Model year guide

2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 38 on record.

2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser at a glance

Safety recalls5
Owner complaints40
Combined18 mpg
Typical price$28,053

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser recalls 5

Equipment:other:labels NHTSA Campaign #14V475000 · 04/08/2014

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 Safe…

Fix: 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 1-800-331-43…

Exterior Lighting NHTSA Campaign #13V163000 · 25/04/2013

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…

Fix: 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.

Seat Belts:front:anchorage NHTSA Campaign #13V098000 · 15/03/2013

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2007 through 2013 FJ Cruiser passenger vehicles. The retractors for the front driver and passenger seat belts are mounted in the access door (rear door) panels of the vehicle. Due to insufficient strength of the access door panel, cracks may develop in the panel if the access door is repeatedly and forcefully closed over an extended period of time.

Fix: The safety recall began on June 6, 2013. Toyota will mail an interim letter to owners late in April 2013. Remedy notifications to the owners for the repair will begin in late May 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

Equipment NHTSA Campaign #12E046000 · 17/10/2012

Toyota is recalling certain Toyota Racing Development (TRD) brake kits, P/N PTR09-35070, and TRD High-Performance brake kits, P/N PTR09-35100, installed by Toyota vehicle processing centers and sold by Toyota dealers as an optional accessory for model year 2007 through 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser vehicles. The subject TRD brake kit is specifically designed for the front wheels of 2007-2012 model year FJ Cruiser vehicles…

Fix: All known owners of 2007-2012 model year FJ Cruiser vehicles will be notified by first class mail. If the vehicle is equipped with one of the TRD brake kits, the brake caliper outer brake tube will be replaced with a newly designed one at no charge. During this service, if necessary, the dealer w…

Equipment:other:labels NHTSA Campaign #13V123000 · 09/04/2013

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 Sc…

Fix: 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…

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 40 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.
Seat Belts
Check that every belt latches, retracts and locks under a sharp tug, and that none are frayed.
Suspension
Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.

2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser MPG & running costs

Combined18 mpg
City16 mpg
Highway19 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,500

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser worth?

Low
$22,100
Typical price
$28,053
High
$33,250

From 36 comparable 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$17,500
Depreciation (5 yrs)$13,050
Total$30,550
Per mile$0.41

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($28,053) with the same model 5 model-years older ($14,995), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser trims & engines on record

Trims
Base · GSJ15L/GSJ10L
Engines
4.0L 6-cyl

2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser vehicles on record

Other Toyota FJ Cruiser model years

2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser — frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls for the 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser?

Based on 40 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are structure, seat belts, suspension.

What gas mileage does the 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser at about 18 mpg combined (16 city / 19 highway).

How much is a 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser worth?

Comparable 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser listings run roughly $22,100–$33,250, typically around $28,053 (from 36 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.