2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER Fuel/propulsion System Problems

I was driving the vehicle to work and was unable to stop. I had to use the emergency brake system.

The gas tank strap rusted so the gas tank was hanging low. I fixed the problem myself

I was driving down the street after filling up my fuel tank. I drove approximately 1/2 mile when I heard a sound, felt a clunk and stopped immediately. My fuel tank was hanging down on the ground. I called AAA and requested a flatbed and to bring a strap. He did not bring a strap and when my truck arrived at the mechanic the fuel tank had completely separated from the vehicle. The other complaint I have is the rusted frame. I purchased this vehicle used. I did not notice that the tube before the rear axle which holds suspension supports to the frame were completely broken off and separated from the rusted out frame that has failed. It has been welding but the rusted frame is very difficult to weld to.

Rust is inherently bad on these vehicles. The other day i heard a weird noise under my truck driving down the road. As if I flung a rock up and hit a spring or something. To my dismay, I noticed the fuel tank hanging. One of the straps rusted to the point that it broke allowing the fuel tank to droop.

I recently purchased the used 2007 Toyota FJ with 101,000 miles. During maintenance and inspection, it was found that the fuel tank straps are rusted out and need to be replaced. The rear brake lines are rusted out and need to be replaced. The frame is severely rusted out and failing at the factory welds. I was referred to submit a report and investigate filing a class action lawsuit against the manufacturer for negligence, as this is apparently a known issue. I am hoping that the will reach someone that is able to help all the owners with the same issues as this should be recalled and repaired to prevent unnecessary injury or death. This is a huge financial burden for those expecting a quality vehicle that will be safe. Failing brakes, loose gas tanks and weakened frames are recipe for disaster.

Serviced 99% of the time at Toyota dealer. Within a week of having the vehicle serviced by the dealer, I noticed a rattling/banging. One gas strap had completely rusted through, and the other was hanging on by about a quarter inch of material. I always ask the dealer to inspect the frame due to the history of rust problems on FJs—they have never flagged anything but I inspect it as I can myself, but have no way to lift the vehicle up thoroughly. I also have the service fluid applied by Rust Check to prevent/inhibit deterioration. On a sidebar, this summer I was traveling on the interstate when the rear-most crossmember rusted out while I was using a hitch haul to move a dresser to South Carolina.

I filled up my truck with gas. Upon driving to work I noticed a loud clank. I looked under the vehicle but it was dark and saw nothing obvious. I continued down the road and heard knocking only when braking hard. When examined in daylight, I could see that the Fuel Tank Support Strap (Rear) rusted thru and the weight of the tank/fuel caused it to shift toward and rub against the Drive Shaft. The loud clank I would hear was caused by the tank being struck by the Drive Shaft balancing weight. The more I research, the more I see others have experienced the same thing. I made it safe until I could procure parts and make the repair. I examined the area and the replaced straps. The rear strap is doomed to fail. The OEM part is painted but exposed in the left rear tire well. Basically, the strap is doomed to be sandblasted by road debris, salt, sand and plain old dirt. Photos and descriptions of others with similar problems are always in the same location. I feel Toyota should make the Straps from a better quality material not as susceptible to corrosive properties of Salt. This is a serious fuel tank issue. If there was a problem with the front strap the rear strap failure could have dropped the tank on the road. Will it take the death(s) of the occupants of affected vehicle should a fire or explosion occur for Toyota to step up and assume responsibility? Or maybe if the tank falls out of the vehicle and car that runs over it then it explodes and kills those occupants will get Toyota's attention? I have retained the failed part should it be needed at a future date for inspection, etc.

FJ Cruiser in Tennessee Was filling up gas tank and heard a noise under the car. I looked and noticed that the back of the gas tank was hanging down. After I got it home, I discovered that the rear fuel strap had broken due to rust. The front fuel strap was also extremely rusted and probably would have failed also

FUEL TANK STRAP RUSTED THROUGH, ALMOST LOST MY FUEL TANK. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED IT AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE FRAME IS HAS ALSO DEVELOPED RUST ISSUES.

FUEL TANK STRAPS RUSTED, AS WELL AS MULTIPLE AREAS IN FRAME RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. ONCE VEHICLE WAS PUT ON A LIFT, MECHANIC SAID GAS TANK STRAPS NEEDED REPLACED AS WELL AS SOME REPAIR TO THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE FRAME.

Mileage: 120,000

NEW CAR RUSTED VERY QUICKLY. FUEL TANK STRAPS RUSTING ALSO.

MY 2007 FJ CRUISER HAS MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH RUST. THIS INCLUDES BEING INFORMED TODAY THAT THE FRAME HAS HOLES THAT HAVE RUSTED THROUGH AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION. I HAVE ALREADY PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO THE VEHICLE REPLACING RUSTED PARTS INCLUDING REPLACING THE FUEL TANK STRAPS LAST YEAR, PARTS OF THE SUSPENSION AND RADIATOR. THIS SEEMS EXCESSIVE DAMAGE DUE TO RUST AND CREATES AN UNSAFE TOYOTA PRODUCT.

