Used 2004 Toyota 4Runner Consumer Reviews

Good All Around Vehicle

I purchased my 2004 Toyota 4Runner Sport Edition 8 months ago and it had 159,000 miles, it now has 170,000. Overall it has been a great vehicle. The ride is very smooth and the 4 wheel drive has been great. Since I purchased it I have had to have somethings fixed. The exhaust manifolds on the 2003-2009 4Runners have an issue with leaking. I had them replaced with an aftermarket part, and that so far has resolved that issue. I noticed the radiator leaking on the left hand side, and had that replaced. I will have to have the rearend rebuilt since I am starting to hear a whining noise.

Best vehicle I have ever owned or driven

We got our 2004 SR5 V8 4WD 4Runner a couple of years ago as a certified pre-owned. It had about 50k miles, drove like new. Never gave us any issues at all, always ran like a champ and never needed any repairs. I drove that truck over countless miles of bad road and it wouldn't rattle, wouldn't waiver, and never broke down. Change out the oil and put gas in it and you were good to go. The only thing I would like to see improved is the MPG. Sadly, not all Toyotas are created equal, but the 4Runner is the flagship unit when it comes to reliability and durability, and if I could, I would buy mine back in a heartbeat even with double miles. Really regret trading it in. REALLY miss my 4Runner!!!

275,000 and counting

I bought my 04 4Runner in February 2007 with 24k miles. It had 275k now. Basic maintenance it's all I've done it has never giving me any problems. From Virginia to Miami Florida over 30 times with no problems sometimes pulling two motorcycles in a 5x8 trailer. I love my 4Runner.

Smart vehicle purchase

I bought my 4Runner used, with 74,000 miles on it in Feb. 2013. I was not concerned about the mileage, as the engines on these SUV's only begin to break in about about 100,000 miles. The vehicle is heavy, and feels as durable and as robust as a tank...and I used to be a M-1 Abrams tank commander, so I know toughness when I see it! :o) As the truck sports a "mild mannered" 4.7L V-8, the engine is powerful and provides great acceleration. Love the sound of the engine too! The interior of the vehicle is laid out well, and has great ergonomics, which make it comfortable to drive long distance. This is the best vehicle that I have ever owned...smart vehicle purchase indeed!

Safe and most reliable

We bought this car in December 2004. I was pregnant with my first child and wanted a safe and reliable car with good cargo space. This has been our family car for the last 7.5 years and has NEVER failed us. The car now has 134,000 miles & the only maintenance we've done are tires, brakes, a break light & oil changes. I feel so safe in this car; rugged yet has navigation, power everything, rear view camera, great stereo. Although truck-like it has great turning radius & weaves in NYC traffic easily. Powerful V8 accelerates great to merge onto hwy. We tow trailer on camping trips each year! Cargo room is great for house projects & kid gear. Tough, safe, reliable, responsive. I LOVE MY 4RUNNER!

4RUNNER DEPENDABILITY

This is a GREAT TRUCK! I have 180, 000 miles on mine and it still does everything it was suppose to do. I bought it at 159K with no hesitation since it's a Toyota, have not been dissappointed yet. It starts and runs GREAT everyday and I drive 40 miles round trip to my job everyday. Can't say enough good things about this truck.

It gives me no good reason to sell it.

I bought used with 117,000 miles about 3 years ago and have about 160k on it now. I've replaced rear brake pads and oil changes and that's it. Cold a/c in Texas summers and plenty of power. I've been toying with the notion of selling it for something else but it's so reliable I can't justify it. I always buy my cars used and only keep them about 3 years. This misn't be the exception :) Awesome product Toyota! Update: well my head gasket failed at 170k miles. Evidently this is a common problem with the early v6 4.0L which I found described on 4runner forums online. No recall but toyota had to issue a recall on 2nd Gen 4runners for the same issue. With all the hits they've taken lately I doubt this will get a recall haha. If you're in the market for one of these I'd recommend the v8. Other than that it's been a great truck. Update: 20k miles since engine rebuild... no problems

Best Car I've Ever Owned

Definitely the best car I have ever owned. Every summer we drive to New York and this SUV has made the trip 6 times with absolutely no problems. The only money we have put into this vehicle is for the oil, and windshield wipers, but it stops there. The vehicle has 160,000 miles and we bought it in '07 with 20,000. Another incredible thing about this SUV is this past month a friends truck weighing in at about 6500 lbs died and got stuck in sand, and this 4Runner pulled it out with absolutely no problem. Overall, the best vehicle to have come our way.

Perfect Mid-size SUV

This is my second 4runner that I own and it was purchased for $6,000 with 205,000 miles. Well it still runs great and has no major mechanical problems. It is really a great SUV to own and is great on the highway where it averages between 23 and 26 mpg driving between 60 and 70 mph. it can get more if you driving 55 mph using cruise control. Hope it last for 300k.

Crazy longevity

260,000 miles and still barely any problems. Engine still runs like a beast.

2004 V8 220K

In Aug. 2004 I decided to buy a brand new 4Runner Sport Edition V8. Thinking that I too would buy a new one after it started showing signs of use, it's quite comical actually before owning a 4Runner I had got new cars about every 2-3 years, due to maintenance and worrying about breaking down. I travel for work throughout New England for work and still have yet to ever have an issue while driving. I take very good car of my cars and do a lot of preventative maintenance when not on the road but still this SUV has paid for itself at least three times over. I just ordered a new 2014 4runner today and will be giving my old one to my niece for the summer.

Reliable Suv

This is our second Toyota and it's been just as reliable as our 1st. Our 4runner has 65000 miles on it and the only problem we've had was a shock that went bad. My wife has a job that requires her to get to work, no matter what the weather is doing. Shes drove in 6 inches of snow with blowing and drifting for 15 miles. She had to drive around vehicles stuck in the middle of the highway. She never spun a wheel. Awesome fourwheel drive system!

Best vehicle I have ever owned

I drove this 4Runner 275000 miles before selling it. I was still able to sell it for $2500.

I give this 10 stars on a 5-star scale

Purchased our awesome 4Runner in Dec 2012 w/ 100K. Now it has 125K & hasn't failed us...nor will it. Traded a Cadillac with 70K for it because Caddy was having major mechanical problems. Just took a 4000-mile trip to the mountains with the 4Runner, and it held strong, even with over 100K miles! Toyota has quality that no automaker can surpass. Don't be afraid to buy a Toyota w/ over 100K, as it can easily get to 200K or 300K w/ no problems, as long as you keep up on scheduled maintenance. We fight over who gets to take the 4Runner, & our other car has 100K less miles on it. A 4Runner will outlast any USA-engineered car you would ever buy. A Toyota w/ 100K is like a USA car with 0 miles.

224k (12-2-2011) on Clock and the engine still running like new.

Best value for the mid SUV class. This car would not give any troubles if following all the maintenance schedules.(including O2 sensors and fuel injector cleaner and drive belt every 100K). :) Never call roadside assistance again after purchased this vehicle.

Bulletproof

Bought new in 2004. 187,000 miles and it runs and runs. Routine repairs over the years but the V-8 is still not burning any oil. Transmission still shifts with no slipping. Superb reliability. Unfortunately, a truck smashed the rear end while parked overnight. Insurance totaled. Guy at body shop was going to fix for his personal use and it lives on!

2004 4R Sport V8

Excellent off road performance

True to its reputation!

I have owned several toyotas in my life and have always regretted selling them. One of my major disappointments was getting rid of my 1989 Toyota 4Runner as it was truly a work horse with great fuel efficiency. The 4 cyclinder engine pulled my boat and got me out of soft sand countless times. Unfortunately, I thought that having a family would mean that I wouldn't need this type of vehicle - wrong! I purchased a 2004 Toyota 4Runner V6 Sports Edition and have been amazed with its smooth ride. It is definitely much better than my previous love - 89 Toyota 4Runner. In two short years I have put over 66,000 miles and have yet to hear the brakes squeak. Gas mileage is 20 mpg!

2004 Toyota 4Runner

This car has never failed me, I did the maintenance schedule religiously. It's 15 1/2 years old, has been to different states, yet the mileage is less than 100,000. Very dependable car.

love it

my husband bought me this for my birthday, what a guy huh??i absolutly love it ......i used to drive a nissan pathfinder and i must say the 4 runner tops it hands down.everything about it is great except for the gas miledge.

If you are taller than 6 feet, beware!

After only 1 week & 400 miles I am ready to trade! I am 6 feet tall & with the sunroof my head was rubbing the roof liner & my line of sight was at the top of the windshield. At that position you can't see the odometer, the turn signal flashers nor the fuel gauge without the steering wheel tilted up in high position. The side lateral supports were too narrow, digging into my side/kidneys. Minus the above, I am sure it's an excellent SUV otherwise: plenty of power, smooth and quiet on the highway. It's a solid good-looking SUV, so be more careful upon your test drive than I was.

