MODELYEARINDEX

Which Toyota FJ Cruiser years to avoid

Across 5 scored model years, the 2010 model year carries the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Toyota FJ Cruiser Full report
F
Grade 2010–2014
2010 vs model median 2.4×
Model median3× median
Brakes 13
Steering 9
Tires & Wheels 9
Avoid

2010

Best

2013 · 2014

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
2.39× 45 F
2011
1.07× 22 C
2012
1.00× 19 C
2013
0.46× 10 B
2014
0.80× 13 C

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2010 F 45 reports · median 4,300 mi

  1. Brakes 13

    Brakes didn't seem to work (the auto kept going when the brakes were applied) until I let off the pedal and pushed them again. I passed over a manhole cover as the failure occurred. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Steering 9

    My truck speed was 60-65 MPH and my steering wheel began wobbling. I took it to dealer and they said nothing was wrong. Last week I serviced my truck and rotated and balanced the tires. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Tires & Wheels 9

    Wheel stud broke off when changing to winter tires. A torque wrench was used to prevent overtorqueing. The car has 3247 miles. No one had touched the wheels until today. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

1 fire

2011 C 22 reports · median 10,250 mi

  1. Tires & Wheels 7

    On april 30th, 2011 I purchased a new, 2011 fj cruiser VIN# [xxx] from jerry durant toyota. Eight weeks prior, on march 4th, 2011 toyota submitted a report (NHTSA campaign id# 11v148000) - indicating its intent to… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Steering 6

    Vehicle exhibited excessive steering wheel shake indicative of wheels being off balance. After attempting to re-balance 6 times at 4 different shops the symptom persists intermittently. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Suspension 4

    Since new my vehicle has had a shaking steering wheel when reaching speeds over 55mph. After trying several different sets of tires, wheels and balancing my dealer has not been able to correct the issue. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

The best year for the FJ Cruiser

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2013 is the best-scoring FJ Cruiser model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 78.6 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2013 0.46× 10 B
2014 0.80× 13 C
2012 1.00× 19 C

Recalls

17 campaigns on record.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
20V012000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP 2014 1,830,752
10V035000 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS 2010 271,417
13V098000 SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE 2010–2013 209,000
13V163000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING 2010–2013 208,000
12E046000 EQUIPMENT 2010–2012 200,000
10V036000 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS 2010 153,418
11V148000 TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS 2010, 2011 22,000
14V475000 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS 2010–2014 20,000
16V396000 SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER 2010 7,749
13V123000 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS 2010–2013 7,525
14V828000 EQUIPMENT 2014 3,958
13V014000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE 2010 3,235

+ 5 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2010 were reported at a median of 4,300 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Toyota FJ Cruiser years should you avoid?
2010 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Toyota FJ Cruiser model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Toyota FJ Cruiser?
2013 is the best-scoring Toyota FJ Cruiser model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 78.6 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Toyota FJ Cruiser have?
17 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Toyota FJ Cruiser model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2010 FJ Cruiser
Complaints in window
45
Severity-weighted
52.5
Model median (weighted)
22
vs model median
2.39×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
12
Open investigations
0
Score 25.3 F