2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED THE ANTI LOCK AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS BEGAN ILLUMINATING ON THE DASHBOARD. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WAS BROKEN. HE ATTEMPTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BECAUSE THE WHEELS WERE LOCKED. WHILE TOWING THE VEHICLE A LOUD POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD AND ALL OF THE WHEELS EXCEPT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEELS BEGAN TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE SPEED SENSOR WIRE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,000. UPDATED 02/02/11 *CN

SUMMARY: THE PRIMARY SAFETY SYSTEM (BRAKES) IN MY 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER FAILED TWICE. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP UTILIZING TOYOTA NATIONAL RESOURCES WERE UNABLE TO ISOLATE THE PROBLEM. THE SOLUTION WAS TO COMPLETELY REPLACE BRAKE SYSTEM AND CHARGE IT TO ME. THE LACK OF AVAILABILITY OF PARTS NATIONALLY (BACKORDER) RESULTED IN A COMPLETELY UNREASONABLE REPAIR TIMEFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF SERVICE FOR 49 DAYS AND COST $2503.99 TO REPAIR. OCTOBER 1, 2010 DRIVING IN TRAFFIC DEPRESS BRAKE. THE PEDAL GOES COMPLETELY TO FLOOR BOARD. NO INDICATION OF PROBLEMS VIA INTERIOR WARNING LIGHTS. OCTOBER 6, 2010 PROBLEM DETERMINED TO BE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. PART ORDERED (47025-35111 CYLINDER SUB-ASSEMBLY) THROUGH INTERNET SITE OF LAKELAND TOYOTA IN FLORIDA. THE COST OF THE PART IS $981.37 AND THE PART IS ON BACKORDER. ESTIMATED DELIVER IS 10/26/10. OCTOBER 26, 2010 PART ARRIVES AND IS INSTALLED. MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS ARE INDICATED ON INTERIOR DISPLAY. NOVEMBER 1, 2010 TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DETERMINES THE NEW MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLIES COMPUTER IS DEFECTIVE. NOVEMBER 4, 2010 TOYOTA DEALERSHIP REPLACES NEW MASTER CYLINDER COMPUTER WITH MY OLD COMPUTER. THE RESULT IS THE WARNING LIGHTS TURNING OFF AND INDICATES THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED. THE MECHANIC TAKE THE VEHICLE ON A TEST DRIVE ACTIVATES THE ANTILOCK BRAKES WHICH RESULTS IN AN UNEXPECTED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE SERVICE MANAGER REFUSES TO RETURN THE VEHICLE CLAIMING IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. NO WARNING LIGHTS ARE INDICATED ON THE VEH

1. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP, CAUSING ME TO SLAM MY BREAKS WHILE I WAS DOING 40-ISH. 2. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO BAKE STUMBLE AS THE BREAKS SLOWED THE CAR, THEN CAME LOSE CAUSING THE CAR TO LUNGE FORWARD, THEN MOMENTARILY BRAKE, THEN LOSE BRAKING AGAIN. THIS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST SLAM IN TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. 3. I HAVE NOT TAKEN CORRECTIVE ACTION AS THIS SHOULD ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA AS THERE ARE MANY MANY PEOPLE DESCRIBING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

AFTER A "PANIC STOP" IN MY 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER, THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. WHEN AT A STOP LIGHT, THE BRAKES WILL SLOWLY FADE UNTIL THE PEDAL IS ON THE FLOOR AND THE TRUCK WILL ROLL FORWARD. THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND I WILL HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE IT. THIS IS HAS OCCURRED WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND IS DOCUMENTED ON FJCRUISERFORUMS.COM. *TR

THIS IS A TOYOTA ECM COMPUTER ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. I WAS WAITING IN MY 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER AT A TRAFFIC STOP FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE FROM RED TO GREEN. AT THIS TIME, I FELT A HARD "BUMP" AS IF ANOTHER CAR HAD REAR-ENDED MY FJ. THERE WAS THIS REAL HARD "THUMP." THE FJ HAD SHIFTED GEARS ON ITS OWN WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP. EITHER THE TRANSFER CASE DIFFERENTIAL AND/OR THE ELECTRICAL REAR DIFFERENTIAL LOCKED UP. BOTH MY HANDS WERE ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND MY RIGHT FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AT THE TIME. THERE IS NO DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR MAT. THE FJ GOT A STRONG GRIP ON THE ROAD AND IT LURCHED FORWARD. THERE WAS A LOT OF EXTRA POWER AND A LOT MORE TRACTION THAN IN THE NORMAL "D" MODE FOR DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT. INSTINCTIVELY, I PRESSED DOWN HARDER ON THE BRAKE IN ORDER TO KEEP THE FJ FROM MOVING INTO THE INTERSECTION. TWO SECONDS LATER, THERE WAS ANOTHER "THUMP" AND THE FJ SHIFTED BACK INTO THE NORMAL ROAD GEAR "D." I BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT THE ECM COMPUTER SENT A MALFUNCTIONING SIGNAL AND LOCKED UP ONE OR BOTH OF THE DIFFERENTIALS. THIS HAPPENED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON DRY PAVEMENT AND STOP WHEN THERE WAS NO DRIVER COMMAND TO SHIFT GEARS. THE SENSATION I FELT IS SIMILAR TO USING MY FJ FOR OFF-ROAD DRIVING AND SHIFTING INTO 4WD "LOW," BUT THIS WAS MUCH MORE SEVERE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE ECM COMPUTER MIGHT MALFUNCTION HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 70 MPH. IT COULD SEND A SIMILAR COMMAND TO LOCK UP EITHER THE TRANSFER CASE DIFFERENTIAL OR ELECTRIC REAR DIFFERENTIAL. IF THIS H

