2004 Toyota Tundra Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2004 Toyota Tundra. Part of Generation 1 — 2000–2006.

20032005
Complaints
651
Crashes
35
Fires
1
Injuries
27
Fatalities
1
Recalls
4

Worst 2004 Toyota Tundra Problems

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

#1141 complaints

Body Structure

Avg mileage:130,645 mi
Crash-related:1
#294 complaints

Suspension Failures

Avg mileage:119,906 mi
#348 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:120,031 mi
Crash-related:5
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Toyota Tundra.

Body Structure
141
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
130,645
Suspension Failures
94
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
119,906
Airbags
48
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
Avg Miles
120,031
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
46
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
Avg Miles
72,628
Transmission / Drivetrain
36
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields
34
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
81,947
Steering Defects
20
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
114,258
Brakes
18
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
106,716
Structure:Frame And Members
17
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
126,069
Structural Problems
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
98,416
Unintended Acceleration
11
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
Avg Miles
97,668
Electrical Faults
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
305,878
Suspension:Front
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
42,020
Hydraulic Brakes
7
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
25,344
Wheel Issues
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
117,417
Engine Problems
6
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
106,090
Engine & Cooling
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
59,475
Tire Defects
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
75,333
Seat Belt Issues
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Automatic Transmission
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tires:Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Sunroof/Moonroof
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Horn
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Other Equipment
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Toyota Tundra. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2004 Toyota Tundra

4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~4,139,736 vehicles.

19V741000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~928,220 affected

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

18V883000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~168,993 affected

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2002-2005 Lexus SC and Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2005 Toyota Corolla and Tundra, and 2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation.

15V285000Airbags
~1,973,468 affected

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015 that they are recalling certain model year 2004 Sequoia vehicles manufactured August 18, 2003, to August 19, 2004, and 2003-2004 Tundra vehicles manufactured March 18, 2003, to August 25, 2004. On June 16, 2015, Toyota expanded the recall to include an additional 1,270,468 vehicles, including model year 2002-2003 and 2005-2007 Sequoia, 2005-2006 Tundra, 2003-2007 Corolla, 2003-2007 Corolla Matrix, 2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe and 2002-2007 Lexus SC vehicles. This is to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag inflator which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag. This recall addresses both the passenger side frontal air bags that were originally installed in the vehicles, as well as replacement air bags that may have been installed as replacement service parts. A replacement air bag may have been installed, as one example, if a vehicle had been in a crash necessitating the replacement of the passenger side frontal air bag.

15V286000Airbags
~1,069,055 affected

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015, that they are recalling 2005-2007 Lexus SC, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sequoia, and Pontiac Vibe, and 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra vehicles that were originally sold, or ever registered, in Florida, along the Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan and American Samoa. On June 16, 2015 Toyota expanded the recall to cover an additional 769,055 vehicles, including certain model year 2002-2004 Lexus SC, Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix, Toyota Corolla, Pontiac Vibe, and Toyota Tundra vehicles, as well the vehicles covered by the May 13, 2015 notification in the portions of Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas that were not previously included. The inflators in the front passenger air bags are susceptible to rupture in the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the front passenger air bag.

Other Toyota Tundra Years

2004 Toyota Tundra — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2004 Toyota Tundra reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2004 Toyota Tundra has 651 NHTSA complaints, 35 crash-related, and 4 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Body Structure with 141 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2004 Toyota Tundra?
Top reported problems: Body Structure (141 complaints, avg 130,645 mi); Suspension Failures (94 complaints, avg 119,906 mi); Airbags (48 complaints, avg 120,031 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2004 Toyota Tundra?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 114,327 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2004 Toyota Tundra?
NHTSA complaints for the 2004 Toyota Tundra include 35 crash-related reports, 1 fire reports, 27 injuries, and 1 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2004 Toyota Tundra have any recalls?
Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 4,139,736 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2004 Toyota Tundra?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (body structure) and verify open recalls have been addressed.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

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

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