2004 Toyota Highlander
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 286 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 6th highest complaint count among 25 Highlander model years with reports.
Of the 2004 reports, 32 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 23 people were injured and 47 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Engine and engine coolingNov 9, 2011
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 11V539000 on NHTSA.gov
Vehicle speed control, accelerator pedalFeb 24, 2011
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 11V112000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, master cylinderOct 21, 2010
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 10V499000 on NHTSA.gov
Vehicle speed control, accelerator pedalJul 13, 2006
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.
THIS CONDITION MAY INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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.
Campaign 06V253000 on NHTSA.gov
Latches/locks/linkages, doors, latchApr 15, 2004
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.
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.
DEALERS WILL SHORTEN THE CPL LEVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 7, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Campaign 04V181000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
36 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Engine, May 22, 2026
Hello, I am the Buyer of the subject Vehicle, Upon doing my research, I found out several reports stating that The subject vehicle's 2.4L engine has manufacturing defect, that causes Head Bolts to get stripped/melt down in to oil causing Engine failures and Life threating risk in the middle of the road.
Engine, Feb 12, 2017
MY TRAC OFF LIGHTS, ENGINE AND OIL LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO WORK. I WORK FAR FROM HOME SO I TOOK IT TO THE VALVOLINE NEAR MY JOB TO CHECK THE OIL. I DIDN'T WANT TO DRIVE MY CAR HOME IF THERE WAS NO OIL. THEY CHECKED THE OIL, UNDERNEATH MY CAR AND SAID EVERYTHINGWAS FINE AND TO TAKE TO MY MECHANIC TO CHECK THE ENGINE. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO KEPT IT FOR 4 DAYS AND SAID ITS THE OIL SLUGE AND HE WAS TRYING TO SAVE THE ENGINE. MY MECHANIC SAID THEY HAD A LEXUS IN THE WEEK BEFORE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THERE WAS RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM IN 2002, AND TOYOTA ONLY CONTACTEDTHE ORIGINAL OWNERS NOT ALL PEOPLE WHO HAD REGISTERED CARS. I BOUGHT THIS SECOND HAND THROUGH CAR MAX IN 2010 AND THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN CORRECTED THEN. MY CAR HAS 145,000.00.
Engine, Sep 13, 2016
THE OUTER RING OF THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY HAS PULLED AWAY FROM THE INNER RING CAUSING DAMAGE TO ALL SYSTEM AND CAN AFFECT STEERING. THIS ALREADY HAS A RECALL FOR MY MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR, BUT NOT FOR MY VIN NUMBER. IT SEEMS STRANGE THAT THIS EXACT SAME THING THAT HAS THE RECALL AFFECTS MY CAR, BUT REPAIR IS NOT COVERED. SHOULD RECALL BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE OTHER VIN NUMBERS??
Engine, Sep 26, 2015
WE HAVE A VEHICLE WITH A 2.4LITER/4 CYLINGER ENGINE THAT IS LOOSING OIL AT A RATE OF 1QRT PER 1000 MILES AND NOW THERE IS A COOLANT LEAK COMING FROM THE GASKET SEAL BETWEEN THE ENGINE BLOCK AND HEAD. THERE IS NO GUAGE THAT TELLS YOU HOW MUCH OIL IS MISSING UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE AND THE ENGINE STARTS TO OVER HEAT. BOTH THE OIL AND COOLANT IS LEAKING ON ROADS, PARKING LOTS AND DRIVEWAYS, WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IS THAT THE BOLTS THAT ARE NEAREST THE LEAK ARE STRIPPED, THEY EITHER STRIPPED IN ASSEMBLY OR FLAILED DO TO OVERHEATING OF THE BLOCK DO TO THE ENGINE BLOCK NOT HAVING SUFFICIENT COOLING BECAUSE OF A HEAVY FOAM PAD THAT RESTRICTS AIR FLOE AROUND THE ENGINE CAUSING THE HEAD TO FLEX AND LEAK AT THE GASKET SEAL BASED ON ONLINE COMPLAINTS THERE ARE HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF OWNERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. SEEMS THAT SOME OF THESE ENGINES ARE HAVING SUCCESS BY DRILLING, TAPPING AND INSERTING NEW COILS INTO THE ALUMINUM BLOCK, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE A PERMANENT SOLUTION. IT SEEMS THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE. THE MOST COMMON SUGGESTED REPAIR IS TO REPLACE THE MOTOR AND WE ASSUME THAT THEY PROBLEM WILL HAPPEN AGAIN SINCE THEY HAVE REDESIGNED THE PROBLEM.. REPLACEMENT IS AT THE OWNERS COST FOR MATERIALS AND LABOR AT APPROX $6,000-$8,000.