I HAVE DISCOVERED BULGING AND CRACKING ISSUES IN THE ENGINE BAY INNER FENDER APRONS AT THE LOCATION OF THE CRUMPLE SAFETY ZONES. TOYOTA DEALER AND CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSONNEL ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT WILL NOT ESCALATE MY COMPLAINT OR ALLOW ME TO SPEAK WITH A SUPERVISOR. FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWS THAT THERE IS A HIGH AMOUNT OF OWNERS EXPERIENCING SOME BULGING AND CRACKING ISSUES WITH 2007 AND SOME EARLY 2008 MODELS. THE BULGES AND CRACKS IN THE INNER FENDERS SEEM TO BE ATTRIBUTED TO A TOYOTA DESIGN FLAW THROUGH CERTAIN VIN NUMBERS. SOME SPECULATION WAS MADE THAT AFTERMARKET STEEL BUMPERS HAD PUT EXTRA WEIGHT AND STRESS ON THE FENDERS, CAUSING THEM TO CRACK, BUT HUNDREDS OF FJ'S EQUIPPED WITH AFTERMARKET BUMPERS SUFFERED NO DAMAGE. IT IS RUMORED THAT TOYOTA ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM IN MOST 2008 MODELS BY BOXING THE INNER FENDER AND ADDING A THIRD LAYER OF METAL AND A NEW BOLT INSIDE THE FENDER. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AS IT NEGATES THE ABSORPTIVE PROPERTIES OF THE FRONTAL CRUMPLE ZONE, IN ADDITION TO THE OBVIOUS STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS. *TR

THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BEING REPORTED ON TOYOTA BASED FORUMS. WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKES AND ONLY ONE SIDE (LEFT OR RIGHT) OF THE VEHICLE IS OVER SOME ROUGH TERRAIN, THE BRAKES RELEASE EVEN WITH THE BRAKE CONTINUALLY BEING PRESSED. IT LEAVES THE VEHICLE ROLLING INSTEAD OF STOPPING UNTIL YOU HIT THE BRAKES AGAIN. SOME PEOPLE HAVE CLAIMED IT WILL ENGAGE AGAIN IF KEEPING IT DEPRESSED, BUT ONLY AFTER MORE THAN A SECOND HAS PAST. I CAN RECREATE THIS ACTION TIME AND TIME AGAIN WITH THE SAME FAILURE HAPPENING EVERY TIME. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING IN THE FAR RIGHT HAND LANE, IN A WORK ZONE AT DESIGNATED SPEEDS AS CONTROLLED BY ROAD WORKERS. THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME APPLIED BRAKES CAUSING ME TO DUE THE SAME. MY BRAKES INITIALLY GRABBED MOMENTARILY AND THEN RELEASED UNEXPECTEDLY, WHILE I WAS STILL APPLYING THE BRAKES. I JAMMED ON THE BRAKES THE TIRES LOCKED UP AND NOSE DIVED VIOLENTLY.....BARELY AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT. OBVIOUS SIGNIFICANT BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. WHEN COMING TO STOP THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A POT HOLE AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AND BEGAN TO LUNGE FORWARD. THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR AND THE CONTACT HAD TO RELEASE HER FOOT SO THAT THE PEDAL WILL RELEASE; OTHERWISE, SHE HAD TO PULL IT UP MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FIVE ADDITIONAL TIMES AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES AS WELL. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BRAKE PAD AND ROTORS WHICH DID NOT RESOLVE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING IN SNOWY WEATHER AND APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP. HE PROCEEDED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CAME THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS PUSHED SEVERAL FEET DOWN THE STREET AND INTO THE CURB. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS NECK AND SPINE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, BECAUSE THE SIDE STEP ON THE VEHICLE TOOK THE BRUNT OF THE COLLISION. UPDATED 01/31/11/ *BF UPDATED 03/24/11 STATUS UPDATE. UPDATED EVOQ 04/19/11

2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. I HAVE THIS SUV SINCE SEP., 2007. THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THIS SUV IS THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM, WHICH DOESN'T WORK RIGHT. WHEN COMING TO A STOP, IF THERE IS A METAL MANHOLE COVER OR A POT HOLE WHEN I APPLY BRAKE, THE ABS ACTIVATES AND STAYS ACTIVE (NO BRAKE AT ALL) LONG AFTER I HAVE CROSSED THE HOLE CAUSING THE SUV TO ROLL MUCH FURTHER THAN I WOULD HAVE WITHOUT ABS. I LOST BRAKE COMPLETELY DURING THIS PROCESS, AND I ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME ON THAT DAY. I HAD TO RELEASE AND RE-APPLY BRAKE TO GET THE BRAKE WORK AGAIN. BUT THIS ISN'T THE WAY HOW ABS WORKS. THERE ARE MANY OTHER FJ OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED AT THE DEALER FOR AN UNRELATED FAILURE WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRONT INTERIOR FENDERS WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 49,000.

