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2003 Toyota Highlander

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Toyota Highlander do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 186.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

213 reports with mileage · 45 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

33 crash reports1 fire reports10 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

15 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 12, 2017
Electrical System

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,…

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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 ODI #10985048

215,000 miles · Nov 25, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes

DRIVER SIDE REAR BRAKES WILL NOT ILLUMINATE AFTER YOU DEPRESS YOUR BRAKES. REPLACED BULB AND SOCKET THAT HOUSES BULB AND WILL NOT WORK. CHECK ONLINE FOR SIMILAR ISSUES AND READ REPORTS OF 2002-2006 HIGHLANDERS HAVING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT SIDE REAR NOT WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10661004

215,000 miles · Nov 25, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes

DRIVER SIDE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE EVEN WHEN YOU DEPRESS YOUR BRAKES EVEN AFTER YOU REPLACE BULB AND LIGHT SOCKET. RIGHT SIDE REAR IS OK. I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AND IT APPEARS OTHER 2003-2006 HIGHLANDERS ARE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES. SOME ON RIGHT SIDE AND OTHERS ON LEFT LIKE MYSELF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10661001

94,000 miles · Oct 24, 2014
Electrical SystemVisibility

CLARIFICATION FROM PREVIOUS SUBMISSION (10/21/14)....... HEATING SYSTEM BLOWS COLD AIR INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE HEAT IS ON. THE SYSTEM WAS CLEANED, WORKED WELL TO A SHORT TIME. WITHIN TWO WEEKS THE PROBLEM RETURNED. THE MECHANIC NOTED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE HEATING CONTROL PANELS OF THE EARLY MODEL TOYOTA'S. SAFET…

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CLARIFICATION FROM PREVIOUS SUBMISSION (10/21/14)....... HEATING SYSTEM BLOWS COLD AIR INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE HEAT IS ON. THE SYSTEM WAS CLEANED, WORKED WELL TO A SHORT TIME. WITHIN TWO WEEKS THE PROBLEM RETURNED. THE MECHANIC NOTED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE HEATING CONTROL PANELS OF THE EARLY MODEL TOYOTA'S. SAFETY FACTOR: THIS IS HAZARDOUS IN THE WINTER, AS THE WINDOWS BECOME FOGGY RESULTING IN THE LIMITED VISIBILITY ESPECIALLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. ? ? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649560

136,500 miles · Aug 11, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

PARKING LIGHT IS NOT FUNCTIONING, WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10621582

64,699 miles · Jun 25, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes

RIGHT SIDE (PASSENGER) BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT LIGHT BRIGHT WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, DRIVER OF ANOTHER CAR ALMOST HIT OUR VEHICLE WHEN TURNING RIGHT ON TO MAIN ROAD. OUR CAR WAS STOPPING, BUT OTHER DRIVER DID NOT SEE OUR BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AS THEY WERE NOT WORKING... THE LEFT (DRIVERS) SIDE WORKS FINE, BUT WAS NOT VI…

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RIGHT SIDE (PASSENGER) BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT LIGHT BRIGHT WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, DRIVER OF ANOTHER CAR ALMOST HIT OUR VEHICLE WHEN TURNING RIGHT ON TO MAIN ROAD. OUR CAR WAS STOPPING, BUT OTHER DRIVER DID NOT SEE OUR BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AS THEY WERE NOT WORKING... THE LEFT (DRIVERS) SIDE WORKS FINE, BUT WAS NOT VISIBLE TO THE OTHER DRIVER. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH 2002-2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS, DEALER SAID NO RECALL WAS ISSUED? THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD BE FATAL. NOT TO MENTION THE COST OF A TICKET FOR HAVING A DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT. THERE ARE MANY OTHER TOYOTA HIGHLANDER OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH NO RECOURSE FROM TOYOTA. JUST GOOGLE "TOYOTA 2003 HIGHLANDER BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM" TIME TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR SAFETY ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10605937

100,000 miles · May 30, 2014
Electrical SystemFire

MY DAUGHTER HAD PARKED HER CAR AT THE SCHOOL PARKING LOT ON 5/27/2014 AT 7:02 AM , SHE WENT TO SCHOOL STAYED THE WHOLE DAY AT SCHOOL , SHE WENT TO DANCE PRACTICE AFTER SHE GOT OUT AT ABOUT 3:30 PM SHE HEADED TO THE PARKING LOT TO GO HOME, SHE SAID AS SHE WAS APPROACHING THE VEHICLE SHE HIT THE ALARM TO OPEN THE DOOR BUT THE ALAR…

