2004 Toyota 4 RUNNER: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
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 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 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 10054303 · 2004-01-16 (January 16, 2004)
ANNOYING ENGINE OR DRIVE TRAIN VIBRATION BETWEEN 1400 AND 2000 RPM. MORE NOTICEABLE ON UPGRADES. RELEASING ACCELERATOR PEDAL RESULTS IN ELIMINATING THE VIBRATION AS THE ENGINE SPEED DECREASES. THE VEHICLE IS A 2004 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER V8 LIMITED. THIS ISSUE WAS INITIALLY NOTICED AT ABOUT 700 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. *CB
Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054303 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10056229 · 2004-01-31 (January 31, 2004)
I PURCHASED A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER JAN. 2004 AND DROVE IT FOR TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE WEATHER PERMITTED ME TO DRIVE IT WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN. I FIRST NOTICED A EXCESSIVE HARMONIC DRUMMING NOISE WHEN I OPENED THE SUN ROOF. I TRIED THE OTHER WINDOWS AND THE NOISE BECAME UNBEARABLE TO THE POINT OF CAUSING EXTREME PAIN TO THE EAR DRUMS. THE BACK WINDOWS BEING THE WORST. THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT DISCLOSED AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE . I FOUND OUT LATER THAT TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR SOME TIME. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10056229 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10058619 · 2004-02-20 (February 20, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING VIBRATION CAME FROM THE DRIVETRAIN/FRONT DIFFERENTIAL AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. SEEMED TO BE RELATED TO RPM AND OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE. MOST PROMINENT AT @2000 RPMS, AND BELOW 50 DEGREES. VIBRATION FELT IN PEDALS, FLOOR AND STEERING. HEARD THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. DEALER TECH TRYING, BUT NO ANSWERS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10058619 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059797 · 2004-04-01 (April 1, 2004)
DURING THE DAY INSTRUMENT PANEL IS NOT WELL LIT, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY OF THE SPEEDOMETER AND WARNING INDICATORS. *AK *MR
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059797 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.