2003 Toyota Highlander Engine Problems

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.

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.

THE ENGINE OVERHEATED SUDDENLY, BLOWING HOT AIR FROM THE AC AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT UP. WE MANAGED TO GET HOME AND GET TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC TOLD US THE ENGINE BOLTS STRIPPED DUE TO THE BLOCK BEING SOFT, AND THAT HE HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. THE ISSUE OF THE SOFT BLOCK WAS CONFIRMED IN A SUBSEQUENT SEARCH OF THE INTERNET. APPARENTLY TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS FLAW, BUT THERE IS NO WARRANTY REMEDY. THE 2003 INLINE 4-CYLINDER ENGINE IS THE MODEL WITH THE BOLT STRIPPING PROBLEM. NEITHER THE DEALERSHIP NOR ANOTHER JAPANESE AUTO REPAIR PLACE WOULD CONSIDER TRYING TO REPLACE THE BOLTS. THEY SAID THAT BECAUSE OF THE SOFT METAL IN THE BLOCK, A NEW SET OF LARGER BORED BOLTS WOULD BE UNLIKELY TO HOLD. THE COST TO PUT IN ANOTHER ENGINE IS APPROXIMATELY THE VALUE OF THE CAR, IF THERE WERE USED ENGINES AVAILABLE. A NEW ENGINE WOULD BE IN THE $15K RANGE, MUCH MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. WE WILL LIKELY SELL THE CAR FOR SCRAP. WHEN WE BOUGHT THE CAR, WE FELT WE COULD REASONABLY EXPECT A 250K MILEAGE LIFE. THE ENGINE FAILED AT 128K. JUST HALF OF ITS USEFUL LIFE.

NEEDED TO HAVE A TOTAL ENGINE REBUILD DUE TO FAULTY HEAD BOLTS THAT STRIPPED AND ALLOWED COOLANT TO ENTER THE ENGINE AND BURN. LUCKY-I GUESS-THAT I ACTED QUICKLY SO AS TO AVERT CATALYTIC CONVERTER ISSUES OR SENSORS GETTING DAMAGED BY BURNING COOLANT. I ALSO AVOIDED THE TOTAL LOSS OF ANTIFREEZE AND THE RESULTING DAMAGE &/OR INCONVENIENCE THAT THOUSANDS OF OTHERS HAD. STILL, A HUGE INCONVENIENCE AND HUGE $5425.82 COST DUE TO MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT: WEAK METAL THAT COULDN'T WITHSTAND THE TORQUE/PULL ON THEM... PERHAPS THE THREADING PLAYED A PART. I ONLY KNOW THAT 1000S UPON 1000S OF PEOPLE SUFFERED THE SAME ISSUE FROM TOYOTA ON THIS ENGINE IN SEVERAL YEARS/MODELS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. THERE SHOULD BE COMPENSATION. *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON THE MORNING OF FEBRUARY 23, 2015. WHITE SMOKE EMERGED FROM VEHICLE AS I WAS DRIVING. THEN, THE VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING. MECHANIC INDICATES HEAD GASKETS WERE BLOWN AND SHORT BLOCK SCREWS STRIPPED AND BENT, LEAKING COOLANT ON MY 4 CYLINDER 2003 HIGHLANDER. HE REPAIRED THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR THE PRIOR YEAR WITH THE SAME ISSUE. $69,000 FOR A NEW ENGINE. $44,00 FOR A REBUILT ONE. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY MECHANICAL ISSUES WITH THIS CAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT TWO YEARS OLD IN 2005. ALTHOUGH, I HAVE KEPT UP WITH THE SERVICING, THIS TYPE OF SUDDEN MALFUNCTION IS A SHOCKER. *TR

I'VE HAD MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER FOR ABOUT 11 YEARS NOW. I GOT IT AS BRAND NEW CAR AND I AM THE SINGLE OWNER AND WELL MAINTAINED CAR. AT ABOUT 138,000 MILES THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STARTED GOING UP , ALMOST TO RED. IT WOULD GO UP AND THEN DOWN TO NORMAL AND REPEAT. TURNED OUT I BLEW A HEAD GASKET. WHILE IT WAS AT THE SHOP BEING REPAIRED THEY FOUND THAT THE HEAD BOLTS WERE STRIPPED WHICH IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR ,MAKE AND TYPE OF ENGINE MY HIGHLANDER HAS. NOW THEY CAN IT WILL COST ME $4500 TO REBUILD THE ENGINE. REAL TOYOTA DESIGN PROBLEM, NEED ACTION AND SUPPORT FROM TOYOTA *JS

HEAD GASKET BOLTS STRIPPED OUT CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK AND LOSS OF CYLINDER COMPRESSION. THIS OCCURRED ON A TOYOTA 2.4 LITER ENGINE. THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE MODE ON THESE ENGINES DUE TO A DESIGN DEFECT. THE THREAD FATIGUES AT THE INTAKE SIDE OF THE ENGINE BECAUSE THE MANIFOLD IS PLASTIC AND THERE IS A RUBBER INSULATOR BETWEEN THE MANIFOLD AND BLOCK WHICH TRAPS THE HEAT IN THAT PART OF THE BLOCK AND FATIGUES THE ALUMINUM THREADS ON THE HEAD BOLTS. THIS HAPPENS ON MANY MODELS FROM 2001-2006 THAT UTILIZE THE TOYOTA 2.4 LITER ALUMINUM ENGINE. THIS IS A $2,500-$5,000 REPAIR. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS. I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY IN FIXING THIS DESIGN PROBLEM. ENGINES SHOULDN'T FAIL AT 100,000 MILES WITHOUT CAUSE SUCH AS OVERLOADING OR ABUSE. I DON'T HAVE A TOW PACKAGE AND HAVE GARAGED THIS VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO CAUSE AND EFFECT. THIS FAILURE I'VE COME TO LEARN IS COMMON FOR THIS ENGINE. *TR

CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS SEPARATED FROM LOWER ENGINE BLOCK CAUSING A MAJOR COOLANT LEAK (ENG:2AZ-FE) HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE WITH A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE ONLY TO HAVE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN FORCING ME TO ONCE AGAIN REPLACE ENGINE WITH A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE AND THEIRS 22 COMPLAINTS ON CAR COMPLAINTS WEBSITE FOR SAME ISSUE, TOYOTA IS REFUSING RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE RELEASED A PINK FLUID AS A GURGLING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION, WHO FOUND THAT THE ENGINE CYLINDER, BOLT HEAD AND THE THREAD WERE STRIPPED FROM THE CYLINDER BLOCK DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,900 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,500. UPDATED 6/17/14*CN THE ENGINE BLOCK AND VALVE WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 07/03/14

MY 4 CYLINDER ENGINE OVERHEATED VERY QUICK, VERY HIGH, CAUSING A GASKET TO BLOW. UPON REPAIRING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND GASKET, THE MECHANIC RAN INTO ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I'VE BEEN READING ABOUT HAPPENING TO OTHERS, THE THREADS ARE STRIPPED WHERE THEY HOLD THE ENGINE BLOCK. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE WRITING ABOUT HAVING THIS ISSUE FOR IT BE A RARE OCCURRENCE FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. THE COSTS ARE HIGH TO FIX AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO HELP RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS CONTACTED AND THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR BOLTS WERE STRIPPED, CAUSING RADIATOR FLUID TO LEAK. AS A RESULT, THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,000. UPDATED 11/12/13*CN

