2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser: jerking or lurching

Filed May 22, 2017 · Brakes · 127,000 miles · OK

It seems to me that my anti-lock breaks are engaging when they shouldn't be. When I try to stop, it jerks so hard that it seems as though I've been hit from behind. It will try to stop while I'm driving and starts jerking. This has happened multiple times when I'm driving on the highway. My son is 20 years old and has this vehicle now and I am letting you know, that I will hold toyota and the federal safety agency personally responsible should anything happen to him. I have read so about so many issues regarding the 2007 toyota fj breaking system that it's unbelievable that a recall hasn't been issued. You are playing with peoples lives.

Filed May 1, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 95,784 miles · WI

I recently purchased a 2007 toyota fj cruiser with 95k miles on it. All was fine for about a month until I started experiencing unexplained accelerating and RPM surging when driving below 30 MPH and regularly while stopped in traffic with my foot on the brake. It's not a huge rev, but rather the engine will suddenly rise from normal idle RPM to about 1300 RPM, then back down again. I can feel the transmission grabbing and I have to keep the brake depressed to keep from taking off. The surge generally lasts for less than 10 seconds and then goes away for a short time. I can get it to duplicate the problem (at a stop, in gear) almost anytime. If you are not paying close attention and happen to lift your foot off the brake, the vehicle will lurch forward start to accelerate until the transmission downshifts. I fear that this will cause a serious accident someday, and someone could get hurt or killed. I have taken it to my local mechanic who says that he can't quite figure it out.

Filed Jul 18, 2011 · Brakes · 38,255 miles · TX

There are times when my 2007 fj cruiser starts to shake. Also since I first bought my vehicle, as I pressed on the brakes while being at a stop light, it would jerk and feel as if someone had slightly bumped into me from the rear of the vehicle when there was clearly no one behind my vehicle. This happens quite a bit. My main concern is that as I was driving recently I compressed the brakes before attempting a turn and absolutely no braking action happened. I wasn't going fast enough to overturn the vehicle, but none the less it is a very dangerous thing for a vehicle such as the fj cruiser to make turns at certain speeds, so for the brakes not to work at an important time can cause a severe, if not fatal accident. As I made the turn efficiently(by making a wider turn), I tried once again to use my brakes in which they felt like they were trying to catch again. At this time I felt unsafe and felt compelled to use the emergency brake. I have taken my vehicle to get looked at and they have stated an issue with the master cylinder. I have taken the time to look at various sites and forums in which many people have complaints of the same issues. This is a very dangerous issue for a vehicle that already has a caution for turnovers. My vehicle is a 2007 with under 39,000 miles on it. This should not be happening to a vehicle with mileage such as this. Please address this issue for the concern of all fj cruiser owners and the safety of all other drivers around this faulty action. Thank you.

Filed Mar 9, 2011 · Engine · 60,000 miles · CA

2007 fj cruiser with 60,000 blew a head gasket. There is major engine damage from over heating. Temp gauge never read that the car was over heating or that there were any engine problems. Also at a red light the car switched gears and a moment later switched back .it lurched forward with a big thump. I was at a full stop with my foot on the brake luckily!

Filed Oct 11, 2010 · Engine, Transmission · 15,000 miles · CA

This is a toyota ECM computer electrical malfunction. I was waiting in my 2007 toyota fj cruiser at a traffic stop for the light to change from red to green. At this time, I felt a hard "bump" as if another car had rear-ended my fj. There was this real hard "thump." the fj had shifted gears on its own while at a complete stop. Either the transfer case differential and/or the electrical rear differential locked up. Both my hands were on the steering wheel and my right foot was on the brake at the time. There is no driver's side floor mat. The fj got a strong grip on the road and it lurched forward. There was a lot of extra power and a lot more traction than in the normal "d" mode for driving on dry pavement. Instinctively, I pressed down harder on the brake in order to keep the fj from moving into the intersection. Two seconds later, there was another "thump" and the fj shifted back into the normal road gear "d." I believe what happened is that the ECM computer sent a malfunctioning signal and locked up one or both of the differentials. This happened with an automatic transmission on dry pavement and stop when there was no driver command to shift gears. The sensation I felt is similar to using my fj for off-road driving and shifting into 4wd "low," but this was much more severe. My concern is that the ECM computer might malfunction highway speeds of 70 MPH. It could send a similar command to lock up either the transfer case differential or electric rear differential. If this happens, the fj becomes a 5,000 lb. Flying missile, basically out of control. I would not be able to steer the fj or to navigate turns properly. It would become a danger not only to myself, but to all other cars in the immediate vicinity. This is the first time it happened. Something is dangerously wrong with toyota's ECM computer system in the fj cruiser.

Filed Apr 28, 2010 · Acceleration, Electrical · CO

I own a 2007 toyota fj cruiser with a manual transmission. The throttle management software is a joke at best and dangerous at worst. The vehicle engine RPM will not go below 12-1800rpm when the vehicle is moving unless the speed is somewhere below 5mph. This can be very annoying at times and dangerous at others. Driving on ice, towing a trailer, driving in hilly terrain. There is no engine braking available at any speed above 5mph. When the software does finally close the throttle completely it does so abruptly causing a jerky condition that can lead to loss of control on ice. At 20mph, for instance driving in a school zone, the throttle cannot be set to maintain a steady speed. The vehicle alternates between accelerating and almost complete throttle shut off. There is no in between. I have seen this same behavior when driving off road in steep terrain. Not only is it annoying but it is dangerous. I have had the vehicle to toyota twice and they claim it is normal for this model and that there is nothing that can be done. The other thing that it does is hold the last RPM for several seconds when shifting between gears. Not so much dangerous as annoying and causes excessive wear on driveline components and is also extremely wasteful of fuel.

Filed Apr 1, 2008 · Brakes · 1,500 miles · GA

1. While backing down a hill the brakes release and you free fall a few feet. Dealer brought out another vehicle to test it and this one did the same thing. Dealer contacted toyota technical ops and they said this was as designed. 2. While braking the RPM jumps up as high as 1500 RPM causing the vehicle lurch forward.

Filed Feb 12, 2007 · Transmission · 450 miles · MN

Tl*- the contact owns a 2007 toyota fj cruiser. When the temperature was below 20 degrees the clutch had a delayed response. The clutch didn't come out when released, jerking the vehicle to the side. The contact took the vehicle to the dealership, and they found nothing wrong with the vehicle, but they called toyota, who stated that there was a known failure that they were currently working with a technical service bulletin. The current and failure mileage were 450.