FJ Cruiser Fender Bulge

[shack]

I'm pasting this from the FJ Cruiser Forum site. I know many of you are experiencing, or have experienced problems with your Toyotas. Here is an opportunity to have your questions answered. As an FJ Cruiser owner, I'm hoping this one might get answered. Sorry if its in the wrong place

So apparently, Dino Triantafyllos, a Toyota safety exec, is going to be on Digg answering questions about Toyota safety in 3 DAYS.

This is a great chance to bring the FJ Cruiser crumple zone fender rip issue into focus.

I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN TRIED BEFORE. I KNOW HARDLY ANYONE RESPONDED TO THE JIM LENTZ DIGG. LETS TRY AGAIN!!!

HERES THE GENERAL LINK:

An Interview with Dino Triantafyllos - Digg Dialogg

Please Digg cshack77

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I'm interested to hear how he responds to the issue. I had a handful of customers deal with these issues in the early days, several of which has complete fender retrofits performed by the dealer (Jimmy Page for the SL locals), so far his issue has not repeated itself.

 

[ywen]

what's the status with that fender rip issue? I thought Toyota came out with a new fender design and replacing them under warranty? I thought it was case closed?

 

[cnynrat]

Hard to really say for sure because good statistics aren't available. The general consensus seems to be that after two inner fender wall design changes by Toyota some people are still experiencing the problem. I think there are only a relatively small number of people who have convinced Toyota to retrofit their vehicles, so the experience with the new designs is mostly coming from owners of newer FJs.

While the problem occurs more than very infrequently, it's not as though most owners will have the problem. 58k miles on my 2007 and I've got the slightest deformation (you have to run your finger over the area to feel it), and it's been that way for a long, long time.

I don't loose too much sleep over it at this point.

 

[Corey]

May/June 2007 build on mine, and all is well.
Been following the few big threads on fjcruiserforums since they started them.

 

[FJLED]

what's the status with that fender rip issue? I thought Toyota came out with a new fender design and replacing them under warranty? I thought it was case closed?

2007 through 2010 models have the issue. No actual fix has been implemented yet for any of the model years.

 

[xpdishn]

My 2 cents: I know of one FJ (not mine) that has had bulges in both fenders for years. The owner has lived with them, wheeled normally and have had no issues with them. Me, my FJ had them, I took it into the dealer and they fixed them, both sides, with nary a whimper. Love my FJ.

Gary

 

[targa88]

March 2007 built date. Plenty of offroading. 84,000kms. No bulges.

 

[ywen]

Sick and tire of these new age yota creations.. why not just bring the LC70 to the US? Put in a gas powered engine if anything.. I mean for these niche models like the FJ Cruiser, I'm sure the target demographic would welcome the LC70 just as much. Give us a time proven design as opposed to these beta version designs..

 

[Deleted member 13060]

2007 through 2010 models have the issue. No actual fix has been implemented yet for any of the model years.

Not true. Toyota is on their 3rd fender redesign and the 2010 FJ has a new frame......

 

[FJLED]

Yes it is true. It is an issue which still affects all FJC models (2007-2010). No actual solution has been put in place.

Not sure about the 3rd fender redesign - the new frame is correct though. Regardless neither of those has solved the problem in the 2010 model or prior years (which means no actual fix has been implemented)

Look on the FJCF - there is a guy with a 2010 who has buldges on both sides on there.

 

[Deleted member 13060]

Yes it is true. It is an issue which still affects all FJC models (2007-2010). No actual solution has been put in place.

Not sure about the 3rd fender redesign - the new frame is correct though. Regardless neither of those has solved the problem in the 2010 model or prior years (which means no actual fix has been implemented)

Look on the FJCF - there is a guy with a 2010 who has buldges on both sides on there.

Your original post sounded like Toyota had done nothing. They have implemented a fix or two, :iagree: they just didn't work....

I'm guessing that the new frame and fenders are too stiff. There's a guy on http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/ who's 2010 inner fenders alledgedly skipped the bulge part and went straight to cracked....

I'll keep my 2006 TRD Prerunner till they fix them correctly or I can save the extra $6 - $8 grand and buy a new 4-Runner. Till then I'll use my current trail rig and wait.

In case anybody cares my dedicated trail rig is an 86 Samurai on 32" Swamper Radials, sprung over with LOTS of wheel travel, a 4.9:1 T-Case, locked up in the rear and more mods than I can remember. I think the hood and windshield are stock. I've beat the crap out of this little rig w/no frame or body bulges or cracks. If Suzuki can build a rig that tough and sell it (granted 25 years ago) for $5695. I have maybe $6,000 in mine including buying it. I would hope Toyota can/could build a frame and body at least that tough for $32,000....