Worst 2004 Toyota Highlander Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Automatic Transmission
Unintended Acceleration
Steering Defects
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Toyota Highlander.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic Transmission | 46 | 1 | — | 22,442 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 33 | 18 | — | 61,215 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 23 | 1 | — | 65,922 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 18 | — | — | 63,790 mi | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 15 | 1 | — | 86,201 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 15 | — | — | 120,065 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 10 | 1 | 1 | 110,350 mi | |
| Visibility | 10 | — | — | 70,900 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 9 | 2 | — | 72,143 mi | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 8 | — | — | 94,111 mi | |
| Wipers & Visibility | 8 | 1 | — | 131,178 mi | |
| Airbags | 7 | 3 | — | 111,520 mi | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 7 | 1 | — | 48,835 mi | |
| Brakes | 6 | 2 | — | 116,868 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 | — | — | 32,067 mi | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 5 | — | — | 78,524 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 5 | — | 2 | 48,017 mi | |
| Body Structure | 5 | 2 | — | 31,700 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering:Column | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control:Automatic (Asc) | 2 | — | — | — |
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.
Recalls for 2004 Toyota Highlander
3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,918,249 vehicles.
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.
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.
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.
Other Toyota Highlander Years
2004 Toyota Highlander — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2004 Toyota Highlander reliable?
What are common problems with the 2004 Toyota Highlander?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2004 Toyota Highlander?
How safe is the 2004 Toyota Highlander?
Does the 2004 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2004 Toyota Highlander?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Toyota Highlander reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
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.
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