RoadVitals

2007 Toyota Fj Cruiser Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Sep 10, 2021
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 593 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2007 Toyota Fj Cruiser submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureEngineSuspension
Filed Sep 10, 2021

Frame rust all over, going to cost tons of money to fix. Rust rotting through the frame of the car. Shouldn’t be a problem dont live near water or salt area.

NHTSA ID
11432435
Incident
Sep 10, 2021
BrakesEngine
Filed Feb 2, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 62 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO RIDGEWAY SUNOCO SERVICE CENTER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT UNKNOWN PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED (T J TOYOTA INC, 6698 NY-56, POTSDAM, NY 13676, (315) 265-3350). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ID
11066638
Incident
Jan 14, 2018
Mileage
105,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 28, 2017

VEHICLE WILL NOT CHANGED GEAR FROM PARK TO DRIVE

NHTSA ID
11050930
Incident
Nov 24, 2017
Mileage
790,000 mi
EngineSteering
Filed May 30, 2017

THE FRAME HAS RUSTED BEYOND EXPECTATIONS, WRONG KIND OF METAL OR LACK OF TREATMENT ON METAL CAUSING OXIDATION, CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE OF THE POWER STEERING BRAKING LOOSE AND CAUSING POTENTIALLY INJURIES OR DEATH TO PASSENGERS. VEHICULE IS AT HOME

NHTSA ID
10992106
Incident
Jan 1, 2017
Mileage
50,000 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 1, 2014

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER WITH 95K MILES ON IT. ALL WAS FINE FOR ABOUT A MONTH UNTIL I STARTED EXPERIENCING UNEXPLAINED ACCELERATING AND RPM SURGING WHEN DRIVING BELOW 30 MPH AND REGULARLY WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. IT'S NOT A HUGE REV, BUT RATHER THE ENGINE WILL SUDDENLY RISE FROM NORMAL IDLE RPM TO ABOUT 1300 RPM, THEN BACK DOWN AGAIN. I CAN FEEL THE TRANSMISSION GRABBING AND I HAVE TO KEEP THE BRAKE DEPRESSED TO KEEP FROM TAKING OFF. THE SURGE GENERALLY LASTS FOR LESS THAN 10 SECONDS AND THEN GOES AWAY FOR A SHORT TIME. I CAN GET IT TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM (AT A STOP, IN GEAR) ALMOST ANYTIME. IF YOU ARE NOT PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION AND HAPPEN TO LIFT YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE WILL LURCH FORWARD START TO ACCELERATE UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS. I FEAR THAT THIS WILL CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT SOMEDAY, AND SOMEONE COULD GET HURT OR KILLED. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHO SAYS THAT HE CAN'T QUITE FIGURE IT OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10585815
Incident
Apr 9, 2014
Mileage
95,784 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 9, 2011

2007 FJ CRUISER WITH 60,000 BLEW A HEAD GASKET. THERE IS MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE FROM OVER HEATING. TEMP GAUGE NEVER READ THAT THE CAR WAS OVER HEATING OR THAT THERE WERE ANY ENGINE PROBLEMS. ALSO AT A RED LIGHT THE CAR SWITCHED GEARS AND A MOMENT LATER SWITCHED BACK .IT LURCHED FORWARD WITH A BIG THUMP. I WAS AT A FULL STOP WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE LUCKILY! *TR

NHTSA ID
10386984
Incident
Feb 28, 2011
Mileage
60,000 mi
EngineTransmission
Filed Oct 11, 2010

THIS IS A TOYOTA ECM COMPUTER ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. I WAS WAITING IN MY 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER AT A TRAFFIC STOP FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE FROM RED TO GREEN. AT THIS TIME, I FELT A HARD "BUMP" AS IF ANOTHER CAR HAD REAR-ENDED MY FJ. THERE WAS THIS REAL HARD "THUMP." THE FJ HAD SHIFTED GEARS ON ITS OWN WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP. EITHER THE TRANSFER CASE DIFFERENTIAL AND/OR THE ELECTRICAL REAR DIFFERENTIAL LOCKED UP. BOTH MY HANDS WERE ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND MY RIGHT FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AT THE TIME. THERE IS NO DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR MAT. THE FJ GOT A STRONG GRIP ON THE ROAD AND IT LURCHED FORWARD. THERE WAS A LOT OF EXTRA POWER AND A LOT MORE TRACTION THAN IN THE NORMAL "D" MODE FOR DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT. INSTINCTIVELY, I PRESSED DOWN HARDER ON THE BRAKE IN ORDER TO KEEP THE FJ FROM MOVING INTO THE INTERSECTION. TWO SECONDS LATER, THERE WAS ANOTHER "THUMP" AND THE FJ SHIFTED BACK INTO THE NORMAL ROAD GEAR "D." I BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT THE ECM COMPUTER SENT A MALFUNCTIONING SIGNAL AND LOCKED UP ONE OR BOTH OF THE DIFFERENTIALS. THIS HAPPENED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON DRY PAVEMENT AND STOP WHEN THERE WAS NO DRIVER COMMAND TO SHIFT GEARS. THE SENSATION I FELT IS SIMILAR TO USING MY FJ FOR OFF-ROAD DRIVING AND SHIFTING INTO 4WD "LOW," BUT THIS WAS MUCH MORE SEVERE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE ECM COMPUTER MIGHT MALFUNCTION HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 70 MPH. IT COULD SEND A SIMILAR COMMAND TO LOCK UP EITHER THE TRANSFER CASE DIFFERENTIAL OR ELECTRIC REAR DIFFERENTIAL. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE FJ BECOMES A 5,000 LB. FLYING MISSILE, BASICALLY OUT OF CONTROL. I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO STEER THE FJ OR TO NAVIGATE TURNS PROPERLY. IT WOULD BECOME A DANGER NOT ONLY TO MYSELF, BUT TO ALL OTHER CARS IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. SOMETHING IS DANGEROUSLY WRONG WITH TOYOTA'S ECM COMPUTER SYSTEM IN THE FJ CRUISER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10359945
Incident
Oct 7, 2010
Mileage
15,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 21, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY THE DEALER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE FRAME NEAR THE ENGINE MOUNT AND THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS INDICATING THE ENGINE WAS FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,000.

