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Which year to buy
Bar height: serious owner complaints to NHTSA for that year per car on the road, against this model's usual year.
2012GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.9× usual
24 serious complaints of 40, the most about structure (11) and steering (9); per car on the road, 0.9× this model's usual year. 5 recalls.
What owners report
“My frame is corroding at a rapid rate and needs to be addressed by Toyota! I truly believe that this was cheap way of selling cars without the proper undercoating affecting these trucks later on most Toyota trucks had the frames replaced buy the dealers with the same problems that these fj cruisers have, this needs to be addressed asap.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the structure, Aug 2026
“Speeds above 55 mph cause the steering wheel to constantly shake. It seems to be a consistent issue regardless of the types of tires and balancing that is used.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the steering, Jun 2018
40 owner complaints · 5 recalls (check a car's VIN for open recalls) · EPA combined: 16–19 mpg · NHTSA: Not rated · 2012 trims and features
Every FJ Cruiser year's verdict →
Verdicts computed from NHTSA owner complaints, defect investigations and recalls. Cars on the road from New York State registrations. (How we judge.) Data checked 2026-10-06.
Trims and features
What changed for 2012
- Engine: 4.0-liter V6 with Dual VVT-i → 4.0-Liter V6 DOHC 24-Valve with Dual Independent Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) (all trims)
2012 FJ Cruiser trims
| Base | |
|---|---|
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 4.0-Liter V6 DOHC 24-Valve with Dual Independent Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) |
| Horsepower | 260 hp |
| Torque | 271 lb-ft |
| Gears | 4x2 5-Speed Automatic: 5 4x4 6-Speed Manual: 6 |
| Drivetrain | 4x2 5-Speed Automatic / 4x4 5-Speed Automatic / 4x4 6-Speed Manual |
| Size and capability | |
| Seats | 5 |
| Max towing | 5,000 lb |
| Cargo behind last row | 27.9 cu ft |
| Max cargo | 66.8 cu ft |
| Ground clearance | 4x2 5-Speed Automatic: 8.7 in 4x4 5-Speed Automatic: 9.6 in 4x4 6-Speed Manual: 9.6 in |
| Length | 183.9 in |
| Curb weight | 4x2 5-Speed Automatic: 4,079 lb 4x4 5-Speed Automatic: 4,343 lb 4x4 6-Speed Manual: 4,332 lb |
| Tech | |
| Speakers | 6 |
| Driver assistance | |
| Parking sensors | Optional |
| Comfort | |
| Seats | Cloth |
| Exterior | |
| Wheels | 17 in |
| Headlights | Halogen |
Packages and options (58)
| Base | |
|---|---|
| Convenience Package | Optional |
| Off-Road Package | Optional |
| Trail Teams Special Edition Package | — |
| TRD Package | — |
| Upgrade Package $2,860 | — |
| Electronically controlled locking rear differential $340 | — |
| Auxiliary driving lights | — |
| Exhaust Tip | — |
| Hood Protector $155 | — |
| Off-Road Lights with Air Dam | — |
| Paint Protection Film $395 | — |
| Rock Rails | Optional |
| Roof Rack $649 | Optional |
| Running Boards $345 | Optional |
| Spare Tire Cover $169 | Optional |
| Tow hitch and ball mount | — |
| TRD Air Filter | — |
| TRD Cat-Back Exhaust System | — |
| TRD Cold Air Intake | — |
| TRD Oil Cap | — |
| TRD Oil Filter | — |
| TRD Performance Brake Kit $2,195 | — |
| TRD Performance Brake Pads | — |
| TRD radiator caps | — |
| TRD shocks | — |
| Wheel Locks | — |
| All-Weather Cargo Mat | — |
| All-Weather Floor Mats | — |
| Ashtray Kit | — |
| Cargo Cover | — |
| Cargo Net | — |
| Cargo Tote $49 | — |
| Carpet Cargo Mat | — |
| Carpet Floor Mats | — |
| Center Armrest | — |
| Doorsill Enhancements $149 | — |
| Emergency Assistance Kit $70 | — |
| First Aid Kit $29 | — |
| TRD quick shifter | — |
| TRD shift knobs | — |
| Vehicle Intrusion Protection (VIP) — Glass Breakage Sensor (GBS) | — |
| Daytime Running Lights $40 | Optional |
| Rear Parking Assist Sonar | Optional |
| XM Select Package | Optional |
| 17-in. alloy wheel | — |
| 17-in. black steel wheel | Standard |
| TRD 16-in. off-road beadlock-style wheels | — |
| TRD 16-in. 6-spoke alloy wheel | — |
| TRD 16-in. 6-Spoke Special Edition Alloy Wheel | — |
| Full-Size Spare Tire | Standard |
| Full-size tire | Optional |
| Army Green | Optional |
| Black | Optional |
| Cavalry Blue | Optional |
| Iceberg | Optional |
| Quicksand | Optional |
| Radiant Red | Optional |
| Silver Fresco Metallic | Optional |
Trim data from OpenSpec (ODbL 1.0), built from Oem brochure, Nhtsa vin decode. Still partial for this year: model, trims, powertrain, fuel economy, chassis, dimensions, exterior, interior, infotainment, safety, warranty, options, option rules, vin decode. "Optional" means a package or option adds it; hover for which.
