2004 Toyota Highlander problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train:automatic Transmission (41) · Vehicle Speed Control (33) · Steering (22)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Toyota Highlander model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
235 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Engine And Engine Cooling 2011-11-09 · campaign 11V539000 · 420,326 vehicles
Defect: 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 INSUFFICIEN
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 STEERING EFFORT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL CHECK THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY TO IDENTIFY WHETHER IT WAS PRODUCED BY THE U.S. SUPPLIER. IF SO, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PULLEY WITH A NEW ONE AT NO CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING EARLY JANUARY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal 2011-02-24 · campaign 11V112000 · 769,379 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: IF THIS OCCURS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY TEMPORARILY BECOME STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION RATHER THAN RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION. A STUCK ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN UNINTENDED AND SUSTAINED VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FLOOR CARPET COVER WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE FREE OR CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder 2010-10-21 · campaign 10V499000 · 728,544 vehicles
Defect: 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 M
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.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAL WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 AND LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
Service bulletins (164)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0039-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0038-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
to prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. the purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer.
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0035-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. if these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfa
Structure:body 2024-12-05 · T-SB-0061-23 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
toyota vehicles are currently protected with rapgardtm protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. this material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. follow the removal procedure in this bulletin to remove the rapgardtm protective film wi
Structure:body 2024-12-03 · T-SB-0062-23 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. this type of contamination can be identified by the presence of small, red or brown particles on the paint surfa
Structure:body 2024-07-12 · T-SB-0039-24 Rev1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Showing the 6 most recent of 164 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-05-22 · Steering“hello, i am the buyer of the subject vehicle, upon doing my research, i found out several reports stating that the subject vehicle's 2.4l engine has manufacturing defect, that causes head bolts to get stripped/melt down in to oil causing engine failures and life threating risk in the middle of the road.…”
2024-10-09 · Wheels · 💥 crash“my car malfunctioned my tire locked up while i was driving on the high way causing me to spin out of control and skid all the way into a guard rail totalled my car out and not one air bag went off…”
2024-02-16 · Air Bags“the passenger airbag occupancy sensor in my car has stopped sensing a passenger has been stuck on "off" for the past 2-6 months (i believe) even when an adult is sitting in the seat. i don't know exactly when this problem began because there was never any warning light or error message which is a massive safety oversight since i could have been in…”
2023-10-27 · Structure:body:bumpers · 190,000 mi“the contact owns a 2004 toyota highlander. the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front bumper inadvertently detached. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was determined that the front lower bumper covers had been attached with mounting tabs and that the bumper assembly had failed and needed to be replac…”
2021-01-04 · Service Brakes · 126,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota highlander. the contact stated that while operating the vehicle and pressing to brake pedal, the pedal failed to return to the idle position. the vehicle stability control message displayed on the instrument panel and the vehicle failed to exceed 40 mph. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who was una…”
2020-09-14 · Vehicle Speed Control · 250,000 mi · 💥 crash“while traveling through a highway construction zone my car suddenly became hard to steer, and my speed became greater, tried to (break) decelerate the car began sliding out of control-plowing into the road construction barriers part lodged in front passenger windshield. the car went through the ditch became airborne through a rod iron fence shatter…”
2018-11-26 · Vehicle Speed Control · 170,000 mi · 💥 crash“tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota highlander. while driving various low speeds, the vehicle accelerated rapidly without warning. upon applying minimal pressure to the accelerator pedal, the accelerator pedal became stuck and the contact's vehicle crashed into another vehicle, a dumpster, and almost struck a group of children before coming to a sto…”
2017-09-08 · Seat Belts · 150,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota highlander. the contact stated that the front driver's side seat belt assembly malfunctioned and the fabric material strap became frayed and shredded at the buckle location. the cause of the failure was not diagnosed. the vehicle was not repaired. the local dealer (atlantic toyota in lynn, massachusetts) and manuf…”
2017-07-11 · Unknown Or Other · 68,000 mi“the transfer case is leaking after only 68000 miles. the leaking oil drops over the heated exhaust pipe which causes fume in the cabin through air condition and fan…”
2017-04-07 · Traction Control System · 157,489 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota highlander. while driving various speeds, while depressing the brake pedal, the pedal traveled to the floor. the traction control, check engine, vsc, and brake indicators illuminated. the vehicle was serviced per nhtsa campaign number: 10v499000 (service brakes), but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. the co…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.