NHTSA ID
10331587
Incident
May 18, 2010
Mileage
70,000 mi
Body & structureEngine
Filed Feb 18, 2010

THE TOYOTA FJ CRUISER DEVELOPS BULGES IN THE ENGINE BAY OVER TIME WITH NORMAL DRIVING. THESE ARE IN THE CRUMPLE ZONES AND EVENTUALLY RIP. TOYOTA FAILS TO FIX THIS TO SPITE HAVING HUNDREDS OF DOCUMENTED CASES. MINE IS ONE OF THEM. HTTP://WWW.FJCRUISERFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/TOYOTA-FJ-CRUISER-POLLS/37556-DO-YOU-HAVE-INNER-FENDER-BULGES-CRACKING.HTML. *TR

NHTSA ID
10311615
Incident
Nov 26, 2009
Mileage
30,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Feb 8, 2007

ENGINE ACCELERATES TO 1500 RPM WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT COMPLETELY OFF THE THROTTLE WHEN DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS (UNDER 1500 RPM). THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) TO SPEED UP INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN, EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE OF THE "ENGINE BRAKING" THAT ONE WOULD EXPECT. I FEEL THIS PRESENTS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND / OR ICY ROAD CONDITIONS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10182004
Incident
Jan 31, 2007
Mileage
21 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 19, 2007

2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER WAS DRIVEN ON EDGE OF TERRA COTTA PIPE WHILE PULLING INTO A DRIVE WAY AND GOT STUCK. AFTER BEING PULLED OUT, VEHICLE SAT OVER NIGHT. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN THE NEXT DAY. WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 10 MILES, VEHICLE ENGINE STARTED MAKING NOISE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. OWNER OF VEHICLE CALLED A MECHANIC WHO FOUND THAT THE FRAME HAD BEEN TWISTED AND THE RADIATOR WAS BUSTED WHICH CAUSED $15,500 WORTH OF BODY AND ENGINE DAMAGE. INSURANCE AND MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY REFUSED TO COVER ENGINE DAMAGE. VEHICLE IS ADVERTISED AS EXTREMELY DURABLE 4X4 WITH PICTURES ON WEBSITE DEMONSTRATING VEHICLE BEING DRIVEN IN ALL TYPES OF TERRAIN SUCH AS MOUNTAINS AND RIVERS. VEHICLE HAS NO COVER PROTECTING BOTTOM FRONT OF RADIATOR AND CROSSMEMBER IS NOT VERY DURABLE. VEHICLE ALSO DOES NOT HAVE A LOW COOLANT DETECTION SYSTEM IN CASE OF COOLANT LOSS. COOLANT TEMPERATURE GAUGE DOES NOT REGISTER ENGINE OVERHEATING IN CASES OF COOLANT LOSS SO OWNER HAD NO IDEA ENGINE WAS BEING DAMAGED. DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0300 ENGINE MISFIRE WAS ONLY CODE STORED IN PCM MEMORY. PCM DID NOT DETECT OVERHEATING CONDITION. PLEASE HELP AS MANUFACTURER WILL NOT HONOR VEHICLE'S WARRANTY WITH ONLY 15,000 MILES ON VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
10179117
Incident
Nov 11, 2006
Mileage
15,695 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 7, 2006

THE VEHILE JUST STOPPED RUNNING AT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND STEERING BRAKES FAILED AND COASTED TRYING TO START CAR NO START TRANSMISSION DAMAGED BY EXTENSIVE COAST TO STOP AND STARTER DAMAGEG BY TRYING TO START ON HUGHWAY. THIS WIL CAUSE DEATH OR INJURY--THIS IS A COCEPT VEHICLE PUT OUT TOO EARLY! *JB

NHTSA ID
10161834
Incident
Jul 6, 2006
Mileage
3,300 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .