2004 Toyota 4Runner Review: Excellent, but Too Old for the Asking Price

The 2004 Toyota 4Runner is one of the best and most well-rounded SUVs of its era. But, with a mid-range model listing at close to eight grand, it might cost a little more than you care to spend on a twenty year old vehicle.

Is the 2004 Toyota 4Runner a Good Used Car?

• Overall Rating 8/10 – If not for the vehicle’s age this would be one of the best mid-size SUVs on the market today.
• Interior, Comfort & Cargo 9/10 – The only reason it doesn’t get a perfect ten: There are some reports of premature rust in the suspension.
• Reliability 7/10 – A 2004 Toyota 4Runner is a trooper, but most units are nearing the end of their life expectancy.
• Safety 8/10 – Anti-lock brakes and stability control were almost never offered as standard features in 2004, so it’s nice to see them in the entry-level 4Runner.
• Gas Mileage 6/10 – If you’re after a fuel-efficient SUV, you probably don’t want to be looking at a 2004 mid-size.
• Value 6/10 – A Limited edition lists for around eight grand. That would have been a fair price five, ten years ago. It’s a bit high for vehicle nearing retirement.

What Do Critics Say About the 2004 Toyota 4Runner?

Consumer Reports praised the Toyota 4Runner as one of the best off-roaders in its price-range. They note the broad handling as a minor nitpick, while praising the roomy, quiet interior and generous safety features, with side and curtain airbags being standard.

Kelley Blue Book users give the 4Runner a near-perfect 98% recommendation. Drivers love the SUV’s towing capacity, reliable powertrain, all-terrain performance, and roomy interior. The most common complaint comes down to fuel economy, with owners reporting that you’ll be lucky to average more than 17 miles to the gallon.

Edmunds heaped glowing praise on the 4Runner’s powerful engine lineup, rugged off-road abilities, comfy cabin, decent pavement performance, and generous standard features. They note that the cargo capacity is limited, compared to other compact SUVs, but offer no other real criticisms of the vehicle.

What Common Problems Does the 2004 Toyota 4Runner Have?

The 2004 4Runner’s biggest problem is going to be premature rust in the frame. Nearly half of the SUV’s 640 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration complaints are for structure, and mostly for premature corrosion. There’s not much you can do to fix this problem, so check the undercarriage before you buy.

100 complaints on file are for suspension issues, mostly relating to, again, premature rust, which can eat through shocks and struts even without showing as many obvious signs in the frame. You can prevent this issue with anti-rust coating, but once the corrosion settles in there’s not much that can be done.

Engine and powertrain issues are not incredibly common, but there are some reports of difficulty shifting, thanks to, you guessed it, premature corrosion chewing through the transmission lines. Almost every major problem the 4Runner has can be traced back to premature rust.

The 2004 Toyota 4Runner has just 2 recalls on file with the NHTSA. As long as you can find one with no serious rust in the undercarriage you shouldn’t have too many problems with a used 4Runner.

How Long Will the 2004 Toyota 4Runner Last?

With excellent care your 4Runner can easily pass 200,000 miles. Some drivers report passing 300,000 miles on the original transmission, but you can’t always vouch for the previous owner’s driving habits, so that might not be realistic in a used model.

RepairPal estimate an annual maintenance cost of around $514 for a typical 4Runner, with new powertrain control modules being the most expensive common fix, starting at about $1,246.

How Is the Technology?

Entertainment technology in the 2004 4Runner is decent considering the SUV’s age. You get a CD and cassette player in the entry-level SR5, while the Limited upgrades you to six speakers. Nothing too cutting-edge, but not bad for a 2004 model.

Safety technology is better than average for 2004. Anti-lock brakes and stability control come standard. Back when you were lucky to get either of these as an option, let alone an entry-level feature.

Is the 2004 Toyota 4Runner a Good Value?

A mid-range 2004 Toyota 4Runner typically lists at around $7,775, which is a fair price for a versatile, capable SUV from this model year. But, it might be more than you care to spend on a twenty year vehicle no matter how good it is.

