2004 Toyota Land Cruiser: common problems

Owners of the 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 5

What fails most often

1 Service brakes 60% of all complaints
2 Electrical system 40% of all complaints
3 Electronic stability control 20% of all complaints
4 Equipment 20% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Service brakes: 3 complaints (60% of all).
Electrical system: 2 complaints (40% of all).
Electronic stability control: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Equipment: 1 complaints (20% of all).

Engines and transmissions

US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.

4.7 L · petrol · 8 cyl
automatic, 5-speed

Drive: AWD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 5 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

brake failure1 · 20%
rear-view camera1 · 20%
rollaway, parking brake1 · 20%
warning lights, check engine1 · 20%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash	Technical service bulletins (TSB)
Service brakes	3	0	0
Electrical system	2	0	0
Electronic stability control	1	0	0
Equipment	1	0	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of the purchase, the vehicle's mileage was 300,000. It was later discovered that the mileage on the title was 30,895.
Electrical system · 2026-03-13 · NHTSA complaint #11724179
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.
Service brakes · 2019-06-09 · NHTSA complaint #11218830
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.
Service brakes · 2015-05-12 · NHTSA complaint #10716004
Also, the view options did not work at all on some occasions, and the rear camera stopped working from time to time. The vehicle's panel displayed check system occasionally. The vehicle was not checked by the dealer.
Electrical system · 2006-11-29 · NHTSA complaint #10174737
Brake pedal goes lower than gas pedal. Can pump pedal back up and pedal feels normal. Brakes don't seem to be gripping as they should until pumping pedal. Dealer say this is within manufacturers specifications.
Service brakes · 2005-01-08 · NHTSA complaint #10105961

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

20051
20061
20151
20191
20261

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 14,282 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Land Cruiser has 7 complaints (43 years in the data). This year has 5, below average.

What to check before buying

Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Electronic stability control. ABS/ESC sensors, steering angle, codes after suspension repair.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, electrical system, electronic stability control. Total complaints: 5. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: brake failure (20%), rear-view camera (20%), rollaway, parking brake (20%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 2004 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.