Problems · by component

2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser power train problems

51 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser cite power train, 9% of all 594 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
51
9% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The fj cruiser is a common issue for rot/ rust on the frame of the vehicle, I have clean the frame often during the winter months and my frame is continuously rusting and rotting the frame of the vehicle I have decided to not drive the vehicle till the frame is either replaced or repaired due to the safety concern of driving it on the road, numerous others have same incidents of the holes in the frame due to rust the manufacturer did not put any kind of corrosion treatment on the frame to stop this from happening the frame flexes when accelerating and is not safe for anyone to including my passengers or other people on the road”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 14, 2024Suspension, Power train, Unknown or otherODI 11577448
“recently purchased used from dealership. Excessive rust on lower frame and other components (transmission and power steering lines) as well as suspension. This is not a flood vehicle. Initially took it to Toyota for repairs of the lines and trans. The quote was too high, so I took it to local shops for repair. The local shops were surprised by the amount of rust. Trans was fixed but the shops refused to fix other components that attached to the frame because they fear they will cause more damage. Visited several FJ Cruiser forums and frame rust issues are incredibly common with the FJ, to the point where there are class action lawsuits. Toyota needs to step up and fix this issue for FJ owners!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 19, 2021Power train, Structure, Unknown or otherODI 11425444
“I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM AN INDIVIDUAL ON DEC. 12, 2020. LESS THAN 30 DAYS AGO. I BROUGHT IT TO THE BODY SHOP TO SEE IF THEY COULD FIX THE RATTLING SOUND THAT CAME FROM WHEN I HIT A BUMP. THE CARS BODY IS IN GREAT CONDITION. THE MILEAGE WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR WAS 183,800. I ASSUMED I MAY NEED TO DO SOME WORK ON THE CAR, BUT THE BODY SHOP TOLD ME THAT THE SOUND I WAS HEARING WAS DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE THAT HAD RUSTED SO BADLY THAT THEY WHERE CLOSE TO FALLING OFF. INCLUDING THE GAS TANK. THEY TOLD ME THAT FJ CRUISERS WHERE KNOWN FOR RUSTY UNDER BOTTOMS AND THAT I WOULD BE A SAFETY RISK TO MYSELF AND OTHERS IF I DROVE THE CAR. THEY ALSO SAID THE CAR WAS BEYOND NORMAL REPAIR. I WILL ATTACHED PHOTOS THEY SENT ME. I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR 1,500 MILES AND IT IS CONSIDERED UNDRIVABLE AND UNFIXABLE. I GOT A SECOND OPINION. WITHOUT KNOWING THE RESULTS OF THE FIRST OPINION THEY CAME TO THE EXACT SAME CONCLUSION. EXCEPT THEY TOLD ME TO REACH OUT TO YOU.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 9, 2021Suspension, Power train, WheelsODI 11387313
“SEVERE RUST ISSUES. ENTIRE REAR DIFFERENTIAL REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. ALL POWER STEERING AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LINES NEEDED REPLACEMENT, FUEL LINES ARE NEXT FUEL TANK STRAPS RUSTED AND BROKE OFF, TANK FELL DOWN. BRAKE PAD PINS REQUIRED CUTTING OFF. PROTECTION PLATES RUSTED OFF. EXHAUST SYSTEM COMPONENTS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT DUE TO RUST. ENTIRE FRAME AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT COVERED IN RUST. ALL THESE ITEMS HAVE CAUSED MULTIPLE SAFETY ISSUES. MULTIPLE STRAPS AND CONNECTIONS FOR VARIOUS COMPONENTS ARE NO LONGER USABLE DUE TO RUST.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 17, 2020Suspension, Power train, Service brakesODI 11375036
“REAR DIFFERENTIAL CARRIER IS BAD. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO TOYOTA; BAD GEARS IN 2007 MODELS. THEY CORRECTED IT IN 2010 WITH UPGRADED GEARS. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED BY TOYOTA SINCE THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.MY FJ HAS ONLY 80,000 MILES AND NO REAR END SHOULD GO OUT AT THIS LOW MILEAGE.THE REPAIRS FOR THIS AT TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER IS $4,000.00. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 14, 2020Power trainODI 11321139
“WHEN I CRUISE ON A HIGHWAY AROUND 70MPH, MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER. I WAS VERY SCARED BUT TRIED TO MOVE THE CAR TO CURB, THEN THE CAR DIED. ONE MINUTE LATER I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR BUT FAILED. I CALLED THE ROAD ASSISTANCE SERVICE. WHEN THEY CAME AND POURED IN ONE GALLON GAS IN THE CAR, THEN THE CAR WAS STARTED. THE PROBLEM IS THAT BEFORE THE CAR DIED, THE FUEL INDICATOR POINTER POINTED AT THE A QUARTER POSITION. THE FUEL EMPTY WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ON.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 6, 2020Power train, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11316513

Showing 6 of 51 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.