2004 Toyota Highlander Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 20about this part
- Share
- 7%of 286 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 86,500miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 20 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2004 Toyota Highlander, 7% of the 286 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 86,500 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I have had to have my emission system/catalytic converter replaced twice now. The first time was in 2004, within the first 6 months of owning the vehicle and the most recent time was may 2008. Each time the symptom was a sulfur smell that I understand from the dealer happens to some 2004 Toyota highlanders.”
NHTSA complaint #10230280, filed 2008-06, 40,000 miles“My 2004 Toyota Highlander hesitates for a couple of seconds when I accelerate from about 40 to 50 MPH such as getting onto a freeway. I have never experienced this in any other vehicle. I find this hesitation to be very disconcerting and makes me worry about merging into traffic.”
NHTSA complaint #10139796, filed 2005-10, 3,000 miles“I took my 2004 Toyota Highlander v6 to longo Toyota for brake booster recall in november 2010. They kept my car nearly 7 weeks before repair was completed. A few days after picking up my vehicle, while I was parked dropping off my passenger, most of the control panel lights illuminated (brakes, ABS, trac off, vsc, check engine). I reported this to the dealer. They said to bring the car back. I took the car back and diagnostic tests were run and concluded that a code was stored but it was nothing specific that had failed. Brake system was bled. …”
NHTSA complaint #10416607, filed 2011-08, 78,000 miles“Coolant loss due to stripped head bolts in the engine block. No smoke or heat or warning on dash. Have to change engine block costing $6,000 for parts and repair. Dealer not responding. Always have received maintenance with the same dealer/service center.”
NHTSA complaint #10450090, filed 2012-03, 100,449 miles“Dt: the contact stated while pulling into a parking slot heard a grinding noise followed by the vehicle lurching into another parked vehicle. He took the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer could not duplicate the sudden acceleration. The dealer replaced the mass air flow sensor, oxygen sensor, and reprogrammed the ecu. The dealer could not determine what caused this problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10142635, filed 2005-11, 37,000 milesRelated recalls
- 11V539000Nov 9, 2011Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004 avalon vehicles; 2004 and 2005 camry, camry solara, highlander, and sienna vehicles, 2006 highlander hybrid; 2004…Covers: Toyota Highlander 2004–2005, Lexus RX330 2004–2005, Toyota Sienna 2004–2005 +6 more
Related 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…
- 10060836Feb 25, 2013Summary to be provided on a future date.
- 10037592Mar 2, 2011Toyota: there may be damaged cylinder head bolts threads.
- 10034265Apr 19, 2010Toyota: 2az-fe & 2az-fxe throttle body. Engine control. Provide updated throttle body part number information for certain vehicles. The drain pipe has been eliminated on throttle…
- 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.
- 10015494Mar 24, 2005Fuel injector ticking noise. Update. *tt original.
- 10015541Feb 18, 2005Malfunction indicator lamp (mil) on with diagnostic trouble code (dtc) p0346 (camshaft position sensor).
- 10015531Feb 9, 2005Malfunction indicator lamp (mil) on with diagnostic trouble code (dtc) p0031, p0051, p2238 and/or p2241.
- 10011803Nov 12, 2004Repair manual supplement: lev ii evap system check - diagnostic trouble code (dtc) p0441, p0442, p0446, p0451, p0452, p0453, p0455 and p0456.
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 10% |
| 2019 | 3 | 1% |
| 2017 | 3 | 1% |
| 2016 | 1 | 1% |
| 2015 | 2 | 1% |
| 2013 | 3 | 1% |
| 2012 | 2 | 1% |
| 2011 | 5 | 3% |
| 2010 | 2 | 1% |
| 2009 | 5 | 4% |
| 2008 | 18 | 4% |
| 2007 | 2 | 2% |
| 2006 | 21 | 8% |
| 2005 | 8 | 4% |
| 2004 | 20 | 7% |
| 2003 | 46 | 18% |
| 2002 | 23 | 8% |
| 2001 | 17 | 12% |
Other parts of the 2004 Toyota Highlander
58 complaintsVehicle speed control
40 complaintsSteering
35 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
29 complaintsBrakes
24 complaintsElectrical system
18 complaintsElectronic stability control
17 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 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