THE ENGINE WAS POURING ANTI FREEZE ON THE ROAD FROM THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE'S HEAD BOLTS WERE STRIPED CAUSING THE HEAD GASKET TO LEAK. THIS WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND EVEN SENT OUT A SERVICE BULLETIN BUT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL DUE TO THE SAFETY OF OTHER CARS ON THE ROADWAY. THE EPA SHOULD ALSO BE INVOLVED DUE TO THE HAZARDOUS MATERIAL BEING PLACED IN THE GROUND. *TR

HEAD GASKET FAILED, HEAD BOLTS STRIPPED, COOLANT LEAK, A/C BLOWS HOT. *TR

LEAK AT REAR OF ENGINE, UNDER INTAKE MANIFOLD. HEAD GASKET, OR WARPED HEAD. CYLINDER HEAD BOLT THREADS DAMAGED . TOYOTA SAID SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2AZ-FE ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT DAMAGED CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS. *TR

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

I TOOK MY 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER TO THE GARAGE AFTER I NOTICED THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK. IT HAD JUST GONE OVER 100,000 MILES AND WE BOUGHT IT NEW. I WAS TOLD THAT A HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN WHICH WAS DUE TO A DEFECT SINCE THE ENGINE DIDN'T OVERHEAT. THERE WEREN'T ANY ISSUES OTHER THAN THE FLUID LEAKING. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHER HIGHLANDER OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE (HEAD GASKET BLOWN, LEAKING COOLANT, AND STRIPPED BOLTS ON THE BLOCK). I CALLED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING THAT THEY ARE NOT TAKING ACCOUNTABILITY FOR A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR

ENGINE STARTED TO LEAK COOLANT FROM THE HEAD GASKET, AND AFTER A COUPLE DAYS WAS LEAKING ABOUT A GALLON A DAY. AT THAT POINT I STOPPED DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THEY SAID IT WAS LEAKING FROM THE HEAD GASKET BECAUSE THE HEAD BOLTS ARE STRIPED OUT. COST WOULD BE AROUND $5000 BECAUSE IT HAD TO BE STRIPED DOWN AND TAKEN TO A MACHINE SHOP TO BE FIXED. AND MORE THEN LIKELY IT WOULD NEED A NEW MOTOR BLOCK. I STILL HAVEN'T HAD THE CAR FIXED BECAUSE I CANT AFFORD TO SPEND THAT KIND OF MONEY RIGHT NOW. I HAVE DONE ALOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS AND SEEMS MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE 2003 HIGHLANDER. THIS FOR SURE IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE HIGHLANDER AND TOYOTA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE IT AND HELP RESOLVE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL. I WROTE SEVERAL LETTERS TO TOYOTA AND THAT IS BASICALLY THE SAME ANSWER I GOT EVERY TIME. *TR

MY 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER ( 2.4L 4-CYLINDER) DEVELOPED A COOLANT LEAK ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE ENGINE. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME IT HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND THAT THE BACK THREE HEAD BOLTS ARE COMPLETELY STRIPPED,ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. AFTER SOME RESEARCH ON THE COMPUTER I FIND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO GET TOYOTA TO STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR PROBLEM? *TR

DRIVING IN TOWN TRAFFIC, CAR OVERHEATED FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER HAVING THIS CAR. THOUGHT IT WAS PROBABLY A THERMOSTAT SO TOOK TO FIRESTONE, THEY CALLED AND SAID I HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET! AT ONLY 95000 MILES. I HAVE BABIED AND HAD EVERY SINGLE REGULAR SERVICE DONE TO THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS THE FIRST NEW CAR I EVER BOUGHT. I THOUGHT TOYOTAS WERE LONG LASTING VEHICLES. APPARENTLY NOT. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO COME UP WITH OVER $2000 DOLLARS TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I'VE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN TOWN THAT I BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEY ARE GOING TO CALL ME TO LET ME KNOW IF THEY AGREE WITH FIRESTONE'S ASSESSMENT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE HEAD BOLTS ARE ALSO STRIPPED IN THIS YEAR MODEL. I'M VERY UPSET THAT I COULDN'T PAY WHAT I PAID FOR THIS SUV (EXPENSIVE) AND HAVE IT EVEN MAKE IT TO 100,000 MILES. MY AMERICAN MADE CAR WENT TO 130,000 AND THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THE OPPOSITE. TOYOTA NEEDS TO PAY FOR MY REPAIRS TO THIS VEHICLE!! I AM THE ONLY OWNER AND I'M NOT BUYING TOYOTA AGAIN...I'M VERY SAD. *TR

ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2.4L 4-CYLINDER ENGINE, SERVICED BY TOYOTA DEALER AND LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CARE WHEN THE ENGINE TEMP SHOT UP. PULLED OVER AND TOOK CAR TO SHOP FOR DIAGNOSIS. --- MY REPAIR SHOP SERVICEMAN TOLD ME THE RADIATOR WAS ALMOST EMPTY, AND IT LIKELY HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET - A $2500 REPAIR BY MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. BUT WHEN HE WENT TO TAKE OFF THE HEAD, THE BOLT CYLINDERS CAME OUT TOO, ALMOST ALL WERE LOOSE AND APPARENTLY CAUSED THE LEAKAGE OVER TIME. HE DIDN'T HAVE THE TOOLING TO FIX THE BOLT SLEEVE ISSUE, AND I'D NEED A WATER PUMP, TOO. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS ONLINE OF THIS HAPPENING WITH THIS ENGINE. TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THIS TO RESTORE CONSUMER CONFIDENCE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE TEMPERATURE INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK BOLTS HAD STRIPPED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. *TR

ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2.4L 4-CYLINDER ENGINE, SERVICED BY TOYOTA DEALER AND LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. 4 MONTHS AGO IT WAS MAKING A FLUTTERING NOISE AND I HAD IT SERVICED, IT NEEDED AN OIL PAN GASKET, GOT A FULL OIL CHANGE, TOO. BUT APPARENTLY IT ALSO HAD A BAD WATER PUMP, AND HAD DEVELOPED A COOLANT LEAK, AND WAS BURNING OIL. -- WE NEVER NOTICED ANY WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT THE BACK, AND NO COOLANT TEMPERATURE VARIANCE, ALWAYS IN THE MIDDLE AFTER WARMING UP. WE NEVER GOT A LOW OIL LIGHT WARNING, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHILE DRIVING. --- THE SUV SHUT DOWN ON IT'S OWN JUST COMING OFF A HIGHWAY EXIT RAMP. I STARTED IT UP AGAIN TO PULL OVER A BLOCK AWAY AND THEN SHUT IT OFF. IT STEAMED UP, OVERHEATED. THE TOW SERVICE GUY COULDN'T RESTART IT. --- MY REPAIR SHOP SERVICEMAN TOLD ME THE RADIATOR WAS ALMOST EMPTY, AND IT LIKELY HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET - A $2500 REPAIR BY MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. BUT WHEN HE WENT TO TAKE OFF THE HEAD, THE BOLT CYLINDERS CAME OUT TOO, ALMOST ALL WERE LOOSE AND APPARENTLY CAUSED THE LEAKAGE OVER TIME. HE DIDN'T HAVE THE TOOLING TO FIX THE BOLT SLEEVE ISSUE, AND I'D NEED A WATER PUMP, TOO. SO FOR LESS THAN THE COST OF ALL THE REPAIRS, KNOWN AND POSSIBLE FUTURE PROBLEMS, LIKE RUST OR OTHER WORN INTERNAL PARTS, HE RECOMMENDED A REBUILT ENGINE, WITH HIGHER QUALITY STEEL BOLT SLEEVES, (THE WAY THE ORIGINAL ENGINE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE). HE INVESTIGATED AND ALERTED ME TO THE COMPLAINTS ONLINE, AND REMINDED ME TO KEEP THE REPAIR RECEIPTS. --- I AM DEVASTATED, AND HAD TO BORROW MONEY FROM RETIREMENT TO PAY FOR THIS, SINCE THE KELLY BLUE BOOK VALUE WAS STILL A FEW THOUSAND HIGHER THAN THE REPAIR COST. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW AND SERVICED IT WITH THE ANTICIPATION OF DRIVING IT FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER 50K MILES. IT NEVER HAD A SINGLE OVERHEAT PROBLEM, RAN LIKE A TOP, DRIVING ME BACK AND FORTH TO WORK 45 MIN AWAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 4/24/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED A MECHANIC ADVISED THAT 3 BOLTS WERE STRIPPED OUT OF THE BLOCK. IT COULDN'T BE REBUILT. THE MECHANIC ALSO ADVISED THIS WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM. REPLACING THE MOTOR IS NOT A GUARANTEE THE FAILURE WOULDN'T RECUR. UPDATED 05/21/2013 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE FLUCTUATED THEN INCREASED TO MAX. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE BOLTS WERE STRIPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2.4 L 4-CYLINDER ENGINE, 108,000 MILES, PERFECT SERVICE, UNTIL IT DEVELOPED COOLANT LEAK ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE TOP OF THE ENGINE, ADJACENT TO AN INSULATOR PAD AT THE BACK OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE BACK 3 HEAD BOLTS ARE COMPLETELY STRIPPED, ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DID NOT SEE ANY SMOKE OR STEAM COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO COOL BEFORE RESUMING OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE BOLTS WERE STRIPPED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT PROVIDED ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM THE FIRE WALL. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE DEALER TO SCHEDULE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BUT THE CONTACT COULD NOT GET A RESPONSE. THE CONTACT THEN CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE FAILURE AND THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND COOLANT ABNORMALLY LEAKED FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED REPLACING DUE TO THE HEAD GASKET NOT BEING ABLE TO BE REMOVED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 160,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED RED FLUID LEAKING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE HEAD BOLT ON THE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 105,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I WAS TAKING A SHORT DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY AND FIRST MY A/C STARTED BLOWING HOT AIR AND THEN THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. MY TODDLER WAS IN THE CAR AND I HAD TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD QUICKLY AND WAS STRANDED. IT WAS DANGEROUS AND SCARY. THE MECHANIC SAID THE HEAD GASKET BLEW AND THAT I HAVE TO GET A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE MATERIALS IN 2003 TOYOTAS THAT MEANS THE SCREWS WON'T STAY IN THE BLOCK. MY CAR WAS CAREFULLY MAINTAINED, SERVICED AND OIL CHANGES EVERY 3,000 MILES. THIS WAS A TOYOTA!, AND I WAS JUST GETTING BACK ON MY FEET WITH NEW JOB AFTER LOSING MY JOB, AND NOW I CAN'T DRIVE TO MY DIFFERENT JOB SITES -- AND BUSES CAN'T COVER WHAT I NEED. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW WHEN I WAS DOING BETTER FINANCIALLY AND THOUGHT THAT AS LONG AS I KEPT IT MAINTAINED, I'D HAVE 6 YEARS OR MORE LEFT OF A RUNNING VEHICLE. I AM JUST SHOCKED THAT TOYOTA WON'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECT, NOR WILL THE SERVICE MANAGER WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW EVEN OFFER ME A DISCOUNT ON THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE OR LABOR. HE SAYS THERE MUST BE A RECALL ORDERED FIRST. I'M A SINGLE MOM HOPING THAT TOYOTA IS MADE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ERROR, AND THAT I'M NOT LEFT WITHOUT A CAR UNTIL I CAN SAVE TO BUY A CHEAP USED ONE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING BETWEEN 65 AND 70 MPH WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED EMITTING COOL AIR AND STARTED EMITTING HOT AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 115,000. UPDATED 08/16/12*LJ THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE COMPLAINT DELETED. UPDATED 08/21/12

THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A FAMILY ROAD TRIP FROM CHICAGO, IL TO HAMILTON, ON, CANADA. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 7 HOURS INTO THE 8.5 HOUR TRIP, I NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEAR AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE RISE TO THE VERY TOP. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND ASSUMED THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH COOLANT TO KEEP THE ENGINE COOL, AS IT WAS A HOT DAY. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES, I RESTARTED THE CAR AND NOTICED THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE HAD RETURNED TO ITS NORMAL POSITION. I RE-ENTERED THE HIGHWAY AND WAS ONLY ABLE TO DRIVE FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES BEFORE I NOTICED THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE BEGIN TO RISE ONCE AGAIN. I EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND FOUND A CANADIAN TIRE STORE IN LONDON, ON, CANADA WHERE A MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND CONCLUDED THAT THERE WAS SOME SORT OF LEAK IN THE ENGINE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD BE ONE OF TWO VERY UNCOMMON PROBLEMS THAT WOULD BOTH COST A GREAT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO FIX AND WOULD MOST LIKELY EXTEND MY FAMILY'S STAY IN CANADA. WE WERE TOLD THAT WE COULD STAY IN LONDON AND HAVE A MECHANIC BEGIN WORKING ON THE VEHICLE THE NEXT DAY OR CONTINUE ON TO HAMILTON BY STOPPING EVERY FEW MILES TO REFILL THE COOLANT, AS WE WERE ONLY ABOUT AN HOUR AWAY. WE DECIDED TO CONTINUE ON TO HAMILTON AND STOPPED AROUND 5 TIMES TO REFILL THE COOLANT LEVEL. UPON REACHING HAMILTON, ON, CANADA WE FOUND A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO TOOK A CLOSER LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AND ITS ENGINE. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HIM ON FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2012 AND HE TOLD US THAT IT LOOKED LIKE AN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK. ON SATURDAY, JULY 7, 2012 THE MECHANIC INFORMED US THAT THE LEAK WAS IN FACT COMING FROM ONE OF THE 4 CYLINDER HEADS AS THE BOLTS ON THE ENGINE WERE STRIPPED. OUR ONLY OPTION WAS TO COMPLETELY REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO FIND A MATCHING ENGINE NEARBY AND COMPLETED THE REPLACEMENT BY TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012. WE RETURNED HOME TO CHICAGO THE VERY SAME DAY WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS ALONG THE WAY. *TR

I SAW A SMALL POOL OF A RED-BROWN LIQUID ON THE GARAGE FLOOR, UNDER THE ENGINE. I DROVE IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE THOUGHT IT WAS A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC CALLED THE NEXT DAY TO SAY THE HEAD BOLTS IN THE ENGINE BLOCK WERE STRIPPED AND THE CAR WAS UNDRIVEABLE. THIS REQUIRED AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. MY MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. THE MECHANIC HAD CHECKED ONLINE AND CALLED HIS ENGINE FRIENDS AND IT APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL. WWW.CARCOMPLAINT.COM DETAILS THIS PROBLEM WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR. MY 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAS BEEN VERY RELIABLE UP TO THIS POINT. WHEN I REPORTED IT TO TOYOTA, THEY STATED THAT THEY WILL NOT OFFER ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND THEY WILL LET ME KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS. I UNDERSTAND THE CAR IS OLDER AND IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND AM LETTING YOU KNOW BECAUSE THIS APPEARS TO BE A "DEFECT", RATHER THAN NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON A VEHICLE. THE TOTAL BILL FOR THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT, WITH GETTING A FEW OTHER PARTS REPLACED WAS $6,272.86. *TT

2003 HIGHLANDER , 2.4 ENGINE STARTED LEAKING ANTIFREEZE ON DRIVEWAY. PRESSURE TESTED OK. HEAD GASKET LEAKING DUE TO STRIPPED HEAD BOLTS. MECHANIC STATED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2.4 ENGINE. USUALLY BETWEEN 80,000 & 120,000 MILES. *TR REPAIR ESTIMATED AT $2000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE LOWER BLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 115,000.

