This is not only a USA niche vehicle problem. The FJ shares the same platform as the Prado which was available in Asia and Australia back in 2003. The fender apron issue was reported back then except not a lot of yanks know about it since it wasnt imported or manufactured in US.
BTW, there was no recall or admittance by TMC in Asia and or Australia on that issue. There was also no "real fix" supplied by TMC.
Some of the members here has the first and second generation fender apron ripped or bulged. They are on their third gen, I believe.
And Im sure youll b!tch too when you'll have them.
You completely misread me.
I have an 07 TRD and discovered my cracks EARLY (15-k , about a year ago).
I have mech. eng. degree (but do nothing related in my current employment).
I've preached all along that is will become widespread given enough time, but it's a niche vehicle, and only a fraction of owneras are true "enthusiasts" who would notice in time (under warranty).
I'm fully aware of the Prado and entire Hi-Lux history. It's my opinion that essentially it's a repetitive flex issue exacerbated by a frame closer to being underbuilt vs. previous FJ frames/bodies that certainly leaned more towards being 'overbuilt".
BTW, I'm at 32-k now and am sending my truck to the body shop of my choosing next month to get the job done (plus a solid undercoating, skids & bumpers). Yes, these are "3rd gen" aprons now. Basicall the same as gen 2 with crush dimples placed differently, but a triangular "brace" welded in.
Because that weld cost very little to fix likely. This fender issue will cost millions upon millions to rebuild all our trucks.
It's cheaper for them to fight each one case by case and hope we go away.
AND this is not a "mass appeal/mainstream" vehicle (going against the usual Toyota philosophy to sell high volumes of each model).
They do NOT want to issue ANY official corporate paper trail even hinting they're aware of the problem. Especially now when the corrollas, etc. aren't moving
Oh sad. I don't mean to come across patronizing or rude. I am just really blunt about this subject, I know that many before me have had this issue taken care of as will many after me. If I sound crass its only because there is not an equal amount of reports with the government as there are reports of issues on here. Again I'm sorry for the tone, I really don't mean to sound like anything but a team player. I just try to offer the best analysis from my experience I'll be more tone conscious in the future
You we're not rude at all mate, some just get offended by the simplest of things.
Personally, I think it's the framflex combination with IFS. So far, I have not heard of anyone that has installed an axel on the Tonka's have this issue.
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2008 TTSE FJ
Arguing on the internet is like the special Olympics, even if you win, your still a retard.
BTW, I'm at 32-k now and am sending my truck to the body shop of my choosing next month to get the job done (plus a solid undercoating, skids & bumpers). Yes, these are "3rd gen" aprons now. Basicall the same as gen 2 with crush dimples placed differently, but a triangular "brace" welded in.
Please tell me your 3rd gen didn't fail, that is my only hope!
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Here are some fender tear resources. I hope you find them useful. Please file complaints with your state attorney general and with the NHTSA. Lets make it impossible for Toyota to ignore this plague. http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forum...resources.html
I read through a big chunk of this thread and decided to do some checking so that you guys have some more statistics.
My vehicle is an '07 FJ and has about 41K on it, has lots of mods, and has seen a lot of offroad use. No jumping at all, and no heavy hits. I drive like a grandpa offroad. I do not have any of the aforementioned bulges or rips. Having said that, I can't say that I'm not very concerned about it. At the very least it shows that the crumple zone in that particular area was made too weak. And that is "at the very least". Clearly there is likely an underlying cause since it appears that some have had it replaced 2 or 3 times.
According to the poll on this thread there are 325 vehicles with the body rip/fender bulge issue. Today (5/10/09) I searched the entire NHTSA database, for all year models of the Toyota FJ Cruiser, under Structure, Structure Frame and Members - Underbody Shields, Structure Body, and Structure Frame and Members. According to the NHTSA search there are:
53, 2007 FJ's reporting these problems OR concerned about these problems
and
10, 2008 FJ's reporting these problems OR concerned about these problems
Total: 63
In addition to the above, the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigations does not show a single FJ Cruiser investigation having ever been opened. They do show these for some other Toyota vehicles, but not the FJ Cruiser.
That's 63 FJ's that have been reported with the problem or concerned about the problem with the NHTSA.
According to the poll on this thread there are 262 FJ's that have the problem (not counting the one's that are concerned about the problem, such as myself), which have not reported the problem to the NHTSA.
I've picked and chosen my battles when it comes to activism, but the one thing that everyone who is either concerned about this problem, or is the recipient of a body rip or fender bulge, has to understand, is that if you don't say anything or aren't willing to file a complaint, nothing is going to change.
