2004 Toyota Highlander Toyota Highlander 2004

We are 103,000+ car owners sharing real-world car information.

Join Us

2004 Toyota Highlander repairs by problem area

Engine (20%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (9%)

Brakes and Traction Control (15%)

Suspension and Steering (22%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (21%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (3%)

Other (8%)

Chart based on 107 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2004 Toyota Highlander.

2004 Toyota Highlander repair cost distribution

$2500+ (3%)

$1000 - $2499 (11%)

$500 - $999 (24%)

$100 - $499 (42%)

< $100 (20%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 92 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2004 Toyota Highlander

Engine not specified

Toyota Highlander in Indiana, United States
Dec 2009 - Jun 2011
Jan 2010

61000 mi

US $27
front suspension bushing worn. Need to replace by taking out strut, installing new bushing, and aligning. Est cost $600 

Return to top

2004 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

230-horsepower 3.3L V6 5-speed automatic FWD

Toyota Highlander in South Carolina, United States
Dec 2013 - Apr 2015
Nov 2014

133900 mi

US $550
driver's side wheel bearing, so replaced the whole assembly 
Dec 2014

135000 mi

US $180
Front Catalytic converter was clogged. Replaced both o2 sensors first per manual. Ended up pulling a part to replace. New would've been $800 from the dealer. 
Toyota Highlander in Tennessee, United States
Sep 2012 - Mar 2013
Dec 2012

137000 mi

US $224
I took it in because I was only getting 14 miles to the gallon, check engine light came on, and another light I believe it was called a vcs came on. It was fixed by checking with computer, a new gas cap. 
Toyota Highlander in Georgia, United States
Feb 2015 - May 2017
Sep 2015

119000 mi

US $100
Passenger rear window came off track and was repaired. No parts required. 
Toyota Highlander in Pennsylvania, United States
Sep 2015 - Oct 2016
Jul 2016

173000 mi

US $130
in for routine maintenance. got call from dealer. hood latch failed. hood will not stay closed. dealer ordered part. returned next day to install. 
Toyota Highlander in Alabama, United States
Nov 2017 - May 2018
Jan 2017

285000 mi
Catalytic Converters and O2 sensors not working properly. Gas mileage has decreased significantly, but car runs fine. 
Dec 2017

295000 mi

US $50
both rear windows were not rolling up/down. Had to glue window back onto bottom rail, as it had come loose on both windows. 
Toyota Highlander in Texas, United States
Jun 2015 - Jun 2022
Jun 2016

150000 mi

US $39
Inconsistent A/C temp 
Nov 2016

151900 mi

US $445
Replaced gasket valve cover set to fix small oil leak 
Toyota Highlander in Texas, United States
Dec 2010 - Feb 2014
Apr 2012

54300 mi

US $298
fuel leak, replaced line 
Toyota Highlander in North Carolina, United States
Feb 2012 - Sep 2017
Jun 2013

195000 mi
We had to replace the center control switch knob on the A/C system( which appears to be the heart of the system). The problem was the A/C would go from hot to cold at random, which became annoying. Left passenger front window motor fails intermittently and needs to be replaced. Starter is making high pitch noise intermittently, suggesting imminent failure 
Toyota Highlander in Washington, United States
May 2008 - Aug 2019
Aug 2016

76000 mi

US $65
When operating the passenger window, via either switch, the window motor would operate the window down and then back up, but then it would not work after that. If I waited an hour it would work the same way again. The window holder drive motor was bad. I bought the motor and the arm as an assembly and replaced it myself. If you can follow a Youtube of the repair you can do it yourself. $65 on Amazon 

Return to top

2004 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

230-horsepower 3.3L V6 5-speed automatic AWD

Toyota Highlander in Ontario, Canada
Apr 2008 - Sep 2018
Apr 2008

94860 mi

C $35
Air conditioner stops working. Added refrigerant with anti-leak. 
May 2008

95480 mi

C $120
A/C failure did not last for a long time after repair. Will take it to shop this or next month. 
Jun 2008

98580 mi

C $300
A/C system cleaned by shop, filled out with sealant and leak detector (UV dye). 
Oct 2009