2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER (4 CYL. ENGINE) DEVELOPED A COOLANT LEAK. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP WHO ADVISED THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING. WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $600. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME AND IMMEDIATELY FOUND TO STILL HAVE A COOLANT LEAK. DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED AND OWNER ADVISED TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK. DEALERSHIP CHECKED AND ADVISED THAT CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS WERE STRIPPED OUT AND THAT ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $5400. THE ENGINE NEVER LOST ENOUGH COOLANT TO OVERHEAT BUT THE ONLY REPAIR OPTION GIVEN BY THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE RATHER THAN REPLACING THE HEAD GASKET AND REPAIRING THE STRIPPED OUT THREADS TO HEAD BOLTS. SERVICE MANAGER SLIPPED UP BY SAYING THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE ENGINE BUT WHEN QUESTIONED FURTHER ABOUT THE PROBLEM HE STATED HE ONLY SEES IT "ONCE IN A BLUE MOON". THIS SEEMS TO BE A CONTRADICTION TO ALL THE OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOR THIS 4 CYLINDER ENGINE. TOYOTA ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN MARCH 2, 2011 FOR THE HIGHLANDER, RAV4, CAMRY, AND SOLARA WHICH STATES: THERE MAY BE DAMAGED CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO STATED HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND KNOWS HOW TO FIX IT (AND WILL GIVE A 2 YEAR 24000 MILE WARRANTY ON THE REPAIR). WHY DOES A VEHICLE DEFECT HAVE TO KILL SOMEONE BEFORE IT PROMPTS A RECALL. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A VEHICLE DEFECT AND IS STILL HAZARDOUS TO CONSUMERS IF THEY ARE SICK, ELDERLY, OR LEFT STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE KILLED EVERY YEAR WHEN THEY ARE STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STRUCK BY ANOTHER MOTORIST. (TOO MANY!) COME ON TOYOTA, DOES IT TAKE A LAWSUIT OVER SOMEONE'S DEATH FOR YOU TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM? *JS

THERE ARE TWO SPEEDS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS. IT WAS ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING BACK HOME WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT ABOUT 65 MPH. LATER, AFTER EXITING THE FREEWAY AND DRIVING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, THE RADIATOR HOSE BLEW OFF FROM THE PRESSURE, SHOOTING COOLANT AND CONTENTS OF THE RADIATOR BACK ONTO THE ENGINE (4 CYLINDER). I WAS GOING 40 MPH AT THE TIME. THE THERMOSTAT MUST NOT HAVE BEEN WORKING BECAUSE I WASN'T READING ANY OVERHEATING GOING ON, THOUGH THERE OBVIOUSLY WAS. AFTER GETTING IT DIAGNOSED, APPARENTLY THE BOLTS WERE STRIPPED, THE HEAD GASKET BLEW, AND THE ENGINE GOT TOO HOT. I AM NOW ASKED TO PAY ALMOST $3,000 TO REBUILD THE ENGINE (RETHREAD, ETC.). THIS THING WITH THE HEAD GASKET AND THE BOLTS FAILING AT RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE (114,000 IN MY CASE) SEEMS TO BE A RECURRENT PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR MAKE AND MODEL. I HAD BEEN DRIVING IT AND KEEPING IT WELL MAINTAINED FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS WITH RELATIVELY FEW PROBLEMS UNTIL THIS HAPPENED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE HEAD GASKET. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE BOLTS WERE STRIPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET AND THE BOLTS THREAD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 145,000.

ENGINE OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING, AND VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT AND COOLANT RESTORED. WHEN TAKEN TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER FOR REPAIR WAS INFORMED THAT BOLTS HOLDING ENGINE BLOCK HAD FAILED DUE TO THREADS INSIDE BLOCK BEING STRIPPED, AND COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM SEAL IN ENGINE BLOCK. ASIDE FROM HITTING A DEER ONCE (MINOR VEHICLE DAMAGE IN WHICH THE HEADLIGHT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED), THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. IN READING INFORMATION ON WEB, THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS. *TR

THE ENGINE ON THIS VEHICLE REQUIRED A COMPLETE REBUILD, AT A COST OF OVER $5000 DUE TO OIL LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE AND FOULING THE COMPONENTS. IN THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO THE COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE STALLED REPEATEDLY ON BOTH CITY ROADS AND HIGHWAYS, CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION SEVERAL TIMES. WHENEVER THE OIL WAS CHANGED, THE PROBLEM BECAME WORSE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD USE UP TO 4 QUARTS OF OIL PER WEEK FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. I CONTACTED TOYOTA'S CORPORATE OFFICE BY LETTER AND PHONE AND WAS TOLD THAT NO DEFECT EXISTED. TOYOTA IS CURRENTLY RECALLING EARLIER MODELS OF THIS VEHICLE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS EMITTING WHITE SMOKE FROM THE TAILPIPE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE THE ENGINE FAILED. EVENTUALLY, IT WOULD ONLY SUSTAIN A SPEED OF 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY THREE MECHANICS WHO ALL FOUND THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE IS USED TO TRANSPORT A HANDICAPPED PERSON, AND WAS ALSO USED TO TRANSPORT CHILDREN FREQUENTLY. IN ORDER TO SAVE THE MONEY FOR THE REPAIRS, WHICH I HAD TO MAKE BECAUSE I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON THE LOAN FOR THIS CAR, I HAD TO PURCHASE A VERY OLD AND INEXPENSIVE CAR TO GET TO WORK. THE TOYOTA SAT PARKED FOR 9 MONTHS BEFORE IT COULD BE FIXED. HAD I NOT BEEN ABLE TO BUY THIS SECOND CAR, I WOULD HAVE LOST MY JOB. I COULD NOT PUT MY DAUGHTER'S WHEELCHAIR IN THE OTHER CAR. SHE IS ABLE TO WALK ONLY FOR SHORT DISTANCES. THIS CREATED A SEVERE HARDSHIP AND ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO HER DEVELOPING A FOOT WOUND AND INFECTION OF THE BONE IN HER FOOT. THIS MEDICAL ISSUE REQUIRED 3 SURGERIES AND 5 HOSPITALIZATIONS, PLUS OVER 6 MONTHS OF IV ANTIBIOTIC THERAPY. I NARROWLY AVOIDED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS WHEN THE CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC. IF I WAS NOT SUCH AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER, IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY THAT A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD BOLT DETACHED FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE BEGAN RUNNING HOT AND WATER WAS LEAKING FROM THE BACK OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE HEAD BOLT WAS STRIPPED FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. SHE DROVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND WAITED FOR THE VEHICLE TO COOL OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN INSPECTED BY A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED HER THAT THE ENGINE BOLT WAS STRIPPED AND CAUSED THE COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 111,400.

