2003 Toyota Highlander — Known Issues & Recalls

Your airbags failed to deploy during a head-on collision at speeds between 25-40 mph. This is a serious safety issue, as airbags are designed to protect you and your passengers during crashes at these speeds. The airbag system will need to be diagnosed and repaired by a professional.

Your airbags failed to deploy during a collision at 45 mph with a cow on a city street, leaving your vehicle totaled. This is a serious safety failure that should have protected you and your husband during the impact. The airbag system will need complete inspection and likely replacement of the airbag modules and sensors.

You were driving at various speeds when you felt lightheaded and crashed your 2003 Toyota Highlander into a light pole. The airbags did not deploy during the crash, though fortunately you weren't injured. The vehicle was repaired for body damage at an insurance lot, but the airbag failure was never diagnosed or repaired by a dealer.

Your hood release cable inside the car doesn't work properly, and the backup hood latch is now stuck in the closed position and won't release. You're currently using a strap across the wheel openings to keep the hood from flying open while driving. The hood latch system needs to be repaired or replaced to restore normal operation.

Your driver's side sun visor is loose and drops down while you're driving, which can block your view of the road. The visor won't stay in the up position where it should be. Fixing this typically involves tightening or replacing the visor clip and hinge hardware.

Your passenger window keeps coming off its track and won't close properly, even after multiple repair attempts. This has caused interior damage to your vehicle. The window may need to be realigned, have its track repaired or replaced, or the regulator mechanism may need adjustment or replacement.

Your engine's head bolts are coming loose inside the motor, causing it to overheat and fail. You may notice your engine overheating quickly while driving, with water leaking from the side of the engine rather than steam from the tailpipe. The manufacturer is aware of this issue from a faulty manufacturing process. Fixing this will require the dealer to remove the cylinder head, inspect the bolts, and properly torque or replace them to secure them in place.

The bolts that hold your engine's cylinder head have become stripped at 66,000 miles, causing your car to lose coolant. Multiple mechanics have recommended replacing the entire engine rather than attempting repairs, with one Toyota service shop quoting $5,000 for a replacement engine with a 1-year warranty. Fixing this issue will likely require either an engine replacement or professional re-threading and installation of new head bolts.

Your transmission automatically disengaged while you were driving, causing the car to stop on the road. You had to call for help to get the car to safety. A repair shop diagnosed a broken transmission requiring a $6,500 repair, which your insurance company would not cover. The repair typically involves either rebuilding or replacing the transmission assembly.

While driving at 40 mph on ice, your power steering suddenly stopped working and your rear driver's side wheel locked up, causing your vehicle to spin out and crash into a snow mound. The airbags did not deploy during the crash. The exact cause of the steering failure wasn't determined. Repairing this will likely require a complete power steering system inspection and potentially replacement of the power steering pump or related components.

Your rear forward control arm broke in half while driving normally. The manufacturer used a hollow shaft design for this part, which may be inadequate. This creates a potential safety risk where your rear axle or wheel could be lost while driving.

While driving at 20 mph, your vehicle suddenly accelerated to high speed without you touching the accelerator. You were able to stop the vehicle and turn off the engine, bringing it under control. This unexpected acceleration could be caused by issues with the throttle system or electronic controls that manage engine speed.

Your 2003 Highlander accelerated on its own while in reverse, and the brakes didn't slow it down even though you pressed the pedal. When you shifted into drive, the vehicle sped forward and hit a tree. The airbags didn't deploy during the crash. This problem happened twice before the crash occurred. The vehicle was totaled and never repaired to identify the root cause.

Your airbags failed to deploy during a crash when you hit an unmarked utility pole while exiting a parking lot. This is a serious safety issue since airbags are designed to protect you during impacts.

Your headlight lenses have become cloudy and foggy, which significantly reduces how well you can see the road after dark. This makes driving unsafe in low-light conditions. The fix typically involves either polishing and sealing the headlight lenses or replacing them entirely.

Your driver's side seat belt is fraying at the edges, and other Toyota Highlander owners report the same issue. Your dealership wants you to pay for a new seat belt and installation, but you believe this is a manufacturer defect that should be covered under warranty. Additionally, your brake lights don't work even after you've replaced the bulbs, fuses, and checked the wiring, and Toyota is asking you to pay $400 just to diagnose the problem with no guarantee of a fix.

Your transmission may slip when you shift into reverse, and then suddenly surge forward with unexpected acceleration. This can make reverse driving unpredictable and potentially unsafe. The transmission may need to be inspected, serviced, or replaced to resolve the slipping and surging.

Your check engine light keeps coming back on even after you've spent thousands of dollars replacing the catalytic converter, fuel injectors, fuel pump, and other parts — the light returns within 2 days each time. You've noticed that Toyota issued a service campaign in December 2006, but your 4-cylinder Highlander's VIN isn't listed, leaving you frustrated about the repeated failures. The underlying issue likely involves a persistent engine sensor or emissions problem that needs proper diagnostic testing to identify the root cause rather than replacing individual components.

Your vehicle is experiencing multiple problems across the wheels, brakes, and engine. You're contacting NHTSA to inquire about potential recalls that might address these issues.

The paint seal on your vehicle is peeling or separating from the surface, causing the protective coating to fail. This can expose the underlying metal to moisture and rust. Addressing this typically involves sanding down the affected area and reapplying primer and paint to restore the protective seal.