60k Report

I bought this almost 5 years before entering the Army. I now have 61k on it. It's been across the country four times (packed to the hilt with gear), over Hoosier Pass in a Colorado blizzard twice, offroad in CO and AZ. In that time, the only major repair happened at the 60k mark, a bad emissions sensor - $450. I had to also replace a cracked windshield, but I don't consider that the fault of the automaker. There are some minor cosmetic wear and tear issues. The "chrome" finish on the stick column is wearing off. The cover to the seat clamps (where they meet the floor) fell off. All in all, I would have been hard pressed to find anything else as reliable with the same capabilities.

Reliable, comfotable, powerful and great resale

I bought my 4runner Sport V8 new in Feb of '04. 8 years and 135K miles later it's time to find a new home for it. It has been the most reliable car I've ever owned in 37 years of driving. Gas mileage is what I expected at about 16/mi overall. I used it to pull a 5K # boat and trailer and never missed beat. Even pulled great through the hills of NH and VT. I've done all of my own maintenance and found it to be very easy to work on. It still looks and drives great. Cloth interior shows no signs of wear. Only significant problem I had was with the sunroof while it was still under warrantee. Took 3 trips to the dealer and they finally replaced the whole thing.

Straightforward Toyota

This has been an excellent car so far. I bought it with 40k on it, and I have 56k on it now, and it has had no problems whatsoever. I just do my routine maintenance and it keeps going every time I need it. It is like any Toyota: not exciting in any way, but it does the job without any problems.

Comfortable cruiser

After some haggling at the dealership over this car being a CPO we came to terms. The dealer would replace the two missing key FOBs, fix the significant scratch on the right side and make this look like it should for a CPO. The third row seat is missing on this, but that's ok with me. Now the vehicle. This is as smooth as many cars as I have driven. Not sure where the editors came up with the harsh ride, but I have driven this so far from Madison, WI to Toledo 3 times in the 60 days, and twice from Madison to Hayward, WI. I am averaging 21.8 MPG over all with my best being 23.7 MPG Hwy at 75mph. The cabin is quiet and comfortable and well laid out for long trips. I have the v-6.

Not very happy

Had a 1990 toyota 4Runner, was an outstanding vehicle. Just anouther one this past week. Very unhappy with the over all unit. Seems basic safety has taken a back seat. Also found problems with paint on vehicle with in first mile, and returned to dealership, and was turned away, vehicle had left the lot, they will no longer honnor any problems, you must inspect vehicle before leaving lot or they do not seem to care. Also have raddles in head liner, they seem to need several days to get it in to attempt to fix the problem.

Fifteen years, 190,000 miles, and I'll never sell.

This is one of three 4Runners I have owned for fifteen years or more. Each has a purpose, and two of them are this same 4wd 8cyl configuration. I never get tired of driving any of them, even the 1995. Take care of it, and it will take care of you.

Ltd. V8 4Runner

Been very happy with the 4Runner. Bought it due to the V8 for towing our travel trailer. The motor is excellent in general, temp. gauge doesn't even move going up steep, long passes in 100+ (40+Celsius) pulling our 4500# travel trailer. The only complaint I have is that it is slightly lacking in power to pull our trailer in windy, open environments. Seems like I need to keep the tranny in 3rd to go up any slight incline or against strong winds. Otherwise it's been an excellent truck. Wish it came with 4.10 gears rather than 3.73; would most likely solve the underpowered issue but unfortunately decrease fuel economy. Generally excellent truck that I would recommend to anyone.

My 4Runner

So far, I can't find anything I don't like about my 4Runner. It has incredible power and what really suprises me is the GREAT gas mileage it gets, especially for a V8! I thought for sure that since it is an all time 4WD, that it would ride like a tank. I was wrong! It rides every bit as comfortable as any car and turns as tight. There is plenty of room inside and alot of nice features. I used to have a Ford (Found On Road Dead) Explorer, it doesn't even hold a candle to my 4Runner. You can definitely tell the difference, you know you are in a 100X better quality vehicle. Bottom line: I LOVE my 4Runner and I will never go back!

wouldnt drive anything but a toyota

I love my toyota, little pricey but worth every penny. The solidness of this vehicle is remarkable. Suv that gives a ride like a car

Loving my 4Runner

Just recently purchased a SR5 V8 4Runner. You get a lot of features for the money with this truck. Ride and handling are excellent, acceleration and braking are very good. Transmission is silky smooth. The sound level in the cabin is very quiet, with virtually no road noise.

