2004 Toyota Highlander Body and structure Problems
- Complaints
- 8about this part
- Share
- 3%of 286 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 42,500miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the body and structure of the 2004 Toyota Highlander, 3% of the 286 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 42,500 miles. 2 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 Highlander was involved in a total loss crash back in 2007, and the insurance company paid out a total loss claim and took the salvage. I have repeatedly updated Toyota that the vehicle was destroyed, yet they have continued to send recall notices for the psat 4 years. Please make them stop !!”
NHTSA complaint #10501099, filed 2013-03, 30,000 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“I have a 2004 Toyota Highlander. On my way to georgia on interstate 75, while going 70 miles per hour, I rolled down the back windows.the vehicle violently shook and the pressure inside was piercing to my ears, I felt like the back rear window was going to blow out. The vheicle shook so violenty, I had a very hard time keeping under control while I rolled up the windows it scared me so bad, I almost lost control of the vehicle. …”
NHTSA complaint #10062206, filed 2004-03, 250 miles“The 1994 Toyota Highlander has a structural defect the can be very dangerous and at the very least unacceptable from a quality consumer standpoint. When the rear window is put down it creates a wind noise and vibration that is dangerous to the passengers and driver. It is hard to imagine that Toyota could let this go on without a recall or at the very least a warning and a better solution than open up the front windows before operating the back ones . After just one month of operation I am really questioning if I will ever own a Toyota again.”
NHTSA complaint #10083154, filed 2004-08, 7 miles“Gas station did not close hood completely and it blew open while trying to enter the highway at just over 40 miles per hour.the secondary safety catch did not hold or work ! The hood blew open and shattered the windshield and bent the hood up into the roof.the tops of the fenders near the hinges were also ripped up.”
NHTSA complaint #10721835, filed 2015-05, 127,243 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11012744Dec 6, 2024The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic…
- 11012743Dec 6, 2024To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film…
- 11012742Dec 6, 2024Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an…
- 11012735Dec 5, 2024Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental…
- 11012727Dec 3, 2024Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding…
- 11007445Jul 12, 2024The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic…
- 11007444Jul 12, 2024To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film…
- 11007443Jul 12, 2024Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an…
- 11006151Jul 12, 2024The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic…
- 11006150Jul 12, 2024To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film…
Body and structure: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 9% |
| 2023 | 32 | 17% |
| 2022 | 43 | 16% |
| 2021 | 52 | 10% |
| 2020 | 30 | 9% |
| 2019 | 12 | 2% |
| 2018 | 12 | 4% |
| 2017 | 8 | 3% |
| 2016 | 4 | 4% |
| 2015 | 32 | 17% |
| 2014 | 32 | 24% |
| 2013 | 18 | 9% |
| 2012 | 20 | 11% |
| 2011 | 27 | 15% |
| 2010 | 14 | 6% |
| 2009 | 15 | 11% |
| 2008 | 11 | 3% |
| 2007 | 5 | 4% |
| 2006 | 4 | 1% |
| 2005 | 8 | 4% |
| 2004 | 8 | 3% |
| 2003 | 18 | 7% |
| 2002 | 24 | 8% |
| 2001 | 13 | 9% |
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 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