AI Damage2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser: common problems
Owners of the 2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser filed 7 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and seat belts. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 7
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 43% of all complaints
- 2 Seat belts 29% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 29% of all complaints
- 4 Suspension 29% of all complaints
- 5 Air bags 14% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 14% of all complaints
- 7 Vehicle speed control 14% of all complaints
- 8 Visibility 14% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 3 complaints (43% of all).
- Seat belts: 2 complaints (29% of all).
- Structure: 2 complaints (29% of all).
- Suspension: 2 complaints (29% of all).
- Air bags: 1 complaints (14% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 4 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 5-speed
- manual, 6-speed
Drive: AWD, RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 7 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Driver side seat belt is too loose non functional Airbag sign is on I m scared to drive vehicle
There is rust on the vehicle frame that is far worse than reasonable for a vehicle of this age. This is a known problem with these vehicles from this time and is known to be caused by compromises that toyota made in the manufacturing process.
Horrible frame rust. Rusty cross members that support engine and transmission. Rusty body and suspension mounts that attach to frame. All the weld beads on the frame are rusted inside and out.
The contact stated that while entering into traffic, he heard a breaking noise as the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to a dealer and the contact was informed that the transmission had fractured into several pieces. The vehicle was repaired after the failure was reported to the manufacturer.
4-a/c airflow foot mode air flowing at windshield defogger. It was observed that if the (foot only) mode is selected the air will get out of the foot exist as well as the upper windshield defogger and if used with the a/c switched on it will lead to condensation of the fog on the front windshield (as cold air will…
The toyota fj cruiser's seat belt is engineered hazard based on in seam design of the chasis. In the event of a side impact collision or the severance of the door from the body or shell of the vehicle the passenger can be extremely injured by the design of seat belt, or catapulted from the vehicle.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 12,538 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 34% most complained about).
On average one model year of the FJ Cruiser has 91 complaints (10 years in the data). This year has 7, below average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, seat belts, structure. Total complaints: 7. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: rust, corrosion (43%), seat belts (29%), rear-view camera (14%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2009 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.