2003 Toyota Highlander: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2003 Toyota Highlander: 2 recalls, 258 owner complaints and up to 22 mpg combined.
Recalls
2 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Wheels Vehicle recall #02V339000 · 2002 · 176 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Owners will be provided with different style lug nuts, a warning label for the spare re/alloy wheel, and an owner's manual addendum.
Latches & locks Vehicle recall #04V181000 · 2004 · 366,572 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Dealers will shorten the cpl lever. Owner notification began May 7, 2004. Owners should contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 1 mention a fire, 11 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine & cooling (46): the most common themes are leaks (22), overheating (14), stalls / loses power (7).
- Engine (41): the most common themes are leaks (21), overheating (15), fire / smoke (5).
- Visibility (wipers, glass) (31): the most common themes are electrical failure (3), stalls / loses power (2).
- Speed control / throttle (28): the most common themes are sudden acceleration (8).
The 2003 Toyota Highlander has 258 owner complaints, ranking #11 of 28 Highlander model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 205). Complaints peaked in 2010 (52 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 7 years old, at a median of 93,500 miles. Neighboring years: 2002 (301 complaints, 2 recalls), 2004 (286 complaints, 5 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 25 | 22 | Regular |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 17 | 22 | 19 | Regular |
| 3.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 21 | 18 | Regular |
| 3.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 21 | 18 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2003 Toyota Highlander.
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Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2003 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 vehicle recalls for the 2003 Toyota Highlander. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2003 Toyota Highlander problems?
Owners have filed 258 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine & cooling (46), engine (41), visibility (wipers, glass) (31).
What gas mileage does the 2003 Toyota Highlander get?
EPA ratings run up to 22 mpg combined (2.4 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 4 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2003 Toyota Highlander repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.