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2004 Toyota Highlander Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 286 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Toyota Highlander, most often about the transmission (20% of complaints, typically around 10,000 miles). It is 6th of 26 Highlander model years by number of complaints and has 5 recalls.
Most common 2004 Toyota Highlander problems
Transmission
58 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 10,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline, manual transmission, transfer case (4-wheel drive).
2004 Toyota Highlander limited developed a hesitation after around 10,000 miles. The hesitation is followed by a head-jerking surge. This situation is very hazardous when attempting to make a right or left-hand turn, or fast acceleration merge, in high traffic situations. I am very concerned about my 15-yr-old twins…
2004 Toyota Highlander with approx. 11,000 miles. 6cyl. 2w/d I have noticed a slight but consistent hesitation between pressing the accelerator and actually accelerating. I recently experienced that when accellerating heavily, as to pass another car, the Highlander actually seems to pause, and to even momentarily slow…
Speed control
40 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 38,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
Dt: the contact stated while pulling into a parking slot heard a grinding noise followed by the vehicle lurching into another parked vehicle. He took the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer could not duplicate the sudden acceleration. The dealer replaced the mass air flow sensor, oxygen sensor, and reprogrammed the ecu.…
: the contact stated while driving various speeds, the carpet on the vehicle floor was loose around the accelerator pedal. There was a NHTSA recall, #06v253000 regarding the accelerator pedal. The parts needed to repair the vehicle were not available at the local dealership. The manufacturer was not alerted.
Engine
36 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 103,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system, cooling system.
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that she noticed a leak from under the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis who stated that the leaking fluid was antifreeze. The contact was also advised that the cylinder head bolts and threads would need to be replaced. The vehicle…
Vehicle had lost some water/coolant and began to get hot. Replaced fluid and drove home. Kept loosing fluid, so I took it to the shop. They thought it had a blown head gasket. Took it to another shop which discovered that 3-4 of the head bolts are stripped; they are steel and the block is aluminum. Repair kit exists…
Steering
35 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 50,500 miles. Parts named most often: column, rack and pinion, gear box, hydraulic power assist system.
I bought a 2004 Toyota Highlander in november of 2003 because my husband and I found out we were pregnant and needed a bigger car. Three months and 5000 miles later I had to be towed to the dealership because of a defect in a chip in the "motherboard." (some sensor defect that caused the asc mechanism to foul up.)…
While driving on busy highway the steering of my Toyota became impossible I managed to get car off of road . Had vehicle towed to garage the steering angle sensor had gone bad the mechanic advised me that this was a dangerous situation. I was also informed that there had been a technical service bulletin sent out on…
Visibility and wipers
29 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 63,500 miles. Parts named most often: defroster/defogger/hvac system, power window devices and controls, glass, side/rear, rearview mirrors/devices.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Toyota Highlander. While driving 25-40 MPH, the traction control warning signal illuminated and the brakes pulsated. The traffic control light should have illuminated when there was wheel slippage. The contact stated that the failure occurred during dry road conditions and especially when…
I have a 2004 4 cyl Highlander, and I can completely understand the other complainers situation as I am experiencing the same problem. It happened at around 60k miles and the dealer said it would cost about $600. To fix. I didn't. I just had to play around with the knob when I need to use it.
Brakes
22 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 76,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, power assist, pedals and linkages, foundation components.
While driving home from work pulled up to stop light with many other cars the light turned green and I got up to 20 MPH and the brakes kicked on slowing me down to almost a stop, and creating a loud noise. The car behind hit me, but did not cause any damage. He said I had no brake lights. It will only go 15 MPH before…
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Highlander limited. The contact was driving 45 MPH when the vehicle abnormally began to veer off the road. The contact applied the brakes and the vehicle then suddenly spun around and crashed into a ravine. The vehicle rolled over twice. The contact sustained injuries to the neck and…
Electrical
18 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 64,000 miles.
Since I bought the car in 2004, I would have trouble with the clock - sometimes it would show other times not. I have a navigation system in the car and the time is tied into it. This year, the GPS stopped working, and would knock out the radio, heat and defroster. When I brought it to Toyota, they said is was a GPS…
The heat would not always work. It would blow cold air. Sometimes I could move the knob around and it would come back on but it didn't always work like that. I googled the problem and came up with more than a dozen people with the same problem. They dealer said the part was over $600 to replace, then on top of that…
Stability control
17 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic (asc).
Tl contact owns a 2004 Toyota Highlander. While driving 25-40 MPH, the traction control warning signal illuminated and the brakes pulsated. The traffic control light should have illuminated when there was wheel slippage. The contact stated that the failure occurred during dry road conditions and especially when…
Wife was driving on clean dry road. Suddenly, the vcs light and traction lights came on the dashboard while alarm sounding came on as well. Car suddenly braked, brakes made a grinding sound, and car jerked to the right. Tried to drive forward and it would not go over 10mph. If the car did, the above happened again.…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2004 Toyota Highlander recalls
Engine: 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 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.
Full defect summary
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 insufficient, there is a possibility that the outer ring may become misaligned and it may not properly rotate with the inner ring, causing noise and/or illumination of the battery discharge indicator light.
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. 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Brakes: 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.
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.
Full defect summary
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 movement of the piston. If this occurs, a small amount of brake fluid could slowly leak from the seal into the brake booster.
Speed control: accelerator pedal
Risk: This condition may interfere with the accelerator pedal returning to the idle position increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the two floor carpet cover retaining clips free of charge. The recall began on july 24, 2006, and should be completed by early september 2006. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331 or lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
Full defect summary
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 the accelerator pedal rod.
Doors and locks: latch
Risk: This condition could allow the door to be opened with the inside while the operator believes that the cpl was activated. If the door were opened from the inside while the vehicle was in motion, an occupant could fall out and be injured.
Fix: Dealers will shorten the cpl lever. Owner notification began may 7, 2004. Owners should contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
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 the body panel, causing the cpl lever to move into the unlock position.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Unintended and uncontrolled acceleration
Summary
On february 16, 2010, NHTSA's office of defects investigation (odi) opened rq10-003 to determine whether the scope of prior toyota recalls relating to potential unintended acceleration were sufficiently broad, including, among others, toyota recalls 07e-082, 09v-388, 10v-017, and 10v-023.NHTSA also requested information regarding potential electronic causes of unintended acceleration in toyota and lexus vehicles.I. Pedal interference from floor mats, carpet covers and plastic pads in carpets.during the rq10-003 investigation, odi reviewed a large volume of documents to assess whether additional vehicles should be recalled.following the agency's analysis, NHTSA requested that toyota recall ad
Questions about the 2004 Toyota Highlander
- What are the most common problems with the 2004 Toyota Highlander?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (58 complaints, typically around 10,000 miles); speed control (40 complaints, typically around 38,000 miles); engine (36 complaints, typically around 103,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2004 Toyota Highlander have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from November 9, 2011 (engine). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2004 a bad year for the Toyota Highlander?
- It is 6th of 26 Highlander model years by number of complaints, with 286 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.