2004 Toyota Highlander Base V6 AWD
All photo credits
- Photo: 2004 Toyota Highlander Limited in Black Onyx, Front Left, 05-06-2023 by Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: 2006 Toyota Highlander Limited Hybrid, Rear Left, 02-19-2021 by SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid in Sonora Gold Metallic, rear left, 07-04-2026 by Cutlass, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The 2004 Toyota Highlander Base V6 AWD is a 230-hp 3.3-liter V6 SUV with a 5-speed ect-i automatic and all-wheel drive. It starts at $27,390 MSRP and is rated at 19 mpg combined.
It makes 230 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 242 lb-ft of torque at 4400 rpm. EPA fuel-economy estimates are 16 mpg city and 22 mpg highway (19 mpg combined).
The Highlander measures 184.6 inches long on a 106.9-inch wheelbase and has a curb weight of 3,935 lb.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Vehicle | |
| Body Type | SUV |
| Powertrain | Gas |
| Price | |
| MSRP | $27,390 ($47,124 *) |
| MSRP with Destination | $27,930 ($48,053 *) |
| Destination Charge | $540 |
| Engine | |
| Engine Type | 3MZ-FE 3.3L DOHC 24-valve VVT-i V6 |
| Displacement | 3.3 L |
| Horsepower | 230 hp @ 5,800 rpm |
| Torque | 242 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm |
| Valvetrain | DOHC 24-valve VVT-i |
| Injection Type | Sequential multi-port EFI |
| Drivetrain | |
| Drive Type | Full-time All-Wheel Drive |
| Transmission | |
| Transmission | 5-speed ECT-i automatic |
| Fuel Economy | |
| City | 16 MPG |
| Highway | 22 MPG |
| Combined | 19 MPG |
| Recommended Fuel | Regular Unleaded |
| Suspension | |
| Front Suspension | Independent MacPherson strut with stabilizer bar |
| Rear Suspension | Independent MacPherson strut with stabilizer bar |
| Brakes | |
| Front Brake Disc | Ventilated disc |
| Rear Brake Disc | Solid disc |
| Tires & Wheels | |
| Wheels Front | 16 in. |
| Wheels Rear | 16 in. |
| Tires Front | P225/70R16 |
| Tires Rear | P225/70R16 |
| Dimensions & Weight | |
| Length | 184.6 in |
| Width | 71.9 in |
| Height | 66.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 106.9 in |
| Front Track | 62 in |
| Rear Track | 61.2 in |
| Ground Clearance | 7.3 in |
| Approach Angle | 28° |
| Departure Angle | 22° |
| Cargo Volume | 39.7 ft³ |
| Curb Weight | 3,935 lbs |
| Interior | |
| Headroom Front | 40 in |
| Headroom Rear | 39.8 in |
| Legroom Front | 40.7 in |
| Legroom Rear | 36.4 in |
| Shoulder Room Front | 57.9 in |
| Shoulder Room Rear | 57 in |
| Hip Room Front | 55.1 in |
| Hip Room Rear | 54.9 in |
Similar cars
Rivals to the 2004 Toyota Highlander Base V6 AWD with similar size, power and price from around the same years.
Safety & Recalls
NCAP safety ratings
| Overall | Not rated |
| Frontal crash | Not rated |
| Frontal – driver | ★★★★★ |
| Frontal – passenger | ★★★★★ |
| Side crash | Not rated |
| Rollover | Not rated |
Recalls
5 recalls on file with NHTSA for the 2004 Toyota HIGHLANDER. Not every recall applies to every trim or VIN — check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Nov 9, 2011 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign 11V539000
Feb 24, 2011 · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign 11V112000
Oct 21, 2010 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign 10V499000
Jul 13, 2006 · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
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.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION MAY INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign 06V253000
Apr 15, 2004 · LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL SHORTEN THE CPL LEVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 7, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA campaign 04V181000
286 owner complaints to NHTSA for the 2004 Toyota HIGHLANDER
Owner Complaints
286 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2004 Toyota HIGHLANDER (32 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 16 an injury). See all on nhtsa.gov
| Power Train | 58 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 40 |
| Steering | 35 |
| Service Brakes | 24 |
| Visibility | 21 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 20 |
Complaints are unverified reports submitted to NHTSA by owners. They cover the whole model year, not a specific trim, and a count alone doesn't show how common a problem is.
Source: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (nhtsa.gov), matched as 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. US-market vehicles only; data cached for up to 7 days.