Year by year
| Year | Engines | Drive | Fuel economy | Crash rating | Recalls | Owner complaints | Most-reported problem | CarPlay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 4.0L 6-cyl, 260 hp manual available | 4WD, AWD, RWD | 16–18 mpg | Not rated | 5 | 30 | Structure (10) | — |
| 2013 | 4.0L 6-cyl manual available | 4WD, AWD, RWD | 16–18 mpg | Not rated | 4 | 23 | Structure (10) | — |
| 2012 | 4.0L 6-cyl manual available | 4WD, RWD | 16–19 mpg | Not rated | 5 | 40 | Structure (11) | — |
| 2011 | 4.0L 6-cyl manual available | 4WD, RWD | 17–19 mpg | Not rated | 7 | 23 | Steering (8) | — |
| 2010 | 4.0L 6-cyl manual available | 4WD, RWD | 17–19 mpg | Not rated | 12 | 66 | Structure (13) | — |
Owner complaints are unverified reports to NHTSA, counted as filed: older years have had longer to collect them and sales aren't adjusted for, so see Which year to buy for a fair comparison. Most-reported problem: the component named in the most complaints that year. Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Apple.
Which years have…
Every NHTSA-rated version: crash ratings, safety tech, recalls, complaints
| Year | Version | Stars | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Toyota FJ Cruiser SUV FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 5 | 30 |
| 2014 | Toyota FJ Cruiser SUV AWD | Not Rated | No | No | 5 | 30 |
| 2013 | Toyota FJ Cruiser SUV 4WD | Not Rated | No | No | 4 | 23 |
| 2013 | Toyota FJ Cruiser SUV 2WD | Not Rated | No | No | 4 | 23 |
| 2012 | Toyota FJ Cruiser SUV 4WD | Not Rated | No | No | 5 | 40 |
| 2012 | Toyota FJ Cruiser SUV 2WD | Not Rated | No | No | 5 | 40 |
| 2011 | Toyota FJ Cruiser SUV AWD | Not Rated | No | No | 7 | 23 |
| 2011 | Toyota FJ Cruiser SUV RWD | Not Rated | No | No | 7 | 23 |
| 2010 | Toyota FJ Cruiser w/SAB 4-DR. | Not Rated | No | No | 12 | 66 |
Source: NHTSA.
Every EPA-rated version: engines and combined mpg
| Year | EPA model | Engines | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | FJ Cruiser 2WD | Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L | 18 |
| 2014 | FJ Cruiser 4WD | Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L Man 6-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L |
16–18 |
| 2013 | FJ Cruiser 2WD | Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L | 18 |
| 2013 | FJ Cruiser 4WD | Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L Man 6-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L |
16–18 |
| 2012 | FJ Cruiser 2WD | Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L | 19 |
| 2012 | FJ Cruiser 4WD | Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L Man 6-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L |
16–18 |
| 2011 | FJ Cruiser 2WD | Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L | 19 |
| 2011 | FJ Cruiser 4WD | Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L Man 6-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L |
17–19 |
| 2010 | FJ Cruiser 2WD | Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L | 19 |
| 2010 | FJ Cruiser 4WD | Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L Man 6-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L |
17–18 |
Source: fueleconomy.gov.