2004 Toyota 4Runner Reliability
The 2004 Toyota 4Runner has 678 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about body structure and unknown or other. Compared with nearby 4Runner model years (2002–2006), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the 4Runner's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
678
NHTSA owner complaints
2
Recall campaigns
28
Complaints citing a crash
3
Complaints citing a fire
2004 Toyota 4Runner complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2004 model year, filed between 2003 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Body structure | 310 | 46% |
| Unknown or other | 116 | 17% |
| Suspension | 113 | 17% |
| Service brakes | 82 | 12% |
| Air bags | 37 | 5% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 36 | 5% |
| Speed control / throttle | 34 | 5% |
| Steering | 32 | 5% |
2004 Toyota 4Runner recalls
2 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2004 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11V113000 | Feb 24, 2011 | Speed control / throttle — accelerator pedal | 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… |
| 16V065000 | Feb 5, 2016 | Air bags — side/window | 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.… |
How the 2004 compares with nearby 4Runner years
Verdicts compare these 4Runner model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 251 | 3 | Body structure | Avoid |
| 2003 | 708 | 3 | Body structure | Avoid |
| 2004 (this page) | 678 | 2 | Body structure | Avoid |
| 2005 | 425 | 5 | Body structure | Caution |
| 2006 | 381 | 5 | Body structure | Caution |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
The 2004 Toyota 4Runner on the used market
- 88 of 178 2004 Toyota 4Runner listings in CarWhere's lifespan study showed 200,000 miles or more.
What to check on a used 2004 Toyota 4Runner
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Suspension: listen for clunks over bumps, look for leaking struts and uneven tire wear.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 2 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2004 Toyota 4Runner can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2004 Toyota 4Runner reliability FAQ
Is the 2004 Toyota 4Runner reliable?
The 2004 Toyota 4Runner has 678 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about body structure and unknown or other. Compared with nearby 4Runner model years (2002–2006), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the 4Runner's typical year.
What are the most common 2004 Toyota 4Runner problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2004 Toyota 4Runner are body structure (310), unknown or other (116), suspension (113), service brakes (82). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2004 Toyota 4Runner have recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2004 Toyota 4Runner, including 11V113000 (speed control / throttle — accelerator pedal) and 16V065000 (air bags — side/window). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2004 Toyota 4Runner compare with the 2003 and 2005 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2003 has 708 complaints and 3 recalls (avoid); the 2005 has 425 complaints and 5 recalls (caution). The 2004 has 678 complaints and 2 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2004 Toyota 4Runner?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Toyota 4Runner research
Other Toyota 4Runner model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2004 4Runner, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.