2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
316
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
4
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
The 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER has received a total of 316 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, WHEELS. 4 technical service bulletins have been issued by Toyota Motor Corporation for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine (41 complaints), Engine And Engine Cooling (26 complaints), and Vehicle Speed Control (24 complaints).
Recalls for the 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, potentially affecting up to 366,748 vehicles.
Recall 04V181000 — LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
| 366,572 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL SHORTEN THE CPL LEVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 7, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
View full details →Recall 02V339000 — WHEELS
| 176 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH DIFFERENT STYLE LUG NUTS, A WARNING LABEL FOR THE SPARE RE/ALLOY WHEEL, AND AN OWNER'S MANUAL ADDENDUM.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
316 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
Automatically disengage the transmission Stopped the road Icalled my husband Myhusband came and together we got the car to a safe place.Then Icame home with my husband and he called the insurance company and had the car towed. Ifound a place to fix the car and they said the transmission was broken and it cost about 6500 dollars.Icontacted the insurance company said they couldn’t help.The car was towed home and is not available.
Automatically disengage the transmission Stopped the road Icalled my husband Myhusband came and together we got the car to a safe place.Then Icame home with my husband and he called the insurance company and had the car towed. Ifound a place to fix the car and they said the transmission was broken and it cost about 6500 dollars.Icontacted the insurance company said they couldn’t help.The car was towed home and is not available.
The hood latch cable inside the vehicle when pulled did not allow the hood to open now the secondary hood latch is stuck in the closed position and will not release..I have to use a strap from wheel opening to wheel opening to keep my hood secure so when I am driving my hood won't open at high speeds
PASSENGER WINDOW HAS HAD TO BE FIXED MULTIPLE TIMES. COMES OFF THE TRACK AND WILL NOT CLOSE. HAVE HAD INTERIOR DAMAGE BECAUSE OF IT
2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 4 CYL. SERVICE BULLITON FROM THEM #310436. HEAD BOLTS COMING UNDONE INSIDE MOTOR CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF MOTOR. BOLTS NOT HOLDING DOWN MFGR KNOWS ABOUT THIS. WAS A MANUFACTURING PROCESS THAT DID NOT WORK. ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM THIS IS A RAMPANT PROBLEM REPORTED. READS ALMOST LIKE A PLAY BOOK ON HOW THE MOTOR OVERHEATS AND FAILS, TOLD HEADGASKET, AFTER OPENING UP THE MOTOR IT IS FOUND THAT THE HEAD BOLTS BACKED OUT. TOYOTA IS NORMALLY A GREAT CAR. I STILL OWE MONEY ON THIS CAR AND TOYOTA IS BASICALLY NOT TAKING CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS AND LEAVING US OUT TO DRY. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS. VEHICLE WAS DRIVING AND QUICKLY OVERHEATED. THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN A SHORT DISTANCE. EASILY CAN LEAVE ONE STRANDED. NO STEAM OUT THE TAILPIPE AND WATER GUSHED OUT SIDE OF MOTOR. DEALER LEFT MOTOR APART WHEN I WENT TO PICK IT UP AFTER BEING DRAGGED ABOUT. THEY PROMISED TO FIX IT AT FIRST AS THEY DUG INTO THE MOTOR THEY BACKED OUT OF THEIR WORD.
Safety Rating for the 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
Toyota Motor Corporation has issued 4 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
04105 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ECM CALIBRATION UPDATE. MIL ON DTC P0420 AND/OR P0430. *KB
4584B — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
'03 HIGHLANDER FRONT BRAKE REPAIR MANUAL CORRECTION. 00400-RM987-U2. *TT '02 HIGHLANDER. 00400-RM918-U2. *TT
00404 — STEERING:COLUMN
STEERING COLUMN SQUEAK NOISE. *MJ
EL01203 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON CONDITION WITH A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE B1140 OR B1141 STORED IN THE CENTER AIRBAG ECU MEMORY. *TT
NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
- 1998 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER — 1 complaint
- 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER — 158 complaints
- 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER — 335 complaints
- 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER (current)
- 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER — 335 complaints
- 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER — 289 complaints
- 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER — 344 complaints
- 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER — 159 complaints
- 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER — 501 complaints
Other TOYOTA Models
- TOYOTA CAMRY — 23,209 total complaints
- TOYOTA PRIUS — 15,411 total complaints
- TOYOTA COROLLA — 14,342 total complaints
- TOYOTA RAV4 — 11,737 total complaints
- TOYOTA SIENNA — 10,769 total complaints
- TOYOTA TACOMA — 10,512 total complaints
- TOYOTA TUNDRA — 8,997 total complaints
- TOYOTA 4RUNNER — 6,405 total complaints