2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2004 Toyota Highlander. This model year has 285 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Transmission / Drivetrain.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2004 Toyota Highlander Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Transmission / Drivetrain
Unintended Acceleration
Engine Problems
Considering a 2004 Toyota Highlander?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Toyota Highlander. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 58 | 1 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 40 | 19 | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 35 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Steering Defects | 34 | 1 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 24 | 5 | — | — | |
| Visibility | 21 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 18 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 16 | 3 | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 15 | 1 | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 14 | — | 2 | — | |
| Equipment | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 9 | 5 | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 8 | 2 | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 8 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 7 | 1 | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 6 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 5 | 1 | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electric | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Other | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Toyota Highlander. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 285 most recent complaints
My car malfunctioned my tire locked up while I was driving on the high way causing me to spin out of control and skid all the way into a guard rail totalled my car out and not one air bag went off
The passenger airbag occupancy sensor in my car has stopped sensing a passenger has been stuck on "OFF" for the past 2-6 months (I believe) even when an adult is sitting in the seat. I don't know exactly when this problem began because there was never any warning light or error …
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front bumper inadvertently detached. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was determined that the front lower bumper covers had been attached with mountin…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AND PRESSING TO BRAKE PEDAL, THE PEDAL FAILED TO RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION. THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO EXCEE…
WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH A HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION ZONE MY CAR SUDDENLY BECAME HARD TO STEER, AND MY SPEED BECAME GREATER, TRIED TO (BREAK) DECELERATE THE CAR BEGAN SLIDING OUT OF CONTROL-PLOWING INTO THE ROAD CONSTRUCTION BARRIERS PART LODGED IN FRONT PASSENGER WINDSHIELD. THE CAR W…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING. UPON APPLYING MINIMAL PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, A …
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTIONED AND THE FABRIC MATERIAL STRAP BECAME FRAYED AND SHREDDED AT THE BUCKLE LOCATION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRE…
THE TRANSFER CASE IS LEAKING AFTER ONLY 68000 MILES. THE LEAKING OIL DROPS OVER THE HEATED EXHAUST PIPE WHICH CAUSES FUME IN THE CABIN THROUGH AIR CONDITION AND FAN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR. THE TRACTION CONTROL, CHECK ENGINE, VSC, AND BRAKE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V499000…
MY TRAC OFF LIGHTS, ENGINE AND OIL LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO WORK. I WORK FAR FROM HOME SO I TOOK IT TO THE VALVOLINE NEAR MY JOB TO CHECK THE OIL. I DIDN'T WANT TO DRIVE MY CAR HOME IF THERE WAS NO OIL. THEY CHECKED THE OIL, UNDERNEATH MY CAR AND SAID EVERYTHINGWAS …
THE OUTER RING OF THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY HAS PULLED AWAY FROM THE INNER RING CAUSING DAMAGE TO ALL SYSTEM AND CAN AFFECT STEERING. THIS ALREADY HAS A RECALL FOR MY MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR, BUT NOT FOR MY VIN NUMBER. IT SEEMS STRANGE THAT THIS EXACT SAME THING THAT HAS THE RECALL AF…
THE PASSENGER SIDE IN THE REAR WINDOWS ARE DEFECTIVE. THEY WILL NOT POWER UP OR DOWN THE WINDOWS IN THE BACK OF SUV. ALSO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE IS NOW NOT OPERATING UP OR DOWN. THE POWER WINDOW PARTS HAVE FAILED TWO YEARS AGO, AND NOW IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN. THIS 2004 SHOULD BE …
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE REQUIRED GREATER EFFORT TO STEER. WHILE STEERING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING INTERMEDIAT…
THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR TWO DAYS NOW. THERE IS A BUZZING LIKE SOMETHING IS MALFUNCTIONING ON MY PASSENGER SIDE COMING FROM THE DASH I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO PEP BOYS AND THEY SAID THAT MY AIR BAG IS MALFUNCTIONING. IS RESULT OF THIS MY JOB WON'T LET ME DRIVE PATIENTS BECAUSE O…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO AN OAK TREE. THE CONTACT WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS AND TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED KNEE, BACK, SH…
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 15 MPH ON A CITY STREETAND THE VSC INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE STARTED BREAKING ON ITS OWN. A LOUD SCRAPPING SOUND WAS HEARD. IT WAS ABOUT 70DEGREES AND SUNNY AND THE CAR THOUGHT I WAS GOING DOWN A SLIPPERY SLOPE. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE. EVERY TI…
IN FEB 2005 WHILE DOING ABOUT 30 MPH THE VSC LIGHT CAME ON AND STARTED BRAKING, ON IT'S OWN, TO THE RIGHT MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE. THE NEXT MORNING THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALER. THE CAR DISPLAYED NO CODES AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD CALIBRATED THE STEERIN…
CAR IN MOTION @45 MILES AN HOUR AT 8AM 12/29/14. DRIVER LOST CONSCIOUSNESS DUE TO MEDICAL EVENT, WHICH RESULTED IN AUTO RUNNING OFF ROAD AFTER HITTING CURB AND SIDEWALK, THEN HITTING A ROADSIDE FENCE AT AN ESTIMATED 45 MPH. THE CAR THEN ROLLED AND LANDED ON ROOF. DRIVER WAS SEAT…
HEAT DOESN'T WORK AND A/C INTERMITTENTLY BLOWS COLD OR HOT. WINDSHIELD AND WINDOWS WILL FOG UP IN BAD WEATHER AND WITHOUT HEAT I CAN'T DEFOG THEM FORCING ME TO PULL OVER AND MANUALLY WIPE THE FOG OFF EVERY FEW MINUTES.
TRACTION CONTROL CAME ON DURING NORMAL DRIVING
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2004 Toyota Highlander.
Recalls for 2004 Toyota Highlander
5 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2004 Toyota Highlander. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2004 Toyota Highlander — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2004 Toyota Highlander reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2004 Toyota Highlander has 285 NHTSA owner complaints, 32 crash-related, and 5 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Transmission / Drivetrain (58 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Toyota Highlander?▾
#1: Transmission / Drivetrain (58 complaints). #2: Unintended Acceleration (40 complaints). #3: Engine Problems (35 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2004 Toyota Highlander?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2004 Toyota Highlander?▾
The 2004 Toyota Highlander has 32 crash-related complaints and 3 fire reports out of 285 total NHTSA complaints. 23 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2004 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?▾
Yes — 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2004 Toyota Highlander. The largest issue: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2004 Toyota Highlander?▾
The 2004 Toyota Highlander has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Transmission / Drivetrain issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Toyota Highlander reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2004 Toyota Highlander
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.