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
270 reports, newest first.
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
Structure, Jan 19, 2005
PAINFUL, DRUMMING NOISE WHEN REAR WINDOWS ARE OPEN. SEVERE VIBRATION WHEN IN DRIVE AT FULL STOP WITH BRAKE. *NM
Visibility, Nov 10, 2004
AUTOMATIC WINDOW LOCK MECHANISM CONTINUED TO GO UP AND DOWN WITH A SINGLE TOUCH. THIS ONLY HAPPENED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, AND FOR THE CONSUMER TO CALL TOYOTA. CONSUMERS MAIN CONCERN WAS THAT A CHILD COULD GET STRANGLED TO DEATH IF UNSUPERVISED. *AK
Visibility, Nov 3, 2004
WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND OFF. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION,MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Tires, Sep 7, 2004
I PURCHASE A NEW TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AUGUST 2003. HAD A FLAT TIRE 6 SEPTEMBER 2004. WENT TO GET THE TIRE REPAIRED AND THE TIRE DEALER FOUND A PATCH ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. DOT OF THE TIRE IS M65L B3DR 0603. THIS TIRE WAS INSTALLED ON A NEW VEHICLE WITH A PATCH. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY, MY WIFE'S SAFETY, AND MY GRANDCHILDREN'S SAFETY USING THIS METHODOLOGY. HOW MANY OTHER TIRE THAT I HAVE, HAVE PATCHES. I DON'T THINK THIS SHOULD BE ALLOWED. I FEEL IT IS A GRAVE SAFETY CONCERN. I AM PURCHASING A TIRE WITHOUT A PATCH BUT DON'T KNOW ABOUT MY OTHER TIRES. *AK
Vehicle speed control, Aug 27, 2004, crash
MY 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WHILE THE BRAKE WAS FULLY APPLIED AS I TURNED INTO A PARKING SPOT. LUCKILY, IT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS 60% OR SO INTO THE SPACE, AS I ONLY ACCELERATED INTO A BRICK WALL, NOT ANOTHER CAR OR PERSON. *AK
Tires, Aug 19, 2004
BRIDGESTONE, DUELER H/T, P225/70R16 TIRE HAD A BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL DISCOVERED AT DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. TOLD IT WAS DEFECTIVE. WENT TO BRIDGESTONE, IT TOOK THEM 5 MONTHS TO COME UP WITH A REPLACEMENT AND THEY THEN REFUSED TO WARRANTY. IT HAD 22,934 MILES.*AK
Visibility, Jul 26, 2004
WHEN DRIVING WITH THE THE WINDOWS DOWN THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE, AND IT INCREASED WHEN VEHICLE SPEED INCREASED. MANUFACTURE STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. IT WAS A DESIGN ISSUE, AND WILL NOT REPAIR IT UNLESS THEY WAS A LARGE VOLUME OF COMPLAINTS.*AK
Tires, Jul 16, 2004
GOODYEAR INTEGRITY PASSENGER CAR TIRES CAME ON MY 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SUV. LF TIRE BLEW OUT AT 11,350 MILES AS I WAS MERGING ON TO EXPRESSWAY. AUTHORIZED GOODYEAR DEALER COULD FIND NO EVIDENCE OF ROAD HAZARD DAMAGE TO TIRE. DOT M65L B3DR 2202 STAMPED ON TIRE.*AK
Fuel system, Other, Jun 17, 2004
GAS GAUGE BROKE, 2/12/04, 4/20/04 AND 6/11/04. WHEN YOU PUT GAS IN THE CAR THE NEEDLE WOULD NOT REGISTER. SERVICE CLAIMS THAT THEY KEPT FIXING IT FROM 2/12/04. *JB
Steering, Other or unspecified, Apr 27, 2004
1) VIBRATION WITH ONE OR MORE WINDOWS DOWN. 2) FRONT END PULLING TO ONE SIDE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS FOR SERVICING. TOLD AT THE DEALERSHIP OF PURCHASE NOTHING WAS WRONG. THEY REFUSED TO DRIVE IT ON THE FREEWAY AT FREEWAY SPEED TO DETERMINE IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM. BECAUSE THE SERVICE MANAGER ONLY DROVE THE VEHICLE ON CITY STREETS, PULLING DID NOT OCCUR. SECOND DEALERSHIP DROVE VEHICLE ON FREEWAY AND DETERMINED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM, STEERING, ALIGNMENT, TIRES AND BALANCE ARE ALL OK. DROVE VEHICLE HOME FROM SECOND DEALERSHIP, EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM OF PULLING. I MUST HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHT OTHERWISE THE VEHICLE WILL VEER OUT OF LANE. SPEEDS DRIVING RANGE FROM 50 TO 70 MPH. TOYOTA CORPORATE STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO SINCE TOYOTA SERVICE CENTERS DETERMINED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM-USELESS COMPLAINT PROCESS WHICH ONLY PROTECTS THE DEALERSHIPS. I'M TRADING THE VEHICLE IN FOR SOMETHING ELSE. I INTEND TO TEST DRIVE ANY VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY PRIOR TO PURCHASING.
