VehicleVerdict

2004 Toyota Highlander transmission problems

The 2004 Toyota Highlander has 60 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 18% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

60

Transmission complaints

18%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

Highlander transmission complaints by model year185 complaints2001: 16 complaints2002: 15 complaints2003: 14 complaints2004: 60 complaints2005: 54 complaints2006: 22 complaints2007: 8 complaints2008: 20 complaints2009: 7 complaints2010: 6 complaints2011: 16 complaints2012: 7 complaints2013: 11 complaints2014: 8 complaints2015: 7 complaints2016: 1 complaints2017: 69 complaints2018: 58 complaints2019: 182 complaints2020: 117 complaints2021: 185 complaints2022: 43 complaints2023: 15 complaints2024: 3 complaints
Highlander transmission complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“CAR HESITATES AND SUDDENLY SURGES FORWARD. THE IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS. THE FIRST TIME WAS NEAR MY GARAGE AND FORTUNATELY THE CAR ONLY TRAVELED SEVERAL FEET FORWARD BEFORE HITTING THE CORNER OF THE GARAGE AND COMING TO A STOP. LAST SUNDAY, I WAS LEAVING A PARKING LOT.…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · June 5, 2011 · crash

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2004 Toyota Highlander have?

NHTSA has 60 complaints about the 2004 Toyota Highlander transmission — 18% 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.