VehicleVerdict

2004 Toyota 4Runner engine problems

The 2004 Toyota 4Runner has 45 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 5% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

45

Engine complaints

5%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

4Runner engine complaints by model year124 complaints1986: 6 complaints1988: 2 complaints1989: 2 complaints1990: 43 complaints1991: 23 complaints1992: 19 complaints1993: 20 complaints1994: 30 complaints1995: 124 complaints1996: 27 complaints1997: 14 complaints1998: 16 complaints1999: 19 complaints2000: 17 complaints2001: 18 complaints2002: 17 complaints2003: 101 complaints2004: 45 complaints2005: 30 complaints2006: 18 complaints2007: 10 complaints2008: 9 complaints2009: 4 complaints2010: 3 complaints2011: 6 complaints2012: 5 complaints2013: 3 complaints2014: 5 complaints2015: 8 complaints2016: 6 complaints2017: 2 complaints2018: 5 complaints2019: 6 complaints2022: 2 complaints2023: 2 complaints2025: 2 complaints
4Runner engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. I NOTICED THE EXTREME SULFUR ODOR WITHIN THE FIRST 500 MILES OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS JUST A COATING ON THE ENGINE. NAIVE AS I AM I BELIEVED THEM. I AM AT 20,000 MILES AND MANY COMPLAINTS TO TOYOTA ONLY TO BE TOLD IT WAS THE GAS. THEY HAVE DONE THE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · June 28, 2004

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 2004 Toyota 4Runner have?

NHTSA has 45 complaints about the 2004 Toyota 4Runner engine — 5% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.