2004 Toyota Highlander Seat belts Problems
- Complaints
- 5about this part
- Share
- 2%of 286 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 81,500miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the seat belts of the 2004 Toyota Highlander, 2% of the 286 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 81,500 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My 7 year old got trapped in the seatbelt and he had to be cut out. He was sitting in his high back booster with the seatbelt pulled over and buckled. Before unbuckling, he put his head through and under the shoulder belt portion. After disengaging the buckle, the belt started to retract, and got caught on the armrest of the booster seat and started tightening around my child. Everytime he wiggled or moved to get out, it tightened further to the point where he was having trouble breathing. …”
NHTSA complaint #10464343, filed 2012-07, 75,000 miles“The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that the front driver's side seat belt assembly malfunctioned and the fabric material strap became frayed and shredded at the buckle location. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer (atlantic Toyota in lynn, massachusetts) and manufacturer were notified, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 150,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11022298, filed 2017-09, 150,000 miles“The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that the seat belt failed to retract and would also intermittently seize. The dealer was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000. Updated 1/7/15 updated 06/3/2015”
NHTSA complaint #10661801, filed 2014-12, 88,000 miles“The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated the front driver and passenger side seat belts would not retract or unlatch intermittently. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.”
NHTSA complaint #10558769, filed 2014-01Seat belts: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 10% |
| 2024 | 1 | 2% |
| 2023 | 4 | 2% |
| 2022 | 3 | 1% |
| 2021 | 2 | 0% |
| 2020 | 6 | 2% |
| 2019 | 6 | 1% |
| 2018 | 3 | 1% |
| 2017 | 4 | 1% |
| 2016 | 2 | 2% |
| 2015 | 3 | 2% |
| 2014 | 5 | 4% |
| 2013 | 5 | 2% |
| 2012 | 1 | 1% |
| 2011 | 4 | 2% |
| 2010 | 1 | 0% |
| 2009 | 2 | 1% |
| 2008 | 9 | 2% |
| 2007 | 1 | 1% |
| 2005 | 6 | 3% |
| 2004 | 5 | 2% |
| 2003 | 4 | 2% |
| 2002 | 3 | 1% |
| 2001 | 4 | 3% |
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 complaintsElectronic stability control
17 complaintsEngine
16 complaintsExterior lighting
14 complaintsEquipment
10 complaintsAir bags
9 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 Toyota Highlander
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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