137888 mi

C $250
Caliper replacement 
Mar 2011

174220 mi

C $250
Exhaust system gaskets replacement ( 2 burned out)  Exhaut system gaskets replacement ( 2 burned out) 
May 2012

203360 mi

C $4300
Replace control arms and bearing. Replace struts and shocks. Replace parking shoes and cables. 
Jun 2012

203360 mi

C $826
lose bolts on joints, one bolt missing condencer replaced; eletrical issue with compressor is fixed 
Jan 2013

198880 mi

C $1021
Left from strut start leaking (noticed my mechanic at the previous visit) Done by another shop (fixmycar.ca) less that 6 month ago 
Jun 2013

226300 mi

C $600
stabilizer bar, joint one of the calipers 
Nov 2013

234840 mi

C $950
replace broken control arms; joints 
Apr 2014

241760 mi

C $160
Rear wiper blade assemply 
Mar 2015

261020 mi

C $250
upper radiator hose replacement 
Aug 2015

268600 mi

C $1300
Both rear wheels bearings were broken 
Sep 2015

275900 mi
Front Calipers 
Apr 2016

284740 mi

C $300
driveshaft assembly replacement over the broken U-joint coolant leak; radiator block is resealed by shop 
Aug 2017

310620 mi

C $500
Hood cable has been replaced, $200. Battery replacement.  Earlier in a month I have decided to clean up the battery which has to be replaced before the winter anyway. One of the bolts that holds the battery in place but that was solidly rusted in snapped. The attempt to drill it out was not successful (shop had to use welding to fix it). So I took car to the shop to fix it and replace battery at the same time as the cost of servicing the battery is a one third of replacing. $250. O2 sensor failed and needs to be replaced to pass emission test Rear stabilizer links were making extensive noice over uneven terrain 
May 2018

330460 mi

C $680
transmission leak, replaced transmission pan(?) and gasket 
Jul 2018

333560 mi

C $3000
Shocks, struts, control arm, bushing 
Aug 2018

336 mi

C $600
Oil pan and oil pan plug replacement over the oil leak ( thread on the oil pan was damaged over the time due to number of oil changed over the span of time) 
Sep 2018

334180 mi

C $540
Re-seal oil pan 
Toyota Highlander in Michigan, United States
Jan 2015 - Sep 2017
Apr 2015

71500 mi

US $485
Calipers failed requiring pads, rotors and calipers to be replaced, on both sides in the rear. 
Mar 2016

90000 mi

US $1900
Replced drive shaft from front to rear due to play in shaft. 
May 2017

112000 mi

US $50
Replaced front brake pads 
Toyota Highlander in New Jersey, United States
Jun 2014 - Jul 2018
Jun 2014

155000 mi

US $550
power window motor and assembly needed to be replced, on 2 windows 
Jun 2016

193000 mi

US $350
Replace power window motor 
Toyota Highlander in Massachusetts, United States
Oct 2013 - Dec 2017
Sep 2014

75000 mi

US $500
Humming or revving noise from rear end noticed at speeds over 40mph. Mechanic said sounded like bad wheel bearing and confirmed it on lift. replaced right rear wheel bearing and hub assembly. 
Nov 2016

104000 mi

US $1300
Car developed a vibration when accelerating in lower gears. Took it to transmission shop. Could not find any codes or transmission issues. Diagnosed as a bad u-joint in the drive shaft. Not U-joint staked to shaft. Must replace entire shaft. 
Jul 2017

112000 mi

US $450
Car began making loud humming/growling noise coming from rear of vehicle after 20 MPH. Classic bad wheel bearing sound. We had already replaced the left rear wheel bearing at 75K. Mechanic replace with new wheel bearing, sound is gone. Mechanic said he replaces manywheel bearings on these cars. Design is faulty and lets road salt and dirt in from the back side. Says we will eventually have to replace them all. 
Nov 2017

125000 mi

US $200
Power Steering pump was making loud sound. Fluid Reservior was low. discovered leak in line at bottom of engine compartment on passenger side. line had corroded. Mechanic recommended replacing replace section of line rather than entire line. (several metal to rubber connections on entire line) added new fluid. everything fine. Brake light came on. Stayed on. Fluid Low. discovered small leak in brake line near caliper.replace. everything fine 
Toyota Highlander in Illinois, United States
Oct 2012 - Dec 2013
Jul 2013

