2004 Toyota 4 RUNNER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
66 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
939 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 47 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 66 complaints (9.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 16 | 24.2% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 12.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 7.6% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 5 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Seats | 3 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 3 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Suspension | 3 |
| Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems | 3 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 5; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Seats: 3; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 3; Steering: 3; Suspension: 3; Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 46 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 46; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (46). 19 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 46 |
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2006 | 2 |
2003: 3; 2004: 46; 2005: 15; 2006: 2
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10047344 · 2003-11-21 (November 21, 2003)
STEERING WHEEL AND PEDALS VIBRATE IN 1600-2000 RPM RANGE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047344 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052809 · 2004-01-10 (January 10, 2004)
I OWN AN 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SPORT WITH THE V8/AWD. TOOK IT ON A LONG ROAD TRIP OVER X-MAS AND NOTICED AT EXACTLY 71MPH YOU START TO HEAR A CYCLICAL NOISE (ABOUT 2-3 PER SECOND) THAT INCREASES IN FREQUENCY AS VEHICLE SPEED CLIMBS. NO VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL OR PEDALS. BUT BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER FEEL IT IN FLOORBOARDS AND HEAR IT. DISAPPEARS AT 82 - 85 OR SO, AND AS SOON AS FOOT IS REMOVED FROM THE GAS PEDAL. DEALER CLAIMS NO KNOWN ISSUES AND OFFERS NO SOLUTION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052809 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10047345 · 2003-11-21 (November 21, 2003)
BREAK PEDAL VIBRATES EVERY OTHER TIME IT IS PRESSED DOWN. IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE HOW HARD YOU PRESS. IT GOES AWAY AFTER FEW SECONDS. IT IS NOT AN ABS RELATED VIBRATION. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 80 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047345 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10047853 · 2003-12-10 (December 10, 2003)
THE DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR MAINTENANCE. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THE BRAKES AND OTHER PARTS NEEDED REPLACING BECAUSE THEY WERE RUSTED AND CORRODED. *PH *CB *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047853 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062559 · 2004-03-18 (March 18, 2004)
2004 SR5 V6 4WD EXPERIENCES DRONING VIBRATION OR RUMBLING ON FLOOR, PEDALS, AND STEERING WHEEL WHEN CAR IS DRIVEN BETWEEN 1500-2000 RPM. VIBRATIONS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE FOR AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW 35 DEGREES F. AND VERY BAD BELOW 15 DEGREES F. ALSO BECOMES MORE PREDOMINANT DURING ACCELERATION. VIBRATION DISSAPPEARS WHEN TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AT SAME SPEED. APPEARS PROBLEM IS IN DRIVE TRAIN/TRANSAXEL AND NOT TRANSMISSION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062559 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079871 · 2004-06-23 (June 23, 2004)
PROBLEMS WITH THE BOTTOM OF THE SEATS MOVING AROUND AS IF NOT IN THE LOCKED POSITION. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 5 MPH ALTHOUGH THE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. AT TIMES WHILE SHIFTING FORM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL AND THEN REVERSE, THE ENGINE COULD BE HEARD REVVING UP THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10079871 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10082162 · 2004-07-16 (July 16, 2004)
CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT TRACKING SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE STALLED, AND SOMETIMES WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR VEHICLE GOT NO POWER AND STOPPED IN MID STREAM. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. SINCE PROBLEM OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY DEALER CLAIMED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO UNLESS IT HAPPENED WHEN THEY WERE EVALUATING IT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082162 at NHTSA ↗