Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2004 Toyota Highlander
NHTSA data on file today
The 2004 Toyota Highlander has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 286 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #11V539000 CRANKSHAFT PULLEY NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V112000 FLOOR CARPET COVER AND RETENTION CLIPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10V499000 BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06V253000 CARPET INTERFERENCE WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V181000 TOYOTA/CHILD PROTECTION LOCK ON SIDE DOORS NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 58 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 40 complaints
- Steering 35 complaints
- Visibility 21 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 20 complaints
- Electrical System 18 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).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,500–$9,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2004 Toyota Highlander is rated average due to issues with the powertrain and vehicle speed control. Several recalls highlight potential safety concerns, but overall reliability is boosted by the generally robust build quality of Toyota vehicles. Costs are moderate compared to peers.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| powertrain | 70,000–100,000 miles | $600–$1,500 | common |
| vehicle speed control | 60,000–90,000 miles | $300–$800 | common |
| steering system | 80,000–110,000 miles | $400–$1,200 | occasional |
| service brakes | 70,000–100,000 miles | $250–$600 | occasional |
| engine cooling | 90,000–120,000 miles | $350–$900 | 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 change every 5,000 miles
- Replace air filter every 30,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 2 years
- Coolant replacement every 60,000 miles
- Transmission service every 60,000 miles
- Timing belt replacement every 90,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Steering wheel vibration
- Delayed acceleration response
- Squeaky brakes
- Unusual engine noise
- Sensitivity in braking performance
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2004 Toyota Highlander at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.