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2.4L THAT HAD ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO 3 HEADBOLTS ON THE INTAKE SIDE OF THE HEAD BECOME LOOSE AS OTHER NUMEROUS FOLKS HAVE EXPERIENCED. THE ENGINE BLEW THE HEADGASKET AND LOST COMPRESSION/POWER AND DIED. THE SEEMS TO BE A VERY WELL KNOWN ISSUE BY TOYOTA, REPAIR SHOPS, AND SALVAGE YARDS. SEEMS SOMEONE SHOULD HOLD TOYOTA RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR COST - I.E NEW ENGINE SINCE THIS IS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING/ENGINEERING DESIGN FLAW. BEWARE OF HIGHLANDERS, CAMRYS AND RAVS SINCE THEY ALL HAVE THIS 2.4L ENGINE. *TR

CAR TEMP GAGE WENT UP PAST H AND THERE WAS NO HEAT IN CAR. I STOPPED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AT A MALL PARKING LOT AND CALLED SERVICE. HAD CAR TOWED TO GARAGE. PER OWNER OF GARAGE, THE HEAD GASKET LEAKED DUE TO BOLTS STRIPPING IN THE ENGINE. HE THEN FIXED THE PROBLEM AND THEN UPON TEST DRIVE THE TENSIONER FAILED AND CHAIN JUMPED CAUSING FURTHER REPAIRS TO NOT BE COST EFFECTIVE. THROUGH RESEARCH HE INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 HIGHLANDER ENGINES AND THAT TOYOTA IS NOT BACKING THE PROBLEM. I CALLED TOYOTA AND SINCE RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED THEY STATED THEY CANNOT HELP ME. I FEEL THE HIGHLANDER SHOULD HAVE LASTED MORE THAN 8 YEARS AS I HAD KEPT UP WITH REQUIRED MAINTENANCE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE CHECK ENGINE, ASC, AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS BEGAN ILLUMINATING ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE CONTROL AND THE WHEELS WOULD SPIN UNCONTROLLABLY WHILE ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE OXYGEN SENSORS FAILED. THE OXYGEN SENSORS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY. AFTER EACH FAILURE THE OXYGEN SENSORS WERE REPLACED AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 4.0 HEATER HAS GONE OUT IN THIS VEHICLE AND ONLY THE A/C NOW WORKS THIS HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE AND THE COST TO FIX THIS IS VERY HIGH AND SHOULD BE DEALT WITH PER TOYOTA SINCE IT SEEMS ALOT OF OTHERS ARE ALSO HAVING THE PROBLEM DUE TO A FAULTY KNOB BECOMING LOOSE AND BREAKING A TINY WIRE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE VEHICLE HAD A HEAD GASKET WATER LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN AND IT WOULD COST $2500 TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 126,000.

MY 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER'S TEMP GAUGE STARTED GOING TOWARD THE H WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH. I TURNED THE HEAT ON IN THE CAR AND THAT MADE THE GAUGE GO BACK DOWN TO NORMAL. I TOOK THE CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS TOLD MY HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN AND I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE FOR ABOUT $8000! I TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT TOLD ME THE ENGINE ITSELF WAS FINE BUT 3 BOLTS ON THE HEAD GASKET WERE STRIPPED. THE REPAIR IS COSTING AN APPROXIMATE $2500 TO RETAP THE HOLES AND USE DIFFERENT BOLTS. I HAD DONE SOME RESEARCH AND I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 HIGHLANDERS AND TOYOTA IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT (I HAVE THE WEBSITE INFO AND COMPLAINTS IF NEEDED). MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE PURCHASED THIS YEAR/MAKE/MODEL HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS REPAIRING THIS DEFECT THAT TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT BUT WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF. I CALLED TOYOTA NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY GAVE ME THIS WEBSITE INFORMATION TO FILE A COMPLAINT (I HAVE A CLAIM NUMBER IF YOU NEED IT). I AM VERY UPSET, ACTUALLY OUTRAGED, THAT HERE WE ARE AGAIN FINDING OUT THAT TOYOTA HAS MORE ISSUES WITH THEIR VEHICLES AND WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE I THOUGHT TOYOTAS WERE RELIABLE. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AND HELP ALL OF US WHO BOUGHT THE 2003 HIGHLANDERS RECOVER THE MONEY WE HAVE SPENT ON REPAIRS TO AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECTIVE PART USAGE. THANK YOU! *TR

2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH 110,000 MILES STARTED TO OVERHEAT AND LOSE COOLANT. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND LEARNED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS HAD COME LOOSE DUE TO THE HOLES IN THE BLOCK BEING STRIPPED. TOYOTA ESTIMATED $3000 TO TAKE THE BLOCK OUT TO A MACHINIST TO BORE NEW HOLES, BUT IF THAT DIDN'T WORK IT WOULD COST $6000 TO REPLACE THE BLOCK. I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO SAID IT WOULD COST $9600 TO TAKE OUT THE BLOCK AND SEND TO MACHINIST OR BUY A RE-MANUFACTURED ENGINE FOR $8200. THE PRIVATE MECHANIC STATED THIS PROBLEM IS DUE TO FAULTY MANUFACTURING OF THE ENGINE AND ALSO STATED THAT HE SEES THIS PROBLEM ALL THE TIME IN THESE TYPES OF VEHICLES. ON THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND CONSUMERS SHARING THE SAME STORIES ABOUT SIMILAR VEHICLES BY TOYOTA WITH SIMILAR ENGINES THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM; SOME ONLY LASTING 70,000 MILES. I PUT IN A CALL WITH TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS AND THEY GAVE ME A REFERENCE NUMBER IN CASE ANY RECALLS SHOULD ARISE. TOYOTA SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO OUT OF "GOOD FAITH" SINCE IT IS PASSED THE WARRANTY MILEAGE AND SINCE I DID NOT DO ALL MY SERVICING AT TOYOTA. I CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES AND TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF THIS VEHICLE AS IT WAS MY FIRST PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD LAST ME A LONG TIME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON SHE NOTICED HOT AIR BEGAN TO FLOW FROM THE VENTS. SHE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND SHUT OFF WHILE SHE ADDED COOLANT TO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN ENGINE LEAK AND SOME OF THE BOLTS WERE LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,171. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

THE COOLANT KEPT LEAKING ON MY HIGHLANDER 2003 4 CYLINDER FOR LAST FEW MONTHS. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ONE DAY SHOWED HEATING OF ENGINE. TOOK IT TO TOYOTA , THEY SAID IT IS BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DEMANDED $3500. *TR

2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2.4L 4-CYLINDER ENGINE, 108,000 MILES, DEVELOPED COOLANT LEAK ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE TOP OF THE ENGINE, ADJACENT TO AN INSULATOR PAD AT THE BACK OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE BACK 3 HEAD BOLTS WERE STRIPPED, ALLOWING COOLANT TO ALSO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE. THE TOYOTA DEALER SAYS THAT THE SHORT BLOCK OR ENTIRE ENGINE MUST BE REPLACED, WITH NO OTHER OPTION. THE HEAD HAD NEVER BEEN OFF SINCE ORIGINAL FACTORY MANUFACTURE/ASSEMBLY. BASED ON THE FREQUENCY OF IDENTICAL ENGINE FAILURES, FAULTY ASSEMBLY AND/OR DESIGN ASSURES EVENTUAL FAILURE OF THE ENGINE. *TR

2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAS HEAD BOLTS STRIPPED FROM BLOCK, CAUSING FLUID TO SLOWLY LEAK FROM ENGINE AND OVERHEAT. FIRST SYMPTOM IS AC BLOWS HOT AIR. MOST FOLKS WHO EXPERIENCE THIS BURN UP THE ENGINE, BUT I WAS FORTUNATE AND WAS ABLE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AT A COST OF $2750.00 !!!!! THIS IS A CLEAR DEFECT, HEAD BOLTS DO NOT SIMPLY GET STRIPPED FROM A BLOCK. *TR