90300 mi

US $200
With A/C on heat would randomly come out of vents. 2 of 3 wires in climate control adjuster had to be re-soldered. This problem with 04 Highlanders is well documented on various websites. 
Toyota Highlander in New Jersey, United States
Sep 2013 - Jun 2014
Oct 2013

205800 mi

US $800
Replaced rear wheel bearing 
Toyota Highlander in Kentucky, United States
Nov 2013 - Mar 2018
Dec 2014

152000 mi

US $210
replaced front rotors and pads with caliper pins and seals due to sticking brake caliper pin. Rotor warping and reduced fuel economy as a secondary symptom of stuck caliper. 
Jul 2016

165000 mi

US $65
erratic shifting. sticking shift solenoid 2nd to 3rd shift problem 
Feb 2017

172000 mi

US $150
Caliper and pad replacement. The front calipers were sticking and causing poor fuel economy and poor braking. 
Toyota Highlander in Connecticut, United States
Mar 2011 - Apr 2013
Jun 2011

131000 mi
AC drive belt was slipping and needed tensioning 
Toyota Highlander in North Carolina, United States
May 2008 - Jun 2011
Jun 2010

44000 mi
Cable on sunroof snapped 
Toyota Highlander in District of Columbia, United States
Feb 2015 - Mar 2019
Feb 2017

97000 mi

US $150
new battery 
Sep 2017

100000 mi

US $2000
alternator replaced 
Dec 2017

104000 mi

US $800
corrosion of wiring harness and sensor 
Toyota Highlander in New York, United States
Jun 2008 - Jan 2013
Jan 2013

131000 mi

US $970
Rear brake pads/rotors/calipers were replaced. One side was frozen. Belts needed replacing, they were getting very noisy. 
Toyota Highlander in Colorado, United States
Jun 2017 - Jun 2018
Jan 2018

144000 mi
left rear door window no longer operates. driver's door lock no longer works electrically (by remote or inside electrical control). only functions when operated manually, by key or by manual lever in car. 
May 2018

149000 mi
head light out. replaced 
Toyota Highlander in Illinois, United States
Mar 2016 - Apr 2017
Apr 2017

142000 mi

US $600
Front drive shaft section had to be replaced due to non replaceable ujoint failure. 
Toyota Highlander in North Carolina, United States
Mar 2016 - Jun 2018
Oct 2016

83000 mi

US $1200
Replace left rear wheel bearing 
Toyota Highlander in Colorado, United States
Feb 2016 - Jan 2017
Feb 2016

130000 mi
seat belt would not buckle 
Jun 2016

140000 mi

US $250
ac recharge 
Toyota Highlander in New Brunswick, Canada
Apr 2006 - Dec 2013
Feb 2006

44640 mi
Noise coming from front fender drivers side when driving into the wind, was inner plastic guard in wheel well 
Toyota Highlander in Idaho, United States
Aug 2008 - Sep 2015
Mar 2011

40000 mi

US $200
Replaced leaking water pump. Replaced leaking output shaft seal. Replaced brake master cylinder seal. 
Toyota Highlander in Ontario, Canada
Apr 2008 - Jul 2009
Nov 2008

78120 mi
Faulty oil change by dealer. Required truck to be towed back to dealer to be fixed. 
Toyota Highlander in Pennsylvania, United States
Sep 2009 - Jun 2017
Mar 2013

84000 mi

US $325
Front right brake caliper seized, resulting in need for replacement of calipers, rotor turning, new front brake pads and brake flush. 
Apr 2016

107200 mi

US $572
Rear wheel bearing replaced after increasingly louder noise heard while driving. Parking solenoid lubricated after shifter would not engage from Park into Reverse without several attempts, especially when cold. 
Toyota Highlander in Ontario, Canada
Oct 2009 - Aug 2013
Nov 2011

