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2004 Toyota 4RUNNER electrical problems

22 complaints (3% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 121,000. 1 crash reported.

owner complaints
22
of this car's complaints
3%
typical mileage
121,000
crashes
1
recalls
0

Which part fails

  • Wiring: interior/under dash
    1
  • Instrument cluster/panel
    1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Toyota 4RUNNER electrical problems in other years

19901995200020052010201520202026

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

Related investigations

Unintended and Uncontrolled AccelerationOpened February 16, 2010, closed March 1, 2011

On February 16, 2010, the federal safety agency's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened RQ10-003 to determine whether the scope of prior Toyota recalls relating to potential unintended acceleration were sufficiently broad, including, among others, Toyota recalls 07E-082, 09V‑388, 10V‑017, and 10V‑023.the federal safety agency also requested information regarding potential electronic causes of unintended acceleration in Toyota and Lexus vehicles.I. Pedal Interference from Floor mats, Carpet Covers and Plastic Pads in Carpets.During the RQ10-003 investigation, ODI reviewed a large volume of documents to assess whether additional vehicles should be recalled.Following the agency's analysis, the federal safety agency requested that Toyota recall additional vehicles.Toyota complied with the agency's request.The details of these recalls are set forth more fully in Toyota's reports to the federal safety agency pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573.These recalls are as follows:Recall 11V‑112: (1) model year (MY) 2004-2006 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid; and, (2) MY 2004-2007 Lexus RX330,RX350, and RX400h (hybrid model). The total estimated population under this recall is 769,379 vehicles.This recall remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment caused by a loose floor carpet cover (trim panel). Recall 11V‑113: (1) MY 2003-2009 through 2009 Toyota 4Runner; (2) MY 2006-2010 Toyota RAV4; and, (3) MY 2008-2011 Lexus LX570.The total estimated population under this recall is 1,381,000 vehicles.This recall supplements recall 09V‑388 and remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment by an unsecured floor mat.Recall 11V‑115: (1) MY 2006-2007 Lexus GS300 (all wheel drive vehicles); and, (2) MY 2006-2007 Lexus GS350 (all wheel drive vehicles). The total estimated population under this recall is 19,647 vehicles.This recall remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment caused by inadequate clearance between the pedal linkage and a plastic pad embedded in the vehicle's carpet.II. Potential Electronic Causes of Unintended Acceleration.After the federal safety agency opened RQ10-003, the federal safety agency launched a ten-month study of potential electronic causes of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.the federal safety agency launched the study in the spring of 2010 in light of concerns aired in Congressional hearings.the federal safety agency enlisted engineers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) with expertise in areas such as computer controlled electronic systems, electromagnetic interference and software integrity to assess whether electronic systems or electromagnetic interference played a role in incidents of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.That study has concluded.Two reports are associated with the study and are available on the federal safety agency's website.NASA's report is entitled Technical Support to the federal safety agency on the Reported Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Unintended Acceleration (UA) Investigation, NESC Assessment No. TI-10-00618 (Jan. 18, 2011).the federal safety agency's report is entitled Technical Assessment of Toyota Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) Systems (Feb. 2011).Both reports should be read in conjunction with each other. As stated in its report, NASA did not find an electronic cause of large throttle openings that can result in unintended acceleration incidents. the federal safety agency did not find a vehicle-based cause of unintended acceleration incidents other than the physical pedal interference causes that are being addressed by Toyota's recalls. This RQ is closed.

RQ10003

What 2004 Toyota 4RUNNER owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Oct 20, 2024 · Body, Electrical · IL

Rusty frame undercarriage. It’s not going to get any better due to the fact I have to drive on hwy 80 with all the construction, that’s a hazard itself, potholes everywhere that puts stress on your frame and the salt every winter.