CRACKS AND BULGES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE INNER FENDERS APPEARED OUT OF NO WHERE.. I NOTICED THEM DURING AN OIL CHANGE. I DON'T OFF ROAD, ITS ALMOST STRICTLY A COMMUTING VEHICLE. I'M WORRIED THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND WANT IT REMEDIED ASAP. *TR

BODY TEARS IN THE INSIDE FRONT FENDER WALL OF 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THE TEARS WERE DISCOVERED AT 23K MILES AFTER READING ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH PRE-01/07 VEHICLES ONLINE. THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMS THAT THESE TEARS ONLY HAPPEN IF THE VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO A SEVERE IMPACT OF 9G OR ABOVE. I'VE DRIVEN EVERY MILE ON THIS VEHICLE, IT HAS NEVER HAD ANY SORT OF HARD IMPACT AT ALL. THE DEALER ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE ADD-ON FRONT BUMPER CAUSED THE DAMAGE. THE BUMPER, SOLD AND INSTALLED BY THE TOYOTA DEALER, IS AFTERMARKET, BUT 27% OF USERS REPORTING THIS PROBLEM ONLINE ARE 100% FACTORY. I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE DAMAGE OCCURRED, BUT THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN HIT "JUMPED" OR OTHERWISE ROUGHLY TREATED. THE CRACKS ARE AT SOME BODY FILLER BETWEEN TWO PANELS, AND I SUSPECT ARE THE RESULT OF MATERIAL FATIGUE. MANUFACTURER CLAIMS THAT I MUST HAVE SOMEHOW DAMAGED THE VEHICLE AND THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. *TR

05-14-2010 I HAVE BEEN VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS FENDER BULGE AND /CRACKING PROBLEM ON THE FJ'S. WELL IT WAS MY TURN, A BULGE RIGHT THERE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE CRUMPLE ZONE. LETS FACE IT, IF THE CRUMPLE ZONE IS ALREADY CRUMPLED BEFORE YOU GET IN AN ACCIDENT, HOW IS IT GOING TO HELP YOU IF YOU GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY CONTACTED THE FTS, FIELD TECHNICIAN SPECIALIST. THE FTS WANTED TO SEE IF THE FJ TO SEE IF IT WAS STOCK. I DID HAVE ONE MODIFICATION. AFTER READING EVERYTHING I COULD GET MY HANDS FROM THE FORUMS MEMBERS ON THIS SUBJECT I DECIDED TO HAVE A READYLIFT LEVELING KIT, INSTALLED IN THE FRONT ONLY TO PREVENT THE TIRES FROM HITTING THE INTER FENDER WELLS. THE LIFT ONLY RAISED THE FRONT 2.25 INCHES AND THE DRIVE REMAINED THE SAME. ANY MODIFICATION PROBLEMS THAT TOYOTA MAY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH CAN BE HANDLED WITH A COPY OF THE MAGNUSON ' MOSS WARRANTY ACT OF 1975. THE FIELD TECHNICIAN SPECIALIST CHECKED OUT BULGE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE CRUMPLE AND THEY VERIFIED FRONT INNER FENDER WAS BULGED AND RECOMMEND THE REPLACEMENT OF THE RIGHT & LEFT FRONT INNER FENDERS. 06-28-2010 I GOT THE FJ BACK FROM THE BODY SHOP ON THURSDAY THE 24TH. BOTH THE APRON SUB-ASSEMBLIES & REINFORCEMENT SUB-ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED. UNDER THE HOOD I COULDN'T EVEN TELL IF IT WAS WORKED ON. AFTER ALL THAT I HAVE READ AND THE FOLKS I HAVE TALKED TO I'M GLAD TOYOTA STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE AND FIXED THE PROBLEM. LET'S HOPE IT STAYS FIXED. *TR

I LEASE A TOYOTA 2007 FJ CRUISER WHICH CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE WAS TO STEERING COLUMN AREA. 911 WAS CALLED /POLICE AND FIRE RESPONDED. THE FIRE WAS VISIBLE FROM THE BLINKER ARM HOLE. FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY MYSELF. TOYOTA TIL THIS DAY HAS NOT TOLD ME THE CAUSE. IT HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP SINCE. I DON'T WANT THE CAR. TOYOTA HAS BEEN CALLED NUMEROUS TIMES. YET NO ONE GIVES ME AN ANSWER. I DON'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANY TOYOTA OWNER. A GUY NAMED TROY OFFERED ME A $1000.00 DOLLARS TO BE ON MY MERRY WAY. I DON'T WANT IT. ESPECIALLY AFTER THEIR COVERUP. *TR

I CURRENTLY OWN A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER AND HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM. AS OF YET IT HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IN MY VEHICLE, BUT SOONER OR LATER SOMEONE WILL BE KILLED IF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT CORRECTED. WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND APPLYING THE BRAKES IF YOU SHOULD HAPPEN TO HIT A RUT IN THE ROAD YOU SEEM TO LOOSE YOUR ABS AND THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO ACT VERY ERRATIC UNTIL YOU COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, ALMOST TO THE POINT OF LOSING CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE AT LEAST A DOZEN OR MORE TIMES IN THE 2 1/2 YEARS I'VE OWNED IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY THE DEALER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE FRAME NEAR THE ENGINE MOUNT AND THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS INDICATING THE ENGINE WAS FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,000.

