Model year
2004 Toyota Highlander
NHTSA lists 5 recalls and 286 complaints for the 2004 Toyota Highlander (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). NHTSA also lists 1 recall and 0 complaints under HIGHLANDER HYBRID. Those counts are separate from the numbers above. The components listed on the most complaints are POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (46), VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (33), STEERING (24). NHTSA lists 1 investigation. NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here. EPA rates it 19–22 mpg combined depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $3,050–$3,550, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.
- 2001 137 complaints
- 2002 301 complaints
- 2003 258 complaints
- 2004 286 complaints
- 2005 224 complaints
- 2006 278 complaints
- 2007 124 complaints
- 2008 405 complaints
- 2009 134 complaints
- 2010 216 complaints
- 2011 181 complaints
- 2012 182 complaints
- 2013 207 complaints
- 2014 136 complaints
- 2015 192 complaints
- 2016 111 complaints
- 2017 271 complaints
- 2018 269 complaints
- 2019 502 complaints
- 2020 321 complaints
- 2021 531 complaints
- 2022 263 complaints
- 2023 189 complaints
- 2024 43 complaints
- 2025 10 complaints
- 2026 4 complaints
Recalls
11V539000 · Nov 9, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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,…
11V112000 · Feb 24, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
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…
10V499000 · Oct 21, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
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…
06V253000 · Jul 13, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
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…
04V181000 · Apr 15, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
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,…
Complaints
286 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 32, fire flag on 3, injury field 23, deaths field 47. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.
Other NHTSA names
These names matched the same EPA model but are not included in the headline counts above.
| Name | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| HIGHLANDER HYBRID | 1 | 0 |
Investigations
| Action | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| RQ10003 | Unintended and Uncontrolled Acceleration · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | Feb 16, 2010 | Mar 1, 2011 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here.
Fuel economy
| Configuration | Fuel | City | Hwy | Comb | kWh/100 mi | Range | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlander 2WD · 2.4L · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 19 | 25 | 22 | — | — | $3,050 |
| Highlander 2WD · 3.3L · Automatic 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 17 | 23 | 19 | — | — | $3,550 |
| Highlander 4WD · 2.4L · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 18 | 23 | 20 | — | — | $3,350 |
| Highlander 4WD · 3.3L · Automatic 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 16 | 22 | 19 | — | — | $3,550 |
Open this model year in the fuel-cost calculator. The calculator starts with no fuel price filled in.
Check a vehicle
This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2004 Toyota Highlander at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.