TL-* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS INDICATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING HOT. AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED COOLANT LEAKING FROM THE REAR OF THE CYLINDER BLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE Z TAPS WERE INSTALLED INSIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

2003 4 CYLINDER TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. COOLANT LEAK AND SUBSEQUENT NEED FOR A NEW REPLACEMENT ENGINE DUE TO THE DEFECT OF 3 REAR ENGINE SHORT BLOCK SCREWS/THREADS. HAD LESS THAN 85K MILES ON VEHICLE, WHEN FOUND A COOLANT LEAK UNDERNEATH ENGINE BLOCK OF VEHICLE IN GARAGE AFTER HAVING NO ISSUES PRIOR WITH ENGINE, RADIATOR OR ANY ASSOCIATED ACCESSORIES TO THE COOLANT SYSTEM/ENGINE SYSTEM OF VEHICLE. TOOK TO A TOYOTA DEALER PRIOR TO ANY OVERHEATING OR VEHICLE OPERATION FAILURES OR RADIATOR FAILURE. TOYOTA DEALER PULLED ENGINE MANIFOLD AND COVER OFF TO INVESTIGATE AND FOUND THAT WHEN THEY PULLED THE THREE SCREWS THAT CONNECT THE ENGINE COVER THAT COVER THE HEADS/CYLINDERS, THE THREADS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SCREWS CAME WITH THEM. THE ONLY FIX PER DEALERSHIP DETERMINED TO BE A BRAND NEW SHORT ENGINE BLOCK AND ACCESSORY REPLACEMENT FOR $6,470. DATE ON THIS IS AUGUST/2010. HAVE ALL PAST SERVICE HISTORY OIL CHANGES/TRANSMISSION CHANGES, RADIATOR CHANGES, WATER PUMP SERVICE, ETC FROM 0 MILES TO CURRENT. TOLD THAT THE SCREWS WERE NEVER SPRAYED AND SEALED CORRECTLY, THUS CORRODED INTO THE THREADS AND CAUSED FAILURE WITH BOTH ITEMS. VERY UNHAPPY THAT AN ENGINE IS GOING TO BE PAID FOR AND REPLACED BY CONSUMER ON AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER ERROR. MORE AND MORE OF THESE SPECIFIC ISSUES WILL ARISE WITH TIME ON THESE 4 CYLINDER EARLY 2000 TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS. THEY WILL NEED TO RELIEVE THE CONSUMER OF A FULL PAYMENT OF A NEW ENGINE OR BURDEN THEMSELVES ON LOSING EVEN MORE LOYAL TOYOTA CONSUMERS. ----TOYOTA ONLY CONSUMER SINCE 1994.....TILL NOW!!!! *TR

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH ONLY 97,000 MILES THAT KEEPS "OVER HEATING". I HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD EXCEPT THE ENGINE. THIS PROBLEM STARTED AROUND NOV. 2009. I HAVE READ OTHER BLOGS THAT HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT AND IT APPEARS TO BE THE "BOLTS ON THE ENGINE ARE STRIPPED/DEFECTED" AND ALLOWS THE COOLANT TO LEAK OUT CAUSING OVERHEATING. ONE BLOG I READ STATED HE HAD THE "BLOTS" REPLACED AND THE NEW BOLTS ARE EXPANDING AND DOING THE SAME THING (OVER HEATING) AGAIN! I HAVE CALLED SEVERAL DEALERS AND SO FAR NO RECALL FROM TOYOTA TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH ONE DEALER SAID THERE IS A MEMO FROM TOYOTA REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, BUT NO RECALL! PLEASE HELP, I AM A SENIOR ON A FIX INCOME AND CAN NOT AFFORD THE COST OF A NEW ENGINE. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ALL OF US WITH THIS PROBLEM.....THANK YOU. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN HIS GARAGE WHEN HE NOTICED COOLANT LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A DEFECTIVE ENGINE BLOCK. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED COMPLAINTS PERTAINING TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000. UPDATED 01/24/11 *CN UPDATED 04/18/11

MY WIFE'S TRUCK BEGAN LEAKING COOLANT. I WAS TOLD THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. I PAID NEARLY $1600 FOR THE REPAIRS. A YEAR LATER, THE COOLANT IS LEAKING. WHEN THE HEAD WAS PULLED, THE THREAD STRIPPED OUT ON 3 BOLTS. I FOUND THE SAME COMPLAINT NUMEROUS TIMES ON THIS WEBSITE AND ON OTHERS. AT THIS POINT, THE OPTIONS ARE THREAD INSERTS THAT MAY WORK OR A NEW ENGINE! AT THIS POINT, I HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO GET HELP FROM TOYOTA. THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING TO DATE. *TR

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2003 2.4 LITER, BLOWN HEAD GASKET DUE TO STRIPPED THREADS ON THE SHORT BLOCK ENGINE. *TR

MY 2003 HIGHLANDER HEAT GAGE INDICATED THE ENGINE WAS STARTING TO GET HOT. I PULL INTO SERVICE STATION TO CHECK COOLANT LEVEL AND NOTICED COOLANT LEAKING ON THE GROUND. I WAITED FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES TO ASSURE MYSELF IT WAS SAFE TO TAKE OFF THE RADIATOR CAP. I COULD NOT SEE ANY COOLANT SO, I PURCHASED A GALLON OF PRE-MIXED COOLANT AND POURED IN ABOUT 1/2 TO 3/4 GALLON TO BRING IT UP TO FULL. I MADE THE TRIP HOME WITHOUT THE CAR GETTING HOT, BUT NOTICED THE LEAK WAS STILL THERE. I HAD THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT BY A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE CAR NEEDED MAJOR REPAIRS. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SUPPORT BULLITIN ON THE ENGINE IN QUESTION. A 2.4 LITRE (4 CYLINDER) ENGINE COMMON ON CAMARYS AND HIGHLANDERS. I FEEL TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE IN LIGHT OF THE FACT TOYOTA HAS KNOWN OF THE DESIGN DEFECT ON OTHER MODELS (CAMARY AND HIGHLANDERS). WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS THE SERVICE SCHEDULER KNEW EXACTLY WHAT PROBLEM I WAS DESCRIBING TO HIM ABOUT MY CAR. THIS INDICATED TO ME, TOYOTA HAS INFORMED THEIR DEALERS OF THE PROBLEM OR, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE SENT A SERVICE BULLITIN ON THE VERY FIX TO MY CARS PROBLEM. THE SERVICE BULLITIN DESCRIBED (3) HEAD BOLTS AROUND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WOULD STRETCH AND FAIL TO SEAL THE HEAD THUS, LEAK COOLANT. THE BULLITIN EVEN DESCRIBES INSTALLING HELI-COILS IN THE (3) AFFECTED BOLTS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THIS APPEARS TO BE ANOTHER FAILURE OF TOYOTA TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR KNOWN DEFECTS IN THEIR AUTOMOBILES. I BOUGHT AND PAID FOR THIS VEHICLE IN GOOD FAITH ON THE RELIABILITY RECORD OF THE TOYOTA COMPANY'S PAST RECORD. I NOW FEEL I HAVE BEEN TREATED UNFAIRLY BY THIS COMPANY. I WOULD UNDERSTAND IF THIS WAS AN ISOLATED OCCURANCE, BUT IT IS NOT AND TOYOTA KNOWS THIS FULL WELL. SERVICE BULLITINS DON'T GET SENT TO ALL DEALERS FOR A SINGLE OCCURANCE. PLEASE HELP !

