Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfaces can occur. Acid rain damage can typically be identified on vehicles by the presence of stains on the paint surface that resemble hard water spots. Unlike water spots however, acid rain damage cannot be removed by regular washing procedures. Also, because acid rain can etch and soften the paint, normal buffing or polishing repair procedures should not be attempted. This can cause further damage
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser body problems
severe Owners of the 2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser have filed 9 NHTSA complaints about the body at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2007 FJ Cruiser | 187 |
| 2008 FJ Cruiser | 32 |
| 2010 FJ Cruiser (this page) | 9 |
| 2012 FJ Cruiser | 7 |
| 2013 FJ Cruiser | 7 |
| 2014 FJ Cruiser | 9 |
When does it fail?
Of the 9 body complaints filed for the 2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
No new NHTSA body complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer. Consequently, the film should remain on the wheel for as long as possible.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage can occur. This damage is the result of actual etching of the paint and appears as pitting or water spots. As acid rain droplets on the vehicle surface evaporate, the concentration strength of the acid increases, causing deeper and more rapid damage. This evaporation and corrosive action also occur more rapidly on dark colored cars as direct sun heat increases. It
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow the Removal Procedure in this bulletin to remove the RapgardTM protective film within 90 days from initial application.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can be identified by the presence of small, red or brown particles on the paint surface. These particles are often difficult to see on dark color paints but can be easily felt when brushing a hand across horizontal body surfaces such as the hood, roof, or deck lid. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to clean vehicles that may have been subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles such as rail dust during rail transportation or extended storage near industrial ar
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
Own a 2010 Toyota fj cruiser. The frame is covered in rust. I have researched this and know this is an on going problem with these vehicles. Toyota should be doing something about this. We found even more rust recently once we had a change to get under the vehicle. No car I have owned at this much rust on it in such a short time.
Owner of a 2010 FJ Cruiser. The amount of corrosion on the frame and components is very high for the age of the vehicle, it leads to significant safety concerns (Including gas tank straps are corroded). Toyota should rectify this issue as it seems like they did a poor job on this model to isolate against rust the frame. There should be a Recall for a re-treatment of the frame (Just like they did…
To whom it may concern: I am writing to bring to your attention an issue that I feel should be addressed by Toyota due to the simple number of occurrences found in searches on the internet dating back to 2007. Vehicle: 2010 Toyota model: fj cruiser windshield: unreasonable/premature cracking VIN #: [xxx] the angle at which the windshield is mounted is of grave concern to…
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Toyota fj crusier. The contact stated while washing his vehicle he noticed that the frame was corroded. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 14,500.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Toyota fj crusier. The contact stated that he noticed there was rust on the frame of the vehicle. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 14,500.
Single Toyota 2010 FJ Cruiser Owner. Over the last 10/11 have been really diligent taking care of my truck, unfortunately due to what seems very poor quality steel or treatment of the frame and some parts when was build by Toyota, it has cause severe rust/rotten issue leading not only to significant safety concerns (broken gas tank straps and fuel lines) but also a significant amount of money…
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser?
It's a meaningful issue. 9 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Based on the 9 complaints filed, body issues most often appear around 25,080 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.