2003 Toyota Highlander
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine and engine cooling is the leading concern among 270 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 8th highest complaint count among 25 Highlander model years with reports.
Of the 2003 reports, 34 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 12 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Latches/locks/linkages, doors, latchApr 15, 2004
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE A CHILD PROTECTION LOCK (CPL) SYSTEM ON BOTH OF THE REAR SIDE DOORS. WHEN AN OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE CLOSES THE DOOR VERY HARD WITH THE CPL LEVER SET TO THE LOCK POSITION, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE LEVER MAY CONTACT THE BODY PANEL, CAUSING THE CPL LEVER TO MOVE INTO THE UNLOCK POSITION.
THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW THE DOOR TO BE OPENED WITH THE INSIDE WHILE THE OPERATOR BELIEVES THAT THE CPL WAS ACTIVATED. IF THE DOOR WERE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, AN OCCUPANT COULD FALL OUT AND BE INJURED.
DEALERS WILL SHORTEN THE CPL LEVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 7, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Campaign 04V181000 on NHTSA.gov
WheelsDec 17, 2002
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FIVE FACTORY ALLOY WHEELS (MODEL 6934 AND 6936), WITH FACTORY LLAT, AND WITH PORT INSTALLED WR4, FOUR ALLOY WHEEL UPGRADE PROCESSED AT THE JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA PORT AND DISTRIBUTED BY SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA, WHEN THE VEHICLES WERE PROCESSED AT THE PORT, AN ALLOY TIRE/WHEEL UPGRADE WAS INSTALLED. THE UPGRADE INCLUDED 4 ALLOY WHEELS. THE ORIGINAL SPARE TIRE/ALLOY WHEEL WAS NOT CHANGED. THE SPARE TIRE REQUIRES THE USE OF A DIFFERENT STYLE OF WHEEL NUT TO ATTACH IT TO THE VEHICLE.
IF THE SPARE TIRE/WHEEL IS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE USING THE WHEEL NUTS PROVIDED FOR THE UPGRADE ALLOY WHEEL, DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL COULD RESULT AND COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A LOOSE WHEEL.
OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH DIFFERENT STYLE LUG NUTS, A WARNING LABEL FOR THE SPARE RE/ALLOY WHEEL, AND AN OWNER'S MANUAL ADDENDUM.
Campaign 02V339000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: service brakes
34 reports, newest first. Show all
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 1, 2005, crash
I HAVE AN '03 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. BRAKES FAILED WHILE PARKING CAUSING ME TO CRASH INTO CEMENT RETAINING WALL. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO SLOW AND STOP. THERE IS BODY DAMAGE AND LEAKING FLUIDS AS A RESULT. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALER. BRAKES HAVE YET TO BE EVALUATED. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED BEFORE. ALTHOUGH THE CAR WAS MOVING SLOWLY I WAS INJURED UPON IMPACT. *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Aug 29, 2003
LTR FM WILLIAM LORBER (CA) CONCERNED ABOUT THE BRAKE PROBLEM ON HIS 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AND REQUEST TOYOTA TO REPLACE THEM.*MR CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES FELT AS IF THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS FAULTY. HE NOTIFIED THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY STATED THE BRAKES WERE "FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED." EVEN THE DEALERS SERVICE PERSONNEL SAID THE SAME THING AFTER HE ALMOST REAR-ENDED A VEHICLE AT 35 MPH WHILE TEST DRIVING THE HIGHLANDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER TO TRY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RESOLVED BUT IT WAS NOT. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD IF HE RETURNED AGAIN FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS, HE WOULD BE CHARGED A SERVICE CALL. ONCE AGAIN THE DIAGNOSES WAS "FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED." *PH THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE WERE SMALLER AND WITH THE ADDED WEIGHT IT WOULD TAKE LONGER TO STOP *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Aug 7, 2003
2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER'S BRAKING SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE DEFECTIVE.*MR THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A LEASE TERMINATION FOR THE 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN ACCORDANCE TO THE GEORGIA LEMON LAW. *CB *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Jul 16, 2003
CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE LOCATION OF THE BRAKE/GAS PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE. THIS RESULTED IN ACCIDENTAL ACCELERATION WHILE REVERSING.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 9, 2003
2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER BRAKES MALFUNCTIONING. NAR 07/09/2003.*MR THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT THE DEALERSHIP REIMBURSE THEM ALL EXPENSES DUE TO A FAULTY VEHICLE. *CB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 6, 2003
BRAKE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND IT DOES N'T STOP WHERE YOU NEED IT TO STOP I TOOK IT TO DEALER THEY INSPECT THE CAR FOR THREE HOURS AND TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T FIND ANY THING WRONG VERY DANGEROUS CAR. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 3, 2003
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE BRAKES, MASTER CYLINDER WAS FAULTY. *MR THE BRAKES FADED WHILE THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT THE BRAKES WERE FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT IF THE BRAKES WERE DESIGN THIS WAY. *SCC *NLM
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 5, 2003
BRAKES ON NEW 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLINDER ARE INCOSISTENT AND PROVIDE LIMITED STOPPING POWER. DEALER SAYS BRAKES ARE SMALL FOR THE SIZE OF THE VEHICLE, THEY OVERHEAT EASILY AND THEY HAVE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM CUSTOMERS. RETURNED VEHICLE 3 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING IT AND REQUEST ATTENTION. AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS AND COMMUNICATIOS TO THE DEALER AND TOYOTA, I WAS TOLD THE BRAKES DON'T WORK WELL, BUT THAT IS HOW THEY WERE DESIGNED. I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO LEARN TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AS THE BRAKES ARE DIFFERENT THAN OTHER VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ON DOWNHILLS.IT IS SO DANGEROUS THAT WE AVOID DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNLESS NECESSARY. IF WE ARE TAKING THE FAMILY ON TRIP THROUGH HILLS OR THE MOUNTAINS WE RENT ANOTHER VEHICLE AS I VALUE THE LIFE OF MY FAMILY.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 17, 2003
THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLES BRAKES WERE SOFT AND THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. NLM THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE BRAKES HAD GONE TO THE FLOOR AND JUMPED THE CURB. A WEEK BEFORE, THE CONSUMER NOTICED (2 OR 3 TIMES) WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE STOPPED BUT THE PEDAL SLOWLY WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE DEALER CURRENTLY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FINE. SCC