2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser — Full Specifications
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Running gear matters most — before anything else, UK: check tyre prices at TirendoUS: check wheel & tyre prices at WheelHero for this car's fitment.
The 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser is an SUV powered by a 4L 6-cyl regular gasoline engine. Its most fuel-efficient configuration returns around 23 mpg (UK) / 19 mpg (US EPA) combined, with 19–23 mpg (UK) across all configurations. Owners often keep a Toyota FJ Cruiser workshop manual to hand for servicing and repairs.
Compared with the 2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser: Fuel economy is essentially unchanged at around 23 mpg (UK) combined. The engine line-up listed by EPA is unchanged.
Full Specifications
| Engine | 4L 6-cyl |
|---|---|
| Transmission | Automatic 5-spd |
| Fuel Type | Regular Gasoline |
| Powertrain | Conventional |
| Drive | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Body Style | SUV |
| Fuel Economy (UK) | 23 combined / 20 urban / 24 extra-urban mpg |
| Fuel Economy (US EPA) | 19 combined / 17 city / 20 highway mpg |
| CO₂ Emissions | 291 g/km |
| EPA Est. Annual Fuel Cost | $3,550 (15,000 mi/yr, US prices) |
Engine & Transmission Options
EPA lists 3 configurations for the 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser, all with the 4L 6-cyl engine. Combined fuel economy ranges from 16 to 19 mpg (US), or 19 to 23 mpg (UK), depending on engine, transmission and drive. The headline figures at the top of this page describe the most fuel-efficient configuration.
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG (UK) | MPG (US) | CO₂ g/km | Fuel cost / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 22 | 18 (17/20) | 307 | $3,700 |
| 4L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 23 | 19 (17/20) | 291 | $3,550 |
| 4L 6-cyl | Manual 6-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | 19 | 16 (15/18) | 345 | $4,200 |
MPG (US) shows combined, with city/highway in brackets. Highlighted row = the configuration used for the headline figures. Source: US EPA fueleconomy.gov.
Owner Essentials for the 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser
Running Costs: 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser
Covering around 8,000 miles a year in a 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser at 23 mpg combined, expect roughly 1,581 litres of fuel annually — multiply by your local price per litre for a cost estimate. For US owners, the EPA estimates about $3,550 a year in fuel for the most efficient configuration (15,000 miles, national average prices). Work out exact fuel costs with the fuel cost calculator on 247Calculators.
Convert between MPG and L/100km with the unit converters on 247QuickTools. Not sure what tyre size fits? 247TyreCheck explains tyre sizing.
Planning a road trip? Grab a road trip packing list. Only need this car occasionally? See our buy vs rent comparison.
2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser Safety Ratings (NHTSA)
No NHTSA crash-test rating is on record for this model year. The NHTSA rates only a subset of vehicles each year; you can browse every rated vehicle on our NHTSA Safety Ratings hub.
Recalls & Owner Complaints (NHTSA)
NHTSA lists 5 safety recall campaigns that include the 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser (as of 6 October 2026). Most affected areas: Equipment (3), Exterior lighting (1), Seat belts (1). A campaign often covers several model years or models, so check your own VIN to see whether your car is affected.
- Equipment — campaign 14V475000, reported 4 August 2014. Risk: If the spare tire is inflated to the incorrect pressure provided on the placard, tire failure may occur while it is being driven on, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Exterior lighting — campaign 13V163000, reported 25 April 2013. Risk: Light intensities above the maximum allowable limit could cause increased glare for oncoming traffic and increase the risk of a crash.
- Equipment — campaign 13V123000, reported 9 April 2013. Risk: An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.
- Seat belts — campaign 13V098000, reported 15 March 2013. Risk: If cracks occur in the panel around the lower retractor anchor, the seat belt retractor could become detached, which could increase the risk of injury to an occupant in the event of a crash.
Showing the 4 most recent of 5 campaigns.
Owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser. The most-reported areas are Structure (11), Steering (9), Unspecified (8). Complaints include 1 reported fire. That is close to the median of 30 complaints across the 5 Toyota FJ Cruiser model years in our data.
Used-buyer checklist for the 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser
Based on where NHTSA recalls and owner complaints cluster for this model year, these are the areas worth checking before you buy:
- Seat belts (1 recall campaign · 5 owner complaints) — Check every belt latches and retracts properly and that any restraint recalls were completed.
- Body structure (11 owner complaints) — Inspect for corrosion and for subframe or body-panel damage, especially underneath.
- Steering (9 owner complaints) — Check for play, noise or heavy steering, and ask whether any steering recall work was done.
- Lighting (1 recall campaign) — Check every exterior light works and look for moisture inside the lamp housings.
Source: US NHTSA recall and consumer-complaint databases, retrieved 6 October 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects. Check any vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, and see our guide to checking a used car for recalls.
How It Compares
How does the Toyota FJ Cruiser compare to similar SUVs? For context, SUVs in our database average around 27 mpg (UK) combined — this model's 23 mpg figure is 4 mpg below that average. Its 291 g/km CO₂ figure is 38 g/km higher than the 253 g/km average for SUVs on this site. This comparison is based on 1824 SUVs in our dataset.
Toyota models in our database average about 34 mpg (UK) combined on their most efficient configuration; the 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser's 23 mpg is 11 mpg below that make average. Its 291 g/km CO₂ figure is 75 g/km higher than the 216 g/km Toyota average.
Of the 5 Toyota FJ Cruiser model years we cover, the 2012 is the most economical on its best configuration (23 mpg UK combined). See every Toyota FJ Cruiser year side by side.
Last updated: · Data: US EPA (fueleconomy.gov) and NHTSA safety ratings 18 July 2026; NHTSA recalls and complaints 6 October 2026; Wikidata & curated EU catalogue 18 July 2026; European generation and engine data from Wikipedia 7 October 2026
Vehicle data sourced from manufacturer specifications. Always verify with your vehicle handbook or a qualified mechanic. This is a reference tool, not professional advice.
Recommended Accessories for the 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser
Frequently Asked Questions
What engine does the 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser have?
It's fitted with a 4L 6-cyl regular gasoline engine, paired with a automatic 5-spd transmission.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser?
The most efficient configuration returns around 23 mpg (UK) combined, or 19 mpg on the US EPA cycle. Across all configurations the UK combined figure runs from 19 to 23 mpg.
How much does the 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser cost to fuel per year?
The US EPA estimates about $3,550 a year in fuel for the most efficient configuration, based on 15,000 miles of mixed driving and national average fuel prices. Your own cost will depend on mileage and local prices.
Does the 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 safety recall campaigns that include the 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser (as of 6 October 2026). Most affected areas: Equipment (3), Exterior lighting (1), Seat belts (1). A campaign often covers several model years or models, so check your own VIN to see whether your car is affected.
What are the most common problems reported for the 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser?
Among the 40 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported areas are Structure (11 complaints), Steering (9 complaints), Unspecified (8 complaints). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects, and raw counts rise with how many cars were sold.
Is the Toyota FJ Cruiser's fuel economy good for an SUV?
It returns around 23 mpg (UK) combined, against a same-body-style average of roughly 27 mpg among the SUVs we track.