2004 Toyota Highlander Electronic stability control Problems
- Complaints
- 17about this part
- Share
- 6%of 286 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 60,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 17 complaints about the electronic stability control of the 2004 Toyota Highlander, 6% of the 286 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 60,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was driving about 15 MPH on a city streetand the vsc indicator light came on and the vehicle started breaking on its own. A loud scrapping sound was heard. It was about 70degrees and sunny and the car thought I was going down a slippery slope. I stopped the vehicle. Every time I got above 8-10 MPH the light would come on and the care would start breaking becoming unable to drive.”
NHTSA complaint #10854642, filed 2016-04, 110,000 miles“While traveling through a highway construction zone my car suddenly became hard to steer, and my speed became greater, tried to (break) decelerate the car began sliding out of control-plowing into the road construction barriers part lodged in front passenger windshield. The car went through the ditch became airborne through a rod iron fence shattered the rear second-row right side window spun out , and came to rest just feet from the some pileings. …”
NHTSA complaint #11355039, filed 2020-09, 250,000 miles“My vehicle is having an issue where the vehicle stability control and ABS are being disabled. This is the default mode whenever there is an issue. It is now occurring every time I start my car.”
NHTSA complaint #10659890, filed 2014-11, 110,000 miles“In feb 2005 while doing about 30 MPH the vsc light came on and started braking, on it's own, to the right making it almost impossible to drive. The next morning the car was towed to the Toyota dealer. The car displayed no codes and they said that they had calibrated the steering angle sensor. We had no further problems until mar 24, 2016. This time the vsc indicator came on at about 40 MPH. If I slowed down to about 20 MPH the indicator would go off. We were able to drive the car home but the car braked, on it's own, several times. We have an appointment with the Toyota dealer. …”
NHTSA complaint #10852145, filed 2016-03, 143,000 miles“I am the owner of a 2004 Toyota Highlander 2wd. This vehicle is in excellent condition, low mileage (about 40,000) and has never been in an accident. On april 19, the vehicle stability control/anti-slip buzzer sounded. The icon lit on the dashboard, and the vehicle started to break as if the car was slipping. The road was dry, our speed was extremely low (about 15mph), and there was no reason for this to happen. Thankfully, we were just out of our driveway and could turn safely around though the problem persisted. …”
NHTSA complaint #10266458, filed 2009-04, 40,000 milesElectronic stability control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 | 1% |
| 2019 | 5 | 1% |
| 2018 | 3 | 1% |
| 2017 | 3 | 1% |
| 2016 | 4 | 4% |
| 2015 | 4 | 2% |
| 2014 | 1 | 1% |
| 2013 | 2 | 1% |
| 2012 | 1 | 1% |
| 2011 | 2 | 1% |
| 2010 | 5 | 2% |
| 2009 | 3 | 2% |
| 2008 | 15 | 4% |
| 2007 | 4 | 3% |
| 2006 | 12 | 4% |
| 2005 | 2 | 1% |
| 2004 | 17 | 6% |
| 2003 | 3 | 1% |
| 2002 | 2 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2004 Toyota Highlander
58 complaintsVehicle speed control
40 complaintsSteering
35 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
29 complaintsBrakes
24 complaintsEngine cooling
20 complaintsElectrical system
18 complaintsEngine
16 complaintsExterior lighting
14 complaintsEquipment
10 complaintsAir bags
9 complaintsTires
9 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 Toyota Highlander
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 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