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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

Visibility complaints

31 reports
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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

94,920 miles · Mar 22, 2014
Visibility

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR FLOPS DOWN, BLOCKING THE DRIVER'S VISION. IT WILL NOT STAY IN THE "UP" POSITION. WHEN IT FALLS DOWN, THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED TO PREVENT SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATHS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10574220

Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 2012
Visibility

THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR DOES NOT STAY UP, IT HANGS DOWN INTERFERING WITH VISION AND FALLS DOWN AS I DRIVE. I FEEL THIS IS A HAZARD TO VISION WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10466575

Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 2012
Visibility

THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP ALL OF THE WAY, IT HANGS DOWN AND AS I DRIVE IT FALLS ALL OF THE WAY DOWN. I FEEL THIS IS A HAZARD AS IT INTERFERES WITH VISION WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10466570

42,000 miles · Apr 24, 2012
Visibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR BROKE AND BLOCKED HER VISIBILITY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VISOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR BROKE AND BLOCKED HER VISIBILITY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VISOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000. UPDATED 05/24/12*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10456365

104,000 miles · Oct 2, 2011
Visibility

DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR WON'T STAY AGAINST WINDSHIELD - IT IS BLOCKING VIEW OF THE ROAD - A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10428184

100,000 miles · Aug 19, 2011
Visibility

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER VISOR DEFECT. FALLS DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND BLOCKS VIEW, REPLACEMENT COST IS $700. SHOULD BE RECALLED DUE TO DANGEROUS VISION OBSTRUCTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10420140

50,000 miles · Jun 1, 2011
Visibility

2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR DROOPS AND WILL NOT STAY UP. BLOCKS VISION AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD. SYSTEMIC PROBLEM ON ALL HIGHLANDERS. HAS BEEN A PROBLEM ON MY CAR SINCE ABOUT 2007. REPLACEMENT COST OF $750 IS RIDICULOUS AND PROHIBITORY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10404116

101,143 miles · Mar 25, 2011
Visibility

RIGHT PASSENGER WINDOW AUTOMATICALLY ROLLED ALL THE WAY DOWN AND THE ELECTRONIC CONTROLS FOR THE WINDOW FAILED TO WORK. WE WERE UNABLE TO CLOSE THE WINDOW. THIS OCCURRED DURING A WIND AND RAIN STORM RESULTING IN RAIN GETTING IN THE CAR AND A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR PASSENGERS IN THE CAR. LUCKILY, THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING AT THE T…

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RIGHT PASSENGER WINDOW AUTOMATICALLY ROLLED ALL THE WAY DOWN AND THE ELECTRONIC CONTROLS FOR THE WINDOW FAILED TO WORK. WE WERE UNABLE TO CLOSE THE WINDOW. THIS OCCURRED DURING A WIND AND RAIN STORM RESULTING IN RAIN GETTING IN THE CAR AND A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR PASSENGERS IN THE CAR. LUCKILY, THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING AT THE TIME OF THE OCCURRENCE. A MECHANIC DETERMINED THERE WAS A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE WINDOW REGULATOR MOTOR AND REPLACED IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10392933

30,000 miles · Jan 22, 2011
Visibility

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER VISOR DEFECT. FALLS DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND BLOCKS VIEW. REPLACED ONCE, BUT REPLACEMENT IS DEFECTIVE AS WELL. REPLACEMENT COST IS $700. SHOULD BE RECALLED DUE TO DANGEROUS VISION OBSTRUCTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10378252

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.