This page covers 3 recalls, 23 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2013 Toyota Fj Cruiser.
16–18 mpg combined
13.1–14.7 L/100km
Small 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.
For the 2013 FJ Cruiser, structural corrosion is the standout complaint pattern. Owners most often describe discovering severe rust on the frame, underbody, brake lines, and suspension mounts, frequently during routine inspections or dealer service visits. Several report being told the frame is too far gone to repair safely, and the complaints lean heavily toward vehicles operated in regions where road salt is common. Suspension complaints are the next most frequent, with owners describing instability, unusual rocking or wobbling at speed, and shock absorber leaks. A couple of owners report airbag non-deployment during a collision, though the complaint volume there is small. The corrosion issue is the clearest pattern here: owners repeatedly describe finding compromised brake lines and deteriorating frame sections on vehicles that had been regularly maintained.
23
Total Complaints
1
Crash-Related
1
With Injuries
By System
The 2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser has 3 recalls, the most serious involving the front seatbelt retractors, which are mounted in the rear access door panels and can detach if the panel develops cracks, leaving occupants without effective belt restraint in a crash.
The access door panels can crack over time from repeated forceful closing, and if the cracking reaches the lower retractor anchor point, the belt assembly can pull free entirely. The remaining two recalls are lower in severity but worth noting. On vehicles that had accessory wheels and tires installed before the original sale, the tire placard on the door jamb may list the wrong spare tire size or incorrect cold inflation pressure, which could lead to an improperly inflated spare being driven on and failing. There is also a lighting concern on FJ Cruisers fitted with Toyota's auxiliary driving lamp kit mounted to the front bumper: those lamps can exceed the maximum allowable light output, producing enough glare to impair 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
Toyota will mail overlay stickers to owners or provide them to dealers to place over the incorrect tire placard information.
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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 →
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.