THE ABS ON OUR 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER GIVES YOU THE FEELING OF NOT WORKING WHEN IT STARTS TO ENGAGE . THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS SPEEDING UP INSTEAD OF STOPPING. THIS HAPPENS WHEN YOU TRY TO STOP WHEN GOING OVER A ROUGH SURFACE. *TR

I THINK BY NOW IT'S FAIRLY OBVIOUS THAT TOYOTA HAS A REAL PROBLEM WITH THE RA61F 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BECAUSE ITS PILOT SHAFT/ BELL HOUSING ISSUE THAT CAUSES THE T/O BEARING TO MAKE NOISE. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. SOMEONE'S GOT TO GET THIS OUT THERE, AND GET MEDIA ATTENTION DRAWN TO THIS. *TR

AIRBAGS FAILED TO INFLATE UPON HITTING A GUARDRAIL. *TR

I OWN A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE THROTTLE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE IS A JOKE AT BEST AND DANGEROUS AT WORST. THE VEHICLE ENGINE RPM WILL NOT GO BELOW 12-1800RPM WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING UNLESS THE SPEED IS SOMEWHERE BELOW 5MPH. THIS CAN BE VERY ANNOYING AT TIMES AND DANGEROUS AT OTHERS. DRIVING ON ICE, TOWING A TRAILER, DRIVING IN HILLY TERRAIN. THERE IS NO ENGINE BRAKING AVAILABLE AT ANY SPEED ABOVE 5MPH. WHEN THE SOFTWARE DOES FINALLY CLOSE THE THROTTLE COMPLETELY IT DOES SO ABRUPTLY CAUSING A JERKY CONDITION THAT CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL ON ICE. AT 20MPH, FOR INSTANCE DRIVING IN A SCHOOL ZONE, THE THROTTLE CANNOT BE SET TO MAINTAIN A STEADY SPEED. THE VEHICLE ALTERNATES BETWEEN ACCELERATING AND ALMOST COMPLETE THROTTLE SHUT OFF. THERE IS NO IN BETWEEN. I HAVE SEEN THIS SAME BEHAVIOR WHEN DRIVING OFF ROAD IN STEEP TERRAIN. NOT ONLY IS IT ANNOYING BUT IT IS DANGEROUS. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TO TOYOTA TWICE AND THEY CLAIM IT IS NORMAL FOR THIS MODEL AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE. THE OTHER THING THAT IT DOES IS HOLD THE LAST RPM FOR SEVERAL SECONDS WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. NOT SO MUCH DANGEROUS AS ANNOYING AND CAUSES EXCESSIVE WEAR ON DRIVELINE COMPONENTS AND IS ALSO EXTREMELY WASTEFUL OF FUEL. *TR

ROAD DEBRIS DURING NORMAL COMMUTE HIGHWAY DRIVING HAS RESULTED IN MULTIPLE HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL CRACKS IN THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD TWICE AND THE WINDSHIELD RECENTLY CRACKED AGAIN. MY COMPANY OWNS SIX 2007 FJ CRUISERS AND FOUR OF THE VEHICLES WINDOWS CRACKED WITHIN THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF OPERATION. PREVIOUS TO THE FJ CRUISER, I COMMUTED ALONG THE SAME ROUTE IN ANOTHER VEHICLE FOR FOUR YEARS AND DID NOT SUSTAIN DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD. *TR

AFTER LEAVING THE CAR WASH I APPLIED BRAKES WITHOUT ANY STOPPING POWER FOR ~ 40 FT WITH FULL PRESSURE. I SLOWLY CAME TO A STOP USING FIRST GEAR WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I ASSUMED IT MAY BE WET BRAKES BUT ONCE STOPPED I REAPPLIED THE BRAKES AND NOTICED THE BRAKES WERE WORKING PROPERLY. EXITING AN OFF RAMP AT ~ 40MPH I GENTLY APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW AND SUDDENLY THE BRAKES WERE AT ALMOST FULL PRESSURE CAUSING ME TO RELEASE THE BRAKES TO AVOID SKIDDING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED A SQUEAKING AND METAL POPPING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT FRAME RAIL NEAR THE RIGHT MOTOR MOUNT WAS BROKEN. THE DEALER ALSO ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A BODY SHOP TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 61,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,976. UPDATED 11/05/10. *LJ

ABS SYSTEM FAILURE IN 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THE ABS, VSC, AND VSC TRAC AND SKIDDING LIGHT CAME ON ON OR ABOUT MARCH 22, 2010. TOYOTA DEALER HAD TROUBLE FINDING "PROBLEM" ALBEIT THEY SAID THE VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES OR ALMOST NO BRAKES. THEY REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY AND IN AN UNRELATED ISSUE REPLACE ILDLER PULLEYS. PICKED UP VEHICLE THAT WAS ALLEGED REPAIRED AND DRIVEN BY TECHNICIANS TO VERIFY IT WAS REPAIRED AND BRAKES WORKED. WITHIN ABOUT 20 MILES OF DRIVING, BRAKES BECAME VERY SOFT AND CAR WAS HARD TO STOP IN A REASONABLE DISTANCE WITHOUT VEERING. CALLED DEALERSHIP FROM VEHICLE ON MARCH 27, 2010 AND WAS TOLD TO BRING IT IN MONDAY, BUT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE UNITL MONDAY. I WAS TOLD JAMMING ON THE BRAKES MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SKID UNCONTROLABLE AND THAT THE ABS SYSTEM AND VSC WOULD NOT CAUSE BRAKE FAILURE. I DROVE THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 200 MILES ON A TRIP TO SEE MY MOTHER AND FATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STOP IN A RELIABLE AND SAFE MANNER.

