1. Toyota 4Runner
  2. Problems
  3. 2004
  4. Service Brakes, Hydraulic

2004 Toyota 4Runner Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

17
Owner complaint records in our dataset

Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.

Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.

Among these 17 stored complaint records:

  • 0 indicate a crash
  • 0 indicate injury
  • 1 indicate fire

What owners report

  • brake pads · 5 records
  • both sides · 4 records
  • same thing · 4 records
  • front brake · 4 records
  • brake pedal · 4 records

Mileage in stored records

BandRecords
60–100k mi8
30–60k mi3
1–30k mi2
100–150k mi1
150–400k mi1

Complaint records

Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.

  • October 14, 2011 · 70,000 miles

    Service Brakes, Hydraulic

    I had a new brake pads and rotor's installed at 50,000 miles,at 70,000 miles i discovered that the front lower brake caliper piston had frozen. It was the same for both sides. Took it into the shop, and they said the same thing. Had to have the caliper, brake pads, and rotors, replaced on both sides for a total of $724. This is the same thing that has happened to many other owners, which can be found on www.t4r.org.…

    ODI 10432219

  • August 10, 2011 · 165,931 miles

    Electrical System · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Unknown Or Other

    The evening of 8/10/11 as i was leaving work, i turned the vehicle on and a high pitched alarm-type sound started; vsc light, brake lights came on. At this point, i asked a near by supervisor to take a look at the vehicle; upon inspection he did not find anything out of place. He test drove the vehicle around a couple of parking spaces as i watched. He stopped the vehicle and asked if i had been having brake issues.…

    ODI 10420152

  • April 12, 2011 · 105,000 miles

    Mechanical · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

    Had to replace right front caliper at 55,000 miles after it froze up after new pads were installed--it was done by a local garage by a former toyota tech.--had it checked by a toyota dealership at 57,000 miles and they said it was all good--still did not feel right--had it checked again by toyota dealership at 66,000 miles and they said it was all good again--at 94,000 miles still not working very well and had it…

    ODI 10395700

  • November 11, 2010 · 54,000 miles

    Service Brakes, Hydraulic

    Both front (left and right) caliper seized. Lower inside piston seized and would not retract. Replaced both calipers with re-manufactured parts from a1 cardone and less than 1 year and 5000 miles later both calipers have seized again creating wheel shake when braking above 40 mph. I am not the first owner of this vehicle and am not sure how many times in the past it has been an issue on this particular vehicle.…

    ODI 10430411

  • November 9, 2010 · 67,000 miles

    Service Brakes, Hydraulic

    Took my 4runner to be serviced and i was told that both front brake calipers had frozen pistons. Because only one piston worked, they damaged the rotors and worn out the pads unevenly. This is a car that always serviced by dealer according to toyota specifications with 67k miles. The job repair cost me $2000. Not only this extremely dangerous but also a very costly repair. *tr

    ODI 10365326

  • August 18, 2010 · 10,000 miles

    Service Brakes, Hydraulic

    2004 toyota 4runner brake calipers seem to seize at 10k miles. The boots on the pistons hold water, and during winter gather significant corrosion from road salt. Toyota replaces with the same part, but these fail in the same manner. *tr

    ODI 10351227

  • July 1, 2010 · 29,000 miles

    Service Brakes, Hydraulic

    Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota 4runner. While driving approximately 40 mph, the contact heard a loud rumbling noise. The vehicle was pulled over and the contact noticed the caliper on the front driver side was locked and extremely hot. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop where the caliper and brake pad on the front driver side were replaced. The failure mileage was 29,000 and the current mileage…

    ODI 10397359

  • May 25, 2010 · 73,989 miles

    Service Brakes, Hydraulic

    2004 toyota 4runner sr5, with just under 74k miles on it, has a frame with severe corrosion, and more importantly the front calipers had to be replaced due a ceased lower piston. I've talked to the dealer about all of these issues, but they can't do anything for me. I got the same story from the toyota customer service hot line. They blame the salt, but can't explain why its worse on the 4runner than other vehicles.…

    ODI 10334312

  • May 10, 2010 · 32,000 miles

    Service Brakes, Hydraulic

    Frozen pistons on inside front brake calipers. *tr

    ODI 10330312

  • May 5, 2010 · 79,664 miles

    Service Brakes, Hydraulic

    Brake pedal spongy, not stopping like it should ( extended stopping range) uneven brake pad wear smell of hot brakes when used hard. *tr

    ODI 10334520

  • April 23, 2010

    Service Brakes, Hydraulic

    I have a 2004 toyota 4runner sr5 v6. I have a constant issue with pistons on the front brake caliper seizing. This lowers the effectiveness of the brake system, and causes uneven wear on the brake pads. I have been able to dislodge the piston using a c-clamp and find that i have to replace the brake pads about every 6 months rather than the 2,3 to 4 year intervals on all other cars i have driven (including an older…

    ODI 10327206

  • February 15, 2010 · 85,000 miles

    Service Brakes, Hydraulic

    While driving i noticed that my front abs would not activate in an emergency situation. Braking distances became a lot longer. When i went to replace my front brakes, i discovered that the front lower brake piston had frozen. It was the same for both sides. Took it into the shop, and they said the same thing. Had to have the caliper replaced on both sides for a total of $750. This is the same thing that has happened…

    ODI 10383039

  • December 23, 2009 · 70,000 miles

    Service Brakes, Hydraulic

    Frozen front brake caliper resulting in brake part failure and brake pedal pulsating. Occurred again may 2010. This problem occurs with many toyota trucks. *tr

    ODI 10404316

  • August 20, 2009 · 66,000 miles

    Service Brakes, Hydraulic

    I was driving at about 35mph and had to start braking for a vehicle that was signaling a left turn. I notice the brakes did not feel normal and that the pads were not catching on the rotors. So i jammed on the brakes as hard and as far as they could go and avoided hitting the other vehicle by inches. I came home and decided to investigate and found that the front calipers inner 4 pistons were seized. I just changed…

    ODI 10281257

  • October 1, 2008 · 85,000 miles

    Electronic Stability Control · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

    While driving, noticed that the vehicle decelerated quickly when letting off the accelerator. Returned home and after exiting the vehicle found flames in the area of the left, front wheel. The brake rotors on both left and right front were glowing red hot. Root cause was found to be a yaw rate sensor failure caused a computer to apply the brakes and leave them applied while driving. *tr

    Fire reported

    ODI 10245508

  • March 1, 2006 · 50,000 miles

    Service Brakes, Hydraulic

    Tl*the contact owns a 2004 toyota 4runner. While driving any speed, the brake pedal and the vehicle vibrate and pulsate when the brake pedal is depressed. The dealer has not inspected the vehicle. The contact replaced the brake pads, however, the problem continues to persist. The current mileage is 65,000 and failure mileage was 50,000.

    ODI 10191959

  • November 20, 2004

    Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Suspension

    When stepping on brakes, pedal vibrates and gets very soft. Vehicles stopping distance is marginal at best. Rotors have been "cut" already with just 13k on the vehicles due to rust build up.boch toyota in norwood mass. Tells me that the brake issue is "normal" !! There is also a loud whining noise when applying the brakes. They tell me this is normal also ! Also, the tires had to be rebalanced at 13k as i was told…

    ODI 10105812

Catalog parts for this system

Catalog year/make/model rows for 2004 Toyota 4Runner.

Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.