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MY DAUGHTER HAD PARKED HER CAR AT THE SCHOOL PARKING LOT ON 5/27/2014 AT 7:02 AM , SHE WENT TO SCHOOL STAYED THE WHOLE DAY AT SCHOOL , SHE WENT TO DANCE PRACTICE AFTER SHE GOT OUT AT ABOUT 3:30 PM SHE HEADED TO THE PARKING LOT TO GO HOME, SHE SAID AS SHE WAS APPROACHING THE VEHICLE SHE HIT THE ALARM TO OPEN THE DOOR BUT THE ALARM DID NOT GO OFF, SO SHE CONTINED TO GET CLOSER TO THE CAR AND SHE COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING WHEN SHE OPENED THE DOOR TO THE VEHICLE A CLOUD OF SMOKE CAME OUT , SHE STARTED COUGHING AND COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED , SHE CALLED ME RIGHT AWAY HYSTERICALLY CRYING COULDNT EVEN TALK AND SHE WAS TELLING ME THAT HER CAR HAD BLOWN UP , I SAID WHAT YOUR CAR BLOW UP HOW COULD THAT BE ,I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE WAS TELLING ME HOW CAN YOUR CAR BLOW UP? I WAS LIKE WHAT THE HECK !! I TOLD TO HER HANG ON AND IF SHE WAS OK I WAS ON MY WAY TO HER, I CALLED MY HUSBAND AND TOLD HIM AND HE HAD THE SAME REACTION AS ME LIKE WHAT?? . WHEN I ARRIVED TO THE SCHOOL I COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT I SAW THE WHOLE DASHBOARD OF THE VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE CRACKED THE FRONT WINDOW GLASS, MELTED THE SUN VISORS AND THE WHOLE MIDDLE DASHBOARD WAS MELTED COMPLETELY. I HAD TO CALL THE POLICE AND FIRE I HAD NO CLUE IF THIS WAS GOING TO BLOW UP , WHEN THE FIREMEN CAME THEY WATERED IT DOWN AND LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THAT THERE WAS NO FOUL PLAY IT HAD LOOKED LIKE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE . WHAT COUD HAVE CAUSED THIS AND IMAGINE IF MY DAUGHTER WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THE FIRE OCCURED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10595013

90,000 miles · Mar 14, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

THE REAR LEFT BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT WORK DESPITE HAVING REPLACED THE BULB AND FUSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10569410

145,000 miles · Jan 11, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

WE HAVE HAD UNRELIABLE OPERATION OF THE DRIVER-SIDE BRAKE LIGHT FOR SOME TIME (APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE ABOVE WAS FOR MOST RECENT INCIDENT). WEB SEARCH TURNS UP NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH SAME SYMPTOMS - ONE EXAMPLE IS AT WWW.TOPIX.COM. SEVERAL REPORTING THIS PROBLEM REPLACED MAJOR COMPONENTS OF TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY ONLY TO HAVE…

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WE HAVE HAD UNRELIABLE OPERATION OF THE DRIVER-SIDE BRAKE LIGHT FOR SOME TIME (APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE ABOVE WAS FOR MOST RECENT INCIDENT). WEB SEARCH TURNS UP NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH SAME SYMPTOMS - ONE EXAMPLE IS AT WWW.TOPIX.COM. SEVERAL REPORTING THIS PROBLEM REPLACED MAJOR COMPONENTS OF TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY ONLY TO HAVE PROBLEM RECUR. A CALL TO TOYOTA ASKING ABOUT TSB OR RECALL YIELDS NOTHING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10559474

124,000 miles · Jul 13, 2013
Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes

I HAVE A 2003 HIGHLANDER. WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE, ONLY THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE TAIL/BRAKE LIGHT BECOMES BRIGHTER. WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON, THE BULBS ILLUMINATE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BUT THEY DO NOT GET BRIGHTER WHEN THE BRAKE IS PRESSED. WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE OFF, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I SAW THE …

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I HAVE A 2003 HIGHLANDER. WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE, ONLY THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE TAIL/BRAKE LIGHT BECOMES BRIGHTER. WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON, THE BULBS ILLUMINATE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BUT THEY DO NOT GET BRIGHTER WHEN THE BRAKE IS PRESSED. WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE OFF, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I SAW THE SAME PROBLEM TODAY ON A HIGHLANDER JUST LIKE MINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10524625

Official recalls

2

04V181000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Apr 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.

Consequence & remedy

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.

02V339000 · Wheels

Dec 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.

Consequence & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.