Engine, May 5, 2015
WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 60-65 MPH WHEN ENGINE BEGAN OVER HEATING. PULL OVER RADIATOR WAS LOW. PUT ANTIFREEZE IN DROVE HOME CHECK WAS ALLOW AGAIN. THE NEXT CALLED TOYOTA DEALER, WITH OUT EVEN LOOKING THEY SAID YOU PROBABLY HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. BUT WHEN WE TEAR IT DOWN AND IF THE HEAD BOLTS ARE STRIPPED OUT IT WILL COST UPWARDS OF 2000.00. SO NOW I HAVE THE CAR IN AN INDEPENDENT SHOP. I'M OUT ALMOST 800.00 NOW, AND THE CARS STILL NOT FIXED. I BELIEVE TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM LONG BEFORE I BOUGHT THIS CAR. I WENT ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THE HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN 2001-2006 MODELS.I THINK THEY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. *TR
Engine, Feb 4, 2015
MY CAR BEGAN OVERHEATING AT 140K MILES. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HAD THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT REPLACED. THE CAR OVERHEATED AGAIN A WEEK LATER. TOOK IT BACK TO THE MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. WHEN HE WENT TO REPLACE THE GASKET HE FOUND THAT THREE HEAD BOLTS WERE STRIPPED ON THE BLOCK. THE CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS SEPARATING FROM LOWER PART OF ENGINE BLOCK CAUSED A COOLANT LEAK. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING ERROR. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY THE SOLE OWNER. HAD OIL CHANGES EVERY 3,000 MILES AND NEVER HAD AN ISSUE BEFORE NOW. PLEASE PLACE A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT. THIS IS NOT THE OWNERS FAULT, NOR SHOULD IT BE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. *TR
Engine, Dec 4, 2014
AS SHOWN ON YOUR COMPLAINT SECTION I AMONG MANY MANY OTHERS HAVE BEEN SOLD A DEFECTIVE 2.4 LITER ENGINE 4 CYLINDER. THE HEAD BOLTS BECOME STRIPPED AND MIGRATE LOOSE OVER TIME AND THERE IS NO REPAIR SOLUTION. YOU HAVE TO SCRAP THE ENGINE AND MAYBE THE WHOLE VEHICLE NO MATTER HOW GOOD OF CONDITION ITS IN. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND RESULTING MAJOR LEAKAGE OF ANTIFREEZE WHICH IS A LIFE THREATENING CHEMICAL BABIES AND PETS DRINK AND DIE FROM. I FIRST FOUND THIS POOL OF ANTIFREEZE ON MY GARAGE FLOOR AND I HAVE 2 DOGS! NOT TO MENTION GETTING STRANDED OUT IN TRAFFIC OR A DESOLATE AREA WHEN ENGINE OVERHEATING OCCURS PUTTING YOUR OWN LIFE IN DANGER FROM BECOMING A STRANDED MOTORIST. *TR
Engine, Apr 8, 2014
VEHICLE HAD LOST SOME WATER/COOLANT AND BEGAN TO GET HOT. REPLACED FLUID AND DROVE HOME. KEPT LOOSING FLUID, SO I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP. THEY THOUGHT IT HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. TOOK IT TO ANOTHER SHOP WHICH DISCOVERED THAT 3-4 OF THE HEAD BOLTS ARE STRIPPED; THEY ARE STEEL AND THE BLOCK IS ALUMINUM. REPAIR KIT EXISTS AND HAS BEEN ORDERED. SO, TOYOTA MUST KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND COULD HAVE ISSUED AN ADVISORY TO ALL OWNERS. EXPECTED THIS MOTOR TO LAST 150-250 THOU MILES, BUT THIS IS A BUILT IN PROBLEM THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. TOYOTA SHOULD COVER THE REPAIR COSTS. *TR
Power train, Engine, Apr 6, 2013
VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN NORMALLY AND PARKED. WHILE PARKED, OWNER NOTICED SMALL LEAK UNDER FRONT AXLE, INVESTIGATED AND LEAK APPEARED TO BE TRANSMISSION FLUID OR ANTIFREEZE. OWNER DROVE VEHICLE NEXT DAY, PARKED AND NOTICED LEAK WAS LARGER. OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER NEXT MORNING AND WAS TOLD THE HEAD GASKET WAS FAILING. DEALER SAID ALTERNATIVES WERE TO REPAIR HEAD GASKET ($3200+), REPLACE ENGINE OR BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE. OWNER DECLINED REPAIR AND TOOK VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO CONFIRMED HEAD GASKET LEAK AND RECOMMENDED EITHER SEALANT ($250) OR HEAD GASKET REPAIR ($1200). OWNER CHOSE SEALANT. ABOUT FOUR DAYS AFTER SEALANT FIX, OWNER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND STOPPED AT A STARBUCKS DRIVE-THROUGH. MINUTES INTO THE WAIT, THE VEHICLES TEMP GAUGE BEGAN TO CLIMB RAPIDLY. OWNER REVVED ENGINE AND TEMP DECLINED. OWNER DROVE VEHICLE HOME AND INSPECTED ENGINE, DISCOVERED COOLANT HAD BEGUN TO SPRAY FROM OVERFLOW RESERVOIR. OWNER LET VEHICLE COOL. NEXT DAY, OWNER DROVE VEHICLE AT MODEST SPEED ACROSS TOWN, WATCHING THE TEMP GAUGE. TEMP WOULD INCREASE INCREMENTALLY, THEN DECLINE, BUT NO OVERHEATING APPEARED. THIRD DAY, OWNER DID SAME, BUT THIS TIME, AS OWNER APPROACHED HIS HOME, THE TEMP GAUGE SHOT TO RED. OWNER PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, OPENED HOOD AND FOUND OVERFLOW RESERVOIR BUBBLING, COOLANT SPRAY AND OVERFLOW ON FRAME. PRIOR TO THESE INCIDENTS, ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO THE OWNER HAD BEEN TOLD BY TOYOTA DEALER THAT A FEW ENGINE MOUNTS WERE CRACKED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT, WHICH WAS DONE. NO OTHER MAJOR REPAIRS OR ISSUES HAVE EXISTED WITH VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS NOT 10 YEARS OLD, ITS 103,500 MILES HAS BEEN GENERALLY LIGHT HIGHWAY AND SHORT-DISTANCE CITY DRIVING. OIL AND OTHER MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN ROUTINELY PERFORMED. *TR
Engine, Mar 14, 2013
THE ENGINE OVERHEATED DESPITE THE NO INDICATION OF HIGH TEMPERATURES FROM THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO MISDIAGNOSED IT INITIALLY. WE THEN DROVE IT BACK FROM DEALER (7 MILES) TO OUR HOME AND IT OVERHEATED AGAIN. NOW THE DEALER SAYS AT A BARE MINIMUM THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS REPLACEMENT ($3200) AND IT COULD NEW AN ENTIRELY NEW ENGINE. I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS IS POSSIBLE AT 86,000 MILES. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND OTHERS WITH THIS PROBLEM ESPECIALLY 4 CYLINDERS BUT IT IS NOT RECALL. PLEASE HELP, I AM UNEMPLOYED AND NEED THIS CAR! *TR
Engine, Feb 20, 2013
THE THREADS IN THE ENGINE BLOCK BECAME STRIPED LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE/PISTONS. RECOMMENDATION WAS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. *TR
Engine, Feb 11, 2013
VEHICLE BEGAN LEAKING COOLANT FROM THE CENTER OF THE ENGINE. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR SENSORS HAVE GONE OFF PERIOD. CALLED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURE LINE AND BOTH TOLD ME THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM, WHICH IS UNTRUE I FOUND HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
Engine, Feb 5, 2013
THE THREADS IN THE ENGINE BLOCK BECAME STRIPED LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE/PISTONS, BLOWING THE HEAD GASKET. *TR
Engine, Nov 2, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL WAS LEAKING FLUID ONTO THE EXHAUST. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE SEAL AND THE GASKETS FOR THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
Engine, Aug 30, 2012