Major Disappointment

I am extremely disappointed that when you let the rear seats down to utilize all of the rear cargo space, you have to slide the front seats forward to make room. I am 6'1" tall and this situation makes it very uncomfortable to drive. The Highlander I traded for this auto was much more satisfactory. Had I known this deficiency existed in the 4Runner, I would still own my Highlander.

Hello 4Runner - Good Bye GM

This is my first non-GM SUV, and I am loving it! The 2004 Toyota 4Runner V8 Sport Edition 4WD is a great vehicle for looks, comfort, quietness, value, performance, build, and reliability. Most of my driving tends to be city, on-road, with some highway, variable weather, with a little off-road, but my overall mileage is at 19.2 mpg which is great for a V8 4WD. I am also glad I have a 4Runner model that has all the improvements made since 2003. I have previously owned full-size K-Blazers, S-Blazers, and full-size Tahoes from Chevy, but now I can't ever imagine getting anything else to drive other than another 4Runner. This seems to be the overall best vehicle that I have ever owned. Period.

Excellent Vehicle

I am a land surveyor and work anywhere in North Georgia. Consequently, I put 30,000 miles per year on this vehicle. I have always known Toyotas were legendary for reliability, and this one has been no exception. What I did not know, however, was how exceptionally capable it is off road. I have taken this vehicle in mud close to a foot deep and it comes right out. It has also been up some inclines so steep that all my surveying equipment slid to the rear door.I expect to get close to 200,000 miles out of it before I buy another one just like it (or better). Excellent vehicle!!

Toyota 4Runner SR5

Wouldn't you know it, finally can afford a 4Runner and not crazy about new body style. Love mid-90s 4Runners and all previous. This one is cool, but almost ostentatious-looking. Also the gas mileage is really pretty bad; so far just driving in town, hope it's better on a road trip. Great Toyota quality seems intact. Rear-seat passengers complained about "too much heat" in back seat in winter, don't know -- a little bulky to turn & park. Also uneasy about "push button" 4WD: prefer old lever style in an emergency which is when you would want it. Still love it overall.

Best SUV for the money

I purchased my V8 4WD 4runner new in Aug 2004. I now have 89,000 hard on and off-road miles on it and it still runs like new. No problems, no repairs, just scheduled maintenance. I had Toyota install a Readylift 2.5" front lift kit, Bilstein HD shocks, 32" BF Goodrich T/A tires and a TRD air filter. I highly recommend these upgrades for off-road use. The increase in performance is amazing. Average gas mileage is 18.1 mpg. My previous 4runners had approx 400,000 miles when I sold them. The 2004 is much better than previous models. I plan to keep this car forever.

Traded in my lemon after just 1 year

I was in the market to buy my first new car and wanted something with an excellent track record. I got a lemon. In the 11 months I owned it, the dealership had it for nearly 6 weeks. Everything was covered under warranty except that so many problems is unacceptable. Major issues like the vehicle dynamic stability function kicking on and off making safe driving impossible and the exhaust leaking inside the cabin (never able to fix). And LOTS of little things broke from the sun roof staying open (big problem in Boston), to the rear roll up window, to the gas cap release lever severed (stuck out on a trip with no way to fill up and not nearly gas enough to get home), even the stereo broke.

needs larger seats,and mpg

i found the limited to be full of conveniences and a few inconveniences. i have a 38" waist. the seat belt is hard to find and fasten when i get into the drivers seat.seats need to be a little wider. more options for the money spent would also be a plus. adjustable pedels should come standard with the limited. fuel milege is much worse than a jaguar xj8. which we thought was bad till the limited showed up in our garage.

Nice try, but disappointing

Fits in the short side of my garage, tows 7000 pounds, and is a true off roader. It's a lot more fun to drive on the road than my RX300 was. The X- REAS shocks help, and the torque (and the sound) of the V8 doesn't hurt, either. The fit and finish match the RX300, and the leather seems less fragile. The road noise isolation is extremely good, but there is too much wind noise. There is also a vibration in the steering wheel at around 1700 RPM, which becomes extremely annoying in 5th gear. Instead of fixing the problem, Toyota is calling it "characteristic of the vehicle." Also, so far I'm getting no better gas mileage than on my Suburban.

