Long-term update: Our Toyota FJ Cruiser has its first real issue
Our Toyota FJ Cruiser is running trouble-free, as we expected it to do. We even took it off-road, where it did phenomenally well (despite the confused thumb gestures by our offroad monkey Vivek “Payero” Menon in the photo above). But it’s currently facing a minor (or major, depending on how you look at it) concerning the exterior trim.
A rubber window-trim piece on one of the rear-side half-doors has partially torn off over time and hangs in the wind. So we figured we’ll get that addressed at the next service.
We had the “20k km intermediate service” done at the dealer, which cost Dhs 1,566, after “discount”. As per the receipt, the cost breakdown is listed as Dhs 660 for labour, Dhs 385 for parts and Dhs 521 for “others”, whatever that is. This included a limited-slip diff oil change, with the oil itself costing less than Dhs 100. The total also includes a Dhs 240 cabin air filter.
The above service was done in late May. We were told the rubber-trim issue will be sent for warranty approval. We called them a month later. They seemed to have no clue what we were talking about, and promised to call us back. That was a week ago.
Original Mileage When Bought: 5,500 km
Latest Mileage To Date: 17,354 km
Latest Average Fuel Economy: 14.5 litres/100 km
Cost of Latest Problems: Dhs 0
Cost of Latest Maintenance: Dhs 1566Total Non-Fuel Running Cost Since Bought: Dhs 3106
Comments
cyanide
May be because of long exposure to heat the rubber got hard and came off
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
So you mean just regular days in Dubai.
Shijil Hashim
Local Toyota dealer is not the best out there. Entire Toyota 86 community is facing lots of issues with them. Interesting to note: When the 86 was launched in 2013, service intervals were every 5K. I’ve been told now service intervals are now 15K. I’m not quite sure how can service intervals grow 10K for a vehicle that hasn’t changed at all, mechanically, even if they are using higher grade of oil. What about the other checkups?
Farhan
As Mash rightly said, they seem to have no clue.
Sting316
Those rubber trim wears is pretty notorious on FJs. Mine was discovered after 3 years of purchase right after warranty expiry. Dealer was charging bomb. Amazoned all 4 side for just 80$. Its a easy fix (DIY), just use a towel to protect the door paint and pry off the old strip using a flat head.
Tip : your passenger side mirror marker light is burning next. LOL
Sting316
Oh and I amazoned my cabin air filter for a mere 7 $.
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
Good thing I don’t have mirror marker lights!
Sting316
Oh I just noticed. lol. I never knew there were FJ’s without them.
Ironman
A tough bustard of a 4×4 this one, abused the shit out of my stock condition 2013 FJ, in the desert. The only component that ever failed during my frequent abuse was a spindle which bent after a colossal jump. Replaced the spindle but also reinforced it to prevent future failures.
Apart from that, some slightly fading plastics… never had this rubber trim issue but again, I’ve always parked under a shade, could that have made a difference?
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
Possibly.
Werner Schott
Quote from Shijil: I’m not quite sure how can service intervals grow 10K for a vehicle that hasn’t changed at all, mechanically, even if they are using higher grade of oil. What about the other checkups?
Hi Shijil,
the 5k engine oil change was a purely money making business on the expense of the environment; unfortunately some Japanese Manufacturers still carry on with this practice.
With the high quality of engine oil available nowadays it is absolutely ok to change every 15k; some European Manufacturer go even up to 30k with the engine oil change.
It’s a shame and waste of resources that the practice of changing at every 5k is still going on by some Manufacturers; perhaps they don’t trust their own engines 🙂
Werner
Name
No, it’s as you said, 5k interval was purely for money making reasons. I think they got overloaded with too many vehicles too soon every 5k that they figured it would be cheaper to just service at every 10k than expand their repair shop with more staff and equipment. The local toyota dealer has a very greedy and negative reputation after all.