Structure, Apr 25, 2004
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER: WITH ONE REAR WINDOW ROLLED DOWN, SLIGHTLY, THERE IS VERY PAINFULL NOISE THAT IS ALMOST UNBEARABLE WHILE DRIVING AT CITY SPEEDS (30-45 MPH). MANF. STATES THAT THIS IS COMMON IN SOME VEHICLES. IN THIS ONE IT IS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS SO TIGHTLE SEALED THERE IS NO PLACE FOR THE AIR TO GO THUS CREATING A PRESSURE DIFFERENCE. NOTICED ON 2ND ADAY AFTER DELIVERY. DEALER FAILED TO PROVIDE US WITH INFO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IN FACT THEY CLAIMED IF WAS THE FIRST THEY HAD HEARD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. NOW AFTER 10 MONTHS I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH, WITH ALL THE WINDOWS SLIGHLTY DOWN AND THE PROBLEM IS WORSE THANEVER. THIS IS A DESIN FLAW THAT TOYOTA HAS FAILED TO CORRECT. THIS GOING TO THE LAST TOYOTA OUR FAMILY WILL PURCHASE!!! CARL783@JUNO.COM. *AK
Equipment, Apr 16, 2004
I HAVE NOW HAD MY AIR CONDITIONER'S BLOWER UNIT GO BAD TWICE IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS. IN OCTOBER OF 2003, THE AIR CONDITIONER BEGAN MAKING A RATTLING NOISE AND WITHIN A DAY OR SO, THE BLOWER COMPLETELY DIED. THE TOYOTA DEALER LOOKED AT IT AND HAD TO ORDER A PART. A WEEK LATER, THEY REPLACED THE BLOWER UNIT.... NOW, THE EXACT SAME THING HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. THE RATTLING NOISE STARTED YESTERDAY AND TODAY, THE BLOWER IS COMPLETELY DEAD. I HAVE TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN! *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 3, 2004
A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF MY NEW 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, IT HAS DEVELOPED A PRONOUNCED "TICKING" SOUND WITHIN THE ENGINE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD MEAN THAT A PROBLEM IS DEVELOPING, AND IT IS ALSO AN ANNOYING SOUND IN AN OTHERWISE QUIET VEHICLE. I AM GOING TO REPORT THIS TO TOYOTA VIA THEIR WEB SITE. THIS VEHICLE COST ME ALMOST $35K AND I DO NOT FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM IS INSIGNIFICANT NOR SHOULD BE IGNORED BY THE DEALER. SHOULD I CHOOSE TO SELL THE VEHICLE, I WOULD SUSPECT THIS WILL SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THE PRICE I COULD ASK AND MAY EVEN PREVENT ME FROM UNLOADING IT ALTOGETHER. *NM
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 1, 2004
MY 2003 HIGHLANDER LIMITED 6-CYL. 4WD VEHICLE HAS A LOUD AUDIBLE CLICKING NOISE (SOUNDS LIKE VALVE LIFTERS TICKING) EMINATING FROM THE ENGINE SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW FROM PAGE TOYOTA IN JAN '2003. THE CLICKING NOISE IS ONLY PRESENT WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THE CLICKING NOISE IS ALWAYS AUDIBLE BUT THE VOLUME DECREASES AS THE VEHICLE REACHES NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE.THE CLICKING NOISE IS VERY LOUD WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD. THE CLICKING NOISE FREQUENCY INCREASES WITH INCREASING ENGINE RPM AND DECREASES WITH DECREASING ENGINE RPM. THE TOYOTA RED HOLMAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THE CLICKING NOISE IS NORMAL AND CAN NOT BE REDUCED OR ELIMINATED. *AK
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.