Bargain at this price

I just can't believe that for under $28k I drove off with a real 4x4 (ladder frame, coil springs, locking diff, 17" wheels, 4-Low, etc) third row seats for little kids, lots of power, convienience and safety features, and Toyota quality. I see people spending that much for Subarus and much more for Pilots and Volvo XCVs and RX-330s and quite frankly they don't really offer anything in comparison to this vehicle. They can't tow, the can't do real off-road, and they just aren't as strong of a vehicle. It gets better mileage than our RX-300 did and blows it away in acceleration. We live in Colorado and every now and then we go down some rutted, rocky road and this thing gobbles it up.

Do it

LEMON

I got a lemon. The exhaust leaked inside the cabin (dealer never able to fix). The electronic stability control system was itself never stably operated (dealer never able to fix). 4wd high didn't always engage (dealer never able to fix). The sunroof would open and close at its own discretion (dealer never able to fix). The fuel cap release latch broke 3 times. The radio petered out, was fixed, reinstalled, and broke again. I wasn't able to drive the vehicle for 2 months of the year I owned it and Toyota would not take it back as a lemon citing Massachusetts' loose lemon laws.

Not what they were in 89

Well, though it's good, there are some quality issues. First month I had it, it would miss and accelerate on hills in the cold. Toyota fixed that. The rear seats only fold down w/ the headpieces off and front seats forward. New tires at 22K. New rotors and pads at 50K dealer tried to charge over $1,000 for that. Got it done for $550. Dirt piles up inside rear door/wheelwell. The interior fan motor now freezes when the temp is below 25*F. Toyota won't fix that. I need to pay $400 for their mess. My windows can't defrost in the morning now. Tire pressure light is on all the time cause I refuse to pay $190 for a new valve that Toyota needs to program to your truck.

18 year old driving for 3 years!

this was my grandmother's own.. she bought it new in 2004 with everything including leather n moon roof.. only except navi.. and we are in 2012.. still runs like new with 45236 miles (i put on 35000 miles on it myself since i got it.!) i love my jeep.! carried it offroading and it did excellent.. we live on a small island.. so i get around 18.2 the most of mpg.! its still shining like when we first bought it.. except lately i have it quite dirty.. only problem i can say i have.. is the tire pressure light has been on from 2009 and it havent come off.. but it doesnt bother us.! recently it started making this noise that sounds like the steering.. but its in the shop getting fix.! no biggie.

Worth the money!

I bought my 4-runner new in May of 2004. After 6 years of ownership I can honestly say "this is the best vehicle I have ever owned." All I have ever done is changed the oil and put tires in it. I have around 87,000 miles, and every day I look forward to driving it to work. Also, the resale value is unbelievable. My next vehicle will be a 2010 4-runner when the new wears off of them and the price goes down a little! This vehicle in my opinion is an investment.

Love My Truck!

I love my Truck! I went from a Honda CRV to a 4 Runner and the difference is huge. It is bigger inside and has lots more power. Would never go back to anything smaller again.

Pleased

My third SUV, last SUV was a Lexus 300, This vehicle rides nearly as well, Additionally I get excellent MPG with responsible driving. I have gotten as high as 27-28 mpg on open road and avg 23-25 with normal driving. Reliability has been excellent.

Tunnel Vision

The dashboard instrument cluster is like looking into a tunnel and very hard to focus on the dials. The clock is part of th climate control and is very difficult to see in bright light. The back door needs to have a remote latch in the drivers area instead of using your key lock. The mirror needs to have a light, all ladies look for this option. Other than the mentioned deficiencies the truck is great.

what a mistake

The vehicle with 8000 miles. 4 wheel drive has gone out. parts coming from japan. Brakes soft, master cylinder bad. Very bad smell from engine. Told its sulfur and nothing I can do. Horrible gas mileage,17 mpg.Started to rust on the back. Told it was rail dust. It seems no one knows what that is. We have had it. I am buying a Sequoia.

Stinkers

I have a problem with exhaust fumes getting into the car under heavy excelleration or when towing. All windows up. Both the dealer and Toyota confirmed it and said it is the gas outside of California and the car is performing to its standards and they can not do anything. It smells like rotten eggs. Toyota corporate said too bad but it is my problem. Also dont expect to see the dash guages with sun glasses on.