ENGINE WAS LEAKING COOLANT. CAR WAS BROUGHT TO REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE CYLINDER'S HEAD BOLTS WERE STRIPPED CAUSING THE LEAK. LATER WAS INFORMED DAMAGE WAS DUE TO THE PLACEMENT OF THE INSULATION FOAM RUBBER PIECE BETWEEN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE ENGINE BLOCK THAT CREATED AN UNEVEN DISPERSION OF HEAT, CREATING FATIGUE IN THE ALUMINUM BLOCK ALLOWING THE HEADBOLT TO STRIP. CONTACTED TOYOTA WHO REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE MANUFACTURING DEFECT. REPAIRS TOTALED $2,000 DUE TO THIS MANUFACTURING ERROR. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 27, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED A LEAK FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHO STATED THAT THE LEAKING FLUID WAS ANTIFREEZE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS AND THREADS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE, DUE TO POOR MANUFACTURING AND CHEAP MATERIAL OF THE HEAD BOLTS UNDER THE ENGINE. COOLANT WAS LEAKING AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE. UPDATED 11/29/12 UPDATED 11/27/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THIS MALFUNCTION OF THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE AND OVER HEAT RESULTING IN A PERSON BEING STRANDED. UPDATED 12/10/2012 *JS
Engine, Jul 17, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND VOC WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE PULLEY THAT COULD CAUSE THE POWER STEERING PUMP TO BECOME COMPROMISED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V539000, (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO ALSO INFORMED HER THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 2, 2012
COOLANT LOSS DUE TO STRIPPED HEAD BOLTS IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. NO SMOKE OR HEAT OR WARNING ON DASH. HAVE TO CHANGE ENGINE BLOCK COSTING $6,000 FOR PARTS AND REPAIR. DEALER NOT RESPONDING. ALWAYS HAVE RECEIVED MAINTENANCE WITH THE SAME DEALER/SERVICE CENTER. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 5, 2012
MY CAR STARTED HEATING UP AS I ACCELERATED ONTO THE HIGHWAY. I SAW THE DIAL GOING INTO THE RED ZONE. I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND WAS TOWED AT MY EXPENSE TO HILLTOP RICHMOND TOYOTA. I WAS TOLD THAT AFTERNOON THAT THE HEAD GASKET AND THE WATER PUMP BOTH BLEW OUT. I NOW HAVE A $2,500 REPAIR ON MY HANDS. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS I FOUND THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY TOYOTA OWNERS AND THAT WAS VERIFIED BY THE DEALERSHIP PERSON AS WELL. TOYOTA IS USING BOLTS THAT STRIP WHICH CAUSE THE HEAD GASKET TO FAIL. THERE ARE ALSO SEVERAL REPORTS ABOUT A FOAM PIECE IN THE BLOCK THAT ALSO FAILS AS IT IS FAULTY AS WELL. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Vehicle speed control, Equipment, Traction control system, Aug 1, 2011
I TOOK MY 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER V6 TO LONGO TOYOTA FOR BRAKE BOOSTER RECALL IN NOVEMBER 2010. THEY KEPT MY CAR NEARLY 7 WEEKS BEFORE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. A FEW DAYS AFTER PICKING UP MY VEHICLE, WHILE I WAS PARKED DROPPING OFF MY PASSENGER, MOST OF THE CONTROL PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED (BRAKES, ABS, TRAC OFF, VSC, CHECK ENGINE). I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID TO BRING THE CAR BACK. I TOOK THE CAR BACK AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTS WERE RUN AND CONCLUDED THAT A CODE WAS STORED BUT IT WAS NOTHING SPECIFIC THAT HAD FAILED. BRAKE SYSTEM WAS BLED. IN JUNE 2011, THE LIGHT CLUSTER ("CHRISTMAS TREE" IS HOW THE DEALER REFERS TO IT) ILLUMINATED AGAIN