Filed Feb 19, 2024 · Body, Electrical · TX

The rear tailgate window shattered while vehicle was in driveway as soon as it was turned off. Before it shattered there was an odor of something like plastic burning. Fortunately no one was hurt by the exploding bits of glass. The sound the breaking glass make was loud and startled the passengers. Good thing the vehicle was not in motion on the street or highway. On the internet I saw where other people shared the same problem on their Toyota 4Runner. Then I saw that Toyota had put out, TSB-0189-17, which stated exactly what happened to my 4Runner. Due to this possibly dangerous incident this should be upgraded to a vehicle safety recall.

Filed Nov 22, 2023 · Electrical, Steering · CO

I have taken my car to Mountain states Toyota as well as corwin toyota for a tripped light it has to do with vehicle stability system it trips leaving the vehicle stability option not usable. I have told both dealers not to just reset the code however this is what’s happening and they don’t seem to know why it’s doing this. we have repaired the knock sensors and speed sensors. It feels unsafe driving when this trips when road conditions call for all wheel drive. the technician can’t figure it out why. their only solution is to keep resetting. This is not the option I want I need it repaired and they don’t seem to want to do it or figure out and give us options on repair.

Filed Jan 4, 2020 · Brakes, Electrical · 155,000 miles · GA

I was driving my car on pooler parkway in pooler, ga on a city street in heavy traffic when all of a sudden a buzzer goes off and my dashboard immediately gives off multiple warning signals. Vasc trac, trac off, ABS (I) brake. I immediately pull off to the side of the road and try to stop the car, but the brakes fail. This incident could have killed my whole family. I had to have the car towed. Chatham toyota in savannah ga informed me that I was very lucky that I nor my family members were hurt or killed. They also stated to repair this would be $4,000.00 unbelievable! Toyota should warn and inform all buyers of this!!!!

Filed Jan 4, 2020 · Brakes, Electrical · 155,000 miles · GA

I was driving at a speed of 50 MPH on pooler parkway in heavy traffic and a buzzer went off. All of a sudden my dashboard gives off multiple warning signals: vasc trac, trac off, ABS (I) brake. I do not know what the problem is so I pull off the road and try to stop the car, but the brakes fail. I had to have the car towed. Chatham toyota in savannah ga tells me it's about $4,000.00 to repair this. This failure could have killed my whole family.

Filed Oct 20, 2017 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 158,000 miles · VA

Abs, vsb trac on/off, and brake lights come on suddenly along with continuous high-pitched alert. Brakes eventually become difficult to work. Had towed to dealer, by the time dealer looked at, it wasn't happening and they could find nothing wrong. Picked up car, happened again on way home (both times making right hand turns). I am told this may be an electronic problem but regardless, to fix it, it will cost thousands of dollars ($4500 first quote) and requiring replacement of a number of parts/an entire assembly: brake booster/accumulator/master cylinder assembly. Besides the dangerous condition, don't understand why is built such that so much would have to be replaced and cost so much. Prior to this, seemed to have had more than usual problem with brakes, with multiple frozen calipers for example.

Filed Mar 10, 2016 · Driver assistance, Electrical · NC

Loss of coolant with no visible signs of leaking. Replaced so many things and keep getting misfires and vsc lights on constantly. Rough start up for about 30 seconds every time started. Slight over heating if idling ... All points now lead to blown head gasket in which I read more and more and common with 04 v6s.

Filed Feb 23, 2016 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 79,000 miles · MD

