NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
The electrical wiring in aftermarket seat heaters with copper strand heating elements can be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed, potentially causing electrical issues.
This page covers 7 recalls, 64 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2010 Toyota Fj Cruiser.
17–18 mpg combined
13.1–13.8 L/100km
Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 2 tested variants for this model year.
Owners of the 2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser report complaints spread across steering, structure, and brakes. Structural complaints are among the most consistent, with owners describing severe frame rust, in some cases deep enough to compromise structural integrity, along with corrosion affecting fuel tank mounting straps and the components around them. Owners in rust-prone regions describe moisture accumulating between the skid plate and fuel tank, accelerating deterioration of the mounting hardware. Steering complaints are the highest-volume named system, with owners describing a persistent pulling or wandering sensation that doesn't resolve after alignment or tire replacement. Brake complaints round out the top three, with owners reporting reduced stopping performance and pedal feel concerns, though these appear across a range of described symptoms rather than a single consistent failure pattern.
64
Total Complaints
3
Crash-Related
1
Fire-Related
2
With Injuries
By System
The 2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser has 7 recalls, the most serious being a brake fluid leak in optional TRD brake kits that can reduce front braking performance and extend stopping distances, and a seat heater fire risk in certain aftermarket heated seat accessories.
On the structural safety side, the door panels that house the front seatbelt retractors can crack over time from repeated hard door closings, allowing the retractor to pull free and leave occupants less protected in a crash. The tire pressure monitoring system on certain vehicles does not meet federal standards and may fail to warn the driver of a deflating tire before it fails on the road. Two related recalls cover vehicles equipped with accessory wheels and tires installed before sale: the tire placard may show the wrong spare tire size or inflation pressure, so inflating a spare to that figure could cause it to fail while driving. There is also a lighting concern on vehicles fitted with Toyota auxiliary driving lamp kits mounted to the front bumper, where light output above legal limits can create glare for oncoming drivers.
At a glance
What can fail
The electrical wiring in aftermarket seat heaters with copper strand heating elements can be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed, potentially causing electrical issues.
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will disconnect the seat heaters at no charge and refund the purchase price of the accessory.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The tire placard lists incorrect spare tire size or cold tire inflation pressure because aftermarket wheels and tires were installed before the vehicle's first sale.
What the fix does
Toyota will mail overlay stickers to owners or provide them to dealers to place over the incorrect tire placard information.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The auxiliary driving lamps on the front bumper use 55-watt bulbs. Combined with the upper beam headlamps, they produce light output that exceeds federal safety limits for upper beam brightness.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the 55-watt bulbs with 35-watt bulbs at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The seat belt retractors are mounted in the rear access door panels. Repeated forceful closing of the access door can cause cracks to develop in the panel over time.
What the fix does
Toyota will repair or replace the access door panel to restore its strength and proper seat belt retractor function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Wheel balance weights installed incorrectly can contact the front brake tube on certain TRD brake kits, damaging it and causing brake fluid to leak.
What the fix does
The front brake tube will be replaced with a newly designed one, and wheel balance will be adjusted if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The tire pressure monitoring system was not properly calibrated when factory wheels were replaced with Toyota accessory wheels and light-truck tires before the vehicle was sold. The low tire pressure warning light may not illuminate when tire pressure drops to the required minimum level.
What the fix does
For most models, the dealer will recalibrate the tire pressure monitoring system and install an updated tire information label. For FJ Cruiser, the monitoring system's electronic control unit will be replaced.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Some vehicles came with aftermarket alloy wheels and tires that differ from the original equipment. The tire pressure and load specifications changed, but the vehicle may not have received an updated tire placard with the correct information.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a replacement tire loading placard with the correct specifications for your wheels and tires.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
