2004 Ford Explorer vs 2004 Toyota 4 Runner
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2004 Ford Explorer | 2004 Toyota 4 Runner |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,304 | 66 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 109 | 40 |
| Investigations | 4 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 58 | 5 |
| Fire reports | 15 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 15–16 | 15–18 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 65,000 mi | 6,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Toyota 4 Runner |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 460 | 9 |
| Structure | 426 | 1 |
| Visibility | 100 | 2 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 71 | 18 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 76 | 4 |
| Electrical System | 55 | 2 |
| Steering | 41 | 6 |
| Engine | 44 | 0 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Hesitation / surging | 107 | 0 |
| Stalling | 103 | 0 |
| Shifting problems | 61 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 57 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 35 | 21 |
| Rust / corrosion | 33 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 14 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 13 | 0 |
2004 Ford Explorer
2004 Toyota 4 Runner
Compare all Ford Explorer vs Toyota 4 Runner years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.