IllustrationWHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE THE POWER STRERRING BECAME UNSTABLE (HARD TO TURN - THEN LOSE) CAUSING THE SUV TO HIT A POLE, DAMAGING THE CORNER RIGHT BUMBER.
2004 Toyota 4 Runner
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2004 Toyota 4 Runner do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 96.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 4 Runner years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
460–25K
125–50K
050–75K
075–100K
0100–150K
0150K+
47 reports with mileage · 19 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seats. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
Steering complaints
6 reportsWHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE THE POWER STRERRING BECAME UNSTABLE (HARD TO TURN - THEN LOSE) CAUSING THE SUV TO HIT A POLE, DAMAGING THE CORNER RIGHT BUMBER.
VIBRATION THROUGH STEERING WHEEL AT RPMS B/W 1600-2300, INCREASED WITH SPEED. *JB
THIS IS AN E-MAIL I SENT TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS: I HAVE HAD MY NEW 2004 4RUNNER LIMITED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP (RON CARTER, ALVIN, TX.) 4 TIMES BEFORE I EVEN HAD 500 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE REASON IS BECAUSE OF STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATION/VEHICLE VIBRATIONS BETWEEN 55 AND 70 MPH. THE DEALERSHIP RE-BALANCED THE WHEELS AND TIRES THA…
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THIS IS AN E-MAIL I SENT TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS: I HAVE HAD MY NEW 2004 4RUNNER LIMITED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP (RON CARTER, ALVIN, TX.) 4 TIMES BEFORE I EVEN HAD 500 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE REASON IS BECAUSE OF STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATION/VEHICLE VIBRATIONS BETWEEN 55 AND 70 MPH. THE DEALERSHIP RE-BALANCED THE WHEELS AND TIRES THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE (DUNLAP GRANDTREK AT20) TWICE WITHOUT ANY LUCK. I THEN HAD THEM UPGRADE THE TIRES (FOR AND ADDITIONAL $420) TO MICHELIN TIRES. THIS DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM EITHER. I THEN BROUGHT VEHICLE BACK IN ONE MORE TIME THE FOLLOWING MONDAY FOR ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. NO LUCK AGAIN. ALL OF THIS TOOK PLACE WITHIN 7 DAYS OF ME TAKING OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE. EVERY TIME I TOOK IT IN FOR THIS INVESTIGATION, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED (ALL 4 TIMES). IT WAS NOT FIXED! I HAD THE TECHNICIAN WHO BALANCED THE TIRES (HIS NAME WAS TRACY) DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND HE TOO NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATION/SHIMMY. ONE OF THE SERVICE ADVISORS (HER NAME WAS KIM) ALSO DROVE THE VEHICLE AFTER A DIFFERENT ATTEMPT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND NOTICED THE SAME CONCERN. 9/8/04 I'M STILL WAITING ON THE TOYOTA REGIONAL OFFICE TO CONTACT ME BACK LIKE THEY PROMISED TO GET THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED. I REALLY LIKE THIS VEHICLE AND WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO DO NEXT (LEMON LAW?). I AM WRITING TOYOTA TO SEE WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE THAT THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT. FYI - THE MORE I DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION, THE MORE DAMAGE IT'S DOING TO MY "NEW" TIRES AS WELL AS PREMATURE WEAR TO THE STEERING/SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. FYI-STILL WAITING FOR THEM TO CONTACT ME BACK FOR RESOLUTION.*AK
STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES AROUND 45-60 MPH. IT IS A PRONOUNCED VIBRATION THAT IS UNCOMFORTABLE TO DRIVE WITH.
COMPLAINT INVOLVES TOYOTA , 2004 4RUNNER. NOTICED SLIGHT VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL AT 62-64 MPH. HAD WHEELS AND TIRES ROTATED AND BALANCED AT 6000 MILES. PROBLEM CONTINUED. HAD TIRES BALANCED AGAIN BUT NO SUCCESS. NEW SET OF MICHELIN TIRES ORDERED BUT HAVE NOT BEEN PUT ON. ALSO, AM RADIO STATIONS EXPERIENCING EXTREME ST…
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COMPLAINT INVOLVES TOYOTA , 2004 4RUNNER. NOTICED SLIGHT VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL AT 62-64 MPH. HAD WHEELS AND TIRES ROTATED AND BALANCED AT 6000 MILES. PROBLEM CONTINUED. HAD TIRES BALANCED AGAIN BUT NO SUCCESS. NEW SET OF MICHELIN TIRES ORDERED BUT HAVE NOT BEEN PUT ON. ALSO, AM RADIO STATIONS EXPERIENCING EXTREME STATIC WHEN DRIVING OVER BLACKTOP ROADS. DOES NOT OCCUR WHILE DRIVING ON CONCRETE ROADS. IS NOT AFFECTED ON FM STATIONS. SERVICE MANAGER WILL EXPLORE WHEN TIRES ARE REPLACED. *LA
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.