Most common 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser problems
Share of the 5 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Toyota Land Cruiser complaints by model year
Best Land Cruiser years: 2012, 2019, 2004. Years to avoid: 1997. Compare all years →
2004 Toyota Land Cruiser recalls (1)
Air bags › Side/window
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus LX470, 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia, 2004-2006 Toyota 4Runner and Lexus GX470 vehicles equipped with side curtain-shield-air bags.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control module with one that has improved programming, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016.
What 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser owners say
Brakes
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser. The contact stated that the brake system failed without warning. The lights on the instrument panel illuminated and the brake pedal extended to the floor. The contact was able to use the emergency brake and shift the vehicle into neutral to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a dealer and the brake system needed to be replaced. The brake module failed and the dealer had to replace the entire unit that consisted of the vsc trac (traction control), ABS pump, ABS accumulator, and the brake master. The failure mileage was 156,000.
While driving at approximately 30 MPH, the "brake" warning light illuminated along with the high pitch audible brake failure alarm. Approximately 1,000 - 2,000 feet later all brake function ceased entirely, only by applying parking brake and placing the vehicle in neutral was stopping possible. There were no injuries or property damage. Popping hood to look for signs of fluid leak, etc, we noticed that the brake fluid in the reservoir was over filled significantly - it had not been earlier and the brakes had recently been serviced. A cursory search of "Land Cruiser brake failure" online yielded numerous reports on Toyota message boards of identical situations: brake light and alarm, total loss of braking power within moments, owners finding that the failure resulted in fluid returning to the reservoir overfilling it. There appear to be no fluid leaks or brake line failures. …
2004 Toyota Land Cruiser engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.7L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 16 / 13 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser a good car?
Based on 5 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Land Cruiser rates average: 43% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Land Cruiser at the same age. It is one of the best Land Cruiser years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser?
The brakes — 3 complaints, 60% of all complaints for this model year, most often about pedals and linkages. Next are the electrical system (2) and equipment & accessories (1).
How many recalls does the 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser have?
There is 1 recall for the 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser, the most recent from February 5, 2016 (side/window). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Toyota Land Cruiser?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012, 2019 and 2004. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1997. See the full Toyota Land Cruiser years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 156,000 miles; 40% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.