I HAVE BEEN HAVING NOTHING, BUT PROBLEMS WITH KEEPING MY FJ ALIVE. IT WON'T EVEN KEEP A HOLD LONGER THAN A FEW HOURS. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL TANK AS I CAN NEVER GO LOWER THAN 1/4 OF A TANK BECAUSE IT WILL DIE. I HAVE READ THAT OTHER FJS HAVE HAD THEIR FUEL PUMPS REPLACED UNDER RECALL AND I WOULD LIKE MINE DONE AS WELL.

Mileage: 169,300

THE STRAPS THAT HOLD THE GAS TANK UP UNDER THE VEHICLE HAVE RUSTED AWAY AND THE GAS TANK HAS FALLEN OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS NEAR MY HOME.

Mileage: 198,000

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. THE SKID PLATE HAPPENED OVER TIME UNTIL IT WAS IN PIECES AND HAD TO BE REMOVED THE REST OF THE WAY AND THE GAS TANK STRAP HAPPENED ON A ROAD TRIP IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN AND WE WERE ABLE TO RATCHET STRAP IT BACK IN PLACE FOR THE REST OF THE TIME. *TR

Mileage: 200,000

WHEN I CRUISE ON A HIGHWAY AROUND 70MPH, MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER. I WAS VERY SCARED BUT TRIED TO MOVE THE CAR TO CURB, THEN THE CAR DIED. ONE MINUTE LATER I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR BUT FAILED. I CALLED THE ROAD ASSISTANCE SERVICE. WHEN THEY CAME AND POURED IN ONE GALLON GAS IN THE CAR, THEN THE CAR WAS STARTED. THE PROBLEM IS THAT BEFORE THE CAR DIED, THE FUEL INDICATOR POINTER POINTED AT THE A QUARTER POSITION. THE FUEL EMPTY WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ON.

Mileage: 140,000

CANADIAN VEHICLE, FRAME IS RUSTED WITH MANY BRACKETS AND MOUNTS BEGINNING TO FAIL INCLUDING FUEL LINE GUIDES, GAS TANK STRAPS, SKID PLATES AND MOUNTS, SUB FRAMES BECOMING FLIMSY WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUMPY ROAD AND THE REAR GAS TANK STRAP BROKE DROPPING THE TANK TO THE GROUND DISCONNECTING THE FUEL PUMP AND LEAVING THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE

Mileage: 140

MY FUEL TANK STRAPS WHERE ROTTED OFF I HAD TO GO UNDER THE VEHICLE CHECK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD TO GET STRAPS REPLACED BECAUSE OF HOW ROTTED THEY WHERE

Mileage: 145,000

FRAME RUSTED, REAR CROSS-MEMBER RUSTED, GAS TANK STRAPS RUSTED, SUSPENSION RUSTED/COMPROMISED

FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAPS RUSTING OUT.. ALSO FRAME RUSTING ALL OVER. REAR SUPPORT LINKS CONNECTIONS ON THE FRAME ARE RUSTING OUT.

Mileage: 160,000

FUEL STRAPS RUSTED OUT WHILE IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET AND FUEL TANK FELL DOWN. HAD TO GET TRUCK TOWED AND FIXED.

I AM REPORTING THE ISSUE OF FRAME RUST AND CORROSION OF THE FUEL TANK STRAPS. THE AMOUNT OF CORROSION AND FRAME FLAKING IS ALARMING AND POSES A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY FAMILY, OTHER DRIVERS AND MYSELF. SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING I CAN TO MAINTAIN AND FIX THIS ISSUE INCLUDING COMPLAINING TO TOYOTA THEMSELVES WITH LITTLE TO NO SUCCESS. THE AMOUNT OF RUST COMPARED TO MY OTHER VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY OUT OF PROPORTION. BODY MOUNTS ARE FLAKING AND CRUMBLING AND THE FRAME IS CORRODED AND FALLING APART FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

Mileage: 118,000

FRAME IS RUSTING & CRACKED IN VARIOUS PLACES. GAS TANK STRAP RUSTED / CORRODED COMPLETELY OFF LEAVING GAS TANK SAGGING IN THE REAR. THIS HAS ALL HAPPENED OVER TIME.