TEMPORARY BRAKE FAILURE WHEN DRIVING OVER GRAVEL COUNTY ROAD. BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESS AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE, CAUSING IT TO ROLL THROUGH A STOP SIGN AND OVER THE RAILROAD TRACKS. ABS SYSTEM SEEMED TO BE ACTIVATED DURING THIS FAILURE, THE ABS PULSING WAS FELT IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE REAPPLIED THEY WORKED NORMALLY. THIS HAS OCCURRED ABOUT THREE TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 25 MPH AND TRAVELING OVER A BUMP OR POTHOLE, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WOULD ACTIVATE BUT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR AT LEAST FIVE TIMES WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE BRAKES POTENTIALLY CAUSING A CRASH TO OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, PROCEEDING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE SURGED WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED THERE WAS A SLOW RESPONSE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED UNTIL THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL POSITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPONTANEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 18,000. UPDATED 6/1/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE INCIDENTS HAPPENED ON DRY ROADS AND THE INCIDENTS HAS HAPPENED THREE OTHER TIMES WITHIN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. NO FLOOR MATS WERE INVOLVED DURING THE INCIDENTS. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 06/04/10.*JB

MY 2007 FJ CRUISER'S BRAKES FAIL OCCASIONALLY WHILE BRAKING ON A BUMPY ROAD SURFACE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE FIRST INSTINCT IS TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDDLE HARDER TO THE FLOOR BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUES MOVING FORWARD AT THE SAME SPEED OF TRAVEL PRIOR TO THE APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE. I HAVE TRIED PUMPING THE BRAKE WHEN THIS HAPPENS BUT IF THE ROAD SURFACE CONTINUES TO BE UNEVEN THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. I HAVE HAD A FEW CLOSE CALLS BUT LUCKILY HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET. *TR

MY TOYOTA FJ CRUISER ONCE AGAIN SCARED THE LIFE OUT OF ME. THE VEHICLE AGAIN STARTED TO ACCELERATE AT HIGH SPEED WHEN TRAVELING DOWN HILL. I LIVE IN PR WITH LOTS OF HILLS. I WENT TO A DORADO DEALER WHO TOLD ME MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAD LESS THAN 36K MILES BUT HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR MORE THAN 3 YEARS. I BELIEVE THE VEHICLE IS A PROBLEM WHICH MERITS YOUR ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE HAS DONE THIS TO ME MANY TIMES. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM AND BRING US PEACE OF MIND. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING IN SNOW OR ANY WET, SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WOULD ENGAGE WITHOUT DRIVER INTENT. IMMEDIATELY, THERE WOULD BE A 3 SECOND LOSS OF BRAKING POWER AS IF HE RELEASED HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND THE WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 79,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT OR WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WOULD SIT IDLE, THE ENGINE RPMS WOULD INCREASE ABNORMALLY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD PROCEED TO LUNGE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE HE ADVISED THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL AND DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION IN THE PROPELLER SHAFT, CAUSING THE SOLENOID TO STICK. THE DEALER DID NOT INVESTIGATE THE VEHICLE ANY FURTHER AND TO DATE, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DEMONSTRATE THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 45,000.

I EXPERIENCED BRAKING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS WITH MELTING SNOW IN TOWN AT SPEEDS FROM 0 TO 30 MPH. BRAKES FELT EXTREMELY MUSHY AND VEHICLE ONLY SLOWED BY APPLYING EXTRAORDINARY PRESSURE TO BRAKE PEDAL. AT STOP, PEDAL CONTINUED TO DEPRESS ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR AND DESPITE STANDING ON BRAKE, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO CREEP FORWARD. I AM 6' 1" TALL AND OVER 190 POUNDS, DEPRESSING THE PEDAL AS HARD AS I COULD, COMPLETELY STANDING ON PEDAL, I COULD NOT KEEP THIS VEHICLE FROM MOVING AHEAD. I BELIEVE IF THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN BEING DRIVEN BY A SHORTER, LIGHTER PERSON, THE POTENTIAL FOR A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN GREATLY INCREASED. VEHICLE EXHIBITED SAME FAILURE TWO OR THREE MORE TIMES WHILE DRIVING HOME (TOTAL OF 5 MILE TRIP). NEXT DAY INSPECTED FLUID RESERVOIR, LINES AND HUBS FOR ANY FLUID. RESERVOIR WAS AT PROPER LEVEL AND NO SIGN OF ANY LEAKAGE. SINCE THAT ISOLATED INCIDENT VEHICLE BRAKES HAVE PERFORMED APPROPRIATELY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THE TRAFFIC LIGHT WHENEVER HE WAS THE FIRST VEHICLE AT THE LIGHT. HE HAD TO LEAN FORWARD TO SEE THE LIGHTS HANGING ABOVE THE INTERSECTION. THE INABILITY TO SEE THE TRAFFIC LIGHT MAY BE DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24000.

I HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA FJ. THE STEERING SEEMS TERRIBLY WEAK AND UNPREDICTABLE. IT DRIVES LIKE A VEHICLE THAT HAS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MILES ON IT, BUT THE STEERING HAS BEEN LIKE THIS SINCE I PURCHASED IT. I'VE HAD THE WHEELS ALIGNED THREE TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. TOYOTA SAYS THE THERE IS NO ISSUE BUT THAT THE STEERING ON THIS STYLE VEHICLE IS JUST SENSITIVE. WHILE I REALLY ENJOY THE VEHICLE, I'M ALWAYS ON FULL ALERT WHEN DRIVING KNOWING THAT AT ANY GIVEN TIME, THE STEERING MAY SUDDENLY TAKE THE VEHICLE LEFT OR RIGHT WITH NO PREDICTABILITY. I'VE DRIVEN A LARGE NUMBER OF SUVS AND PICKUP TRUCKS. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED A NEWER VEHICLE THAT REQUIRES SO MUCH ATTENTION TO THE STEERING. IT MAY GO LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN THE ROADWAY SURFACE CHANGES, WHEN ENCOUNTERING UNEVEN ROADWAY SURFACES, WHEN TRANSITIONING FROM WET TO DRY OR ICE TO CLEAR PAVEMENT, OR FOR SEEMINGLY NO REASON AT ALL. OFTEN I FIND MYSELF ACTUALLY COUNTER STEERING (INPUTTING OPPOSITE TENSION ON THE WHEEL) TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM GOING LEAVING THE LANE I'M TRAVELING IN. IT IS VERY UNPREDICTABLE WHILE CHANGING LANES. AS I BEGIN A SLOW MOVE TO AN ADJACENT LANE, THE STEERING MAY SUDDENLY JUST PULL ME OVER TO WHICH I THEN HAVE TO COUNTER STEER TO KEEP FROM GOING TOO FAR. *TR

1) PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TWICE: DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THEN HITTING A POTHOLE AT JUST THE MOMENT BRAKING WAS REQUIRED BECAUSE TRAFFIC AHEAD HAD STOPPED; WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, THE PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR WITH NO BRAKING ACTION. ONLY AFTER RELEASING AND PUMPING, DID BRAKING ACTION RETURN. 2) THIS HAS OCCURRED TWICE. BOTH TIMES I NARROWLY AVOIDED CAUSING ACCIDENTS -- NOT TO MENTION THE SUDDEN RUSH OF FEAR AND PANIC I EXPERIENCED. 3) NO CORRECTIVE ACTION TAKEN. THE DEALER SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM. *TR

S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING LTR RE STICKING GAS PEDAL IN A TOYOTA VEHICLE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE GAS PEDAL WOULD MAINLY STICK WHEN HE PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE ALTHOUGH THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES. *JB UPDATED 04/27/10

2007 TOYOTA CRUISER TRD - TIE ROD BROKE. I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT. I GOT OUT AND LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE. ONE TIRE WAS POINTED ONE WAY AND ONE THE OTHER. THERE WEREN'T ANY EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. SHORTLY BEFORE THE TIE ROD BROKE, STEERING FELT AS IF I WAS ON ICE FOR A FEW SHORT MOMENTS. FORTUNATELY, I WASN'T DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE TIE ROD BROKE. VEHICLE WAS UNDRIVEABLE AND TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN EDMONDS, WA. THE TIE ROD WAS REPLACED BY TOYOTA. DEALERSHIP HAD NO INFORMATION AS TO HOW IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. NO REASON WAS GIVEN. CAR WAS 2 WEEKS OUT OF WARRANTY AND DEALERSHIP WASN'T GOING TO COVER THIS SAFETY ISSUE. AFTER APPLYING SOME PRESSURE, THEY DID HANDLE THE PROBLEM. *TR

DRIVING MY 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER V6 4X4 ON A LONG STRETCH OF TWO LANE HIGHWAY IN CLEAR WEATHER CONDITIONS. CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 70 MPH. VEHICLE STARTED SPEEDING UP ON IT'S OWN TO ABOUT 85 MPH. I THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. TURNED OFF CRUISE CONTROL, NOTHING HAPPENED. CAR WAS STILL ACCELERATING. HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL AND NOTHING HAPPENED. CAR WAS STILL ACCELERATING ON IT'S OWN. I WAS GETTING READY TO PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, OR PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE... WHEN I DECIDED TO HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL HARD WITH BOTH FEET SEVERAL TIMES. CAR FINALLY STARTED SLOWING DOWN. IT WAS LIKE THE VEHICLE HAD A MIND OF IT'S OWN. THIS OCCURRED JUST BEFORE 7/20/09 AND I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO TOYOTA FOR REPAIR WHEN WE RETURNED HOME. THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. HAVEN'T HAD THE ISSUE SINCE, BUT AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR ON LONG STRETCHES OF HIGHWAY. THIS CAR IS NOT CURRENTLY ON THE RECALL LIST. TOYOTA HAD A CERTIFIED MASTER TECHNICIAN RUN A SYSTEM TEST ON ALL COMPUTER SYSTEMS IN VEHICLE AND FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISE FUNCTION OR ANY OTHER ELECTRONIC CONTROL COMPONENTS. THIS WAS ON 7/20/07, THAT THEY CONFIRMED ALL SYSTEMS WERE OPERATING AS DESIGNED. I HAD TWO WITNESSES IN THE CAR WITH ME AND THEY SAW WHAT HAPPENED. I WAS LUCKY THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS ON THAT STRETCH OF THE HIGHWAY DURING THAT 15-20 MINUTE TIME FRAME. *TR

AFTER READING THAT THIS DEPARTMENT WAS "OPENING A FORMAL INVESTIGATION OF THE TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID MODEL YEAR 2010 TO LOOK INTO ALLEGATIONS OF MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY WHILE TRAVELING OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE, POTHOLE OR BUMP", I REALIZED THAT THIS EXACTLY DESCRIBES MY EXPERIENCE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WITH MY 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. I DID NOT REPORT THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP. I THOUGHT IT WAS MY FAULT FOR MY SPEED WHEN HITTING THE UNEVEN SURFACE. I DON'T KNOW REALLY WHY I DIDN'T ASK ABOUT THIS BUT THIS DEFINITELY HAPPENED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. OCCASIONALLY WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, HE NOTICED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOOR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXTREME BRAKING PRESSURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 31000.

