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Toyota FJ CruiserModel year report

2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser Problems

Complaints
593filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
53,000miles, 441 complaints with mileage
Recalls
8campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
18 mpgcombined, 4.0L 6-cyl RWD · 17 city / 21 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about rust and corrosion on the frame, underbody, fuel tank straps and suspension brackets, frequently found during servicing or a failed state inspection. A smaller group reports seat belts that stopped retracting, water reaching the front footwells, and brake or wiper component failures. Many reports come from vehicles with well over 100,000 miles, though some owners describe heavy corrosion on examples with modest mileage.

  1. Body and structure

    Frame and underbody rust

    • 241 complaints (41%)
    • median 120,000 mi at 12.8 yrs old (141 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $5,500 (median of 6 quotes)
    • filed 2007–2026

    Complaints describe the frame, crossmembers, body mounts and brackets corroding heavily, sometimes flaking or holed from the inside out. Owners often learn of it during an oil change, state inspection or when a mechanic puts the vehicle on a lift, and report being told the vehicle should not be driven until repairs are made. Several describe suspension and control-arm mounts tearing away from the frame, and some say dealers quoted a subframe replacement at the owner's expense. Reported from roughly 46,000 to 300,000 miles, with many between about 100,000 and 200,000 miles, often on vehicles in wet or road-salt conditions.

    What to check: Have the frame and underbody inspected on a lift before buying, paying attention to the rear section, body mounts and suspension mounting points. Tapping with a pick or screwdriver reveals soft or flaking metal that undercoating can hide.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The frame of my 2007 Toyota Fj Cruiser is rusting uncontrollably. It was descaled and sprayed with protecting fluid. The descaling revealed significant frame rust. My passenger rear shock mount has rusted completely and the shock has become free from the frame. I have yet to get an accurate estimate of the damage but will soon”

    NHTSA complaint #11301339, filed 2020-01, 144,000 miles

    “It has taken a few years since I keep my Fj Cruiser garaged, but I found a sound mat on the inside of the doors that retain water and cause rust. My problem right now is in the left door (driver's side) and the rust from inside the door has finally made it's way completely through the door. I am attaching photos showing the perforation which is well over 1/8 of an inch deep. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11363615, filed 2020-10, 57,450 miles
  2. Fuel system

    Fuel tank straps rusted through

    • 65 complaints (11%)
    • median 120,000 mi at 13.0 yrs old (35 state mileage)
    • filed 2018–2023

    Owners report the straps holding the fuel tank corroding and breaking, in some cases leaving the tank hanging low or dropping it while driving. Several describe the straps being replaced or temporarily repaired after the problem was spotted, and some link the strap mounts to the same frame corrosion described elsewhere. A few mention fuel gauge readings that did not reflect an empty tank. Generally reported between about 70,000 and 200,000 miles, often found during routine servicing or when the tank was noticed hanging.

    What to check: Look at the fuel tank straps and their mounting points for heavy rust or thin, flaking metal, and ask whether the straps have been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Fuel tank strap rust. I noticed my fuel tank hanging low one day. Turns out a fuel tank strap had rusted in two. I had someone weld the strap back together to hold my fuel tank in place. Vehicle was stationary when noticed. In the attached picture you can see the weld repair that is now holding the fuel tank in place.”

    NHTSA complaint #11301913, filed 2020-01, 165,500 miles

    “I am experiencing sever rust, especially on the underside of my 2007 Toyota Fj Cruiser. This has caused the exhaust mounts to break, the loss of the skid plate which deteriorated as parts of it were trying to hang on and even my gas tank straps broke! The exhaust broke while I was driving around town for work but I was able to safely pull over and have a colleague temporarily reattach it. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11324296, filed 2020-05, 200,000 miles
  3. Suspension

    Suspension and axle mounts separating from frame

    • 82 complaints (14%)
    • median 125,000 mi at 12.8 yrs old (62 state mileage)
    • filed 2007–2024

    Complaints describe control-arm, trailing-arm and lateral-bar mounts welded to the frame or axle corroding until they crack or break away, sometimes while driving. Owners report the vehicle feeling loose or unstable in the rear, clunks over bumps, and ABS or traction-control lights coming on when a corroded mount damages a wheel-speed sensor wire. Several were told a complete axle assembly was the only replacement offered. Mostly between about 90,000 and 200,000 miles, often noticed as a noise over bumps or a sudden change in handling.