As for myself, I am:
1) Concerned that the vehicle that was built and marketed on the coattails of the heavy duty Landcruiser name, was not manufactured to withstand offroading like it's predecessors,
2) That Toyota has clearly chosen to shove this problem under the rug and force those FJ owners who may have had a warranty into arbitration (which also does not appear to be working many times),
3) That in the coming days, months or years, my vehicle will likely encounter the bulges or rips noted in this thread. Only to have to go through the same horror of arbitration and frustration.
That Toyota, and the NHTSA, have also ignored this issue is even more concerning. Perhaps they are waiting for one of us to get into a major traffic collision and sustain significant front-end damage, so that they can test the crumple zone defect, on a recessionary budget.
If that's the case, and it turns out that this defect is to blame, lets just hope that someone doesn't lose their life or lives. It doesn't appear that this has happened yet, but what if it did. Put this into perspective, this is something that should concern all FJ Cruiser owners. This problem is out there, and you or I could be next.
The questions you have to ask yourself are these:
Do you want to put your head in the sand and pretend as though this is not happening?
Or do you want to wait until it happens to you before you do something about it?
If you're concerned about this and you want to have your FJ for years to come, ACT!! Do something before you become a victim.
Now...what can I do to help those of you with this problem? I am one person and may not be able to do much, but maybe there will be more volunteers...
Have you tried to take this to any local news stations or newspaper outlets to have them follow your story? Has anyone spoken with anyone over the phone with the NHTSA to see why they have not opened up an investigation on this (their website does state, "We do not have to receive a specific number of complaints before we look into a problem. We gather all available information on a problem. Your complaint is important to us.")? Has anyone tried to contact a consumer advocate to get some media attention?
__________________ If it jams - force it. If it breaks, it needed replacing anyway.
Duke, the moment my FJ shows a sign of bulge or buckle, trust me, I'll raise hell...
In the meanwhile - here's a little sketch to help everybody understand where I'm coming from as far as the REAL problem that needs to be demanded to be fixed....
if the inner fender is EVER fixed to where it doesnt buckle any more, then trust me, your crumple zone is no longer functional.
As it stands right now, it is doing exactly what it was designed to do!! There is a force applied, it is designed to give way. The problem is the force is supposed to happen under accident impact, not normal driving!!
If people are pacified with (partial) inner fender replacements.... rest assured the real problem is still lurking to rear its ugly head.
The motor mount and inner fender failures are all the result of one problem - a weak frame once it comes out past the rigid cab unibody!
Not to be a smart ass, but in your case it doesn't matter because you've already passed the magic 36k mark, so you are on your own via the fineprint. I'm pretty much in the same boat as you though. 41k, no bulges, fair amount of mods, and I off-road on a fairly regular basis. At this point I suspect they will appear any day now and I'm at a total loss of what I'll do when it happens.
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2007 Silver MT:
TRD Exhaust, 3" OME lift, 17 inch wheels, 33" Toyo AT Tires, E-Locker, Demello Tube Sliders, All-Pro Skids for: IFS, Tranny, Transfer-Case, and Lower Control Arm mounts.
Not to be a smart ass, but in your case it doesn't matter because you've already passed the magic 36k mark, so you are on your own via the fineprint. I'm pretty much in the same boat as you though. 41k, no bulges, fair amount of mods, and I off-road on a fairly regular basis. At this point I suspect they will appear any day now and I'm at a total loss of what I'll do when it happens.
Not true, I spent the extra dough on the 7yr/100K extended warranty through Toyota. So, in a way, I guess I have more to be upset about it these bulges/tears occur, since I'd be out the extra cash. What's the point of an extended warranty if they're going to send me in circles to get it honored.
__________________ If it jams - force it. If it breaks, it needed replacing anyway.
From everything I read, that extended warranty ain't gonna do you 1 bit of good when/if it happens...supposedly body issues are not covered by it. The point of the extended warranty usually only amounts to one thing, them prying more cash out of your wallet.
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2007 Silver MT:
TRD Exhaust, 3" OME lift, 17 inch wheels, 33" Toyo AT Tires, E-Locker, Demello Tube Sliders, All-Pro Skids for: IFS, Tranny, Transfer-Case, and Lower Control Arm mounts.
The regional toyota rep and corporate tech inspected my FJ, they were interested in looking to see if
1. the tires ever came in contact with the fenders/liner in the wheel well
2. I ever ran larger tires (nope, stock size all the way)
3. If any of the spot welds had cracked
That was their method in my case to determine if it was abuse, mods, etc.
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