2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser: 9 recalls, 124 owner complaints and up to 18 mpg combined.
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Recalls
9 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 2 equipment/tire recalls that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Equipment Vehicle recall #09V223000 · 2009 · 27,080 vehicles
What's wrong: These vehicles were not equipped with load carrying capacity modification labels which fails to conform with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims."
Why it matters: Incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels could result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners and provide them with a new, accurate label to be installed over the inaccurate label free of charge. The safety recall began on August 18, 2009.
Equipment Vehicle recall #10V035000 · 2010 · 271,417 vehicles
What's wrong: 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold between September 1, 2005 and June 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Why it matters: This does not meet the standard requirements.
The fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. Dealers will also correct the owner's manual. The safety recall began on May 27, 2010.
Equipment Vehicle recall #10V036000 · 2010 · 153,418 vehicles
What's wrong: 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Why it matters: A driver May overload a vehicle which May increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The safety recall began on May 27, 2010.
Tires Vehicle recall #11V148000 · 2011 · 22,000 vehicles
What's wrong: 138, "tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)." when factory-installed wheels and tires were replaced with Toyota authorized accessory wheels and lt tires prior to first sale, the tire pressure monitoring systems were not re-calibrated correctly and therefore do not start illuminating the low tire pressure warning telltale at the required minimum activation pressure.
Why it matters: Failure to warn of tire deflations is a non-compliance with fmvss 138 and could lead to tire failure increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: For the land cruiser, sequoia, tacoma and tundra vehicles, the dealer will re-calibrate the tire pressure monitoring system on affected vehicles and install an updated tire and loading information label at no charge. For the fj cruiser vehicles, the TPMS cannot be reset so the electronic control…
Seat belts Vehicle recall #13V098000 · 2013 · 209,000 vehicles
What's wrong: The retractors for the front driver and passenger seat belts are mounted in the access door (rear door) panels of the vehicle. Due to insufficient strength of the access door panel, cracks May develop in the panel if the access door is repeatedly and forcefully closed over an extended period of time.
Why it matters: If cracks occur in the panel around the lower retractor anchor, the seat belt retractor could become detached, which could increase the risk of injury to an occupant in the event of a crash.
The fix: The safety recall began on June 6, 2013. Toyota will mail an interim letter to owners late in April 2013. Remedy notifications to the owners for the repair will begin in late May 2013.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #13V163000 · 2013 · 208,000 vehicles
What's wrong: These lamp assemblies include 55 watt bulbs and due to this wattage and mounting angle, the combination of the upper beam headlamps plus the auxiliary lamps are too bright and exceed the maximum light output allowed for an upper beam headlamp. Therefore, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Why it matters: Light intensities above the maximum allowable limit could cause increased glare for oncoming traffic and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the 55 watt bulbs with 35 watt bulbs, free of charge. The recall began on June 6, 2013.
Equipment Vehicle recall #14V475000 · 2014 · 20,000 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles May list incorrect spare tire size and/or cold tire inflation information on the tire placard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims for passenger cars."
Why it matters: If the spare tire is inflated to the incorrect pressure provided on the placard, tire failure May occur while it is being driven on, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: For the involved vehicles, overlay stickers to correct the tire placard will either be mailed to owners or provided to dealers for placement over the incorrect information on the placard. The recall is expected to begin in September 2014.
Seats Vehicle recall #14V743000 · 2014 · 3,233 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles May experience compression of the seat cushion which May damage the seat heater wiring.
Why it matters: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
The fix: Set will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015.
Seats Vehicle recall #16V396000 · 2016 · 7,749 vehicles
What's wrong: The electrical wiring in the seat heaters May be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Why it matters: If damaged, the copper strand heating element May short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Set will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016.
2 aftermarket equipment / tire recalls replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Equipment Equipment recall #10E043000 · 2010 · 294 vehicles
What's wrong: These seat covers are made of heavier thread and are not compatible with seats containing side airbags. The heavier seat cover could interfere with full deployment of the airbag in the event of a crash.
Why it matters: An improperly deployed airbag could result in serious injury.
The fix: Marathon will notify owners of record and replace the seat cover free of charge. The safety recall began on September 14, 2010.
Equipment Equipment recall #12E046000 · 2012 · 200,000 vehicles
What's wrong: The subject trd brake kit is specifically designed for the front wheels of 2007-2012 model year fj cruiser vehicles. Due to the shape of the outer brake tube of the brake kit, the clearance between the outer brake tube and a trd 16 inch 6-spoke alloy wheel is minimal. If wheel balance weights are installed in an incorrect location, there is a possibility that the outer brake tube could be damaged due to interference…
Why it matters: If a brake tube becomes damaged and leaks fluid, it May result in increased stopping distances, and in some cases, loss of vehicle front braking performance, which could increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: All known owners of 2007-2012 model year fj cruiser vehicles will be notified by first class mail. If the vehicle is equipped with one of the trd brake kits, the brake caliper outer brake tube will be replaced with a newly designed one at no charge. During this service, if necessary, the dealer…
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 1 mention a fire, 3 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Body & structure (42): the most common themes are rust / corrosion (20), door / lock issues (3).
- Brakes (hydraulic) (17): the most common themes are brake failure / soft pedal (5).
- Suspension (14): the most common themes are rust / corrosion (9), steering problems (3), noise or vibration (2).
- Seat belts (13): the most common themes are rust / corrosion (2).
The 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser has 124 owner complaints, ranking #2 of 10 FJ Cruiser model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 91). Complaints peaked in 2010 (27 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 30,300 miles. Neighboring years: 2007 (593 complaints, 8 recalls), 2009 (7 complaints, 10 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 20 | 18 | Premium |
| 4.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 20 | 17 | Premium |
| 4.0 L 6-cyl | Manual 6-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 | 18 | 16 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser.
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Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 9 vehicle recalls for the 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser, plus 2 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser problems?
Owners have filed 124 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are body & structure (42), brakes (hydraulic) (17), suspension (14).
What gas mileage does the 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser get?
EPA ratings run up to 18 mpg combined (4.0 L, Automatic 5-spd), across 3 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.