2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser: ABS light or ABS activating

Filed Jan 26, 2023 · Brakes, Steering · OH

the brakes are constantly binding up due to rust and need replaced, recently ABS brake lines rusted off causing me to miss a stop sign, very dangerous, Upper rear control arm mount rusted and cracked completely off causing steering and braking problems and had to be replaced to even use this vehicle, , The front rack has been replaced due to excessive rust of lines and fittings, same with transmission cooler lines-rotted off...brake backing plates rotted off.. Even though I have had this undercoated and rust treated, the frame is rusting inside-out...frame braces, everything on the frame is rusted much more than one would expect, even in a salt state like Ohio....my safety was put at risk by faulty brakes, the frame is not safe under hard braking and may cause an accident, the dealer has seen this vehicle, a local independent says "get rid of it"...no warning lamps, just wild things happen with brakes, pulls left, pulls right, front, then back and this past time ...NONE!...only 111,000 miles.

Filed May 10, 2021 · Brakes · CA

Upon hard braking, if vehicle hits a bump, pothole, uneven road surface, etc, the ABS kicks in making it almost impossible to stop unless I completely release the brakes thus requiring me to slam on it hard to prevent rear ending another object.

Filed Mar 16, 2014 · Brakes · CO

The dealer did replace my master cylinder and the pressure pump after the experience with the ABS issues as others have stated, this was when the car was under warranty. It seemed to fix the ABS problem with the long pulsing and basically the computer taking over the braking. I am still experiencing a mushy pedal and lack of braking when the car is driven over a longer period of time or during the summer months. However after a lot of research and paying attention to the symptoms, I am convinced this is a pressure and heat problem. I don't know why on a 5700 lb vehicle that they are using ceramic pads, dot 3 fluid and this pressure system, it just can't handle it.

Filed Oct 7, 2012 · Brakes · 15,000 miles · TX

Brakes in certain situations become unresponsive. Happened twice when my wife was driving. Once when the streets were wet, she put on the brakes and went sliding all the way through the intersection. Abs did not work. The next time coming out of the parking garage, she went over some loose gravel and applied the brakes and the vehicle did not stop. She rear ended the vehicle ahead of her. Luckily there was no damage and the other driver was not a jerk. She said both times the brakes were unresponsive. See this thread for more information of this happening to others: http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/problems-dealer-service/102642-brake-issues-report-your-date-manufacture-VIN.html somebody is going to get hurt if it has not happened already.

Filed Apr 1, 2012 · Brakes · 16,000 miles · CO

While coming to a stop, if my 2008 toyota fj cruiser hits a bump the ABS brake system activates kicking back on the brake pedal. Then, the brakes grab as if they are going to lock up and skid. The only way to stop the brake system from continuing to do this is to release the pedal completely then, reapply the brakes. Obviously this isn't what you want to do in order to stop. There are numerous cases like this documented on this website. How much more documentation does toyota need before they take this seriously?

Filed Feb 10, 2012 · Brakes · 88,500 miles · CA

The brakes just failed and was suddenly unresponsive at low speed when I was driving over slightly bumpy road on I-10 los angeles, the road was not icy neither had any dirt or sand, it felt like that I had no brakes, and almost hit the car infront of me, luckily it came to a stop when I stepped the brakes so hard that it feels like useless. I took my car to my mechanics,they inspected it and told me that it was fine. The brake pads were very new. I replaced new brake fluids, but this incident happened again ! I went to fj cruiser forum,and lots of people has encounter this same situation when driving over pot holes to cause the failure in the ABS computer. And toyota can do nothing about it!!

Filed Dec 8, 2011 · Brakes · 58,800 miles · MO

Firmly applying brakes to slow for traffic, ABS stopped vehicle very quickly, then acted as if ABS was working but with minimal braking power. Incident happened on smooth, dry pavement. Vehicle moving in a straight line.

Filed Aug 8, 2011 · Brakes · 25,000 miles · CA

I have had an issue more than once where when applying my brakes if I hit a bump the ABS will take over, the brake pedal pulses and I will lose the ability to stop on my original mark. When this happens it feels as though the vehicle is barely attempting to make a stop at all. I have tried to apply more pressure to the brake pedal with no success. I have also tried removing pressure from the pedal and reapplying pressure but that does not seem to stop the vehicle any faster. I have had the problem when cruising between 35 and 45 MPH.

Filed Nov 23, 2010 · Brakes · 28,800 miles · CA

While driving on dry pavement I made a lane change while approaching a stop light when it turned yellow. I applied the brakes slightly harder than normal at which point the car took over and applied 100% braking force. The car slammed to a stop and both the passenger and I were whipped forward and were luck to have not been rear ended. I am very concerned with all the similar problems with the ABS controllers.

Filed Jul 27, 2010 · Acceleration, Brakes · 27,000 miles · CO

2008 toyota fj cruiser, build date:10/07. Have had unnerving experiences with the brake system on my fj.(1) when braking over a non smooth road the brake pedal pulsates for a long period and does not stop the vehicle. (2) had to panic stop and hit the brakes hard, they locked up, there was no braking just the ABS took over and locked up the brakes hard to the point that I was glad I was wearing my seat belt, because I would've been lying in the street.(3) the pedal will be hard one time and mushy the next when applying the brakes. When the pedal is mushy the brakes do not work appropriately, nearly rear ending people or locking up the brakes to stop. (4) when at a stop the pedal was mushy and I tried to "pump"up the pedal by pumping the brake pedal, all the warning lights came on (related to the braking system) the dash and an annoying alarm sounded, has happened 3 times now. (5) when the pedal is mushy I can push it down all the way to the stopping point/floor with no resistance. Called the dealer they said they have never had any "issues".

Filed Apr 5, 2010 · Brakes · 10,302 miles · TX

My toyota fj cruiser has an issue involving the anti-lock braking system. If I hit a bump while decelerating, the ABS pulses in such a way that it is impossible to stop safely at my original planned stopping point. If, for example, I am decelerating and plan on stopping within 100 yards at a stop sign, and I hit a pot hole, the ABS will pulse (engage brakes briefly, disengage them, then engage again repeatedly) in such a fashion that I will stop several yards beyond the stop sign. The pulse pattern of the ABS on the fj cruiser is dangerously long, and has caused several near misses on my part in a variety of situations (missing stop signs / lights, almost rear-ending someone due to hitting a bump/engaging ABS while stopping,etc.)

Filed Feb 9, 2010 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 25,000 miles · FL

When approaching a stop sign on a residential street at approximately 30mph, went to apply brakes, ABS kicked in and lost most if not all braking ability resulting in rolling the stop and ending up in the middle of a busy 4 lane divided road. The section of the street approaching the stop sign has quite a few filled pot holes and is bumpy. This is probably the 4th or 5th time this has occurred at the same intersection or in similar road/driving conditions.