Mileage: 138,000

THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION INTO REPORTS OF EXCESSIVE FUEL TANK STRAP RUST FOR THE 2007 ' 2014 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THIS IS SAFETY PROBLEMS THAT WILL MOST LIKELY RESULT IN THE FUEL TANK FALLING FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING SERIOUS GASOLINE SPILLING LEADING TO A POTENTIAL EXPLOSIONS AND/OR ACCIDENT. CORROSION COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED AS EARLY AS 2008 AND SHOULD BE NOTED: NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10257254 INCIDENT DATE DECEMBER 17, 2008 MY FJ CRUISER IS STORED, COVERED, AND NOT DRIVEN IN THE WINTER AND EXHIBITS FUEL TANK STRAP RUST ABOVE AND BEYOND NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. TOYOTA HAS LONG KNOWN OF SECURING STRAPS AND CABLES THAT WERE NOT TREATED PROPERLY AND YET THEY FAILED TO WARN NEW BUYERS OR OFFER SIGNIFICANT HELP TO FJ CRUISER OWNERS. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS PERTAINING TO UNDERNEATH SPARE TIRE CARRIER HOLDERS DUE TO RUST IN MANY OTHER TOYOTA MODELS. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A MUCH GREATER SAFETY CONCERN.

Mileage: 89,000

THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION INTO REPORTS OF EXCESSIVE FUEL TANK STRAP RUST FOR THE 2007 ' 2014 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THIS IS SAFETY PROBLEMS THAT WILL MOST LIKELY RESULT IN THE FUEL TANK FALLING FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING SERIOUS GASOLINE SPILLING LEADING TO A POTENTIAL EXPLOSIONS AND/OR ACCIDENT. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS PERTAINING TO UNDERNEATH SPARE TIRE CARRIER HOLDERS DUE TO RUST IN MANY OTHER TOYOTA MODELS. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A MUCH GREATER SAFETY CONCERN. MY VEHICLE HAS RUST COVERING THE OUTSIDE AREA IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS. THE INSIDE AGAINST THE TANK IS NOT VISIBLE UNLESS REMOVED MAKING THIS EVEN MORE OF A DANGER DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO INSPECT THEM WITHOUT DISASSEMBLY. IN CONCLUSION WHAT APPEARED AS NORMAL SURFACE RUST CAN INDEED BE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY CONCERNS. THE FUEL TANK STRAPS CAN RUST INSIDE OUT CAUSING FAILURE AND NEED A PROPER PROFESSIONAL INSPECTION.

WHILE INSPECTING EXCESSIVE RUST FROM MY FRAME AND THE PARTS OF THE FRAME THAT HAVE FAILED (ALREADY REPORTED), WE NOTICED THE GAS STRAPS. THEY ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED AND OVER 3/4 BROKEN BECAUSE OF THE RUST.

Mileage: 103,000

THE STRAPS THAT HOLD THE FUEL TANK INTO THE TRUCK ARE MILD STEEL AND SIT IN A PAN THAT TENDS TO COLLECT WATER THAT IS SPLASHED UP WHILE DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS. ONE OF THE TWO THAT HOLD MINE IN DISINTEGRATED AND DROPPED THE TANK. THE OTHER IS NOT FAR BEHIND. THE REST OF MY UNDERCARRIAGE IS IN MUCH BETTER CONDIFTION THAT THE FUEL TANK RETAINING STRAPS WERE.

Mileage: 114,000

WENT AND FILLED MY FJ CRUISER WITH GAS AND SOON AS I DID STRAP HOLDING FRONT OF GAS TANK UP SNAPPED ON BOTH SIDES JUST BOUGHT DAY BEFORE KINDA DISAPPOINTING BUT MAINLY A HUGE HAZARD TO BE DRIVING WITH 140+POUNDS OF GAS HANG THAT LOW FOR A QUICK FIX HAD TO START WITH BUNGEE CORD

Mileage: 139,000

WENT TO GAS STATION TODAY TO FILL UP MY FJ WITH GAS AND THE FUEL TANK STRAPS BROKE IN 2 PLACES. THE BOLTED AND PINNED CONNECTIONS ARE STILL THERE BUT THE ACTUAL STRAPS HAVE DETERIORATED AND SNAPPED RIGHT IN HALF. THE FUEL TANK IS NOW HANGING DOWN COMPLETELY IN THE REAR. FIRST THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT WHICH THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR AT ALL, NOW THE FRONT SEAT BELT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL AND NOW THE FUEL TANK IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF ON THE ROAD. WHAT A HAZARD.

Mileage: 200,000

I WAS DRIVING ON A SURFACE STREET AND FELT A STRANGE BUT AND THEN A DISTINCT THUMP, THUMP,THUMP, SOUND BEGAN EMITTING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, I CONTACTED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEAL BUT THEY FAILED TO PROVIDE ME WITH ANY HELPFUL INFORMATION REGARDING ANY RECALLS REGARDING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. SINCE I HAD THE VEHICLE AT A SHOP ALREADY AND IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, I ALLOWED AN OUTSIDE SHOP TO DO THE WORK. 1EA RING AND PINION GEAR SET, 1EA BEARINGS KIT, 1EA SEALS KIT, SYNTHETIC OIL, AND LABOR FOR A TOTAL OF $2002.20 I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE A VEHICLE WITH 41.000 MILES ON WOULD HAVE IT REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAIL IN THE MANNER THAT THIS UNIT FAILED. *TR

Mileage: 41,000