Toyota Hit with Class Action Over Alleged FJ Cruiser Frame Rust Problems

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A proposed class action alleges the frames of 2007-2014 model year Toyota FJ Cruiser vehicles can prematurely rust and corrode due to a defect. 

According to the 81-page lawsuit, many affected FJ Cruiser models are unsafe to drive given the extent of the rust and corrosion damage to their frames, i.e. the main supporting structure to which all other vehicle components are attached. The suit alleges Toyota has misrepresented in its nationwide advertising the quality and overall ruggedness of the vehicles, which allegedly pose a significant safety risk. 

“A vehicle’s frame forms the basis of a vehicle’s crashworthiness, including its ability to withstand or minimize damage to the occupant compartment in the event of an accident,” the case stresses. “Thus, the Defect compromises the strength of the frames and the overall structural integrity of the Class Vehicles.” 

The complaint alleges that Toyota has long been aware of the apparent FJ Cruiser frame defect yet failed to disclose the existence of the problem to drivers and the public. To date, the automaker has issued neither a recall nor reimbursement to FJ Cruiser owners for the costs of identifying and repairing the issue, the case says. 

Per the complaint, Toyota has failed to remedy the rust problems plaguing the FJ Cruiser frames despite having issued numerous service campaigns and warranty bulletins to address a similar defect linked to premature rust and corrosion with 2005-2010 Tacoma, 2007-2008 Tundra and 2005-2008 Sequoia models, which materially share the same frame as the FJ Cruiser. The suit states that some drivers have reported seeing rust on the undercarriage of their FJ Cruiser only a few months, and a few thousand miles, after purchase. 

Released in 2006, the FJ Cruiser was designed as a modern remake of the classic off-roading vehicles produced by Toyota in the United States in the late 1950s, the suit states. At the time of its release, Toyota called the FJ Cruiser the “most capable 4X4” in its lineup, and touted the purportedly rugged car as engineered for “serious trail driving capability,” the case says. 

The lawsuit charges that unbeknownst to consumers, the FJ Cruiser was manufactured without adequate rust corrosion protection, leaving it susceptible to premature rust. The complaint notes that all 2007 through 2014 model year FJ Cruisers are made with the same “defective” frames, and contends that the rust issue is not the result of any normal geographical or environmental factors from driving.

The apparent defect is particularly worrisome given a vehicle’s frame serves as the primary component that guards drivers and passengers against sudden impacts and collisions, the case relays. Compounding matters is that rust and corrosion damage typically occurs on the undercarriage of a vehicle, meaning it may go undetected without purposeful inspection, the suit says. 

The lawsuit looks to cover all persons or entities in the United States, including its territories and the District of Columbia, who bought a 2007 through 2014 model year Toyota FJ Cruiser. 

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