
  • 11398292 PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT AND LEAVES PASSENGER IN DANGER IN CASE OF COLLISION OR IMMEDIATE BRAKING. THIS IS A MANUFACTURER LIABILITY. SEAT BELT HANGS LOOSELY AND DOES NOT LOCK WHEN BRAKES ARE USED
  • 11189960 THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS MALFUNCTIONING. THERE WAS A RECALL OF 209,000 OF MY EXACT MAKE AND MODEL (YEARS 2007-2013) WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. TOYOTA CLAIMS MY VIN IS NOT ON THEIR LIST FOR RECALLS AND WANTS $416.18 TO FIX THE SEATBELT RETRACTOR. IT SEEMS

NHTSA complaints (summary) all years →

countearliest_datelatest_datecrash_flaggedfire_flaggedtop_components
402011-11-282026-08-0701STRUCTURE:11; STEERING:9; UNKNOWN OR OTHER:8; SEAT BELTS:5; SUSPENSION:5

Recalls all years →

campaign_numberreport_received_datecomponentsummaryconsequenceremedy
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 tire size and/or cold tire inflation information on the tire placard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."If the spare tire is inflated to the incorrect pressure provided on the placard, tire failure may occur while it is being driven on, increasing the risk of a crash.For the involved vehicles, overlay stickers to correct the tire placard will either be mailed to owners or provided to dealers for placement over the incorrect information on the placard. The recall is expected to begin in September 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
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 and due to this wattage and mounting angle, the combination of the upper beam headlamps plus the auxiliary lamps are too bright and exceed the maximum light output allowed for an upper beam headlamp. Therefore, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."Light intensities above the maximum allowable limit could cause increased glare for oncoming traffic and increase the risk of a crash.Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the 55 watt bulbs with 35 watt bulbs, free of charge. The recall began on June 6, 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
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 may develop in the panel if the access door is repeatedly and forcefully closed over an extended period of time.If cracks occur in the panel around the lower retractor anchor, the seat belt retractor could become detached, which could increase the risk of injury to an occupant in the event of a crash.The safety recall began on June 6, 2013. Toyota will mail an interim letter to owners late in April 2013. Remedy notifications to the owners for the repair will begin in late May 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
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 Toyota FJ Cruiser vehicles. The subject TRD brake kit is specifically designed for the front wheels of 2007-2012 model year FJ Cruiser vehicles. Due to the shape of the outer brake tube of the brake kit, the clearance between the outer brake tube and a TRD 16 inch 6-spoke alloy wheel is minimal. If wheel balance weights are installed in an incorrect location, there is a possibility that the outer brake tube could be damaged due to interference with the balance weight, and brake fluid could leak from the damaged tube.If a brake tube becomes damaged and leaks fluid, it may result in increased stopping distances, and in some cases, loss of vehicle front braking performance, which could increase the risk of a crash.All known owners of 2007-2012 model year FJ Cruiser vehicles will be notified by first class mail. If the vehicle is equipped with one of the TRD brake kits, the brake caliper outer brake tube will be replaced with a newly designed one at no charge. During this service, if necessary, the dealer will make wheel balance adjustments. This remedy will be performed even if the vehicle has original equipment 16 inch or 17 inch wheels or TRD 16 inch Beadlock ring type wheels, which are not affected by the condition, to assure sufficient clearance in the event wheels are changed at a later time. Notification to owners began on December 17, 2012. Owners may contact Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.
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 Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

Investigations all years →

none listed

FARS occupant deaths all years →

crash_yearsoccupant_deathsmatch_typevpic_recovered
2010-20246legacy-code0

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.

Cite this

Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.

Wrench.Pro (2026). 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2012/toyota/fj-cruiser
@misc{wrenchpro_2012_toyota_fj_cruiser_2026,
  author = {Wrench.Pro},
  title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2012/toyota/fj-cruiser}},
  note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}

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