YearToAvoid

2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

60/100

#3 most-complained of 6 FJ Cruiser years

The 2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser has a Complaint Index of 60, ranking 3rd worst out of 6 model years, with a Caution verdict. Structure & Body complaints dominate (43% share, median mileage 61,000), driven largely by frame and undercarriage corrosion, plus 4 recalls including a seat belt retractor issue.

Complaints
23
Recalls
4
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
18
16 city / 20 hwy

Top 2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Structure & Body10 (43%)
  2. Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (26%)
  3. Airbags3 (13%)
  4. Steering3 (13%)
  5. Brakes2 (9%)
  6. Electrical System2 (9%)
  7. Other2 (9%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain2 (9%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers2 (9%)
  10. Fuel System1 (4%)

What owners report

  • Owners report frame, gas tank straps, and rear bumper corrosion severe enough to raise structural safety concerns.
  • Undercarriage and frame rust was flagged by state inspectors and independent mechanics even though dealers called it normal wear and tear.
  • Some owners compare the frame rust to a known Tacoma frame recall and ask why the FJ Cruiser was not included.
  • Steering wheel shimmy or shaking of 1-2 inches was reported at highway speeds of 45 mph and above, even after tire balancing.
  • A brake failure was reported approaching an intersection, causing the vehicle to enter a crosswalk near pedestrians.
  • Windshield wipers reportedly built up heavy ice in snow conditions, causing temporary loss of visibility.
2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser complaints: complaints filed per month5Dec 2012Dec 2014Sep 2019Dec 2020Jun 2021Dec 2021Mar 2025
33 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2012 to May 2026; peak Apr 2013 (5).

2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 14V475000Aug 4, 2014Other20,000 vehicles

    Equipment:other:labels

    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. The affected vehicles may list incorrect spare tire size and/or cold tire inflation information on the tire placard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."

    Risk: 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.

    Remedy: 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.

  2. NHTSA 13V163000Apr 25, 2013Electrical System208,000 vehicles

    Exterior lighting

    Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2007-2013 FJ Cruiser vehicles manufactured January 25, 2006 through February 23, 2013 and equipped with a Toyota Auxiliary Driving Lamp Kits mounted to the front bumper. These lamp assemblies include 55 watt bulbs and due to this wattage and mounting angle, the combination of the upper beam headlamps plus the auxiliary lamps are too bright and exceed the maximum light output allowed for an upper beam headlamp. Therefore, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."

    Risk: Light intensities above the maximum allowable limit could cause increased glare for oncoming traffic and increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the 55 watt bulbs with 35 watt bulbs, free of charge. The recall began on June 6, 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

  3. NHTSA 13V123000Apr 9, 2013Other7,525 vehicles

    Equipment:other:labels

    Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

    Risk: An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.

    Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

See all 4 recalls for the 2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser →

2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16 MPG
Highway
20 MPG
Combined
18 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,600
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2013 compared with other FJ Cruiser years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201020112012201320142015
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011Best2023619
2012Avoid8040418
2013Caution6023418
2014Good4030518
2015No verdict001—

All Toyota FJ Cruiser years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser reliable?
NHTSA data shows a Complaint Index of 60 for the 2013 model, ranking 3rd worst among the 6 model years tracked, earning a Caution verdict relative to other FJ Cruiser years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2013 FJ Cruiser?
Structure & Body complaints make up 43% of all reported issues, mostly related to frame and undercarriage corrosion, with a median failure mileage of 61,000.
Does the 2013 FJ Cruiser have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2013 FJ Cruiser, covering seat belt retractors, an electrical auxiliary driving lamp bulb issue, a tire placard label problem, and an accessory wheel/tire issue. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2013 FJ Cruiser compare to other years?
Its Complaint Index of 60 is worse than the 2011 model (20, rated Best) and the 2014 model (40, rated Good), but better than the 2010 (100) and 2012 (80) models, both rated Avoid.
What is the fuel economy of the 2013 FJ Cruiser?
EPA rates the 2013 FJ Cruiser at 18 mpg combined (16 city/20 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,600.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.