Toyota Highlander Complaints (2003)

258 consumer complaints on file.

#10209817November 24, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AFTER ONLY 64,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER STARTED SKIPPING. WHEN I ACCELERATED, THE CAR WOULD JUMP/SKIP. THIS COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A WRECK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207905November 5, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204688October 2, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK MY 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AT A MCDONALD'S, AS I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKE AND ALMOST PARKED, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, JUMPED THE CURB AND CRASHED THROUGH THE ENTRANCE OF THE MCDONALD'S. I CONTINUED TO APPLY THE BRAKE WHEN THIS HAPPENED, AND IT WOULD NOT STOP. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204403September 28, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197531July 26, 2007
SEATS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TOYOTA IS PLACING NEW BRAKE PADS ON VEHICLES WHICH LAST LONGER, BUT GET SO HOT THAT THEY WARP THE VEHICLE'S ROTORS. SHE STATED THAT FORMERLY IT WOULD COST $60 TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS, BUT NOW IT COSTS $300, NOT INCLUDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE WARPED ROTORS. THE WARPED ROTORS CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT 60 MPH OR GREATER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 58,400. ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, DURING AN OIL CHANGE,THE DEALER CHECKED THE TIRE TREAD AND BRAKE PADS AND THE BRAKE PADS ARE OPERATING NORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS STILL SHAKING AT 50MPH BECAUSE THE ROTORS ARE DAMAGED DUE TO THE FRONT BRAKE PADS. THE DEALER AND MECHANIC STATED THAT THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE PADS DON'T WEAR AS FAST; HOWEVER, IT CAUSES FRICTION AND THE ROTORS TO WARP. THE FRONT BRAKES WERE REPLACED IN APRIL. THE DEALER STATED ON THE INVOICE THAT THE REAR BRAKES ARE OPERATING NORMALLY. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE IS A SEVER ISSUE CONCERNING THE SEATS. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS EXPERIENCED EXTREME HIP AND BACK PAIN FROM THE SEATS. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE CAN'T ADJUST THE SEAT ANYMORE, BECAUSE THEN SHE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REACH THE STEERING WHEEL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196119July 11, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188165April 17, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163757July 27, 2006
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
MY 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAS ONLY 20600 MILES ON IT. I HAVE NOTICED THAT ALL 4 BRIDGESTONE DUELLER H/ T P225 70R 16 TIRES ARE SO WORN OUT THAT I AM HAVING TROUBLE STOPPING IN THE RAIN. I AM GOING TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES BUT I BELIEVE THAT THIS OF CONCERN SINCE I DO MAINTAIN THE TIRES AT PROPER INFLATION AND THEY HAVE BEEN ROTATED AT LEAST TWICE. THE WEAR IS EQUAL ON ALL 4 TIRES. THIS TIRES WHERE RATED FOR AT LEAST 60,000 MILES AND TO ONLY GET A THIRD OF THAT AND THE EXPENSE IS TERRIBLE. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THIS ON OTHER HIGHLANDERS AND EVEN RAV4S. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153405March 22, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE CAR EVEN A THAT SLOW RATE. MY CAR HIT THE PARKED CAR IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THAT CAR AND ONLY MODERATE BUMPER DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. AT OTHER TIMES THE ENGINE SEEMS TO POWER UP WHILE DRIVING AND THIS MAY HAVE HAPPENED WHILE TRYING TO PARK WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152883March 16, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
1. NOTICE OR RECALL RECEIVED SSC 40B HIGHLANDER CHILD PROTECTION LOCK SYSTEM SAFETY RECALL 2. CONTACTED 2 TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AND THE NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AND WAS ADVISED THAT APPOINTMENTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE BUT CARS WERE TAKEN IN THE ORDER RECEIVED ON A GIVEN DAY WITH PRIOR DAYS CARS BEING SERVICED FIRST. 3. I ATTEMPTED TO SET AN APPOINTMENT AT THE CONVENIENCE OF BOTH DEALERSHIPS THIS WEEK, NEXT WEEK, NEXT MONTH OR EVEN TWO MONTHS AWAY WHEN I COULD TAKE MY VEHICLE IN AND HAVE THE 30 MINUTE (APPROXIMATELY) REPAIR COMPLETED WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME. I WAS TOLD THAT NO SUCH APPOINTMENT COULD BE MADE AND THAT I HAD THE CHOICE OF BRINGING THE CAR IN BETWEEN 7:00 A.M. AND 9:00 A.M. AND THAT IT WOULD BE DONE IN A HOUR AND A HALF TO THREE OR FOUR HOURS. TOYOTA IN THEIR RECALL NOTICE PROMISES "ANY TOYOTA DEALER WILL MODIFY THE CPL LEVER AT NO COST TO YOU IN AS CONVENIENT A MANNER AS POSSIBLE." IT FURTHER STATES "MAKE AN APPOINTMENT." *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148134January 19, 2006
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DT*: THE CONSUMER HIT A PATCH OF BLACK ICE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN; THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED THROUGH A STOP SIGN STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PRE-BRAKING WAS MINIMAL DUE TO THE ICY ROAD CONDITIONS. BOTH OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS AND SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. POLICE WERE ON THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE, BUT WAS NOT TOTALED DUE TO ASSESSMENT OF THE INSURANCE ADJUSTOR AND THE LACK OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN COLD TEMPERATURES, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM. *JB PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 03/03/06. *JB UPDATED
