Vehicle steering wheel shakes violently between 55 and 70 MPH. Several other fj owners seem to have this issue. Dealer can not fix even though they have tired multiple wheel balances and tire rotations. Not safe to drive on the highway like this. *tr
2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser steering problems
moderate 8 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
8
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
When does it fail?
Of the 8 steering complaints filed for the 2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
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.
What stands out
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 14 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
Vehicle exhibited excessive steering wheel shake indicative of wheels being off balance. After attempting to re-balance 6 times at 4 different shops the symptom persists intermittently. Other fj owners of 2010 model year and newer fj cruisers have complained that their vehicles have exhibited the same behavior. The problem (based on feed back from other owners on internet forums) is spread…
Steering column shakes between speeds 55-65 MPH, have had the wheels and tires rebalanced with a road force machine without any resolve of the problem. *tr
Since new my vehicle has had a shaking steering wheel when reaching speeds over 55mph. After trying several different sets of tires, wheels and balancing my dealer has not been able to correct the issue. Toyota will not help and the steering is shaking so bad it feels unsafe to drive on the highway. *tr
My issue started around june, I get the wheel shake/ shimmy at speeds of 55-65. Toyota sees the shake is there and then balances the tires and says its fixed . Toyota inspected the truck saying nothing is broken bent or anything saying they don't think anything is wrong. You can still see the shake is there and they keep blaming that the road is causing the shake. Saying its a crowing. In the…
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Toyota fj cruiser. While driving unknown speeds and making turns, the steering hesitated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (carbone Toyota of bennington, located at 751 n bennington rd bennington, vt 05201) where it was diagnosed that the steering shaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN…
Had steering trouble with your 2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 8 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 8 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 38,921 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Toyota/FJ Cruiser.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.