97960 mi

C $150
Replaced front differential seal. 
Oct 2012

113540 mi

C $500
replace wheel bearings 
Toyota Highlander in New York, United States
Aug 2012 - Jun 2015
Nov 2013

180900 mi

US $400
Shop said that my front brake caliper and drum needed replacing. 
Toyota Highlander in Nova Scotia, Canada
Oct 2010 - Jun 2011
Nov 2010

96100 mi

C $300
Clunking sound/feeling in steering column. 
Toyota Highlander in Massachusetts, United States
Jan 2009 - Mar 2014
Mar 2009

66000 mi

US $1400
Frozen caliper; rusted discs. 
Aug 2013

102000 mi

US $1000
Water pump and timing belt. This is the second water pump and timing belt replaced. The first replacements occurred at 60K miles. 
Toyota Highlander in New York, United States
Aug 2010 - Mar 2018
Apr 2013

101300 mi

US $250
wheel speed sensor 
Feb 2017

127000 mi

US $500
seal rear 
Toyota Highlander in Saskatchewan, Canada
Dec 2008 - Mar 2016
Dec 2010

62620 mi
left front wheel bearing and hub. Warranty 
May 2011

64480 mi
vibration noise - told it was the tire. Replace two more rear bearings 
Toyota Highlander in North Dakota, United States
Feb 2012 - Apr 2013
Toyota Highlander in Nevada, United States
Apr 2008 - Jun 2018
Aug 2012

89500 mi

US $806
Both front door locks quit working and had to be replaced. 
Aug 2017

132000 mi

US $1400
Replaced leaking struts on the front and the rear. 
Toyota Highlander in West Virginia, United States
Aug 2011 - Dec 2013
Dec 2013

234000 mi

US $235
caliper slide stuck and inside pad was grinding on rotor 
Toyota Highlander in California, United States
Jun 2010 - Jan 2011
Nov 2010

81000 mi

US $250
Check engine light code indicated exhaust sensor problem. Replaced cannister. Appears to be working now. 

Return to top

2004 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

160-horsepower 2.4L I4 4-speed automatic FWD

Toyota Highlander in Maryland, United States
Nov 2016 - May 2020
May 2018

225000 mi

US $100
rough idling after battery change. Clean the throttle 
Toyota Highlander in Michigan, United States
May 2008 - Jul 2015
Oct 2011

71000 mi

US $225
replaced power steering tube 
Feb 2014

91000 mi

US $375
had climate controller replaced 
Toyota Highlander in New York, United States
Apr 2011 - Dec 2011
Jun 2011

65000 mi

US $2500
The rear wheels (left and right) sealed bearings wore out. 
Toyota Highlander in Florida, United States
Jan 2012 - Dec 2014
Feb 2012

148500 mi

US $500
Bad mass airflow sensor 
Toyota Highlander in Arizona, United States
Sep 2014 - Jun 2018
Jul 2015

130500 mi

US $210
Alternator went out. 
Toyota Highlander in Wisconsin, United States
Apr 2010 - Oct 2018
Oct 2013

109200 mi

US $75
Rear window fell off the track and got stuck in the 'open' position. 
Jun 2014

114000 mi

US $40
Power steering return line began to corrode and leak fluid in the driveway. New return line was about 30 dollars and required one hour to replace. Was very easy to do myself. Still drove it waiting for part. 
Dec 2015

133000 mi

US $200
Replaced both o2 sensors 
Feb 2017

147000 mi

US $300
Exhaust rusted through and leaking upstream of downstream cat. Replaced pipe and downstream cat. 200 for parts plus labor. 
Toyota Highlander in Florida, United States
Nov 2010 - Jun 2018
Jan 2013

52000 mi

US $135
Replaced cracked engine mount 
Toyota Highlander in Delaware, United States
Sep 2010 - Jun 2011
Oct 2010

100000 mi

US $250
Air temperature problem. Cold air blew out vents all time. Mechanic said it needed new computer board at cost of $1200. I ended up disconnecting actuator from air damper and now control air temp. by manually adjusting damper. 

Return to top

See TrueDelta's information for all SUVs
See TrueDelta's information for all Toyota models.

2004 Toyota Highlander Repair Histories

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2004 Toyota Highlander problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.