2004 Toyota Highlander Problems

Typical for Model

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2004 Toyota Highlander. Part of Generation 1 — 2001–2007.

20032005
Complaints
335
Crashes
42
Fires
3
Injuries
25
Fatalities
47
Recalls
3

Worst 2004 Toyota Highlander Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#146 complaints

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Avg mileage:22,442 mi
Crash-related:1
#233 complaints

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Avg mileage:61,215 mi
Crash-related:18
#323 complaints

STEERING

Avg mileage:65,922 mi
Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Toyota Highlander.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
46
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
22,442
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
33
complaints
Crashes
18
Fires
Avg Miles
61,215
STEERING
23
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
65,922
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
18
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
63,790
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
15
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
86,201
ENGINE
15
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
120,065
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
10
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
110,350
VISIBILITY
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
70,900
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
9
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
72,143
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
94,111
VISIBILITY/WIPER
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
131,178
AIR BAGS
7
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
111,520
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
48,835
SERVICE BRAKES
6
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
116,868
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
32,067
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
78,524
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
48,017
STRUCTURE:BODY
5
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
31,700
POWER TRAIN
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
101,375
SEAT BELTS
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
104,333
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
33,234
STEERING:COLUMN
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
47,159
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
43,429
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
73,500
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
255
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
103,296
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
74,414
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
78,333
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
45,628
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
31,012

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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.

11V539000ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
~420,326 affected

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.

11V112000VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
~769,379 affected

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.

10V499000SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
~728,544 affected

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

Wider context: See the full Toyota Highlander reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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