2003 Toyota Highlander Owner 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.

NHTSA ID

11523925

Incident

May 8, 2023

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

NHTSA ID

11513146

Incident

Oct 1, 2022

PASSENGER WINDOW HAS HAD TO BE FIXED MULTIPLE TIMES. COMES OFF THE TRACK AND WILL NOT CLOSE. HAVE HAD INTERIOR DAMAGE BECAUSE OF IT

NHTSA ID

11374150

Incident

May 6, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID

11270240

Incident

Oct 1, 2019

Mileage

140,000 mi

HEAD ON COLLISION AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY SPEEDS 25-40 MPH

NHTSA ID

11268617

Incident

Sep 30, 2019

Mileage

126,000 mi

PAINT SEAL DELAMINATION

NHTSA ID

11265544

Incident

Oct 1, 2016

I WAS IN MOTION WHEN WE HIT A COW GOING 45MPH THAT JUMPED OUT AT MY HUSBAND AND I MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY THE CAR IS TOTALED WAS CITY STREET

NHTSA ID

11258297

Incident

Sep 17, 2019

Mileage

216,616 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON ICE, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED AND THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL LOCKED UP. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT AND CRASHED INTO A SNOW MOUND. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID

11172554

Incident

Jan 25, 2019

Mileage

200,000 mi

REAR FORWARD CONTROL ARM BROKE IN HALF UNDER NORMAL DRIVING. THIS IS A HOLLOW SHAFT, WHICH SEEMS INADEQUATE, AND CREATES A DANGER OF LOSS OF REAR AXEL AND OR WHEEL.

NHTSA ID

11169937

Incident

Jan 11, 2019

Mileage

122,200 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED AT HIGH SPEEDS WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.

NHTSA ID

11133071

Incident

Sep 19, 2018

Mileage

185,000 mi

THE HEADLIGHT LENSES ARE COMPLETELY FOGGED AND IMPAIRS DRIVING AFTER DUSK. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED

NHTSA ID

11081973

Incident

Mar 1, 2013

Mileage

100,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11076109

Incident

Feb 14, 2018

Mileage

66,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT FELT LIGHTHEADED AND CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INSURANCE LOT WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE BODY DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED FOR THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ID

11039265

Incident

May 28, 2007

Mileage

40,000 mi

SEAT BELT ON DRIVERS SIDE IS FRAYING ON THE EDGES. SPOKE TO OTHER TOYOTA HIGHLANDER OWNERS AND THEY ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THEY SAID WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A NEW SEATBELT AND INSTALLATION COST. I CONTACTED A FEW OTHER MANUFACTURERS AND WAS TOLD THAT DUE TO THIS BEING A SAFETY ISSUE THEY WOULD REPLACE AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. THE SEATBELT IS NOT MEANT TO WEAR OUT AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. THE SECOND ISSUE HAS TO DO WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS. REPLACED BULBS, FUSES AND CHECKED WIRING NO PROBLEMS YET THE BRAKE LIGHT DO NOT WORK. TOYOTA'S IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATES THAT THE CONSUMER CAN PAY $400 TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND IT STILL DOES NOT WORK.

NHTSA ID

11032815

Incident

Mar 11, 2015

"TAKATA RECALL" TRANSMISSION SLIPS IN REVERSE SURGE IN REVERSE AFTER SLIP

NHTSA ID

10991076

Incident

May 2, 2017

Mileage

175,000 mi

DRIVER SIDE VISOR IS LOOSE AND DROPS DOWN DURING DRIVING , OBSTRUCTING VIEW. IS NOT SAVE DURING DRIVING , VISIR CAN NOT HOLD POSITION UP

NHTSA ID

10990708

Incident

Apr 4, 2016

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 SERVICE CAMPAIGN RELEASE 12/6/2006, BUT MY 4 CYLINDER HIGHLANDER VIN DOES NOT SHOW UP ON YOUR LIST. NEXT WOULD BE A CLASS ACTION SUIT FOR LOST MONIES?