VEHICLE SUDDENLY LEAKS ENGINE COOLANT TO THE OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY WARNING OF OVERHEATING. LEAK IS COMING FROM A DEFECTIVE HEAD BOLT AND CANNOT BE FIXED. ENTIRE ENGINE BLOCK NEEDS REPLACEMENT. A VERY COMMON ISSUE AMONG 4 CYLINDER 2001-2006 TOYOTA ENGINES IN THE CAMRY,HIGHLANDER AND RAV 4 LEAKING HARMFUL COOLANT TO THE OUTSIDE OF VEHICLES THAT IS DEADLY TO HUMANS AND ANIMALS IF CONSUMED. NOT TO MENTION OVERHEATING OF ENGINE THAT CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND VACUUM THAT SUPPLIES POWER TO STEERING AND BRAKES. *TR

FAULTY ELECTRONIC COMPUTER MODULE ON 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER THROWS MULTIPLE ERROR CODES TO INDICATE A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH EMISSION COMPONENTS. ERROR CODES CALL OUT OXYGEN SENSORS, (THERE IS FOUR SENSORS ON 2003 (4) CYLINDER HIGHLANDERS). FIX ONE SENSOR AND ANOTHER POPS UP BAD ACCORDING TO THE ERROR CODES. ANOTHER $400 REPAIR BILL ! TOYOTA WILL REPLACE THE MODULE ON CARS WITH WARRANTY, NO PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THEY DENY THERE IS ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE MODULE WHEN NO WARRANTY IS INVOLVED. CODES AT TIMES ALSO SHOW A FAULTY CATALYTIC CONVERTER ($1000 REPAIR BILL ). IF YOU VISIT THE TOYOTA NATION WEB SITE YOU WILL SEE MANY REPORTS OF THE COMPONENT AT ISSUE. THIS IS ON THE SAME VEHICLES AS THE ONE I OWN. SOME PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED TOYOTA CHARGES UNSUSPECTING CUSTOMERS $1600 TO REPAIR THESE FOUR SENSORS. ( NOT MY WORDS, TAKEN OFF THE TOYOTA NATION FORUMS). PLEASE DEMAND TOYOTA REPLACE THE MODULES ON THESE VEHICLES. THANK YOU ! *TR

1. ENGINE OVERTEMP 2. ENGINE CONTINUALLY RUNS HOT. CANNOT USE VEHICLE 3. REPLACED HEAD GASKET, RADIATOR, THERMOSTAT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. HE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED TO RESUME OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE REAR HEAD BOLTS AND A BLOWN HEAD GASKET WERE STRIPPED. ALSO THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED. THE TOTAL COST OF THE SERVICE REPAIR WAS $1,972. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,047. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/06/10. *LJ

THIS PERTAINS TO MY WIFE'S 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SUV, 4 CYLINDER ENGINE. ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2009, WHILE DRIVING SHE NOTICED THE TEMPERATURE GAGE ON THE DASHBOARD WAS HIGH. SHE DROVE THE CAR HOME AND CHECKED THE COOLANT LEVEL. IT WAS EXTREMELY LOW. SHE REFILLED THE COOLANT AND DIDN'T DRIVE THE SUV UNTIL SHE WENT TO HER APPOINTMENT ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2009 WITH THE HAWAII TOYOTA DEALER SERVCO'S MOTOR IMPORTS SERVICE & PARTS CENTER AT 609 SOUTH STREET, HONOLULU, HAWAII 96813. THEY TOLD HER THE ENGINE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. WE UNDERSTAND THIS IS BECAUSE THE CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS ARE STRIPPED ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE COOLANT LEAK IN THE FIRST PLACE. SERVCO TOLD US THAT THE SURE REPAIR (A WHOLE NEW ENGINE) WOULD EXCEED $20,000, AND THE LESS SURE REPAIR (TRYING TO FIX THE OLD ENGINE) WOULD COST $13,000. WE PICKED UP THE CAR THE NEXT DAY AND TOOK IT TO PRIAM'S AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE & REPAIR AT 2002 PAUOA ROAD. THEY DID A QUICK TEST AND SAID THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS INDEED BLOWN, AND REFERRED US TO ROD'S AUTO SERVICE AT 972 KAWAIAHAO STREET BECAUSE PRIAM'S WAS NOT EQUIPPED TO HANDLE THAT MAGNITUDE OF REPAIR. ROD'S HAS ADVISED US THAT THE BEST SOLUTION IS REPLACING THE ENTIRE ENGINE WITH A REBUILT ENGINE FOR $5,000, BUT THIS HAS BECOME A COMMON PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS AND LOCATING A REBUILT ENGINE ON THE MAINLAND WILL TAKE TIME. IN DOING SOME INTERNET RESEARCH, I'VE LEARNED THAT CAMRYS OF THE SAME VINTAGE HAVE ALSO DEVELOPED SIMILAR PROBLEMS, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO RECALL THE VEHICLES AND FIX THE DESIGN FLAW. HTTP://WWW.CAMRYFORUMS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?P=21539 TO DATE, THE VEHICLE REMAINS IN DISREPAIR. *TR

ENGINE OVERHEATED. SERVICE DEPT DIAGNOSED BAD HEAD GASKET. DISCOVERED STRIPPED THREADS IN THE BLOCK FOR TWO REAR HEAD BOLTS. SERVICE DEPT ATTEMPTED REPAIR WITH RETHREADED HELICOIL BUT WOULD NOT HOLD. ENGINE REPLACEMENT IS REQUIRED. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH A @AZFE MOTOR IN IT. THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THESE MOTORS STRIPPING OUT THE HEADBOLTSIN THE BACK OF THE MOTOR. I AM NOW IN A PREDICAMENT AS I HAVE TO GET A BLOCK WHEN I KNOW IT WILL MESS UP AGAIN AND TOYOTA HAS AS OF YET TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE NOISE CHANGED. TOOK THE SUV TO THE DEALER TO CHECK IT OUT, DEALER STATED THAT THE NOISE WAS OK AND RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO ME. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE LESS THAN 10 MILES RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER AND THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY ENGINE TEMP IN MY 4 CYL, 4WD 2003 HIGHLANDER SUDDENLY SPIKED HIGH. I HAD TO PULL OF THE ROAD. TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER SAID BOLTS ON SHORT BLOCK OF ENGINE WERE STRIPPED AND ALLOWED COOLANT TO LEAK OUT AND ENGINE OVERHEATED. I WAS AT 68,000 MILES, SO OVER THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY SAID I HAD A BAD WATER PUMP...I PAID TO HAVE THAT FIXED, BUT THE CAR STILL OVERHEATED. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY THEN SAID IT WAS THE ENGINE ITSELF..THE SHORT BLOCK, SOMETHING ABOUT THE SCREWS WERE STRIPPED, THAT I HAD GOTTEN A BAD ENGINE WITH STRIPPED SCREWS. DEALERS SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE ON SOME 4CYL 2003 HIGHLANDER BUT COULDN'T HELP ME AS IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY!!! THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED ME BACK LATER AND SAID THAT TOYOTA WOULD HELP OUT...I ENDED UP PAYING A TOTAL OF ALMOST $1000 FOR THE REPLACEMENT SHORT BLOCK, WITH TOYOTA PAYING THE REST OF THE COST FOR THE SHORT BLOCK REPLACEMENT. THIS WAS ON TOP OF THE COST I PAID JUST A FEW DAYS PRIOR FOR A WATER PUMP THAT TURNED OUT TO NOT BE THE ISSUE. VERY FRUSTRATING...I HAVE ALL MY RECEIPTS FOR MAINTENANCE AND FOR THESE REPAIRS. *TR I AM FILLING OUT THIS COMPLAINT OVER A YEAR AFTER THE INCIDENT, BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN THE SAME THING IN THE COMPLAINTS AND WANTED TO ADD MINE. I DO HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION FOR MY REPAIRS FOR THIS AND AM MORE THAN WILLING TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, THANK YOU.

