2004 Toyota Highlander Reliability
The 2004 Toyota Highlander has 286 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and speed control / throttle. Compared with nearby Highlander model years (2002–2006), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Highlander's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
286
NHTSA owner complaints
5
Recall campaigns
32
Complaints citing a crash
3
Complaints citing a fire
2004 Toyota Highlander complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2004 model year, filed between 2004 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrain / transmission | 58 | 20% |
| Speed control / throttle | 40 | 14% |
| Steering | 35 | 12% |
| Visibility / wipers | 29 | 10% |
| Service brakes | 24 | 8% |
| Engine & cooling | 20 | 7% |
| Electrical system | 18 | 6% |
| Stability control | 17 | 6% |
2004 Toyota Highlander recalls
5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04V181000 | Apr 15, 2004 | Latches, locks & linkages — doors / latch | Certain sport utility vehicles have a child protection lock (cpl) system on both of the rear side doors. When an operator of the vehicle closes the door very hard with the cpl lever set to the lock position, there is a possibility that the lever may contact… |
| 06V253000 | Jul 13, 2006 | Speed control / throttle — accelerator pedal | On certain sport utility and hybrid vehicles, the two retaining clips for the driver's side forward center console can become loose. If both clips separate from the floor carpet cover, the cover may lean toward the accelerator pedal, causing interference with… |
| 10V499000 | Oct 21, 2010 | Service brakes — foundation components / master cylinder | 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… |
| 11V112000 | Feb 24, 2011 | Speed control / throttle — accelerator pedal | 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… |
| 11V539000 | Nov 9, 2011 | Engine & cooling | 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… |
How the 2004 compares with nearby Highlander years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Highlander analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 327 | 2 | Visibility / wipers | Caution |
| 2003 | 270 | 2 | Engine & cooling | Caution |
| 2004 (this page) | 286 | 5 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2005 | 225 | 6 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2006 | 649 | 11 | Service brakes | Avoid |
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.
What to check on a used 2004 Toyota Highlander
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Throttle and speed control: check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Visibility: test the wipers at every speed, washers, defrosters and the climate system (fogging is a common complaint).
- Recalls: confirm each of the 5 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 Highlander 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 Highlander reliability FAQ
Is the 2004 Toyota Highlander reliable?
The 2004 Toyota Highlander has 286 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and speed control / throttle. Compared with nearby Highlander model years (2002–2006), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Highlander's typical year.
What are the most common 2004 Toyota Highlander problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2004 Toyota Highlander are powertrain / transmission (58), speed control / throttle (40), steering (35), visibility / wipers (29). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2004 Toyota Highlander have recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2004 Toyota Highlander, including 04V181000 (latches, locks & linkages — doors / latch) and 06V253000 (speed control / throttle — accelerator pedal). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2004 Toyota Highlander compare with the 2003 and 2005 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2003 has 270 complaints and 2 recalls (caution); the 2005 has 225 complaints and 6 recalls (avoid). The 2004 has 286 complaints and 5 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2004 Toyota Highlander?
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 Highlander research
Other Toyota Highlander model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2004 Highlander, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.