2004 Toyota Highlander: problems, recalls and reliability
5 recalls and 286 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is power train (19% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Nov 2011
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 286 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Hello, I am the Buyer of the subject Vehicle, Upon doing my research, I found out several reports stating that The subject vehicle's 2.4L engine has manufacturing defect, that causes Head Bolts to get stripped/melt down in to oil causing Engine failures and Life threating risk in the middle of the road.”Owner report · Steering · May 2026
“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”Owner report · Air Bags · Oct 2024
“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 mounting tabs and that the bumper assembly had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed of an unknown recall. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.”Owner report · Structure · Aug 2023
Show 7 more owner reports
“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 exceed 40 mph. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was then driven to the local dealer groove toyota located at 5460 s broadway, englewood, co 80113 however, the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 126,000.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Dec 2020
“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”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jul 2017
“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 (service brakes), but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The contact observed brake fluid leaking from the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 157,489.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Apr 2017
“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 affects my car, but repair is not covered. Should recall be expanded to include other VIN numbers??”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2016
“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 included in the other recalls on newer models.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jul 2016
“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 of the danger. This really needs to be fixed. I know for a fact it's the airbag because toyota told when I brought it there because pep boys told go to the dealership for them to confirm and it was!. This happens in motion and a little while in motion. When it is humid outside the buzzing is even worser to where the side panel vy drivers left leg vibrate.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jun 2016
“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 intermediate staff assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000.”Owner report · Steering · May 2016
When filing, owners marked a crash in 32 of these complaints and injuries in 23 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 5 campaigns
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 AVALON, MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 HIGHLANDER, MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 LEXUS RX, AND MODEL YEAR 2006 LEXUS GS AND IS VEHICLES. BRAKE FLUID CONTAINING POLYMERS IS USED THAT ACTS AS LUBRICANTS FOR CERTAIN BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS. IF REPLACEMENT BRAKE FLUID IS USED THAT DOES NOT CONTAIN SUCH POLYMERS, OR THAT CONTAINS ONLY SMALL AMOUNTS, A PART OF THE RUBBER SEAL LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER MAY BECOME DRY, AND THE SEAL MAY CURL DURING MOVEMENT OF THE PISTON. IF THIS OCCURS, A SMALL AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID COULD SLOWLY LEAK FROM THE SEAL INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAL WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 AND LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AVALON VEHICLES; 2004 AND 2005 CAMRY, CAMRY SOLARA, HIGHLANDER, AND SIENNA VEHICLES, 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID; 2004 AND 2005 LEXUS ES330 AND RX330; AND 2006 LEXUS RX400H VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 2004 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2005, EQUIPPED WITH THE 1MZ-FE OR 3MZ-FE ENGINE. THE AMOUNT OF ADHESIVE AGENT APPLIED BETWEEN THE OUTER RING AND THE TORSIONAL RUBBER DAMPER (INNER RING) IN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY MAY BE INADEQUATE. IF THE ADHESIVE IS INSUFFICIENT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE OUTER RING MAY BECOME MISALIGNED AND IT MAY NOT PROPERLY ROTATE WITH THE INNER RING, CAUSING NOISE AND/OR ILLUMINATION OF THE BATTERY DISCHARGE INDICATOR LIGHT.
Remedy: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL CHECK THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY TO IDENTIFY WHETHER IT WAS PRODUCED BY THE U.S. SUPPLIER. IF SO, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PULLEY WITH A NEW ONE AT NO CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING EARLY JANUARY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND HYBRID VEHICLES, THE TWO RETAINING CLIPS FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE FORWARD CENTER CONSOLE CAN BECOME LOOSE. IF BOTH CLIPS SEPARATE FROM THE FLOOR CARPET COVER, THE COVER MAY LEAN TOWARD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING INTERFERENCE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ROD.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TWO FLOOR CARPET COVER RETAINING CLIPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 24, 2006, AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY EARLY SEPTEMBER 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 OR LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 HIGHLANDER, HIGHLANDER HYBRID, AND MODEL YEAR 2004-2007 LEXUS RX330, RX350, AND RX400H VEHICLES. IF THE FORWARD RETENTION CLIP USED TO SECURE THE FLOOR CARPET COVER, WHICH IS LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE CENTER CONSOLE, IS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY THE COVER MAY LEAN TOWARD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FLOOR CARPET COVER WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE FREE OR CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE A CHILD PROTECTION LOCK (CPL) SYSTEM ON BOTH OF THE REAR SIDE DOORS. WHEN AN OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE CLOSES THE DOOR VERY HARD WITH THE CPL LEVER SET TO THE LOCK POSITION, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE LEVER MAY CONTACT THE BODY PANEL, CAUSING THE CPL LEVER TO MOVE INTO THE UNLOCK POSITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL SHORTEN THE CPL LEVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 7, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2004 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Highlander by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Toyota Highlander reliable?
NHTSA has 286 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 2004 Toyota Highlander. The most complained-about area is power train (19% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2004 Toyota Highlander problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 57,550 miles or less.
Does the 2004 Toyota Highlander have open recalls?
5 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.