2004 Toyota 4Runner
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Body, Seats & Latches
Body, Seats & Latches leads by volume: 327 of 678 complaints (48%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (17) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 695 in 2003 to 678 in 2004.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | vs. 2004 Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,900 | 3,450–4,150 | 3,450–4,150 | 3,450–3,900 | 3,450–3,900 | |
| Combined MPG | 16 | 15–18 | 15–18 | 16–18 | 16–18 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 15 / 18 | 14–16 / 17–20 | 14–16 / 17–20 | 14–16 / 18–20 | 14–16 / 18–20 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 555 | 494–592 | 494–592 | 494–555 | 494–555 | |
| Complaints filed | 224 | 695 | 678 | 424 | 381 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 19 | 18 | 28 | 19 | 28 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| Injuries reported | 20 | 27 | 20 | 13 | 18 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2004 Toyota 4Runner have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2004 Toyota 4Runner?
Body, Seats & Latches: 327 of 678 NHTSA complaints (48%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2004 Toyota 4Runner get?
EPA rates it 15–18 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2004 Toyota 4Runner?
EPA estimates $3,450–$4,150 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 4.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 16 mpg (high) | 20 mpg (high) | 18 mpg (high) | $3,450 (low) | 494 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 5-spd | 8 | 4.7L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 15 mpg | 18 mpg | 16 mpg | $3,900 | 555 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 4.0L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 15 mpg | 19 mpg | 17 mpg | $3,650 | 523 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic 5-spd | 8 | 4.7L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 14 mpg (low) | 17 mpg (low) | 15 mpg (low) | $4,150 (high) | 592 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 36 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 94 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 32 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 128 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 44 | 14 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 35 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 327 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 122 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW · Campaign 16V065000 · Feb 5, 2016
Defect: 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.
Consequence: If the side curtain-shield-air bags deploy unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of occupant injury.
Remedy: 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 · Campaign 11V113000 · Feb 24, 2011
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.