2004 Toyota 4RUNNER Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 4RUNNER years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 678 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Toyota 4RUNNER. That ranks 2nd out of 32 4RUNNER model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is structure (310 complaints, 46%), typically at around 137,000 miles. Complaints mention 28 crashes, 3 fires, 20 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 678owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 28complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2004 Toyota 4RUNNER problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure problems | 310 | 46% | 137,000 | “frame rust” (13%) | — |
| Unknown or Other | 116 | 17% | 144,000 | — | — |
| Suspension problems | 113 | 17% | 138,000 | “rust frame” (15%) | — |
| Service Brakes problems | 57 | 8% | 137,000 | “abs brake” (16%) | — |
| Air Bags | 37 | 5% | 76,500 | — | — |
| Power Train | 36 | 5% | 72,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 34 | 5% | 78,500 | — | — |
| Steering | 32 | 5% | 100,004 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 25 | 4% | 1,826 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 23 | 3% | 66,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 22 | 3% | 121,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 18 | 3% | 136,500 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 15 | 2% | 111,500 | — | — |
| Seats | 14 | 2% | 28,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 12 | 2% | 939 | — | — |
| Visibility | 10 | 1% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 7 | 1% | 71,800 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 1% | 39,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 5 | 1% | 67,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 4 | 1% | 48,000 | — | — |
| Traction Control System | 4 | 1% | 95,500 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 4 | 1% | 105,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 0% | 100 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 0% | 51,325 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 0% | 24,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 0% | 177,213 | — | — |
| Carry Handle, Shell, Base | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 0% | 78,000 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 0% | 100 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 0% | 47,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2004 Toyota 4RUNNER recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:side/window
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus LX470, 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia, 2004-2006 Toyota 4Runner and Lexus GX470 vehicles equipped with side curtain-shield-air bags. The affected vehicles have an air bag control module that may be improperly programmed, causing the side curtain-shield-air bags to deploy inadvertently.
Risk: If the side curtain-shield-air bags deploy unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of occupant injury.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control module with one that has improved programming, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-271-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is G0C and GLB.
Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal
Problem: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2011 lexus lx570, 2003 through 2009 toyota 4runner, and 2006 through 2010 rav4 vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.
Risk: A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
Fix: The remedy is now available. The safety recall began early april 2011. The remedy will involve modification or replacement of the accelerator pedal and replacement of any toyota all-weather floor mat. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331 or lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Frame corrosion (DP18002) — opened Aug 17, 2018, closed Mar 18, 2022.
- Unintended and Uncontrolled Acceleration (RQ10003) — opened Feb 16, 2010, closed Mar 1, 2011, led to recall 11V112000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
I was informed by my mechanic that my vehicle has extensive rust and corrosion on the vehicle frame.I understand there was a recall on this issue by Toyota but did not include this model year. This issue affects not only driver safety but also resale value.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Response: Frame, Suspension, Airbags / Yes it is available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Response: Safety was put at risk due to frame & suspension failure…
The body frame on this vehicle is almost completely rushed out. I donât know what to do. If I should have the frame replaced I know thereâs been a couple recalls on similar Toyota models.
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in for service, the independent mechanic discovered rust on the front driver's side subframe. Additionally, the subframe had developed holes due to rust. The cause of the failures was not yet determined, and the…
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota 4-Runner. The contact stated that the frame was severely rusted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or a dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure…
Other Toyota 4RUNNER years
← 2003 4RUNNER · 2005 4RUNNER →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 4RUNNER | 7 | 2 |
| 2025 4RUNNER | 60 | 1 |
| 2024 4RUNNER | 9 | 1 |
| 2023 4RUNNER | 33 | 1 |
| 2022 4RUNNER | 39 | 3 |
| 2021 4RUNNER | 36 | 1 |
| 2020 4RUNNER | 33 | 1 |
| 2019 4RUNNER | 65 | 4 |
| 2018 4RUNNER | 58 | 5 |
| 2017 4RUNNER | 36 | 5 |
| 2016 4RUNNER | 80 | 8 |
| 2015 4RUNNER | 87 | 9 |
| 2014 4RUNNER | 77 | 7 |
| 2013 4RUNNER | 36 | 6 |
| 2012 4RUNNER | 96 | 8 |
| 2011 4RUNNER | 163 | 10 |
| 2010 4RUNNER | 146 | 12 |
| 2009 4RUNNER | 22 | 6 |
| 2008 4RUNNER | 96 | 5 |
| 2007 4RUNNER | 154 | 5 |
| 2006 4RUNNER | 381 | 5 |
| 2005 4RUNNER | 425 | 5 |
| 2004 | 678 | 2 |
| 2003 4RUNNER | 696 | 3 |
| 2002 4RUNNER | 225 | 1 |
| 2001 4RUNNER | 185 | 1 |
| 2000 4RUNNER | 483 | 0 |
| 1999 4RUNNER | 330 | 0 |
| 1998 4RUNNER | 250 | 1 |
| 1997 4RUNNER | 261 | 1 |
| 1996 4RUNNER | 161 | 2 |
| 1995 4RUNNER | 172 | 1 |
See all Toyota 4RUNNER problems by year, every Toyota model, or the Toyota VIN decoder.
Similar Toyota models
Embed this 2004 Toyota 4RUNNER badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Toyota 4RUNNER?
Owners most often report structure, unknown or other, suspension problems. The top one, structure, accounts for 310 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2004 Toyota 4RUNNER?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2004 Toyota 4RUNNER a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 4RUNNER model years, the 2004 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.