NHTSA vehicle safety data

2004 Toyota Highlander Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2004 Toyota Highlander has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 286 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Toyota dealer.

NHTSA also files the 2004 Toyota Highlander separately as Highlander Hybrid — 1 recall campaign.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2004 Toyota Highlander, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2004 Toyota Highlander owner complaints

Owners have filed 286 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Toyota Highlander, describing incidents dated January 10, 2004 to May 20, 2026.

Most-cited components

Power Train 58 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 40 complaints
Engine 36 complaints
Steering 35 complaints
Visibility/Wiper 29 complaints
Service Brakes 24 complaints

Of the 286 complaints on file, 32 report a crash and 3 a fire; across all 286 complaints, owners report 23 injuries and 47 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11739508 · Filed May 22, 2026
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…
ODI #11618886 · Filed October 9, 2024
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
ODI #11572352 · Filed February 16, 2024
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…

Read all 286 complaints

Owner-reported

2004 Toyota Highlander mileage at failure

231 of the 286 complaints on file for the 2004 Toyota Highlander give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Component	Median	Middle half	Based on
Power Train	Median 9,000 miles	Middle half 900–70,000 miles	Based on 42 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control	Median 35,000 miles	Middle half 17,000–85,000 miles	Based on 34 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2004 Toyota Highlander in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Recall Query RQ10-003: Unintended and Uncontrolled Acceleration
Closed March 1, 2011

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

CRANKSHAFT PULLEY

NHTSA #11V539000 · Engine and Engine Cooling · NHTSA notice

Reported November 9, 2011 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Potentially affected: 420,326 vehicles

Owners notified December 31, 2011 · Vehicles built June 1, 2004 – March 31, 2005 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

FLOOR CARPET COVER AND RETENTION CLIPS

NHTSA #11V112000 · Vehicle Speed Control — Accelerator Pedal · NHTSA notice

Reported February 24, 2011 · TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 769,379 vehicles

Toyota campaign BOA/BLC · Owners notified May 6, 2011 · Vehicles built August 22, 2003 – July 26, 2006 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

TOYOTA SAFETY RECALL BOA LEXUS SAFETY RECALL NO. BLC.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER

NHTSA #10V499000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Foundation Components — Master Cylinder · NHTSA notice

Reported October 21, 2010 · TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 728,544 vehicles

Owners notified November 15, 2010

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

CARPET INTERFERENCE WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL

NHTSA #06V253000 · Vehicle Speed Control — Accelerator Pedal · NHTSA notice

Reported July 13, 2006 · TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 367,594 vehicles

Toyota campaign 6LD 60F · Owners notified July 24, 2006 · Vehicles built August 22, 2003 – May 24, 2005 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

THIS CONDITION MAY INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

TOYOTA RECALL NO. 60F AND LEXUS RECALL NO. 6LD.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

TOYOTA/CHILD PROTECTION LOCK ON SIDE DOORS

NHTSA #04V181000 · Latches/Locks/Linkages — Doors — Latch · NHTSA notice

Reported April 15, 2004 · TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 366,572 vehicles

Toyota campaign SSC 40B · Owners notified May 7, 2004 · Vehicles built November 17, 2000 – January 29, 2004 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL SHORTEN THE CPL LEVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 7, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Notes

TOYOTA RECALL NO. SSC 40B.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

2004 Toyota Highlander 4-DR.

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control

1 investigation

286 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2004 Toyota Highlander.

Steering; Engine

ODI #11739508

Incident: May 20, 2026 · Filed: May 22, 2026

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.

Air Bags; Wheels

ODI #11618886

Crash

Incident: October 9, 2024 · Filed: October 9, 2024

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

Air Bags

ODI #11572352

Incident: September 1, 2023 · Filed: February 16, 2024

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 accident with no knowledge that it wasn't working properly. The car is currently at the dealership and they are telling me it's $1300 to replace the sensor and that there is no way to bypass the sensor and just have it "ON" for the safety of my passenger. There is already a recall for this same system in newer Highlanders, but why is there no support for older Highlanders?

Structure

ODI #11552313

Incident: August 27, 2023 · Filed: October 27, 2023

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 replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed of an unknown recall. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.

Service Brakes

ODI #11386458

Incident: December 31, 2020 · Filed: January 4, 2021

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 UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN DRIVEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER GROOVE TOYOTA LOCATED AT 5460 S BROADWAY, ENGLEWOOD, CO 80113 HOWEVER, THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT YET DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT YET CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

Steering; Vehicle Speed Control; Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ODI #11355039

Crash 1 injury

Incident: September 6, 2020 · Filed: September 14, 2020

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 SHATTERED THE REAR SECOND-ROW RIGHT SIDE WINDOW SPUN OUT , AND CAME TO REST JUST FEET FROM THE SOME PILEINGS. THIS IS THE INFORMATION OF MY DAUGHTER WHOM IS AN OUT OF STATE COLLEGE SENIOR AND VERY SHAKEN UP FROM THIS ORDEAL, THIS HER STATEMENT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE. POSSIBLY THE PLACEMENT OF THE 🚧 COULD HAVE BEEN A CONTRIBUTOR, AND THE UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION. VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT USED A YEAR AGO. CAN YOU HELP UP LEARN WHY?

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #11153718

Crash 1 injury

Incident: November 22, 2018 · Filed: November 26, 2018

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 STOP. IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED AND WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE PAIN TO THE NECK AND BACK, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS SUBJECT TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V112000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

Seat Belts

ODI #11022298

Incident: February 1, 2014 · Filed: September 8, 2017

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 MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. *JS

Unknown or Other

ODI #11004382

Incident: July 8, 2017 · Filed: July 11, 2017

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

Electronic Stability Control (ESC); Traction Control System; Service Brakes

ODI #10971175

Incident: April 4, 2017 · Filed: April 7, 2017

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 CONTACT OBSERVED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,489.

Other Toyota Highlander model years

Check your 2004 Toyota Highlander VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Toyota Highlander at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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