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: vehicle speed control
31 reports, newest first. Show all
Vehicle speed control, Mar 11, 2004, crash
WHILE THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD ABRUPTLY. VEHICLE JUMPED AN EMBANKMENT AND WENT THROUGH A FENCE. *AK
Vehicle speed control, Mar 9, 2004, crash
SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED. VEHICLE WENT UP A TWO FOOT EMBANKMENT AND THRU A CHAIN LINK FENCE. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED BY PLACING INTO PARK. THIS ALL HAPPENED WHILE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED FULLY.
Vehicle speed control, Sep 10, 2003
NAR 9-10-03. FOIA EMAIL FWD FM KOST/GC INQUIRING HOW MANY 2003 TOYOTA'S HAVE HAD A PROBLEM OF ACCELERATING WHILE THE BRAKE IS BEING APPLIED, ES HAVE NO RECORD. *CB
Vehicle speed control, Jul 16, 2003, crash
BACKING OUT OF GARAGE IN A HIGHLANDER AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY RACED W/O FOOT ON GAS PEDAL, CAUSING CONSUMER TO REACT BY APPLYING THE BRAKES. CONSUMER'S FOOT SLIPPED OFF BRAKE PEDAL AND LANDED ON THE ACCELERATOR RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE HITTING THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE. A 2003 CAMRY WAS SUPPLIED AS A RENTAL VEHICLE WHEN THE HIGHLANDER WASTAKEN FOR REPAIR. WHILE USING THE CAMRY, THE CONSUMER WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKE FOR A STOP SIGN AND INADVERTENTLY APPLIED BOTH THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL. CONSUMER RAISED HIS FOOT THEN REAPPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL (ONLY) AND WAS ABLE TO STOP BEFORE ENTERING THE INTERSECTION.
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
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Feb 15, 2003
CAR STALLS (GAS PEDAL DOES NOT RESPOND) WHEN TURNING INTO TRAFFIC. ALSO WHEN SLOWING TO A LOW SPEED AND THEN ACCELERATING. THIS HAS CAUSED US TO ALMOST BE HIT SEVERAL TIMES IN THE SIDE AND IN THE REAR. MOST OF THE TIME WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CAR WITH TIRE MARKS LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL COMES ON AND FLASHES. THERE IS NO WAY TO PREDICT WHEN THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF THE ACCELERATOR WILL HAPPEN. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE ALMOST EVERY TIME WE DRIVE. ALSO SOMETIMES WHEN YOU START THE CAR AND BEGIN TO GO YOU HEAR DINGING SOUNDS AND FEEL AND HEAR BUMPS AND GRINDING NOISES. 2 LIGHTS COME ON IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHEN THIS HAPPENS. 1 READS VSC TRAC AND THE OTHER READS TRAC OFF. IF YOU STOP AND RESTART THE ENGINE IT WILL EVENTUALLY STOP DOING IT. SOMETIMES THIS IS AFTER 1 RESTART AND SOMETIMES IT HAS TAKEN 5 AND 6. ON DAY IT WOULD NOT STOP NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU RESTARTED AND WE HAD TO DRIVE WITH LIGHTS ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 10 DIFFERENT TIMES.