2008 Toyota Fj Cruiser Suspension Problems

Chassis frame rotted

NHTSA ID

11735229

Incident

Dec 31, 2025

the brakes are constantly binding up due to rust and need replaced, recently ABS brake lines rusted off causing me to miss a stop sign, very dangerous, Upper rear control arm mount rusted and cracked completely off causing steering and braking problems and had to be replaced to even use this vehicle, , The front rack has been replaced due to excessive rust of lines and fittings, same with transmission cooler lines-rotted off...brake backing plates rotted off.. Even though I have had this undercoated and rust treated, the frame is rusting inside-out...frame braces, everything on the frame is rusted much more than one would expect, even in a salt state like Ohio....my safety was put at risk by faulty brakes, the frame is not safe under hard braking and may cause an accident, the dealer has seen this vehicle, a local independent says "get rid of it"...no warning lamps, just wild things happen with brakes, pulls left, pulls right, front, then back and this past time ...NONE!...only 111,000 miles.

NHTSA ID

11503872

Incident

Dec 5, 2022

After buying my vehicle I have began to notice a growing rust problem that is not due to salt water or other environmental conditions, but clearly a defect in manufacturing. After joining a few Facebook groups with other FJ owners I’ve found countless other people have had the same problem and that without massive trust removal my vehicle is expected to have failures in the frame and suspension at some point.

NHTSA ID

11465065

Incident

May 17, 2022

FRAME, SUSPENSION, AND BRAKES HAVE EXTREME DAMAGE FROM RUST. REAR BRAKES ARE NON-FUNCTIONAL BECAUSE OF RUST.

NHTSA ID

11395507

Incident

Jan 1, 2020

Mileage

130,000 mi

THIS VEHICLE STARTED TO DEVELOPE RUST IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE. THE VEHICLE IS A 2008 AND IS SCARY RUSTY ON THE FRAME AND OTHER COMPONENTS. AN ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF RUST COMPARED TO OTHER 2008 ERA VEHICLES. EVENTUALLY ONE OF THESE FAULTY FRAMES ARE GOING TO BREAK IN A HIGH SPEED SCENARIO AND SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH WILL OCCUR. MY OTHERWISE PERFECT FJ CRUISER ONLY HAS 35000 MILES ON IT AND SAT IN STORAGE FOR THE WINTER OF 2016 AND 2017.

NHTSA ID

11361371

Incident

Sep 27, 2020

Mileage

35,000 mi

2008 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER FRAME ROTTING FROM INSIDE AND OUT. ALL SUSPENSION COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED DUE PARTS FAILING BECAUSE OF CORROSION THAT BLED OVER FROM THE FRAME TO INCLUDE BOTH FRONT STEERING KNUCKLES, TWO PARTS THAT ONLY EVER GET REPLACED IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. SEVERAL FRAME SUPPORTS HAVE CORRODED FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND ARE FLAKING OFF. BRAKE COMPONENTS THAT RUN ALONG THE FRAME HAVE CORRODED FROM THE FRAME TO THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THEM TO THE LINES THEMSELVES. CAUSE A SLOW BRAKE LEAK OVER TIME THAT EVENTUALLY RESULTED IN A DANGEROUS NEAR ACCIDENT SITUATION THAT WAS CAUSED BY COMPLETE IMMEDIATE LACK OF BRAKE PRESSURE. EVASIVE DRIVING AND A SOUND MIND AVOIDED A LEGITIMATE ACCIDENT, HAD TO TOW THE TRUCK TO A SHOP. UNSAFE TO DRIVE. FRAME WILL NOT HOLD UP IN AN ACCIDENT. 12 YEAR OLD FRAME SHOULD NOT BE ANYWHERE NEAR THIS CONDITION. DUE TO OVERSIGHTS AT THE MANUFACTURER THIS FRAME IS NOW CORRODING FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

NHTSA ID

11341612

Incident

Jul 4, 2020

Mileage

143,000 mi

THE FRAME AND SUSPENSION PIECES ON MY FJ HAVE RUSTED DUE TO POOR COATINGS AND MATERIALS USED BY TOYOTA. *TR

NHTSA ID

11329319

Incident

Jun 17, 2020

Mileage

73,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN DRIVEWAY MY FRAME, SOME SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, AND MY ROCKER PANELS WERE FALLING APART IN MY HANDS

NHTSA ID

11316792

Incident

Feb 22, 2020

Mileage

216,000 mi

SEVER RUSTING OF FRAME, BREAK AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS AND BRACKETS. THIS 2008 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER IS QUICKLY BECOMING A SAFETY HAZARD ON THE ROADS. I HAVE A 92 SABB AND A 93 VW THAT DON'T HAVE HAVE THE RUST ISSUES THIS TOYOTA HAS. TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THE FJ CRUISERS FOR FAULTY FRAMES AND UNDERCARRIAGE LONG AGO.

NHTSA ID

11306740

Incident

Feb 3, 2020

Mileage

39,000 mi

THE FRAME ON MY FJ CRUISER IT LITERATELY ROTTING TO NOTHING. AS ARE MOST PRODUCED FROM 2007 - 2012 I HAVE BEGGED TOYOTA FOR HELP AND A RESOLUTION LIKE WITH THE TUNDRA AND TACOMA FRAME ROTTING ISSUES. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT OR KILLED. MY CONTROL ARE IN ROTTING AWAY FROM THE FRAME. AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PICTURE THE THIS IS BAD BAD. FJ CRUISER WAS STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID

11231070

Incident

Jul 11, 2019

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BALL JOINT FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUTONATION TOYOTA SPOKANE VALLEY (8600 E SPRAGUE AVE, SPOKANE VALLEY, WA 99212, (509) 850-9359) TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

11144114

Incident

Dec 24, 2012

Mileage

80,000 mi

THERE IS BUCKLING OF THE BODY, RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE, UNDER HOOD APPROXIMATELY WHERE THE HOOD HINGES ATTACH TO BODY. THE MECHANIC HAS ADVISED IT IS A WEAK POINT IN THE BODY WHICH ON SOME VEHICLES THE BODY ACTUALLY CRACKS AND TRANSFERS OVER TO THE FENDER OVER TIME. IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS DUE TO VIBRATION FROM THE BODY FRONT END TO THE REAR FIREWALL. THE ESTIMATED COST TO FIX THIS PROBLEM FROM A TOYOTA CERTIFIED BODY SHOP IS $11,837.02. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA CORPORATE, AND IT IS PENDING. TOYOTA DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10546934

Incident

Mar 3, 2012

Mileage

37,317 mi

EVERY TIME I DRIVE BETWEEN 60 TO 65 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES BACK AND FORTH. ALSO THE FRONT END SHAKES. IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AT TIMES. HAD TIRES RE-BALANCED AND THE 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT CHECKED. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE FRONT END CHECKED. EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT SEEMS COMMON IN A LARGE POPULATION OF FJ'S ON THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10470815

Incident

Jul 15, 2012

Mileage

32,735 mi

NO CRASHES. FAILURE EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE. FRONT END VIBRATIONS ARE A SIGN OF FRONT END DESIGN PROBLEMS THAT COULD BE EARLY SIGNS OF FRONT END FATIGUE AND NOT SIMPLY TIRE/WHEEL BALANCE ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10330591

Incident

Aug 12, 2008

Mileage

24,000 mi