You probably won’t have to worry about steep maintenance costs, but refueling the 4Runner can be expensive, and these prices are for models with around 160,000 miles on the odometer, with the vehicle only expected to hit around 200,000. Taking all of that into consideration, a 2004 4Runner might not be money well spent.

What are the Different Models of the 2004 Toyota 4Runner?

The 2004 Toyota 4Runner is available in three trim levels, from the base SR5 to the high-end Limited.

The base SR5 features:

• Remote keyless entry
• Cloth seating
• CD and cassette player
• Automatic air conditioning
• Power windows and door locks
• 8-way power-adjust driver seat

With a mid-range SR5 Sport you’re adding:

• Heated mirrors
• Leather wrapped steering wheel
• X-REAS Sport enhancement suspension

Finally, the high-end Limited model adds:

• Dual-zone automatic air conditioning
• Leather seating
• Heated seats

What Engines Come In the 2004 Toyota 4Runner?

• The base engine in the 2004 Toyota 4Runner is a 4.0L V6 delivering 235 horsepower and 282 lb.-ft. of torque. This is paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission in rear/four wheel drive, averaging 18/21 miles to the gallon, city/highway, and towing up to 5,000 pounds.
• Next up is a 4.7L i-Force V8 cranking out 245 horsepower and 320 lb.-ft. of torque. 4-speed automatic, rear/four wheel drive, up to 7,300 pounds of towing capacity, and an average MPG of 16/20. Both engines are available in all three trim levels.

What Colors Does the 2004 Toyota 4Runner Come In?

How Comfortable Is the 2004 Toyota 4Runner?

Drivers report that the 4Runner manages both off-road and on-road well enough that you’ll have a smooth ride either way (or as smooth a ride as you can get climbing over rocks and creeks). The seating is comfortable, and the back seat is 55 inches across at the hip.

Your only concern when it comes to comfort is going to be premature rust in the suspension. If you spot major rust in the undercarriage or the SUV hits those speed bumps a little too hard on the test drive, you’ll want to pass, as corroded shocks and struts are pretty expensive to fix.

How Much Storage Space Does the 2004 Toyota 4Runner Have?

The 2004 Toyota 4Runner starts you off with about 40 cubic feet of cargo space in the back, and you can expand that to 75 cubic feet with the seats down. There are bigger mid-size SUVs, but this should be more space than you need for a typical excursion into the great outdoors.

What Are the Differences Between Years?

The 2004 Toyota 4Runner was the second model year in the SUV’s 4th Generation, running from 2003 to 2009.

2002: The final 3rd Generation 4Runner can be identified by the exterior chrome trim on the liftgate, encompassing the license plate. Other than this it’s basically the same model as the 2001 edition.

2003: The fourth gen relaunched the 4Runner with a dramatically redesigned but still recognizable chassis and body, and saw the addition of an optional V8 engine.

2004: Tire pressure monitoring was added as a standard feature, and SR5 and Limited models got an optional third row seat.

2005: 5-speed automatic was made standard on the V6 model.

2006: 2006 was a mid-cycle refresh year for the 4Runner, with new headlights and a flash chrome trim for the SR5 model.

2007: No major changes for 2007.

How Does the 2004 Toyota 4Runner Compare to the Competition?

The 2004 Ford Explorer is a little more high-maintenance than the 4Runner and it’s less capable off-road, even in the 239 horsepower 4.6L V8 models, but it costs about half as much in the Blue Book.

A 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee is arguably the superior off-roader, but it’s far less versatile than the 4Runner, being poorly suited to daily-driving on city streets. And… it costs about half as much.

Combining a luxurious interior with rugged off-road performance, the Toyota 4Runner might just be the best and most versatile vehicle in its size class for 2004. But it’s not worth eight thousand bucks. If you’re going to spend that much you might as well shop around for something with more than 50,000 miles left on the transmission.

Do Owners Recommend the 2004 Toyota 4Runner?