2004 Toyota Highlander problems
NHTSA has received 337 complaints about the 2004 Toyota Highlander, and 15% of them involve transmission. After that come cruise control (12%) and steering (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 337 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Transmission 15% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 42 and 3
- Injuries and deaths
- 25 and 47
- Typical mileage
- 56,000 miles 274 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 69 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 33 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 40 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 33 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 28 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 27 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 16 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 15 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 5 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 3 |
| 200k+ miles | 5 |
What the data shows
Among the 274 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 56,000 miles. For transmission specifically, the median reported mileage is about 3,000 miles (37 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 42 complaints mention a crash; 3 complaints mention a fire; 25 injuries reported; 47 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2004 ranks 10th most-complained-about out of 24 model years of the Toyota Highlander with enough data (201 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 5 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Car in motion @45 miles an hour at 8am 12/29/14. Driver lost consciousness due to medical event, which resulted in auto running off road after hitting curb and sidewalk, then hitting a roadside fence at an estimated 45 MPH. The car then rolled and landed on roof. Driver was seat-belted. None of the airbags deployed during the collision. Driver suffered trauma to head and other injuries. Car was rated by insurer as completely totaled.
2004 toyota highlander acceleration incident, crossed median, was hit broadside and two occupants killed; my son and his wife. Written letter of witness of accident is available. Updated 04/22/10 updated ivoq 05/13/120 updated 9/28/11
Air bags failed to deploy. A nissan pathfinder cut in front of me and I crashed into him. I was driving about 50 MPH when he suddenly veered into my land. I tried to brake, but there wasn't time and I hit the back of his pathfinder and then spun around and hit the guardrail. The seat belts exploded, but the airbags did not deploy, upon either impact. The firemen just shook their heads in disbelief and my car's damage (~$9000).
1 month after purchasing the toyota the hessitation on acceleration began. I had the computer program flashed numerous times. The dealership claimed they have done all they could. Entering highways or turning corners the car stalle d untill the throttle grabbed, and then took off. It jolted the body and made driving the toyota highlander very difficult.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota highlander. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the battery indicator light illuminated and the power steering failed suddenly. The contact had to maneuver the vehicle to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the contact's residence. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN provided was invalid. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.