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10144772December 8, 2005
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
I HAVE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TOYO TRANSPATH-A11 TIRES ON MY 2003 HIGHLANDER. I HAVE 15000 MILES AND THE TIRES ARE WORN OUT. THE MAINTENANCE IS COMPLETE AND THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP INSPECTED ALIGNMENT AND SUSPENSION AND AIR PRESSURE..EVERYTHING WAS GOOD. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL TOYO TIRE DEALERS THAT THE EARLY WEAR IS BECAUSE THE A-11'S SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ON MY TRUCK BECAUSE THEY ARE PASSENGER TIRES, NOT SUV TIRES. TOYO STATES THAT THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IS CLASSIFIED AS A PASSENGER CAR AND NOT A SUV, THEREFORE TOYOTA SPECS A PASSENGER TIRE FOR THE HIGHLANDER. THERE IS A LOOPHOLE HERE THAT IS ALLOWING TOYOTA TO SPEC A TIRE THAT WILL WEAR OUT QUICKLY ON THE HIGHLANDER. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137824September 27, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, 4 CYL , AUTO TRANS. BETWEEN 25 AND 45 MPH, WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKE ON THE AUTO AND THEN PRESS THE GAS TO RESUME YOUR FORWARD TRAVEL, THERE IS A KICK (LIKE A LOOSENESS IN THE TRANSMISSION AND DRIVE SHAFT) FOLLOWED BY THE MOTOR REVVING AS IT SHOULD AND THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTING. I WENT TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME YES, THERE IS A LOOSENESS CAUSED BY THE FACT THAT THERE IS A LOT OF RUBBER CONNECTORS HOLDING THE DIFFERENTIAL AND DRIVE SHAFT ASSEMBLY TO THE VEHICLE FRAME. OVER TIME THEY HAD FATIGUED (31000 MILES). THE DEALER TOOK NO ACTION. I HAVE A REGISTERED A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA (200508090110). A FINAL END RESULT WOULD BE THE DIFFERENTIAL AND ATTACHED DRIVE SHAFT FALLING OFF THE AUTO WHILE IT IS IN MOTION CAUSING A SERIOUS INJURY OR FATAL CRASH. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136785September 16, 2005
TIRES
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 23,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HER TO CALL BRIDGESTONE, AND BRIDGESTONE SAID THEY DID NOT WARRANTED TIRES THAT CAME FROM THE DEALERSHIP. SHE HAS TO REPLACE THE TIRES TODAY. SHE REPORTED NOT NOTICING ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE TIRES PRIOR TO THIS. SHE MAINTAINED THE CAR WELL. SHE HAS THE TIRES ROTATED TO THE RECOMMEND ROTATIONS. THE RECOMMENDED PSI ON THE TIRES WAS 35. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133262August 17, 2005
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
THE LOCKING LUG NUTS ON THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WHEELS BREAK AND FRAGMENT WITH SHARP METAL SHARDS WHEN THEY ARE REMOVED WITH THE MATCHING LOCK LUG SOCKET AND 1 FOOT WRENCH WITHOUT ANY ABNORMAL TORSION. THE EQUIPPED LUG WRENCH IS EXACTLY 12 INCHES LONG (LEVER LENGTH). THE LUG NUTS WHEN BROKEN CANNOT BE REMOVED TO CHANGE THE TIRES. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE: ONCE ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE SECOND TIME WITH A NEW MATCHING SOCKET AND THE 12" WRENCH. THE ORIGINAL LOCKING LUG NUT HAD TO BE DRILLED OFF BY THE DEALER. THE PERSON APPLYING THE TORQUE WEIGHS 153 LBS. PATRICK VANSCHOYCK, M.D.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132280August 10, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
DT: 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE VEHICLE DIED WHILE GOING 70 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER. THE CONSUMER PULLED OUT THE FUSES AND STARTED THE VEHICLE. THEN, HE DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAD NO WARNING THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124936June 28, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
DT: THE CONTACT NOTICED WHILE STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT SHE REACHED OVER TO GET SOMETHING AND HIT THE GEAR SHIFT WITH HER HAND AND WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT PUSHING THE BUTTON ON THE GEAR SHIFT. HER CONCERN IS THAT IF THE CAR IS IN LOW DRIVE, SECOND GEAR OR NEUTRAL IT CAN BE SHIFTED, THIS DEFECT CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. CONTACT CALLED TOYOTA, AND THEY SAID THIS WAS A SAFETY FEATURE WHICH WAS MEANT TO DO THAT. CONSUMER WAS NEVER TOLD BY DEALER THAT THIS WAS A FEATURE OF VEHICLE. SHE BELIEVED THAT THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND WAS A SAFETY ISSUE.*AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE DOES NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE WITHOUT PRESSING THE BUTTON. *SB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118344April 24, 2005
TIRES:VALVE, TIRES
TIRES SLID DANGEROUSLY AT 35 MPH WHILE BRAKING, WITH 9000 MILES ON TREAD. 2 TIRE VALVES HAVE FAILED & HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH NORMAL PAVED ROAD DRIVING BY 62 YR OLD LADY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112368March 1, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE AN '03 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. BRAKES FAILED WHILE PARKING CAUSING ME TO CRASH INTO CEMENT RETAINING WALL. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO SLOW AND STOP. THERE IS BODY DAMAGE AND LEAKING FLUIDS AS A RESULT. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALER. BRAKES HAVE YET TO BE EVALUATED. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED BEFORE. ALTHOUGH THE CAR WAS MOVING SLOWLY I WAS INJURED UPON IMPACT. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10107550January 19, 2005
STRUCTURE
PAINFUL, DRUMMING NOISE WHEN REAR WINDOWS ARE OPEN. SEVERE VIBRATION WHEN IN DRIVE AT FULL STOP WITH BRAKE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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