I have an ongoing problem with our 2004 toyota 4runner. It started about 4 years ago when the maryland state emmission test facility plugged into my odbi2 port. All the dash lights were on and I went in to the office and complained. I filed a form with emissions. I work out of town, my wife is a teacher and we have two small kids. Going to the dealer was not an option until school was our. In the mean time the truck drove fine other than no four wheel drive and the tires spinning if you hit the peddle to hard (no traction control or stability control. Took the truck to the dealer over the summer and they had to reset the values for $110.00 the four wheel drive would no longer engage. Toyota dealer said all the values being erased was a common problem with that year and mva cheep scanners. Maryland said they called toyota and no one had ever had that problem. Have had this happen again last emission test. Biggest problem is that the 4 wheel drive no longer functions. The actuator doesn't engage the 4 wheel drive. This was apparent when my wife lost control and nearly flipped the trick over after picking up the kids in a snow storm. I climbed under the truck in the snow and pulled the cover off the actuator, pulled out the plastic gears and manually shifted it into 4 wheel drive to get it home. The four wheel drive system was always used at least every month until the emission test problems just to keep it lubericated. The 4 wheel drive or lack there of, could have caused death or serious injury to my wife and kids. This actuator is a serious problem, if they can't design a actuator that operates when you need four wheel drive, especially in an emergency than go back to the old stick and linkage. 55 people died in the blizzard of 2016 and there could have been 3 more just because of a design flaw! P.s. My wife and I bought it new, never off road!

Filed Aug 8, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 121,000 miles · MO

8/6/14-started my 2004 4-runner to leave work and a high-pitched alarm sound started and the vsc, ABS, and other dash light symbols came on. I reversed out of my parking spot, and brake, and nothing other than those things was out of the ordinary. I pulled forward and pulled into another spot and called my husband to let him hear what was going on to see if he knew what it may be. He asked me to reverse, pull forward, and see what else I heard/saw, so I did so driving a short distance (about 5 parking spaces away) attempting to exit the 4th level of the parking garage I was in. I started to brake to turn left and no brakes. I pushed the brake petal as hard as I could with both feet and nothing, so I pushed the parking break and as it came to a stop, I panicked and threw it into park. I was within 1 foot of the concrete wall 4 stories off the ground. Got it to a local dealer and told them I just got new brakes 6 weeks ago, could they have possibly gone bad? They called and said it was the ABS module that needed replaced and the used part and labor is $3000 and the new part and labor is $5500.00. This is not normal wear and tear. Others have had this issue and are being told "rare defect". This "rare defect" could have barreled me through a concrete wall or worse. Thankfully no one was in the parking garage with me at the time and I was at a minimal speed. I was leaving during a lunch break. Had I been leaving and this occurred after work, I would have hit someone. What will it take to get toyota to fix this "rare defect"? I have a call into them and of course, no call back yet. So, I'm currently stuck with a vehicle that had a recall for an acceleration issue and a "rare defect" for a brake issue.

Filed Jul 2, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 99,000 miles · FL

Suffered sudden, catastrophic failure of vsc/ABS brake system while driving. Vsc, ABS, brake dash indicator lights illuminated with an audible alarm. Vehicle operated normally for about 1 mile, then lost most braking control. Narrowly avoided collision with another vehicle due to having minimal brake system. Had to use evasive steering and emergency brake maneuvers to slow and stop vehicle. After researching this issue on auto repair blogs there seems to be a common issue with the vsc/ABS system in most toyota vehicles, especially camry's. Replacement of the defective part costs $3200 and toyota refuses to acknowledge the problem or help pay for the repair since my vehicle is out of warranty. Catastrophic brake failure should not be tolerated by any manufacturer. Personally, I believe a recall is needed on all toyota vehicles using the vsc/ABS systems before more serious accidents, injuries or deaths occur.

Questions about the 2004 Toyota 4RUNNER electrical

Does the 2004 Toyota 4RUNNER have electrical problems?

Owners have filed 22 complaints about the electrical of the 2004 Toyota 4RUNNER, 3% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 2004 Toyota 4RUNNER electrical problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 121,000 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2004 Toyota 4RUNNER electrical?

There is no recall for this problem on this model year.

What year does the Toyota 4RUNNER have the most electrical problems?

The Toyota 4RUNNER model years with the most electrical complaints are 2014 (24 complaints), 2004 (22 complaints) and 2006 (18 complaints).

Other 2004 Toyota 4RUNNER problems

Body 310Suspension 113Brakes 82Engine 43Airbags 37Transmission 36Acceleration 34Steering 32Driver assistance 19Seats 14Visibility 14Tires 12Seat belts 7Locks 5Wheels 5Fuel system 4Lights 3

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