NHTSA (USA)Low Risk
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
This page covers 5 recalls, 22 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2011 Toyota Fj Cruiser.
17–19 mpg combined
12.4–13.8 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.
Complaints about the 2011 FJ Cruiser center heavily on frame and undercarriage rust, which owners report finding well before the mileage or age of the vehicle would suggest it. Multiple owners describe severe corrosion along the frame rails, lower control arms, front and rear differentials, and the fuel tank straps, with some reporting that rust has progressed to the point where brake line attachment points have separated from the frame entirely. Several vehicles have reportedly failed safety inspections due to this condition. The steering and suspension complaints, which make up the next largest share, overlap with this rust theme, owners frequently describe suspension components like lower control arms corroding to the point of needing replacement and preventing proper alignment. A smaller cluster of complaints involves tires, though no single pattern emerges there. The rust-related deterioration of structural and safety-adjacent components is the clearest repeating thread across this complaint set.
22
Total Complaints
1
Crash-Related
By System
The 2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser has 5 recalls, the most serious involving vehicles fitted with a TRD High-Performance Brake Kit, where wheel weights placed in the wrong location can damage the front brake tubes.
On the occupant safety side, the front seatbelt retractors are mounted in the rear access door panels, and repeated forceful closing of those doors can crack the panel until the retractor anchor pulls free, leaving the belt unable to restrain an occupant in a crash. The tire pressure monitoring system on certain vehicles does not meet federal standards and can fail to warn the driver of a deflating tire, raising the risk of a blowup at speed. Vehicles fitted with accessory wheels and tires may carry a tire placard listing the wrong spare tire size or inflation pressure, so a spare inflated by the numbers on that label could be over- or under-pressurized and fail while driving. Finally, vehicles equipped with Toyota auxiliary driving lamps mounted to the front bumper may project light above the legal maximum intensity, creating excess glare for oncoming drivers.
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
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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 →
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
On vehicles with TRD High-Performance Brake Kits and 16-inch wheels, incorrectly placed wheel weights can damage the front outer brake tubes, causing brake fluid to leak and loss of front braking power.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace both front outer brake tubes with updated versions that provide better clearance.
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.
