The 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser was sold with a single engine, the 4.0L V6 (1GR-FE), and in three drivetrain layouts: rear-wheel drive, four-wheel drive with part-time transfer case control, and four-wheel drive with automatic transfer case control. Which one is parked in front of you changes how a repair is carried out and what the correct specification is, and Toyota's figures for this year do not always match the years on either side of it.
Engines
- 4.0L 4000CC V6 GAS DOHC Naturally Aspirated
Trims
- 4WD, Automatic T/Case Control
- 4WD, Part Time T/Case Control
- RWD
Known issues on the 2012 FJ Cruiser. Three recalls sit on the federal record for this model year. One covers exterior lighting on certain FJ Cruisers manufactured between January 25, 2006 and February 23, 2013: light intensities above the maximum allowable limit could cause increased glare for oncoming traffic. A second covers the front seat belt anchorages; the driver and passenger belt retractors are mounted in the access door panels, and cracks can occur in the panel around the lower retractor anchor. The third, from Southeast Toyota, covers an inaccurate label, which could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. Owners have filed 49 complaints against the 2012 FJ Cruiser, and 94 technical service bulletins have been recorded for it.
Whether the job is a seat belt retractor in an access door panel, a lamp aim check, or transfer case service on a Part Time T/Case truck, the reference that matters is the one written to this vehicle: 2012, the 4.0L V6, and the drivetrain your FJ Cruiser actually left the plant with.
