Model year record

2004 Toyota Highlander

5 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 339 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 11V539000

Engine and engine cooling

Component: Engine and engine cooling
Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Vehicles affected: 420,326
Reported to NHTSA: 2011-11-09
Owners notified: 2011-12-31

Defect description

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AVALON VEHICLES; 2004 AND 2005 CAMRY, CAMRY SOLARA, HIGHLANDER, AND SIENNA VEHICLES, 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID; 2004 AND 2005 LEXUS ES330 AND RX330; AND 2006 LEXUS RX400H VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 2004 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2005, EQUIPPED WITH THE 1MZ-FE OR 3MZ-FE ENGINE. THE AMOUNT OF ADHESIVE AGENT APPLIED BETWEEN THE OUTER RING AND THE TORSIONAL RUBBER DAMPER (INNER RING) IN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY MAY BE INADEQUATE. IF THE ADHESIVE IS INSUFFICIENT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE OUTER RING MAY BECOME MISALIGNED AND IT MAY NOT PROPERLY ROTATE WITH THE INNER RING, CAUSING NOISE AND/OR ILLUMINATION OF THE BATTERY DISCHARGE INDICATOR LIGHT.

Safety risk

IN SOME CASES, THE BELT FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE PULLEY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND A SUDDEN INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL CHECK THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY TO IDENTIFY WHETHER IT WAS PRODUCED BY THE U.S. SUPPLIER. IF SO, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PULLEY WITH A NEW ONE AT NO CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING EARLY JANUARY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Recall campaignNHTSA 11V112000

Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal

Component: Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected: 769,379
Reported to NHTSA: 2011-02-24
Owners notified: 2011-05-06

Defect description

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 HIGHLANDER, HIGHLANDER HYBRID, AND MODEL YEAR 2004-2007 LEXUS RX330, RX350, AND RX400H VEHICLES. IF THE FORWARD RETENTION CLIP USED TO SECURE THE FLOOR CARPET COVER, WHICH IS LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE CENTER CONSOLE, IS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY THE COVER MAY LEAN TOWARD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM.

Safety risk

IF THIS OCCURS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY TEMPORARILY BECOME STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION RATHER THAN RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION. A STUCK ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN UNINTENDED AND SUSTAINED VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FLOOR CARPET COVER WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE FREE OR CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Recall campaignNHTSA 10V499000

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder

Component: Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder
Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected: 728,544
Reported to NHTSA: 2010-10-21
Owners notified: 2010-11-15

Defect description

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 AVALON, MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 HIGHLANDER, MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 LEXUS RX, AND MODEL YEAR 2006 LEXUS GS AND IS VEHICLES. BRAKE FLUID CONTAINING POLYMERS IS USED THAT ACTS AS LUBRICANTS FOR CERTAIN BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS. IF REPLACEMENT BRAKE FLUID IS USED THAT DOES NOT CONTAIN SUCH POLYMERS, OR THAT CONTAINS ONLY SMALL AMOUNTS, A PART OF THE RUBBER SEAL LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER MAY BECOME DRY, AND THE SEAL MAY CURL DURING MOVEMENT OF THE PISTON. IF THIS OCCURS, A SMALL AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID COULD SLOWLY LEAK FROM THE SEAL INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER.

Safety risk

A LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID COULD LEAD TO A CHANGE IN BRAKE PEDAL FEEL AND OVERTIME A DEGRADATION IN BRAKING PERFORMANCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAL WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 AND LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.

Recall campaignNHTSA 06V253000

Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal

Component: Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected: 367,594
Reported to NHTSA: 2006-07-13
Owners notified: 2006-07-24

Defect description

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND HYBRID VEHICLES, THE TWO RETAINING CLIPS FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE FORWARD CENTER CONSOLE CAN BECOME LOOSE. IF BOTH CLIPS SEPARATE FROM THE FLOOR CARPET COVER, THE COVER MAY LEAN TOWARD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING INTERFERENCE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ROD.

Safety risk

THIS CONDITION MAY INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TWO FLOOR CARPET COVER RETAINING CLIPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 24, 2006, AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY EARLY SEPTEMBER 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 OR LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.

Recall campaignNHTSA 04V181000

Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch

Component: Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch
Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected: 366,572
Reported to NHTSA: 2004-04-15
Owners notified: 2004-05-07

Defect description

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE A CHILD PROTECTION LOCK (CPL) SYSTEM ON BOTH OF THE REAR SIDE DOORS. WHEN AN OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE CLOSES THE DOOR VERY HARD WITH THE CPL LEVER SET TO THE LOCK POSITION, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE LEVER MAY CONTACT THE BODY PANEL, CAUSING THE CPL LEVER TO MOVE INTO THE UNLOCK POSITION.

Safety risk

THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW THE DOOR TO BE OPENED WITH THE INSIDE WHILE THE OPERATOR BELIEVES THAT THE CPL WAS ACTIVATED. IF THE DOOR WERE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, AN OCCUPANT COULD FALL OUT AND BE INJURED.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL SHORTEN THE CPL LEVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 7, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Power train: automatic transmission	46	3,800 mi
Vehicle speed control	33	37,000 mi
Steering	25	53,000 mi
Electrical system	18	58,000 mi
Engine	17	113,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)	15	74,400 mi
Engine and engine cooling	10	103,000 mi
Visibility	10	55,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic	9	73,000 mi
Exterior lighting	8	79,000 mi
Visibility/wiper	8	135,000 mi
Air bags	7	160,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal	7	39,176 mi
Service brakes	6	110,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine	5	15,200 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner	5	57,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights	5	44,000 mi
Structure: body	5	1,000 mi
Power train	4	100,000 mi
Seat belts	4	88,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	4	13,000 mi
Steering: column	4	53,126 mi
Tires: tread/belt	4	16,287 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	3	6,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)	3	10 mi
Traction control system	3	78,000 mi
Unknown or other	3	68,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system	3	60,000 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls	3	38,255 mi
Electronic stability control: automatic (ASC)	2	2,025 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system	2	118,000 mi
Equipment	2	50,000 mi
Equipment: mechanical: accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift	2	5,800 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery	2	1 mi
Power train: driveline: differential unit	2	74,000 mi
Service brakes, electric	2	57,100 mi
Steering: gear box: shaft sector	2	—
Steering: rack and pinion: rack	2	15,000 mi
Structure: body: bumpers	2	73,658 mi
Tires	2	8,000 mi
Tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems	2	29,750 mi
Wheels	2	—
Air bags: frontal	1	2,500 mi
Air bags: side/window	1	5,800 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system	1	40,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control	1	37,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor	1	20,182 mi
Equipment: electrical: navigational system(global positioning system)	1	42,000 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights	1	135,000 mi
Exterior lighting: fog lights	1	—
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap	1	—
Fuel system, other	1	1,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages	1	22,500 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch	1	—
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)	1	—
Power train: automatic transmission: torque converter	1	500 mi
Power train: driveline	1	70,000 mi
Power train: manual transmission	1	—
Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)	1	85,000 mi
Seat belts: front	1	4,000 mi
Seats	1	140,000 mi
Seats: front assembly: head restraint	1	—
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: ABS warning light	1	13,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder	1	64,840 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages	1	—
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist	1	19,365 mi
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar	1	33,000 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist system	1	161,000 mi
Steering: linkages: rod: relay: connecting	1	45,000 mi
Steering: rack and pinion: pinion shaft	1	39,000 mi
Structure	1	55,000 mi
Tires: sidewall	1	22,115 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: windshield: electrical heating element	1	—
Visibility: glass, side/rear	1	—
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices	1	—
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly	1	37,700 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer	1	60,000 mi
Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs	1	45,000 mi

The 2003 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 2005 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.