Power train, Feb 6, 2004
2003 TOYOTA LIMITED 4-RUNNER V8- AWDFRONT-END VIBRATION PROBLEM. I FIRST PRESENTED THE VIBRATION PROBLEM TO MY DEALER THE LAST WEEK OF AUGUST! THEY TRIED BALANCING THE WHEELS WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. THEY AGREED THE PROBLEM WAS THERE AND NOTIFIED CORPORATE. THEIR TECHNICAL STAFF HAD THEM REMOVE THE FRONT AXELS AND RETEST THE VIBRATION WHICH STARTED AT 22 MPH, WENT TO 32MPH 42, 55, AND 62MPH NOW DISAPPEARED! A WEEK LATER A TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE MET WITH ME AND MENTIONED THAT SEVERAL VEHICLES IN PHOENIX HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HE SUGGESTED IT PROBABLY WOULD TAKE ABOUT TWO MONTHS TO GET A FIX. TWO MONTHS LATER I TALKED TO THE TECH. REP. AGAIN AND HE MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINEERING GROUP HAD DETERMINED THE PROBLEM TO BE INTERFERENCES IN THE SPIDER GEAR ASSEMBLY IN THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL, THEY WERE TRYING TO CORRECT THE CONDITION WITH THRUST WASHER SHIMS AND OTHER THINGS. I HAVE PRESENTED MY CLAIM TO THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT GROUP. I HAVE CALLED THEM REGULARLY ONCE A MONTH AND HAVE HAD NO SUCCESS AT FINDING WHAT THEIR SCHEDULE IS FOR THE FIX,--ONLY TO SAY WE ARE WORKING ON IT AND YOUR DEALER WILL NOTIFY YOU. IVE SINCE HEARD FROM MY DEALER STAFF THAT THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF LEXUS GX470'S AS WELL AS 4-RUNNERS INVOLVED. IM BEGINNING TO FEEL THAT THEY HAVE SO MANY VEHICLES WITH DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLIES INVOLVED, THAT IT MAY REQUIRE SOME KIND OF MAJOR REDESIGN AND BUILD. IT MIGHT BE A LONG TIME BEFORE WE SEE A FIX! I HAUL A POP-UP TRAILER AND DOES IT MAGNIFY THE PROBLEM!*AK
Air bags, Feb 3, 2004
AIR BAG COMPUTER SYSTEM HAD A DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON, AND THE SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE COMPUTER SYSTEM.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 29, 2003
TWO MONTHS AFTER BUYING MY NEW 2003 HIGHLANDER IT DEVELOPED A LOUD TICKING IN THE ENGINE. TOYOTA TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS COMMON AFTER 3000 MILES OR SO BUT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, NOR COULD IT BE FIXED. I THINK THIS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE SINCE I HAVE HAD PASSENGERS ASK ME WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR.*AK
Equipment, Child seat, Dec 2, 2003
OWNERS MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS STATE THAT CONSUMER CAN PLACE A CHILD INTO THE CONVERTIBLE CHILD SEAT, FACING FORWARD FROM 20-30 LBS, UNDER A YEAR OLD. THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THE INSTRUCTIONS THE INFORMATION IS CORRECT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN INFORMED OF THE MIS PRINT.*AK *PH
Structure, Dec 1, 2003
UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN. AS NOTED IN SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS THIS VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY NON-DRIVABLE WITH WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN. THIS FACT IS NEVER MENTIONED TO ANY CUSTOMERS AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. I FEEL THAT IF ANYONE BUYING A VEHICLE FOR MORE THAN 30K SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO ANY SUCH DESIGN FLAW. EVEN WHEN ASKING THE DEALER, LATER ON, THE RESPONSE WAS THAT THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM. TOYOTA NEEDS TO CAREFULLY LOOK INTO THIS AS WITH WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN ON FREEWAY SPEEDS, IT CREATES ALMOST A LOW PRESSURE ENV WITHIN THE VEHICLE WITH EAR-ACHES FOR ALL PASSENGERS.*AK
Structure, Oct 7, 2003
WITH REAR WINDOWS LOWERED A DEAFENING BUFFETING VIBRATION OCCURS FROM THE AFT CARGO COMPARTMENT. WHEN THE SPEED IS INCREASED, THE BUFFETING INCREASES TO AN UNBEARABLE LEVEL. DEALER DID NOT DISCLOSE THIS INFORMATION PRIOR TO PURCHASE. *JB
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
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