2004 Toyota 4RUNNER Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 25about this part
- Share
- 4%of 678 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 1,826miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 25 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2004 Toyota 4RUNNER, 4% of the 678 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 1,826 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I have a 2004 Toyota 4 RUNNER. I noticed the extreme sulfur odor within the first 500 miles of driving the vehicle. I was told it was just a coating on the engine. Naive as I am I believed them. I am at 20,000 miles and many complaints to Toyota only to be told it was the gas. They have done the TSB but no avail. It is still there and not healthy.”
NHTSA complaint #10131845, filed 2005-08, 100 miles“After 2.5 years and about 25000 miles, my 4 RUNNER sport develops a strong sulfur odor inside the cabin when driving. Brought the car to the dealer (caldwell Toyota) in west caldwell, nj who informed me the problem was normal and caused by the type of fuel used. Caldwell Toyota had no answer to my question why the problem suddenly surfaced after 2.5 years nor did they offer to further investigate. …”
NHTSA complaint #10184036, filed 2007-03, 24,500 miles“When driving my 2004 Toyota 4 RUNNER emits a sulfur like odor. I have been told that switching fuels will help, but I have tried all fuels in the area of all grades and still have this terrible smell. It happens on a repeatable basis, most of the time after exiting the freeway onto a surface street is when it is most noticeable.”
NHTSA complaint #10062169, filed 2004-03, 12,000 miles“This incident was 1st noticed 12/9/2009. I started my car in the morning and let it warm up, when I went to get in it a few minutes later, the heater fan would not work. Since then, I find that the heater fan will work off and on, seems to be after vehicle has warmed up a bit -maybe (not sure of the rhythm or reason). I do not feel safe driving this vehicle in cold weather especially since I have small children and fear getting stuck or stranded with no heat! …”
NHTSA complaint #10297405, filed 2009-12, 48,000 miles“While driving, the cel (check engine light) came on and the vsc trac and vsc off lights came on as well. Apparently Toyota disables vsc when the cel is triggered. In my case, the 2 times it has occurred has been due to emissions related failures (1st time the cat failed, 2nd time one of the o2 sensors failed). In the 1st case, I immediately took the vehicle to the dealership as I was approaching the end of the emissions warranty. They made the repairs and cleared all the codes so wasn't aware that the vsc system was actually disabled. …”
NHTSA complaint #10456633, filed 2012-04, 131,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10253223Mar 4, 2024This is to advise of various price adjustments that will affect Toyota Genuine Motor Oil and Long Life Coolant, effective March 1, 2024. These products are ordered through the…
- 10177599Jun 3, 2020These SKUs are Exhaust Manifolds with Catalytic Converters. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory due to a loss of CARB certification. These SKUs can no…
- 10177598Jun 3, 2020These SKUs are Exhaust Manifolds with Catalytic Converters. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory due to a loss of CARB certification. These SKUs can no…
- 10061567Apr 23, 2013Summary to be provided on a future date.
- 10034194Feb 12, 2010Toyota: engine control. Some model vehicles may exhibit a mil on condition with one or more of the following dtcs-p0442, p0455, or p0456.
- 10034284Feb 4, 2010Toyota: techstream ecu flash reprogramming procedure. Flash reprogramming allows the ecu software to be updated without replacing the ecu. Flash calibration updates for specific…
- 10017317May 9, 2006No start in sub-freezing ambient air temperatures.
- 10018272Nov 8, 2005Malfunction indicator lamp on diagnostic trouble code p2742.
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 3% |
| 2015 | 1 | 1% |
| 2009 | 2 | 9% |
| 2008 | 2 | 2% |
| 2007 | 7 | 5% |
| 2006 | 11 | 3% |
| 2005 | 10 | 2% |
| 2004 | 25 | 4% |
| 2003 | 89 | 13% |
| 2002 | 12 | 5% |
| 2001 | 13 | 7% |
| 2000 | 13 | 3% |
| 1999 | 15 | 5% |
| 1998 | 16 | 6% |
| 1997 | 14 | 5% |
| 1996 | 25 | 16% |
| 1995 | 107 | 62% |
| 1994 | 26 | 41% |
| 1993 | 20 | 39% |
| 1992 | 18 | 34% |
| 1991 | 20 | 47% |
| 1990 | 38 | 49% |
| 1989 | 2 | 33% |
| 1988 | 2 | 22% |
| 1986 | 2 | 25% |
Other parts of the 2004 Toyota 4RUNNER
310 complaintsOther or unknown
121 complaintsSuspension
113 complaintsBrakes
82 complaintsAir bags
37 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
36 complaintsVehicle speed control
34 complaintsSteering
32 complaintsElectrical system
22 complaintsEngine
18 complaintsElectronic stability control
15 complaintsSeats
14 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 Toyota 4RUNNER
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology