Toyota / Highlander / 2003
2003 Toyota Highlander problems
Owners have filed 316 complaints about the 2003 Toyota Highlander with NHTSA. Engine and engine cooling accounts for 16.1% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of engine at 13%.
Complaints316
Crashes43
Fires1
Injuries15
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Engine and engine cooling 16.1% · 51
Engine 13.0% · 41
Visibility 9.8% · 31
Vehicle speed control 8.9% · 28
Service brakes, hydraulic 7.0% · 22
Structure 5.7% · 18
Exterior lighting 5.1% · 16
Electrical system 4.7% · 15
Severity
Of those complaints, 43 describe a crash, 1 describe a fire and 15 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 23 model years of the Toyota Highlander in this data, 2003 sits 10th by complaint volume. 2019 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 12 in the last three years against 21 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 94,000 miles.
In owners' own words
Tl-* the contact owns a 2003 Toyota Highlander. While traveling 55 mph, the contact noticed that the temperature gauge was indicating that the vehicle was running hot. After examining the vehicle, the contact discovered coolant leaking from the rear of the cylinder block. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where z taps were installed inside of the engine. The current and failure mileage was 155,000. Engine and engine cooling · reported at 155,000 miles
2003 Toyota Highlander has head bolts stripped from block, causing fluid to slowly leak from engine and overheat. First symptom is ac blows hot air. Most folks who experience this burn up the engine, but I was fortunate and was able to have it repaired at a cost of $2750.00 !!!!! This is a clear defect, head bolts do not simply get stripped from a block. Engine and engine cooling · reported at 123,073 miles
2003 Toyota Highlander 4.0 Heater has gone out in this vehicle and only the a/c now works this happened right after the purchase of this vehicle and the cost to fix this is very high and should be dealt with per Toyota since it seems alot of others are also having the problem due to a faulty knob becoming loose and breaking a tiny wire. Engine and engine cooling
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…