WHILE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PICK UP MY CAR FROM MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER (BOB SMITH TOYOTA). AGAIN, THE CAR WAS LEFT. AGAIN IT WAS REPORTED TO ME THAT THE SYSTEM HAD STORED A CODE BUT NO SPECIFIC COMPONENT WAS IN FAILURE AND THE BRAKES WERE BLED. APPROXIMATELY, JULY 20, 2011 AND JULY 23, 2011, THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AGAIN, ONLY FOUR OF THEM (TRAC OFF, VSC, ABS, BRAKES). I CONTACTED THE TOYOTA DEALER ON TUESDAY, JULY 26 AND WAS FORCING THE ISSUE ON JULY 29, 2011 AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR AUGUST 1, 2011. ON JULY 31, 2011, THE SAME FOUR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING AND STAYED ON. I STOPPED, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND EXPERIENCED A VERY SPONGY, SQUISHY BRAKE PEDAL. I CONTACTED TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION TO FURTHER ADDRESS THE CONCERN OF MY VEHICLE NOW BEING UNSAFE AS A RESULT OF THEIR RECALL. TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION WAS VAGUE AND SAID THAT THE MATTER COULD ONLY BE ADDRESSED BY LONGO TOYOTA, THE DEALER THAT PERFORMED THE RECALL, SINCE THE PARTS WARRANTY WOULD ONLY BE WITH THEM. IN CONTACTING BOB SMITH TOYOTA, THE SERVICE ADVISORS SWEARS THAT THE PROBLEM CAN BE RESOLVED BY THEM. IT APPEARS THAT PERFORMING THE RECALL WEAKENED THE INTEGRITY OF MY BRAKE SYSTEM. AS ONE REPRESENTATIVE SAID, "YOU WILL NOT HAVE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND YOU WILL STILL BE ABLE TO STOP. IT WILL JUST TAKE LONGER." *KB
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 17, 2011
COOLANT LOSS DUE TO STRIPPED HEAD BOLTS IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. ENGINE OVER HEATED. NO HEAT.*TR
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 10, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CYLINDER BEHIND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING AND THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE HER WITH ANY ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 11, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, AND NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE RAPIDLY INCREASED TO HOT AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE FOR ONE HOUR AND THEN RESUMED DRIVING WITHOUT THE ENGINE OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THEY WERE INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK BOLTS WERE STRIPPED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 4, 2011, crash
2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER EXPRESSES DISCONTENT REGARDING TOYOTA *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED ON FOUR OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE STALLED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. ON THE FOURTH OCCASION, IT NOT ONLY STALLED, BUT ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE BEHIND THE CONSUMER. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. (CONSUMER DIDN'T STATE IF THERE WAS PROPERTY DAMAGE) *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 20, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE ENGINE STARTED TO OVERHEAT AND SMOKE. NONE OF THE WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED NOR DID THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INFORM HIM THAT IT WAS GOING TO OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THE THREADS FROM THE ENGINE BOLT STRIPPED AND HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 151,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.