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ProblemsByVin File / 2009-TOYOTA-FJ-CRUISER NHTSA data synced 9 hours ago
Toyota

2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser problems

The 2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser has 12 active recall campaigns on file and only 7 owner complaints in the NHTSA database. Often that means the recall caught it before the field did.

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The 2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser has 7 NHTSA owner complaints and 12 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.

Toyota FJ Cruiser owner complaints by model year
Model yearOwner complaintsRecalls
2007 FJ Cruiser 593 9
2008 FJ Cruiser 123 11
2009 FJ Cruiser (this page) 7 12
2010 FJ Cruiser 66 12
2011 FJ Cruiser 23 7
2012 FJ Cruiser 40 5
2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser
Photo: OSX / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain · representative photo of the Toyota FJ Cruiser
0 5 10
Reliability score
Not rated

Limited NHTSA data — only 7 complaints on file. The score reflects what's reported, but a small sample skews easily. 12 active recalls on file.

0
Critical
11
Severe
1
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2009 FJ Cruiser?
Not enough data for a verdict

Only 7 NHTSA complaints on file — too few for a confident call. The 12 active recalls above remain authoritative; read those first.

Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.

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Buyer's checklist
Going to look at one? Use the pre-purchase inspection list.
Generated from this 2009 FJ Cruiser's actual NHTSA complaint history — every item points at a documented failure pattern on this exact vehicle, not generic walkaround filler.
See the checklist ->

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2009 FJ Cruiser · visibility
1-cruise control over-speeding. It was observed that the cruise control system exceed the set vehicle speed in these three conditions 1a.one the cruise control resumes speed after deceleration. 1b.whilst the vehicle negotiate uphill driving condition 1c. If there is a strong…
11/28/2010 · at 3,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #10368010.0
2009 FJ Cruiser · powertrain
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Toyota fj cruiser. 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…
10/15/2012 · at 60,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #10480173.0
2009 FJ Cruiser · powertrain
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…
09/28/2009 · NHTSA ODI #10285520.0
2009 FJ Cruiser · airbags
Driver side seat belt is too loose non functional Airbag sign is on I m scared to drive vehicle
08/05/2026 · NHTSA ODI #11755006.0
View all 7 owner complaints →
Had a problem with your 2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.

Active recalls showing 3 of 12

severe NHTSA 16V396000 June 2, 2016

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element

If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

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. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.
severe NHTSA 14V743000 November 19, 2014

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner

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.

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. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
severe NHTSA 14V475000 August 4, 2014

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

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.
View all 12 recalls →

Common questions

Is the 2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser reliable?

Limited NHTSA data. Only 7 owner complaints have been filed for the 2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser, which is not enough for a meaningful reliability score. Active recalls (if any) are listed on this page and remain authoritative — those are verified defects regardless of complaint volume. For a confident reliability read we look for at least 10 owner complaints in the federal database.

Should you avoid the 2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser?

Only 7 NHTSA complaints on file — too few for a confident call. The 12 active recalls above remain authoritative; read those first. We don't issue a buy/avoid verdict on the 2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser without a meaningful complaint sample — doing so off a handful of filings would be guesswork.

What should I check before buying a used 2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser?

There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on the 2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser to flag a standout failure pattern. Run the VIN for open recalls — those are free to fix regardless of warranty — get a standard pre-purchase inspection, and ask the seller for service records.

Is the 2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser a good used car to buy?

Hard to say from federal data alone — only 7 owner complaints have been filed. Lean on the recall list above, a pre-purchase inspection, and a vehicle-history report on the specific VIN. Our data tells you what the model is known for; a history report tells you what that exact car has been through.

What's the most common problem on the 2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser?

No problem area has crossed our reporting threshold yet, which is a good sign for this vehicle.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

Major repair items haven't been flagged often enough on this vehicle to single one out.

How do I check if my Toyota FJ Cruiser has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser?

Hard to say from NHTSA data alone with only 7 complaints on file. A quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. The decision comes down to your specific situation: vehicle cost, miles on it, how long you plan to keep it, and whether you can absorb a $3K–$8K repair without straining cashflow. With limited public data on this vehicle, lean on the recall list above and check owner forums before committing.

Related

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 9 hours ago. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/Toyota/FJ Cruiser. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Toyota. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you purchase through them.
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