2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser recalls and problems

The 2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser has 4 safety recalls and 24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Toyota dealer.

Recalls
4
Complaints
24
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser recalls

Recall 14V-475: Equipment

Reported Aug 4, 2014 · 20,000 vehicles affected · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2014 FJ Cruiser and Tacoma vehicles equipped with accessory wheels and tires installed by Toyota or dealers prior to the vehicle's first sale. 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."

Risk: 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.

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. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

Recall 13V-163: Exterior Lighting

Reported Apr 25, 2013 · 208,000 vehicles affected · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Problem: Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2007-2013 FJ Cruiser vehicles manufactured January 25, 2006 through February 23, 2013 and equipped with a Toyota Auxiliary Driving Lamp Kits mounted to the front bumper. 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."

Risk: Light intensities above the maximum allowable limit could cause increased glare for oncoming traffic and increase the risk of a crash.

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. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

Recall 13V-123: Equipment

Reported Apr 9, 2013 · 7,525 vehicles affected · Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC

Problem: Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Risk: An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.

Fix: Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

Recall 13V-098: Seat Belts

Reported Mar 15, 2013 · 209,000 vehicles affected · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Problem: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2007 through 2013 FJ Cruiser passenger vehicles. 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.

Risk: 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.

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. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Structure11
Suspension7
Steering3
Service Brakes3
Air Bags3
Visibility/Wiper2
Electrical System2
Power Train2
Unknown or Other2
Wheels1
Fuel/Propulsion System1

Most reported parts

  • Structure › Body — 10
  • Electrical System › Wiring — 1
  • Structure › Frame and Members › Underbody Shields — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 25,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Structure · reported May 8, 2026
Please consider opening or expanding an investigation into frame, underbody, brake-line, and suspension-mount corrosion affecting Toyota FJ Cruisers. I own a 2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser 4WD. A professional inspection found multiple fluid leaks, heavy rust, rusted exhaust, leaking rear shocks, and brake line/hose concerns. After reviewing the condition, the mechanic essentially declined to repair it and recommended scrapping the vehicle. The attached photos show conditions that appear safety-relevant: rust perforation through underbody structural metal near a bracket/crossmember area; severe…
Steering · reported Feb 11, 2026
I purchased my beloved 2013 FJ Cruiser from Wellesley Toyota 6.5 years ago and have really enjoyed it. I have had it serviced religiously at McGee Toyota of Hanover since my purchase and expected to continue to enjoy it for many years to come and was just informed by McGee Toyota that the frame is severly rusted out throughout. My truck only has 158K miles on it and I expected this to last at least twice as long. This appears to be the same issue Toyota experienced with the Tundra and Tacoma with premature rusting on their vehicles due to a manufacturing issue. There are numerous complaints…
Structure · at 80,000 miles · reported Aug 5, 2024
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser. Upon having the vehicle inspected by a State Inspector, the contact was informed that there was significant corrosion on the undercarriage of the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer and was informed that the corrosion failure was a result of normal wear and tear. The contact was referred to an independent mechanic who specialized in vehicle undercoating to prevent further corrosion damage to the vehicle. Despite the vehicle being treated for the corrosion damage, the contact was recently informed that the corrosion damage had worsened…
Suspension · reported May 23, 2022
I went down the road & hit a bump my car rocked a little so I stopped to check the lug nuts & see if anything was wrong. I did not see anything. So, I continued to go pick my friend up as I was driving down the freeway anytime I hit a bump the car rocked more the faster I went. So I slowed down & watched traffic around me. Picked my friend up, went on the ramp and hit another bump and bam, my vehicle went so high up in the air my friend thought we were going to roll over. I immediately got off the freeway & there was a dealership right there. I asked if they could look at it & they wouldn't…
Structure · reported Jun 29, 2021
The frame on my vehicle is incredibly rusty. Upon further research, I've found that this is a chronic problem FJ Cruisers. Many frames have rusted to the point where there is structural damage thereby rendering the vehicle unsafe to drive. I know that Toyota issued a recall for Tacoma trucks for this very issue, and I would like to have a recall issued for the FJ as I'm incredibly concerned for my safety.

Other Toyota FJ Cruiser years

Compare all Toyota FJ Cruiser years · All Toyota models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser: 14V-475 (equipment), 13V-163 (exterior lighting), 13V-123 (equipment), 13V-098 (seat belts). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser?

Owners report structure problems most often (11 reports), followed by suspension (7). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 25,000 miles.

Are Toyota recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Toyota dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.