no report yet
Engine and engine cooling
Risk. IN SOME CASES, THE BELT FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE PULLEY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND A SUDDEN INCREASE IN…
2004 Toyota HighlanderProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 286 owner complaints about the 2004 Toyota Highlander, most often about the power train. It is covered by 5 safety recalls.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 22, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2004 Toyota Highlander has problems
286 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
58Power train1 crash/fire/injury
40Vehicle speed control19 crash/fire/injury
35Steering1 crash/fire/injury
21Visibility
20Engine and engine cooling3 crash/fire/injury
18Electrical system
16Service brakes, hydraulic
16Engine
15Electronic stability control (ESC)
9016 other systems16 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 58 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 40 | 19 |
| Steering | 35 | 1 |
| Visibility | 21 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 20 | 3 |
| Electrical system | 18 | 0 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 16 | 3 |
| Engine | 16 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 15 | 1 |
| 16 other systems | 90 | 16 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
5 recalls
2004 Toyota Highlander recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
Risk. IF THIS OCCURS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY TEMPORARILY BECOME STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION RATHER THAN RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION.
no report yet
Foundation components: master cylinder
Risk. A LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID COULD LEAD TO A CHANGE IN BRAKE PEDAL FEEL AND OVERTIME A DEGRADATION IN BRAKING PERFORMANCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
no report yet
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
Risk. THIS CONDITION MAY INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Show 1 more recall
no report yet
Doors: latch
Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW THE DOOR TO BE OPENED WITH THE INSIDE WHILE THE OPERATOR BELIEVES THAT THE CPL WAS ACTIVATED.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Toyota.
Mileage at failure
When do power train problems start?
10kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 43 power train complaints. 88% were reported before 100,000 miles.
29under 30k miles38under 100k miles5100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2004 vs. every other Highlander year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Highlander median. How we score
'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2004 Toyota Highlander safety ratings
2004 Toyota Highlander 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2004 Toyota Highlander, and the recalls they led to.
- Unintended and Uncontrolled AccelerationLed to recall 11V-112
In owners' words
What Highlander owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN NORMALLY AND PARKED. WHILE PARKED, OWNER NOTICED SMALL LEAK UNDER FRONT AXLE, INVESTIGATED AND LEAK APPEARED TO BE TRANSMISSION FLUID OR ANTIFREEZE. OWNER DROVE VEHICLE NEXT DAY, PARKED AND NOTICED LEAK WAS LARGER. OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER NEXT MORNING AND WAS TOLD THE HEAD…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SMELL OF BURNING OIL WAS EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION OIL BEARING SEAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE…
SINCE I PURCHASED MY 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER V6 IT HAS VERY ROUGH SHIFTS. THE TRANSMISSIONS SEEMS TO HESITATE AND LAG WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE DURING NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS, (I FEEL LIKE I AM ON A CARNIVAL RIDE). I HAVE HAD IT TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP IN FLORIDA & THEY ALL SAY THE SAME THING ("THAT…
Own a 2004 Highlander?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.