I DRIVE A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE AUGUST 2006. TWO TIMES SINCE I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE, IT HAS ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY. EACH TIME, IT HAS TAKEN ME OFF GUARD. ONE TIME I WAS IN A 35 MPH ZONE AND IT GOT UP TO 50 OR 60 MPH. IN BOTH INCIDENTS, I SWITCHED THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV. I WAITED FOR THE ENGINE TO RETURN TO NORMAL BEFORE PUTTING IT BACK INTO DRIVE. BOTH TIMES, I THINK I WAS GOING A SLOW ENOUGH SPEED THAT THE BRAKE HELPED SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN ALSO. I HAVE INSPECTED MY FLOOR MAT AND IT WAS NEVER NEAR THE GAS PEDAL DURING ANY OF THE INCIDENTS. I ASSUMED THAT THESE WERE JUST RARE OCCURRENCES. NOW, AFTER HEARING OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS DESCRIBE SIMILAR ISSUES, I'M WONDERING IF THIS IS RELATED TO A MECHANICAL DEFECT. *TR

2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. I'VE HAD ACCELERATION ISSUES WITH MY TOYOTA FJ CRUISER, AS MENTIONED IN THE CURRENT RECALLED MODELS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A STOP, THE ENGINE REVS AND "ACCELERATES" AT AN UNCONTROLLABLE LEVEL THROWING THE CAR OUT OF CONTROL. THIS HAS HAPPENED A MINIMUM OF 3 TIME ALREADY AND POSSIBLY MORE THAT I WROTE OFF AS OTHER ISSUES. 2 OF THE 3 TIMES I TURNED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT AND OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT HITTING ANYONE OR ANYTHING, APPLYING THE BRAKE UNTIL THE ENGINE SLOWED DOWN AND I COULD COME TO A FULL STOP. I CALLED TOYOTA, (MAY 2009) AND THEY THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A COMPUTER ISSUES AFFECTING ACCELERATION, OF COURSE THIS WAS BEFORE THE WIDESPREAD RECALL. THESE ISSUES WERE NOT DUE TO FLOOR MATS OR STICKY ACCELERATORS. I UNDERSTAND THAT MY CAR, 2007 FJ, IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, BUT HAS THE SAME ISSUES AS THE RECALLED MODELS. *TR

THE FIRST INCIDENCE OCCURRED IN DECEMBER 2009. THERE WERE PATCHES OF ICY SNOW ALONG OUR STREET. I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN (THE SPEED LIMIT IS 25 MPH) AND APPLIED THE BRAKES. I APPLIED THE BRAKES SOONER THAN WHAT I WOULD HAVE NORMALLY DUE TO THE ROAD CONDITIONS. AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL MADE CONTACT WITH A PATCH OF ICY SNOW. MUCH TO MY SURPRISE, IT WAS AS IF I HAD NOT APPLIED ANY BRAKES AT ALL, AND MY FJ CRUISER CONTINUED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WHICH ENTERED ONTO A MAIN THOROUGHFARE. THERE WAS NO BRAKING ACTION AND IT WAS AS IF I HAD NEVER PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I REALLY THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO GO THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND BE HIT BROADSIDE AND STARTED TO PREPARE FOR AN ACCIDENT. FORTUNATELY, I RELEASED AND REAPPLIED BRAKE PRESSURE, AND MY FJ CRUISER CAME TO A STOP. SINCE THIS WAS THE FIRST BRAKING INCIDENT I PASSED IT OFF DUE TO THE SNOWY CONDITIONS OF THE ROAD. THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED AGAIN IN DECEMBER 2009. I WAS ON A STREET THAT WAS UNDER HEAVY CONSTRUCTION AND THERE WAS A LOT OF LOOSE GRAVEL ON THE ROAD. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 TO 30 MPH. THIS TIME WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, I EXPERIENCED THE OPPOSITE EFFECT. THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND ACTUALLY SKIDDED TO A STOP AS IF I HAD APPLIED THE BRAKES IN A PANIC SITUATION (LIKE I WAS GOING TO REAR-END THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME). THE THIRD BRAKING INCIDENT HAPPENED IN JANUARY 2010. WHILE DRIVING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD (THE SPEED LIMIT IS 25 MPH), I APPROACHED THE STOP SIGN AND APPLIED THE BRAKES.

