2003 Toyota Highlander Problems, Recalls & Reliability
316 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2003 Toyota Highlander, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 55/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 108,000 miles.
Below average
Where 2003 sits among all Highlander years
What owners report
“Head bolts stripped in engine , 66k miles - coolant loss - all mechanics prefer to swap engine - toyota service shop by me quoted me 5,000 for an engine and 1 year warranty. The car is worth 8,000 tops. Heartbroken by this - will have to find a way to make repairs on my own and hope to drive again.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Highlander
“The headlight lenses are completely fogged and impairs driving after dusk. This is a safety issue and a recall should be issued”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Highlander
“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,…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Highlander
“Check engine light keeps reporting an issue and despite takata recall - spending thousands of dollars on coded repairs, the light comes back on. I have spent numerous dollars to replace cat converter, 2 sets of injectors, fuel pump, on and on......within 2 days, the light is back on. I saw a…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Highlander
“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.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Highlander
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 251 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 95,200 miles. Half of those reports fall between 62,000 and 125,249 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (2)
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…
Fix: DEALERS WILL SHORTEN THE CPL LEVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 7, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
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…
Fix: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH DIFFERENT STYLE LUG NUTS, A WARNING LABEL FOR THE SPARE RE/ALLOY WHEEL, AND AN OWNER'S MANUAL ADDENDUM.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2003 Toyota Highlander reliable?
The 2003 Toyota Highlander drew 316 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 55/100, scored against the model's worst year (2008).
What are the most common 2003 Toyota Highlander problems?
The top reported problems for the 2003 Toyota Highlander are engine (92 complaints), visibility & wipers (34), and brakes & stability (32).
At what mileage do 2003 Toyota Highlander problems show up?
Owners most often report 2003 Toyota Highlander problems around 95,200 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 62,000 and 125,249 miles.
Does the 2003 Toyota Highlander have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 2003 Toyota Highlander. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.