TT: Some customers may encounter Bluetooth® connectivity concerns such as: ?Difficulty to pair the phone. ?Intermittent Bluetooth® failure to connect to the vehicle when first turning on the vehicle. ?Various Bluetooth® Audio functions are no longer functioning with customer?s phone such as ability to change the track using the steering wheel controls. These concerns can be caused by changes made on the customer?s phone. Make sure to inquire with the customer if the connectivity concerns occurred after receiving an operating system update on their phone, or if they have restored their phone data/settings recently.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser steering problems
moderate Owners of the 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser have filed 9 NHTSA complaints about the steering at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
9
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 FJ Cruiser | 4 |
| 2010 FJ Cruiser | 13 |
| 2011 FJ Cruiser | 8 |
| 2012 FJ Cruiser (this page) | 9 |
| 2013 FJ Cruiser | 3 |
| 2014 FJ Cruiser | 4 |
When does it fail?
Of the 9 steering complaints filed for the 2012 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
Among the 7 model years of Toyota FJ Cruiser in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Steering accounts for 23% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 4 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering 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.
TT: Some customers may encounter Bluetooth® connectivity concerns such as: ? Difficulty to pair the phone. ? Intermittent Bluetooth® failure to connect to the vehicle when first turning on the vehicle. ? Various Bluetooth® Audio functions are no longer functioning with customer?s phone such as ability to change the track using the steering wheel controls. These concerns can be caused by changes made on the customer?s phone. Make sure to inquire with the customer if the connectivity concerns occurred after receiving an operating system update on their phone, or if they have restored their phone data/settings recently.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TOYOTA: WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55-70 MPH, THERE IS AN EXCESSIVE FLUTTER CONDITION IN THE STEERING, CAUSED BY WHEEL IMBALANCE OR RFV (RADIAL FORCE VARIATION) OUT OF RANGE. MODEL 2010-2013 FJ CRUISER.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some vehicles may exhibit excessive steering flutter condition, while being driven at approximately 55 ? 70 mph. In some cases, this condition is caused by a wheel imbalance or RFV (Radial Force Variation) that is out of range. If the tire and wheel assembly is satisfactory, a steering control valve preload spring is available to reduce the steering flutter felt through the steering wheel.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
Vehicle shimmy between 60mph and 70mph. Tire balance and alignment were performed but this did not correct the problem. Vehicle has been doing this since new (4 miles). *kb
During speeds of 55-65 the steering wheel starts to shimmy. We took vehicle into our local service dealer (not Toyota) and was told it was a rear control arm bushing. We then traveled 2 hours to the nearest Toyota dealership (the one where we bought the vehicle) and were told it needed a road force balancing and it would not be covered under warranty because they were not stock tires. After…
Steering wheel shimmy between 50-60mph. Have taken to dealer which have balanced the wheels and tires but I am still experiencing the same problem. Vehicle feel very unsafe with the steering wheel shaking at highways speeds. Other fj owners have been experiencing the same problem. *tr
Steering wheel begins shakes at speeds of 50 to 60 MPH. Have balanced, road balanced tires and still the steering wheel shakes, at this speed I am concerned there is something with the suspension/tires that may cause a crash in the future. *tr
My truck's steering wheel shakes violently between 55 and 65 MPH when outfitted with off road lt category tires. The shake is oftentimes violent and energetic, and can make the vehicle difficult to control. The truck is a dedicated off road capable SUV and should easily tolerate such tires. There is a very active online community of fj cruiser owners, and this issue has been discussed…
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.
Had steering trouble with your 2012 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 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 9 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 9 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 7,420 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/2012/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.