THE SUV WAS OUT OF COOLANT & WATER AND MY HUSBAND TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO CHECK THIS PROBLEM AND FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE (THE CAR ONLY HAS RECEIVED SERVICE AT THE DEALER, EXCEPT FOR TIRES). THE DIAGNOSTIC WAS THAT THE SHOCK BLOCK HAS IT THREADS SEPARATED FROM THE SCREWS (OR BOLTS). THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO CHANGE THE SHOCK BLOCK. THE REPAIR HAS COST $4701.31, BECAUSE IT WAS ALSO RECOMMENDED TO CHANGE THE OIL PUMP. PREVIOUS TO THIS REPAIR, THE SUV WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THERE WAS A RECALL TO REPROGRAM ITS COMPUTER BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON (THIS HAPPENED TWICE). WE HAVE A FULL RECORD IN THE DEALER OF ALL MAINTENANCE CHECKS AND REPAIRS THE SUV HAD. *TR

ENGINE HEAD BOLTS ON 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER BECAME LOOSE; THREADS HAD WORN OFF ON 2 OR 3 BOLTS THAT HOLD THE TOP OF THE ENGINE TO THE MAIN ENGINE BLOCK. VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL-MAINTAINED; 87,000 MILES. REPAIR REQUIRES NEW ENGINE BLOCK AT COST OF $6,400. APPEARS TO BE MANUFACTURING DEFECT - ENGINE BOLTS SHOULD NOT COME LOOSE. TOYOTA REFUSES TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE IN REPAIR. VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND WAS TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. *TR

REPLACEMENT OF A CHARCOAL CANISTER ON A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. NO ACCIDENTS OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE REPLACEMENT OF THIS PART; HOWEVER, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF REPORTS OF HAVING TO REPLACE THIS VERY EXPENSIVE PART. ALSO IF THE PART IS A SAFETY HAZARD (MAY CAUSE AN ENGINE FIRE) IT SHOULD NOT BE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE OWNER. THE PART IS AN EMISSION CONTROL DEVICE THAT IS SURELY REQUIRED BY THE GOVERNMENT. THIS ACTION IS TAKEN BECAUSE I NOTICED, WHILE RESEARCHING CHARCOAL CANISTERS THAT TOYOTAS COME UP FREQUENTLY AS HAVING TO HAVE THIS TYPE REPAIR. AT THIS WRITING I AM UNABLE TO CONFIRM THE PART IS DEFECTIVE AS IT IS THE ORIGINAL PART THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE WHEN I PURCHASED IT BRAND NEW. THIS IS NOT A PRE-OWNED VEHICLE. *TR

MY CAR ENGINE IS FILLED WITH SLUDGE AND THE MANUFACTURER (TOYOTA MOTOR CORP.) WILL NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TWO TO THREE MONTHS LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE ENGINE. TOYOTA REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

SUDDEN RAPID INCREASE IN ENGINE TEMPERATURE. MECHANIC FOUND LEAK AT BACK OF HEAD GASKET. TWO BOLTS TO ENGINE BLOCK WERE LOOSE ENOUGH TO BE REMOVED BY HAND AND NEW BOLTS COULD NOT BE REINSTALLED DUE TO DEFECT IN THREADS. ONLY REPAIR SAID TO BE NEW ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY WELL MAINTAINED AND HAD 73,000 MILES. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD TICKING AND RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. SHE IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND THEY PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TEST INDICATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS SEPARATING FROM THE INSIDE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TOO MANY MILES TO BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 62,000.

2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER V6 4WD 45000 MILES. IT WA S ALREADY MORE THAN 2 YEARS I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM AS 'DESCRIBED IN NHTSA RECALL 100I0160 000- CONCERNING ACCESSORY DRIVE BELT SQUEAL/ BELT TENSIONER RATTLES. DEALERSHIP RESPONSE WAS THAT NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 100I0160 DIDN'T APPLY TO V6 HIGHLANDERS. *AK

1) NOTICED RADIATOR FLUID SLOWLY LEAKING UNDER BOTTOM (TOWARDS BACK OF ENGINE). HAD MECHANIC CHECK ENGINE, - WAS LEAKING AT BACK OF HEAD GASKET, TOOK APART ENGINE AND NOTICED 3 BACK BOLTS TO ENGINE BLOCK (HEADS) COULD BE REMOVED BY HAND. WHEN HEADS WERE FIXED COULD NOT INSTALL NEW BOLTS (WOULD NOT TIGHTEN) - MECHANIC SAID THERE IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT - NO THREADS. 2) CANNOT FIX ENGINE - NEED NEW ENGINE 3) TRYING TO GET TOYOTA TO PAY FOR REPAIR - IN PROGRESS WITH THEM NOW - NO RESOLUTION YET. *JB

A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF MY NEW 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, IT HAS DEVELOPED A PRONOUNCED "TICKING" SOUND WITHIN THE ENGINE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD MEAN THAT A PROBLEM IS DEVELOPING, AND IT IS ALSO AN ANNOYING SOUND IN AN OTHERWISE QUIET VEHICLE. I AM GOING TO REPORT THIS TO TOYOTA VIA THEIR WEB SITE. THIS VEHICLE COST ME ALMOST $35K AND I DO NOT FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM IS INSIGNIFICANT NOR SHOULD BE IGNORED BY THE DEALER. SHOULD I CHOOSE TO SELL THE VEHICLE, I WOULD SUSPECT THIS WILL SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THE PRICE I COULD ASK AND MAY EVEN PREVENT ME FROM UNLOADING IT ALTOGETHER. *NM

MY 2003 HIGHLANDER LIMITED 6-CYL. 4WD VEHICLE HAS A LOUD AUDIBLE CLICKING NOISE (SOUNDS LIKE VALVE LIFTERS TICKING) EMINATING FROM THE ENGINE SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW FROM PAGE TOYOTA IN JAN '2003. THE CLICKING NOISE IS ONLY PRESENT WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THE CLICKING NOISE IS ALWAYS AUDIBLE BUT THE VOLUME DECREASES AS THE VEHICLE REACHES NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE.THE CLICKING NOISE IS VERY LOUD WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD. THE CLICKING NOISE FREQUENCY INCREASES WITH INCREASING ENGINE RPM AND DECREASES WITH DECREASING ENGINE RPM. THE TOYOTA RED HOLMAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THE CLICKING NOISE IS NORMAL AND CAN NOT BE REDUCED OR ELIMINATED. *AK

TWO MONTHS AFTER BUYING MY NEW 2003 HIGHLANDER IT DEVELOPED A LOUD TICKING IN THE ENGINE. TOYOTA TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS COMMON AFTER 3000 MILES OR SO BUT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, NOR COULD IT BE FIXED. I THINK THIS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE SINCE I HAVE HAD PASSENGERS ASK ME WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR.*AK

CONSUMER IS LOOSING ENGINE POWER. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. PH