NHTSA ID

10985048

Incident

May 5, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, IT ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO EFFECTIVELY SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE GEAR SHIFTER BUTTON WAS PUSHED INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE SPED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. *JS

NHTSA ID

10939869

Incident

Dec 29, 2016

Mileage

150,000 mi

DURING A WRECK AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN I HIT AN UNMARKED UTILITY POLE IN THE ROADWAY OF A PARKING LOT EXIT.

NHTSA ID

10936022

Incident

Nov 21, 2016

Mileage

148,000 mi

DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR FALLS FROM THE UP POSITION DOWN INTO THE SIGHT PATH DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE DRIVERS FACE BLOCKING THE VIEW OF THE ROAD THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THIS IS DUE TO THE TENSION / RESISTANCE TO KEEP IT IN AN UP POSITION AGAINST THE HEADLINER DIMINISHING OVER TIME. OCCURS REPEATEDLY WITHOUT WARNING FROM ROAD TURBULENCE / BUMPS. SAME ISSUE IN THE TOYOTA CAMRY WHICH HAS BEEN RECALLED.

NHTSA ID

10885730

Incident

Jul 13, 2016

Mileage

100,000 mi

SATURDAY JUNE 18 2016 AT 6:40 A.M. DRIVING ON TULLY ROAD IN MY 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. MY SPEED WAS 35 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. I APPLIED MY BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN THE HIGHLANDER THIS HAD NO EFFECT ON SLOWING DOWN THE HIGHLANDER. THE BRAKES WENT INTO ANTI LOCKING MODE THE WHEELS STARTED TO PULSATE. WHILE THIS WAS HAPPENING MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR , BUT ON THE BRAKES. THE HIGHLANDER WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN BUT INCREASING SPEED. I DOWN SHIFTED INTO A LOWER GEAR, THE ENGINE RACED AT A HIGH RPMS. I THEN PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL THE RPMS STILL RACING AT A HIGH RATE. I THEN APPLIED THE BRAKES AGAIN TO SLOW DOWN. THE HIGHLANDER STARTED TO SLOW DOWN I THEN TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND THEN CAME TO A STOP. I WAITED FOR A MINUTE AND STARTED THE CAR THE ENGINE RACED AT A HIGH RPMS AS IF MY FOOT WAS PUSHED ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR, BUT MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. I WAITED AGAIN A FEW MINUTES TO START THE HIGHLANDER , THE SAME HIGH RPMS HAPPENING AGAIN. A FEW MINUTES LATER I TRIED AGAIN TO START THE HIGHLANDER AND THIS TIME THE HIGHLANDER IDLED NORMAL. I TURNED THE HIGHLANDER AROUND AND WENT HOME WHICH WAS HALF A MILE AWAY. THE TOTAL DISTANCE OF UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION WAS IN MY ESTIMATION OVER 1,000 YARDS. I HAD TO HIGHLANDER TOWED TO STEVENS CREEK TOYOTA WHERE IT REMAINS NOW JUNE 27 2016.

