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2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser Safety Review

October 30, 2008

SAFETY | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

front-seat-mounted side-impact airbags” standard
Car and Driver

full-length side curtain airbags” standard
Edmunds

Five stars, driver-side front impacts; four stars, passenger-side front impacts; five stars, side impacts; three stars, rollover resistance
NHTSA

Good,” frontal offset and side impact
IIHS

The 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser offers solid occupant protection, but its design creates major visibility problems.

Edmunds points out that in “National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash tests, the 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser earned a top five-star rating for driver safety in head-on collisions. Front passenger protection rated four stars.” Additionally, front and rear passenger side impact protection earn a perfect five stars. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives the FJ Cruiser its top “good” rating for frontal offset and side impact collision occupant protection.

Car and Driver reports the FJ Cruiser comes standard with stability and traction control, anti-lock brakes, dual front airbags, front-seat-mounted side impact airbags, curtain airbags with a rollover sensor, front-seatbelt pretensioners, and a tire-pressure monitoring system. In addition to the FJ’s stout Toyota 4Runner frame that performs very well in crash testing, this litany of safety features should both help prevent accidents and cushion the blow--should the driver of an FJ experience one.

Despite the optional backup camera, the FJ’s poor visibility outward can be seen as a design that reduces safety. Practicality has to take a backseat with a style as radical as the FJ Cruiser’s; nowhere is this more obvious than from the view out, which Motor Trend likens “to wearing a football helmet, with a wide, truncated slot straight ahead and two big blind spots in the periphery.” Automobile advises, with “the spare tire taking up much of the tailgate, it's advisable to order the optional rear parking sensor.”

Conclusion

The scores are there, but the 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser’s safety grade is docked for poor visibility.

SAFETY | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:front-seat-mounted side-impact airbags” standardCar and Driverfull-length side curtain airbags” standardEdmundsFive stars, driver-side front impacts; four stars, passenger-side front impacts; five stars, side impacts; three stars, rollover resistanceNHTSAGood,” frontal offset and side impactIIHS The 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser offers solid occupant protection, but its design creates major visibility problems. Edmunds points out that in “National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash tests, the 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser earned a top five-star rating for driver safety in head-on collisions. Front passenger protection rated four stars.” Additionally, front and rear passenger side impact protection earn a perfect five stars. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives the FJ Cruiser its top “good” rating for frontal offset and side impact collision occupant protection. Car and Driver reports the FJ Cruiser comes standard with stability and traction control, anti-lock brakes, dual front airbags, front-seat-mounted side impact airbags, curtain airbags with a rollover sensor, front-seatbelt pretensioners, and a tire-pressure monitoring system. In addition to the FJ’s stout Toyota 4Runner frame that performs very well in crash testing, this litany of safety features should both help prevent accidents and cushion the blow--should the driver of an FJ experience one. Despite the optional backup camera, the FJ’s poor visibility outward can be seen as a design that reduces safety. Practicality has to take a backseat with a style as radical as the FJ Cruiser’s; nowhere is this more obvious than from the view out, which Motor Trend likens “to wearing a football helmet, with a wide, truncated slot straight ahead and two big blind spots in the periphery.” Automobile advises, with “the spare tire taking up much of the tailgate, it's advisable to order the optional rear parking sensor.” ConclusionThe scores are there, but the 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser’s safety grade is docked for poor visibility. 2008 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER STYLING | [9 out of 10] Edmunds: “distinctive style” Road & Track: “fresh interpretation of the original FJ40” Car and Driver: “retro-themed design” Motor Trend: “somewhat cartoonish” The exterior of the 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser is a show-car standout in a ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The Xterra and Wrangler are both vehicles that, like the FJ Cruiser, draw people based on their styling and off-road prowess, and it’s mostly a matter of which styling suits you best. All three are very capable off-road, but the Xterra is arguably the best for those who plan to tow or haul gear on the road; its V-6 feels especially perky on the road compared to the nearly equally sized engines in the other two vehicles, and it handles a bit better on the road. The Wrangler now has a full array of safety features, along with much better handling than the old version, but its interior is slightly inferior to the others, and it still has more wind noise than the others due to its boxy shape. The Xterra’s interior is much roomier and more versatile than the FJ’s, which has an especially cramped backseat. Although it’s not much more expensive, the 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser feels like a more expensive vehicle inside and out, which may give it an advantage over the Xterra.

Next Steps:

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See the Toyota FJ Cruiser in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007

Comments (7 total)

  1. By Erwin Koti #1, Posted: 9/8/2008

    Great SUV

    I've owned mine for 9 months and the truck is great. This is the truck to buy over a Hummer all day long. Back and forth to work or off roading this truck can do anything. Comfort level is great and actually if positioned properly, the mirrors are large enough to not have any blind spots as people report. It doesn't matter if it's me driving or my wife, we both love this truck and would reccomend it to anybody looking for this type of fun and utility.

  2. By Mitch Todd #2, Posted: 9/19/2008

    Buy Back of the FJ!

    The highly under publicized issue of the engine bay inner fender aprons cracking, bulging & ripping apart needs to be brought out into the open! Most FJ enthusiasts know about this design flaw, but over time (since it's been determined to be a repetative flex issue) most FJ owners will eventually notice the aprons flapping about once they completely rip. Virtually all FJ's will be out of warranty by that time and this will bite Toyota in the tail eventually.
    FJ OWENERS TAKE NOTE AND LOOK FOR THE EARLY WARNING SIGHNS.
    ALL 2007'S AND 2008'S ARE AFFECTED. JUST GOOGLE "FJ CRUISER ENGINE BAY RIPS".
    The Austrailian sold "Prado" built on the exact same frame has these same issues.

  3. By Brandon Ferland #3, Posted: 5/12/2009

    Frame Rust!

    I bought an FJ about 7 months ago. The frame is rusting at an incredibly fast rate. Toyota says that it is perfectly normal. I have had several other mechanics look at it and they have all told me that it is a defect in the metal prep. before paint, along with the fact that Toyota DOES NOT undercoat the FJ. Are there any other FJ owners with this problem?

  4. By Brandon Ferland #4, Posted: 5/12/2009

    Frame Rust!

    I bought an FJ about 7 months ago. The frame is rusting at an incredibly fast rate. Toyota says that it is perfectly normal. I have had several other mechanics look at it and they have all told me that it is a defect in the metal prep. before paint, along with the fact that Toyota DOES NOT undercoat the FJ. Are there any other FJ owners with this problem?

  5. By Michelle #5, Posted: 5/20/2009

    Also Rust Issues

    Toyota will tell you it is perfectly normal but we have a 98 acura and a 03 ford and neither have this issue and the acura sits on the ground with no rust! This is not a normal thing and we are waiting to meet with the factory representative to see what they will do for us... If you have any new news please let us know... we have an 07 with 11K on it. Babied from the begining....

  6. By Michelle #6, Posted: 5/20/2009

    Also Rust Issues

    Toyota will tell you it is perfectly normal but we have a 98 acura and a 03 ford and neither have this issue and the acura sits on the ground with no rust! This is not a normal thing and we are waiting to meet with the factory representative to see what they will do for us... If you have any new news please let us know... we have an 07 with 11K on it. Babied from the begining....

  7. By Henry #7, Posted: 9/28/2009

    Foor the FJ Cruiser you state an MSRP of $23- $24K How come I cannot get such a deal from any Canadian dealership? It looks like I will have to go south to buy an FJ Cruiser.
    Pls advise
    Henry

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