2004 Toyota Highlander Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe hesitation or surging during acceleration at low speeds, and a separate group report the vehicle accelerating on its own at parking-lot speeds. Steering clunks, climate-control and lighting failures, and sunroof problems also come up repeatedly, with many complaints filed between 30,000 and 100,000 miles.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Hesitation and surging on acceleration

   • 47 complaints (16%)
   • median 2,409 mi at 1.0 yrs old (36 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2012

   Owners describe a delay of up to a few seconds when pressing the accelerator, followed by a sudden surge or jolt, most noticeable when pulling away from low speed or merging into traffic. Some also report abrupt downshifts or a clunk while driving at steady speed. Complaints describe dealers calling the behavior normal for the electronic throttle and transmission, or being unable to reproduce it; one owner reports a transmission replacement that did not resolve the shifting concern. Reported across the range from a few hundred to about 150,000 miles, with many filed under 40,000 miles and often on 2004 purchases when new.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive the car from a stop and at low speed on a test drive, watching for a delayed response or a lurch when pulling away. Ask whether the transmission fluid and engine control software have been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2004 Toyota Highlander v6 (3.3l with 5-speed transmission) has an intermittent fault where the automatic transmission will abrubtly drop down a gear (or gears) while simultaneously trying to accelerate creating a sensation like it is bucking or porpousing. Usuall stepping off of the accelerator is sufficient to eliminate the bucking sensation. This has occured since I purchased the vehicle new in august 2004.”

   NHTSA complaint #10128904, filed 2005-07, 500 miles

   “I have owned a 2004 Toyota Highlander v6 4-wd vehicle since july 10, 2004. About two weeks ago I noticed there was some hesitation upon acceleration and on occasion the vehicle seems to down shift for no apparent reason. This is extremely dangerous when making a left-hand turn against traffic without a turn arrow or pulling out into any kind of traffic. Sometimes it will go - often times there is a 1-2 second delay. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10090804, filed 2004-09, 1,500 miles
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Unexpected acceleration at low speed

   • 36 complaints (13%)
   • median 40,510 mi at 4.6 yrs old (30 state mileage)
   • 18 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2020

   Owners describe the vehicle picking up speed without extra pedal pressure, usually while parking, backing out, or creeping at walking pace, sometimes with the brake feeling unresponsive. Some complaints link it to the floor carpet cover or a broken plastic panel interfering with the pedal. Dealers are described as unable to duplicate the concern, or as saying the vehicle was not covered by a recall. Mostly reported between roughly 30,000 and 100,000 miles, frequently during parking-lot maneuvers.

   Recall 11V112000Recall 06V2530002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Confirm with a dealer whether the carpet-retainer and accelerator-pedal recall work was completed for this vehicle, and check that the floor mat and trim near the pedal are secure and do not touch it.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We have a 2004 Toyota Highlander, and we have had surges on the gas since we bought it in 2004. It usually is something that we can control, as you will be driving along, and it will surge forward a bit, but we have always been able to apply brake and control it. There has only been one instance where it surged strongly, and I had to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting the car in front of me. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10310631, filed 2010-02, 20,000 miles

   “On august 18th 2007 I sent a letter to Toyota motor sales writing concerning a problem with my Toyota Highlander which had surged in a parallel parking situation hitting the car behind and damaging it and my vehicle. . Her headlight and bumper were damaged. . The repair on the other car came to $1800.00. And more. I reported it to the Toyota dealer in spirit lake, ia. And also to the Toyota motor sales in toledo , ohio 43699-0024. The spirit lake dealer told me it must have been caused by bad gas.”

   NHTSA complaint #10303528, filed 2010-02, 35,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Climate control and lighting faults

   • 32 complaints (11%)
   • median 79,000 mi at 7.0 yrs old (25 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,300 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2004–2024

   Owners describe the air conditioning or heat switching on and off and eventually failing, with complaints pointing to a broken temperature-control cable, a circuit board, or actuators. Others report turn signals or daytime running lamps failing, and in some vehicles the navigation unit is tied to those circuits, so repair quotes are high. Complaints also describe the headlamp lenses melting or bubbling where the daytime running lamps are always on. Reported from roughly 35,000 to 160,000 miles, often years after purchase once warranty coverage had ended.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test heat, A/C, all turn signals and both headlamps before buying, and look closely at the headlamp lenses for cloudy or melted spots.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “A 2004 Toyota Highlander signal light (safety item) is malfunctioning and when I took it to Toyota dealer (darcars), I was told I have to change the navigation system (luxury item) which currently is working. I have no idea why they had to integrate these two functions when one is a safety and the other one is luxury items. Besides, it costs $6000 + labor + tax to change the navigation system. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10359218, filed 2010-10, 79,000 miles

   “The passenger airbag indicator warning light came on while nobody was even in the passenger seat, while traveling on a california highway. A check of the Toyota owner's manual stated that the entire airbag system would not function if this light came on and stayed on for no reason at all. Since we live no where near a dealer, nearest dealer is 100 miles away, I let it stay that way for awhile. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10653201, filed 2014-11, 160,000 miles
4. 4
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Sunroof and moonroof stuck or detaching

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the moonroof making noise and then refusing to open or close, sometimes needing a shop to disconnect it to get it shut. One complaint describes the glass separating from its bonding at highway speed and leaving the vehicle. Complaints also mention sun visors that drop into the driver's line of sight and a windshield wiper that stopped working. Reported between roughly 35,000 and 150,000 miles, with several failures appearing shortly after warranty ended.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Open and close the moonroof fully and listen for grinding or hesitation, check the glass for loose bonding, and confirm the visors hold their position.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The driver sun visor keeps dropping from it's kept position and blocks the drivers view. This almost caused 2 accidents with myself and then my wife. The sudden dropping of the visor is very dangerous. I have talked to other Highlander owners and they have similar issues.”

   NHTSA complaint #10554039, filed 2013-11, 85,000 miles

   “I wanted to open my sunroof. I started to slide back and got stuck. I had to take it to a repair shop just to have them close it. They advised me that this was 8th one that where the sunroof broke. They had to disconnect the sunroof just to close it.”

   NHTSA complaint #10231110, filed 2008-06, 55,000 miles

Buying note. Budget for a thorough test drive that covers low-speed acceleration, parking maneuvers and a full turn of the steering wheel, since those are where owners report the most frequent complaints. Ask for service records on the transmission, steering shaft, climate control and any open recall work, as many of these reports involve repairs done outside warranty.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.