NHTSA ID

10877040

Incident

Jun 18, 2016

Mileage

156,160 mi

I HAVE BEEN THE OWNER OF MY 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, FOR ALMOST 8 YEARS. I GOT IT IN NOV.2008 AT AROUND THE 69,000 MARK. SINCE THEN, I HAVE MADE SURE THAT MY CAR/BABY HAS HAD THE WORKS IN CARE, TO KEEP THE QUALITY AND VALUE OF THE VEHICLE UP. THIS WOULD INCLUDE:OIL CHANGES, NEW BRAKES, NEW TIRES, REPAIRS OF BELTS/FILTERS ETC, HOSES, TUNE UPS, GREAT GAS AND CAR WASHES/BODY CARE. MOST OF THIS HAS BEEN DONE BY THE DEALERSHIP HERE IN CULVER CITY CA. I'VE DEPENDED ON THEM TO TELL ME WHAT WAS GOOD/BAD ABOUT MY CAR AND TRUSTED THEM IN DOING SO. I ALSO MADE SURE TO DO THE REPAIRS THEY SUGGESTED. SOMETIMES HOWEVER THEY SAID IT WAS FINE, BUT WOULD COME TO FIND OUT, I DID HAVE ISSUES. THIS MADE ME WONDER IF TOYOTA WAS TRUSTWORTHY/DOING THEIR JOBS RIGHT AND NOW I FEEL THE SAME LACK OF TRUST IN MY CARS PERFORMANCE /CURRENT STATE. I CAN SAY I HAVE ONLY PUT 50,000 MILES OR SO ON MY CAR IN THE LAST 8 YEARS, AND I KNOW TOYOTAS CAN/SHOULD LAST UNTIL 250,000 OR SO, WITHOUT MAJOR ISSUES. HOWEVER SINCE 2015 I HAVE DEALT, WITH ONE THING AFTER THE NEXT WITH THE CAR. MOST RECENTLY THIS PAST WEEKEND WHERE MY ENGINE COMPLETELY BLEW. HOW COULD A ENGINE BLOW OUT ON SUCH A WELL MAINTAINED CAR? WELL AFTER REVIEWING OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE, IT SEEMS THIS YEAR AND MODEL HAS THIS PROBLEM OFTEN, ONCE THEY REACH AROUND 110,000 MARK OR SO. WHY? IT SEEMS TO BE A FAULTY ENGINE /SOMETHING THAT SHOULD DEFINITELY BE RECALLED. WE AS CONSUMERS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SPEND THOUSANDS ON A CAR, THOUSANDS TO KEEP IT IN GREAT CONDITION AND THEN THOUSANDS WHEN ARE ENGINES FAIL AND THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED. OTHER MAY SIMPLY THINK THERE IS NO HOPE AND DON'T BOTHER. BUT I AM BOTHERED, BECAUSE NOW I AM WITHOUT A CAR. I DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS FOR THIS REPAIR. I HAVE A YOUNG CHILD AND WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR, THOUGHT IT WOULD LAST. I ALSO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH BRAKING/CARS PEDAL GOING INTO THE FLOOR! THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!! HELP!!

NHTSA ID

10861207

Incident

Apr 23, 2016

Mileage

129,000 mi

PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT KAISER HOSPITAL AS I HIT THE BRAKE THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED. THE CAR SPED FORWARD WHILE MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE. I HIT A TREE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FRONT AREA OF THE CAR (LIGHTS, FENDER, BUMPER) HAD CAR REPAIRED. AT THE TIME I THOUGHT THAT I HAD ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE GAS PEDAL;HOWEVER, ONE MONTH LATER WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, AS I STOPPED, THE SAME THING HAPPENED. LUCKILY NO CAR OR PEDESTRIAN WAS IN THE INTERSECTION. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BY SHIFTING INTO PARK. TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC. HE WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SINCE THIS UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION OCCURRED IN THE SAME WAY (COMING TO A STOP WITH FOOT ON BRAKE AND GEAR-SHIFT IN DRIVE) , IN A FIVE WEEK PERIOD, IT COULD BE A TRANSMISSION OR ACCELERATER PROBLEM. I NO LONGER FEEL CONFIDENT DRIVING THE CAR AND CONSIDER IT UNSAFE.

NHTSA ID

10820689

Incident

Jan 15, 2016

Mileage

95,268 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING A CRASH. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER LEFT FOOT. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,082.

NHTSA ID

10820081

Incident

Dec 31, 2015

Mileage

51,082 mi

WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN A STRIP MALL, ABOUT 10 FEET BEFORE THE PARKING BLOCK THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL HARD TO THE LEFT AND HIT THE BRAKES TO AVOID THE BUILDING. I DID HIT THE AWNING SUPPORTS AND CAUSED THE AWNING TO SAG. WAS ABLE TO FINALLY STOP THE CAR AND GOT OUT SAFELY. THE CAR LATER WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY.

NHTSA ID

10775419

Incident

Apr 27, 2015

Mileage

47,000 mi