2004 Toyota 4RUNNER Structure Problems
Owners have filed 310 complaints with NHTSA about structure problems on the 2004 Toyota 4RUNNER, 46% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 137,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “frame rust” (13% of reports).
- 310structure complaints
- 137,000median miles at failure
- 5mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 31%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Frame rust: mentioned in 39 of 310 complaints (13%)
- Rusted through: mentioned in 17 of 310 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do structure problems happen?
Based on 198 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 310 complaints, 5 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury.
Toyota 4RUNNER structure complaints by model year
| Model year | Structure complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 4RUNNER | 7 | 12% | — |
| 2024 4RUNNER | 3 | 33% | 2,038 |
| 2020 4RUNNER | 2 | 6% | 4,550 |
| 2019 4RUNNER | 3 | 5% | 25,250 |
| 2018 4RUNNER | 5 | 9% | 15,000 |
| 2017 4RUNNER | 2 | 6% | 28,000 |
| 2016 4RUNNER | 8 | 10% | 25,000 |
| 2015 4RUNNER | 8 | 9% | 41,916 |
| 2014 4RUNNER | 8 | 10% | 29,750 |
| 2013 4RUNNER | 2 | 6% | — |
| 2012 4RUNNER | 2 | 2% | 54,072 |
| 2011 4RUNNER | 9 | 6% | 29,998 |
| 2010 4RUNNER | 12 | 8% | 101,550 |
| 2009 4RUNNER | 3 | 14% | 114,000 |
| 2008 4RUNNER | 16 | 17% | 90,000 |
| 2007 4RUNNER | 40 | 26% | 85,000 |
| 2006 4RUNNER | 143 | 38% | 126,728 |
| 2005 4RUNNER | 185 | 44% | 128,000 |
| 2004 4RUNNER | 310 | 46% | 137,000 |
| 2003 4RUNNER | 284 | 41% | 138,500 |
| 2002 4RUNNER | 88 | 39% | 142,500 |
| 2001 4RUNNER | 81 | 44% | 129,000 |
| 2000 4RUNNER | 256 | 53% | 145,000 |
| 1999 4RUNNER | 112 | 34% | 176,500 |
| 1998 4RUNNER | 78 | 31% | 170,000 |
| 1997 4RUNNER | 76 | 29% | 177,304 |
| 1996 4RUNNER | 42 | 26% | 185,000 |
| 1995 4RUNNER | 4 | 2% | 110,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists structure for the 2004 Toyota 4RUNNER. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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 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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2004 Toyota 4RUNNERs have structure problems?
No. NHTSA has 310 owner complaints about structure for the 2004 Toyota 4RUNNER (46% of the 678 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2004 Toyota 4RUNNER structure?
No recall currently lists structure for this vehicle.
At what mileage do structure problems start?
The median reported mileage is 137,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about structure problems on the 2004 Toyota 4RUNNER?
The most frequent phrase is “frame rust”, in 39 of 310 complaints, followed by “rusted through” (17).
Other 2004 Toyota 4RUNNER problems
- Suspension problems (113)
- Service Brakes problems (57)
See all 2004 Toyota 4RUNNER problems or structure problems across all 4RUNNER years.