Worst 2004 Toyota 4Runner Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Body Structure
Suspension Failures
Brakes
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Toyota 4Runner.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body Structure | 260 | 5 | 1 | 137,579 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 106 | 2 | — | 144,579 mi | |
| Brakes | 57 | 4 | — | 128,491 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 29 | 4 | — | 109,609 mi | |
| Airbags | 25 | 6 | — | 114,299 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 25 | 2 | — | 133,263 mi | |
| Structural Problems | 22 | — | — | 89,385 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 19 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Engine Problems | 18 | — | — | 136,668 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 18 | — | — | 113,984 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 17 | — | 1 | 87,057 mi | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 15 | — | 1 | 115,796 mi | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 13 | — | — | 125,577 mi | |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | 13 | — | — | 143,811 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 9 | 7 | — | 69,056 mi | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 7 | — | 1 | — | |
| Visibility | 7 | — | — | 59,900 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 6 | — | — | 51,933 mi | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 5 | — | — | 72,825 mi | |
| Wheel Issues | 5 | 1 | — | 44,667 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Wipers & Visibility | 4 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Latches / Locks | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) | 2 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Toyota 4Runner. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2004 Toyota 4Runner
2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,683,653 vehicles.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus LX470, 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia, 2004-2006 Toyota 4Runner and Lexus GX470 vehicles equipped with side curtain-shield-air bags. The affected vehicles have an air bag control module that may be improperly programmed, causing the side curtain-shield-air bags to deploy inadvertently.
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2011 LEXUS LX570, 2003 THROUGH 2009 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, AND 2006 THROUGH 2010 RAV4 VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN GET STUCK IN THE WIDE OPEN POSITION DUE TO ITS BEING TRAPPED BY AN UNSECURED OR INCOMPATIBLE DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT.
Other Toyota 4Runner Years
2004 Toyota 4Runner — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2004 Toyota 4Runner reliable?
What are common problems with the 2004 Toyota 4Runner?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2004 Toyota 4Runner?
How safe is the 2004 Toyota 4Runner?
Does the 2004 Toyota 4Runner have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2004 Toyota 4Runner?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Toyota 4Runner reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2004 Toyota 4Runner
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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