2004 Toyota Highlander: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2004 Toyota Highlander: 5 recalls, 286 owner complaints and up to 22 mpg combined.
Recalls
5 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Latches & locks Vehicle recall #04V181000 · 2004 · 366,572 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Dealers will shorten the cpl lever. Owner notification began May 7, 2004. Owners should contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Speed control / throttle Vehicle recall #06V253000 · 2006 · 367,594 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: This condition May interfere with the accelerator pedal returning to the idle position increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #10V499000 · 2010 · 728,544 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: 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.
The 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.
Speed control / throttle Vehicle recall #11V112000 · 2011 · 769,379 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The 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.
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #11V539000 · 2011 · 420,326 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 3 mention a fire, 23 injuries and 47 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Transmission & drivetrain (58): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (41), noise or vibration (4).
- Speed control / throttle (40): the most common themes are sudden acceleration (8).
- Steering (35): the most common themes are steering problems (32), noise or vibration (14).
- Visibility (wipers, glass) (21): the most common themes are noise or vibration (4).
The 2004 Toyota Highlander has 286 owner complaints, ranking #6 of 28 Highlander model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 205). Complaints peaked in 2010 (41 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 53,126 miles. Neighboring years: 2003 (258 complaints, 2 recalls), 2005 (224 complaints, 6 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 25 | 22 | Regular |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 18 | 23 | 20 | Regular |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 23 | 19 | Regular |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 22 | 19 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2004 Toyota Highlander.
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FAQ
Does the 2004 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 vehicle recalls for the 2004 Toyota Highlander. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2004 Toyota Highlander problems?
Owners have filed 286 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are transmission & drivetrain (58), speed control / throttle (40), steering (35).
What gas mileage does the 2004 Toyota Highlander get?
EPA ratings run up to 22 mpg combined (2.4 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 4 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2004 Toyota Highlander repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.