Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2004 Toyota 4Runner
NHTSA data on file today
The 2004 Toyota 4Runner has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 612 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #16V065000 Inadvertent Side Curtain Air Bag Deployment NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V113000 PEDAL ENTRAPMENT NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Structure 309 complaints
- Unknown or Other 115 complaints
- Suspension 108 complaints
- Service Brakes 57 complaints
- Air Bags 36 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 30 complaints
Of the 612 complaints on file, 23 report a crash and 3 a fire; across all 612 complaints, owners report 18 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$7,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2004 Toyota 4Runner shows an average reliability record with 612 complaints and two recalls. Issues are principally found in the structure, unknown areas, and suspension, with a notable but not overwhelming number of complaints. Airbag and accelerator pedal recalls raise some safety concerns. The complaint data does not indicate pervasive problems but suggests some areas to monitor.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 60,000–120,000 miles | $500–$2,000 | common |
| Suspension | 70,000–130,000 miles | $400–$1,500 | common |
| Service brakes | 70,000–110,000 miles | $300–$1,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake inspections and maintenance
- Tire rotations and alignment
- Cooling system service
- Transmission fluid change
- Spark plug replacement
- Belts and hoses inspection
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unusual suspension noises
- Brake pedal vibration
- Stuck accelerator pedal
- Airbag warning light
- Uneven tire wear
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2004 Toyota 4Runner at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.