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT YESTERDAY, THURSDAY, 18FEB10, AT AROUND 3:40 P.M. ON THE INTERSECTION OF WESTHEIMER AND BELTWAY 8. I DRIVE A 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THERE ARE 2 LIGHTS BEFORE I HAVE TO TURN LEFT ON THE BELTWAY TO HEAD TOWARDS I-10. I STOPPED AT THE FIRST LIGHT ON THE RED LIGHT BEHIND SEVERAL CARS AS THERE WAS SOME TRAFFIC. THEN THE LIGHT AHEAD TO TURN LEFT ON THE BELTWAY TURNED GREEN SO ALL OF THE VEHICLES TRAVELED TO THE NEXT LIGHT AND STARTED GOING THRU THE GREEN LIGHT UNTIL IT TURNED YELLOW. THE 1ST CAR AT THE LIGHT STOPPED AND EACH VEHICLE STOPPED BEHIND THEM INCLUDING ME. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT INSTEAD OF MY CAR STOPPING WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES IT FELT LIKE THE BREAKS TRIED TO GRAB BUT THEY DIDN'T GRAB AND MY FJ CRUISER KEPT ON GLIDING UNTIL I HIT THE CAMRY IN FRONT OF ME. THE CAMRY HIT THE LEXUS IN FRONT OF HER AND THE LEXUS HIT A BUICK IN FRONT OF HER. IT WAS VERY SCARY AS I EXPECTED MY BRAKES TO BRAKE WHEN I HIT THEM BUT INSTEAD IT FELT LIKE MY BRAKES TRIED TO BRAKE BUT THEY COULDN'T. THE COPS CAME AND GAVE ME A TICKET FOR "FAILURE TO CONTROL SPEED" EVEN THOUGH I WAS ONLY GOING VERY SLOW SINCE THERE WAS SO MUCH TRAFFIC BUT IT WAS MY FAULT BECAUSE I HIT THE CAR FROM BEHIND. THE FJ, THE LEXUS AND THE BUICK WERE MINIMALLY DAMAGED BUT THE CAMRY IN FRONT OF ME HAD THE BACK-END SMASHED IN. THE POLICE CAME AND TOOK OUR INFORMATION AND THEY CHECKED OUT THE OWNER OF THE CAMRY BECAUSE HER NECK HURT. I REPORTED THE ACCIDENT TO MY ALLSTATE INSURANCE AND TOLD THEM ABOUT

UNRESPONSIVE BRAKES WHEN GOING OVER POTHOLES . OVERLY SENSITIVE BRAKES AT LOW SPEED . *TR

THE TOYOTA FJ CRUISER DEVELOPS BULGES IN THE ENGINE BAY OVER TIME WITH NORMAL DRIVING. THESE ARE IN THE CRUMPLE ZONES AND EVENTUALLY RIP. TOYOTA FAILS TO FIX THIS TO SPITE HAVING HUNDREDS OF DOCUMENTED CASES. MINE IS ONE OF THEM. HTTP://WWW.FJCRUISERFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/TOYOTA-FJ-CRUISER-POLLS/37556-DO-YOU-HAVE-INNER-FENDER-BULGES-CRACKING.HTML. *TR

THIS JUST HAPPENED TO ME AGAIN TODAY, I HAVE AN 07 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER BOUGHT IN MID 06, I WAS DRIVING IN PA (WHERE YELLOW LIGHTS ARE SHORTER THAN MY NORMAL NJ ONES), THE LIGHT TURNED YELLOW RIGHT BEFORE I GOT TO AN INTERSECTION SO I GAVE A LITTLE EXTRA BRAKING, JUST AS I HIT A SERIES OF SMALL POTHOLES, ABS KICKED IN, THE NORMAL ABS FEELING HAPPENED IN THE PEDAL, BUT THEN EVEN AFTER THE POTHOLES WHERE THE ROAD WAS FINE, THE ABS SHOULD HAVE "DISENGAGED", THERE WAS NO LONGER THE NORMAL ABS "PULSING", INSTEAD I HAD A NEAR DEAD PEDAL. I HAD TO PUSH DOWN WITH ALL MY MIGHT TO SLOOOOOOOWLY BRING THE TRUCK TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION (FROM 5MPH TO 0 IN ABOUT 20 FEET). INSTINCT SAYS BRAKE HARDER WHEN YOU ARE NOT SLOWING DOWN, BUT I DON'T THINK I COULD HAVE PUSHED ANY HARDER. I AM REALLY GLAD THIS WAS JUST TO AVOID A YELLOW LIGHT AND NOT TO AVOID A CAR CROSSING MY PATH, I SURELY WOULD HAVE NAILED IT AS THE TRUCK SLOWLY ROLLED TO A STOP WITH MAYBE 10% BRAKING DESPITE ME STANDING ON THE BRAKES. I HAVE FOUND FROM EXPERIENCE THE ONLY WAY TO RECOVER FROM THE DEAD PEDAL IS TO LET OFF IT COMPLETELY, AND THEN YOU HAVE A NORMAL PEDAL AGAIN. THIS HAS ONLY HAPPENED TO ME MAYBE 6-7 TIMES IN MY 50,000 MILES ON THE FJ, BUT SO FAR I HAVE BEEN LUCKY AND MOST OF THE TIME IT IS SIMPLY STOPPING AT A YELLOW AND NOT BECAUSE I NEED A REAL EMERGENCY STOP. I WAS 100% STOCK FOR THE FIRST 5-6 TIMES, AND THIS LAST TIME I HAVE SLIGHTLY BIGGER TIRES AND A LIFT. THEY WILL PROBABLY JUST BLAME IT ON THE

WHEN BRAKING ON AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE THE BRAKES MOMENTARILY FAIL. *TR