    What to check: Inspect the mounts where the control arms and track bar attach to the frame and axle for cracks or heavy scale, and check that the rear of the vehicle feels steady over bumps during a test drive.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My son was driving home from school when he heard a rattle/bang when he took a corner or went over a bump. He told me about the noise as soon as he got home. We took the fj out for a drive and I heard the noise coming from the driver's side. Upon inspecting the exterior drivers side I found that the left side, rear trailing arm mounting point and a section of the fj's frame, had torn away from the frame. The trailing arms was not floating, unattached. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11384039, filed 2020-12, 133,355 miles

    “I came back from a trip from florida driving and a wheel bearing went bad and I took it to a mechanic when I got back and he showed me more frame rust that connects to the lower control arm”

    NHTSA complaint #11307100, filed 2020-02, 168,000 miles

Buying note. Rust is the main thing to verify on a 2007 FJ Cruiser, so a pre-purchase inspection on a lift covering the frame, body mounts, fuel tank straps and suspension brackets is worthwhile. Also test the front seat belts for proper retraction and check the footwells for water stains.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 593 consumer complaints for the 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser. 441 of the complaints include a mileage, and 48% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 53,000 miles. Of all complaints, 15 involved a crash, 5 a fire, 9 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns and 162 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Electrical system (14), Air bags (10), Tires (10), Engine cooling (7), Wheels (7), Engine (5), Seats (4), Electronic stability control (2), Equipment (2), Exterior lighting (1).

Example complaints

Body and structure: “2007 Toyota Fj Cruiser has the same rot problems as the tacoma and sequoia...there are reports all over the USA and Toyota has still not issued a recall on rotting frames.I can't even have my vehicle towed it is so decomposed. I am fortunate not to have been killed. I contacted Toyota and they want me to call them? How about keeping this information in writing maybe for a future lawsuit.”

NHTSA complaint #11396145, filed 2021-02, 109,000 miles

Other or unknown: “Frame is rotting away just as the tacoma frames did in this time frame of model year. Afraid the vehicle will soon be unfit to drive due to safety concerns. Gas tank straps are also rotting from under the vehicle. This has come to light when I was driving down a city street and my gas tank strap broke causing the take to drop from the bottom of the vehicle”

NHTSA complaint #11271728, filed 2019-10, 197,000 miles

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “I noticed my windshield was getting hazed over with a sandblasted look within the first 6 months of owning my vehicle. The windshield became poked with little chips from road debris within the first year in addition to numerous cracks. The vehicle is now 2 years old and the windshield needs replacement due to extensive chips, pock, and cracks.”

NHTSA complaint #10240676, filed 2008-09, 10,000 miles

Suspension: “Bought my fj new in 2007.when I did I asked if they had rusty jones or undercoating and was told with the new alloys I didnt need it. 3 weeks ago I was having my mechanic check the brakes and he called me down to show me a break in the frame connecting to the body.thankfully he found it because I was supposed to go to boston the next day. …”

NHTSA complaint #11291333, filed 2019-12, 139,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

48% of the 441 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 15,000 and 110,000 miles.

18%0–1015%10–2515%25–5012%50–7511%75–10017%100–15012%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (441 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 53,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

91’08’11’14’17’20’23’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
FJ Cruiser · sedan RWD/AWDnot rated5 / 4——3 · 26.7% risk

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
FJ Cruiser 2WD4.0L 6-cyl5-speed automatic172118$4,550
FJ Cruiser 4WD4.0L 6-cyl5-speed automatic151917$4,850
FJ Cruiser 4WD4.0L 6-cyl6-speed manual151816$5,150

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

See all 8 recalls for the 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 162 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 162 bulletins →

Other model years of the Toyota FJ Cruiser

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20143031,1105—181 · FewerFalling
20132320,5004—18—Falling
2012416,8504—1925 · FewerFalling
20112315,0006—19—Stable
20106614,50010—1966 · MoreFalling
2009768,00010—18—Not enough data
200812430,3009—1872 · MoreFalling
200759353,0008—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Toyota FJ Cruiser model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser?

Owners of this model year most often write about rust and corrosion on the frame, underbody, fuel tank straps and suspension brackets, frequently found during servicing or a failed state inspection. The issues reported most often: Frame and underbody rust; Fuel tank straps rusted through; Suspension and axle mounts separating from frame.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser have?

NHTSA recorded 593 consumer complaints for the 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser is reported most often?

Body and structure is named most often, in 238 complaints (40% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 84.

Has the 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser been recalled?

NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser get?

The EPA rates the 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser (FJ Cruiser 2WD, 4.0L 6-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 17 city and 21 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser reported?

Among the 441 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 53,000 miles and the middle half falls between 15,000 and 110,000 miles; 48% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.