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2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 124 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser, most often about the body and structure (34% of complaints, typically around 34,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about FJ Cruiser model year since 2000 and has 9 recalls.
Most common 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser problems
Body and structure
42 complaints · 34%Half of these problems showed up before 34,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
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.
This vehicle started to develope rust immediately after purchase. The vehicle is a 2008 and is scary rusty on the frame and other components. An abnormal amount of rust compared to other 2008 era vehicles. Eventually one of these faulty frames are going to break in a high speed scenario and serious injury or death…
Brakes
29 complaints · 23%Half of these problems showed up before 27,000 miles.
2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser, build date:10/07. Have had unnerving experiences with the brake system on my fj.(1) when braking over a non smooth road the brake pedal pulsates for a long period and does not stop the vehicle. (2) had to panic stop and hit the brakes hard, they locked up, there was no braking just the ABS took…
While driving on dry pavement I made a lane change while approaching a stop light when it turned yellow. I applied the brakes slightly harder than normal at which point the car took over and applied 100% braking force. The car slammed to a stop and both the passenger and I were whipped forward and were luck to have…
Suspension
14 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 73,000 miles. Parts named most often: front, rear.
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 2 MPH, the passenger side front ball joint fractured. The vehicle was towed to autonation Toyota spokane valley (8600 e sprague ave, spokane valley, wa 99212, ([phone]) to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired however…
Sever rusting of frame, break and suspension components and brackets. This 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser is quickly becoming a safety hazard on the roads. I have a 92 sabb and a 93 vw that don't have have the rust issues this Toyota has. Toyota should have recalled the fj cruisers for faulty frames and undercarriage long ago.
Seat belts
13 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 85,000 miles. Parts named most often: front.
Driver seat belt wont retract. Defect on recall and reportedly repaired on 08-15-13 at carson city scion, nevada. The defect remains as seat belt will not retract. I purchased vehicle used in july, 2016; seat belt retracted then but was very loose requiring adjustment constantly. I contacted Toyota of salinas on…
Seat belt re tractor for drivers side inoperable and will not retract. I contacted local dealership as well as Toyota mgr whom stated there as no recall nor where they aware there was a problem. Vehicle was stationary when defect occurred. The belt now hangs loose and cannot be used
Other or unspecified
10 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 160,500 miles.
The rear gas tank strap snapped on the vehicle (the strap side facing to the outside of the vehicle). The strap failed due to rust. The strap must have snapped when I hit a bump in the road. However, I did not know that the strap had failed until I happened to be standing behind the vehicle one day and noticed the…
The foot rest assembly which is plastic and fastened to the floor board with protruding screws, snapped off while driving. The dangerous aspect of it, was that it slid towards the brake pedal and caused me to skillfully pull over the vehicle while sliding the part from under pedal with left foot. This could have been…
Service Brakes, Electric
8 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 17,000 miles.
I have a 2008 FJ Cruiser manual transmission. This is the 2nd time this has happened to me since I've owned the truck. On may 10th, I was driving down the highway at about 70-80 MPH. The truck to the right of me seemed like he wanted to change lanes in to my lane. I hit the breaks to let him in but the braking power…
I own a 2008 FJ Cruiser and have had brake issues. As I approach a stop light and try to stop, the brake pedal goes soft and nothing happens. I pump the brakes 3-4 times before the brakes suddenly engage and stop abruptly. This has happened 4 times since december 2009 and my dealer tells me that there is nothing…
Transmission
6 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 74,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission.
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle decelerated independently as all of the warning lamps illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician diagnosed that the transmission was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was…
The frame on my FJ Cruiser it literately rotting to nothing. As are most produced from 2007 - 2012 I have begged Toyota for help and a resolution like with the tundra and tacoma frame rotting issues. This is a major safety issue and someone is going to get hurt or killed. My control are in rotting away from the frame.…
Visibility and wipers
5 complaints · 4%Parts named most often: windshield.
I bought a new 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser on 10/18/07 and my windshield has been chipped three times now(5/8/08). I have talked to several other owners of this vehicle and all have had the same problem. In some states insurance will pay for a new windshield but not ga.
Bought new fj august 2008 special edition. By january the windshield had a very small chip and then over night proceeded to crack across windshield on drivers side. Today I went to lunch and there happened to be another fj there and I looked at his windshield and he has a crack in the exact same location. There must…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser recalls
Seats: seat heater/cooler
Risk: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Set will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on july 14, 2016. Owners may contact set customer service at 1-866-405-4226. Set number for this recall is set16b.
Full defect summary
Southeast toyota distributors, llc (set) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4runner, highlander, sequoia, and sienna, 2005-2010 avalon and tundra, 2006-2008 camry solara, 2006-2010 highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 rav4 and tacoma, 2007-2010 fj cruiser, 2007-2011 camry hybrid, 2009-2010 venza, 2010-2012 prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Seats: seat heater/cooler
Risk: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
Fix: Set will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in january 2015. Owners may contact set customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
Full defect summary
Southeast toyota distributors, llc (set) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 prius and corolla, 2009-2011 venza, 2006-2010 avalon, 2007-2010 fj cruiser, 2005-2011 sienna and sequoia, 2006-2011 tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, camry, highlander, tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 rav4 and 4runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.
Equipment: labels
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
Toyota 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."
Lights: exterior lighting
Risk: Light intensities above the maximum allowable limit could cause increased glare for oncoming traffic and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
Toyota 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."
Seat belts: anchorage
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
Toyota 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.
Wheels and tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems
Risk: Failure to warn of tire deflations is a non-compliance with fmvss 138 and could lead to tire failure increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: For the land cruiser, sequoia, tacoma and tundra vehicles, the dealer will re-calibrate the tire pressure monitoring system on affected vehicles and install an updated tire and loading information label at no charge. For the fj cruiser vehicles, the TPMS cannot be reset so the electronic control unit (ecu) for the TPMS will be replaced. Toyota is currently developing the remedy ecu. If an owner is not certain whether his or her vehicle is equipped with these accessories, please contact any toyota dealer for an inspection at no charge. The safety recall began on march 31, 2011. Owners may conta
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2011 fj cruiser, land cruiser, tacoma, sequoia and tundra vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 138, "tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)." when factory-installed wheels and tires were replaced with toyota authorized accessory wheels and lt tires prior to first sale, the tire pressure monitoring systems were not re-calibrated correctly and therefore do not start illuminating the low tire pressure warning telltale at the required minimum activation pressure.
Equipment: labels
Risk: This does not meet the standard requirements.
Fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. Dealers will also correct the owner's manual. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact gulf states toyota at 713-580-3300.
Full defect summary
Gulf states toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold between september 1, 2005 and june 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Equipment: labels
Risk: A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact southeast toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Full defect summary
Southeast toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 passenger vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Equipment: labels
Risk: Incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels could result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners and provide them with a new, accurate label to be installed over the inaccurate label free of charge. The safety recall began on august 18, 2009. Owners may contact toyota at 1-888-270-9371.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling 27,080 model year 2005 through 2010 passenger cars built from september 1, 2005 to may 4, 2009. These vehicles were not equipped with load carrying capacity modification labels which fails to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims."
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: body and structure (42 complaints, typically around 34,000 miles); brakes (29 complaints, typically around 27,000 miles); suspension (14 complaints, typically around 73,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser have?
- 9 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 2, 2016 (seats). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2008 a bad year for the Toyota FJ Cruiser?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about FJ Cruiser model year since 2000, with 124 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.