Toyota Highlander Complaints (2003)

258 consumer complaints on file.

#10596995June 9, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10595013May 30, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY DAUGHTER HAD PARKED HER CAR AT THE SCHOOL PARKING LOT ON 5/27/2014 AT 7:02 AM , SHE WENT TO SCHOOL STAYED THE WHOLE DAY AT SCHOOL , SHE WENT TO DANCE PRACTICE AFTER SHE GOT OUT AT ABOUT 3:30 PM SHE HEADED TO THE PARKING LOT TO GO HOME, SHE SAID AS SHE WAS APPROACHING THE VEHICLE SHE HIT THE ALARM TO OPEN THE DOOR BUT THE ALARM DID NOT GO OFF, SO SHE CONTINED TO GET CLOSER TO THE CAR AND SHE COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING WHEN SHE OPENED THE DOOR TO THE VEHICLE A CLOUD OF SMOKE CAME OUT , SHE STARTED COUGHING AND COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED , SHE CALLED ME RIGHT AWAY HYSTERICALLY CRYING COULDNT EVEN TALK AND SHE WAS TELLING ME THAT HER CAR HAD BLOWN UP , I SAID WHAT YOUR CAR BLOW UP HOW COULD THAT BE ,I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE WAS TELLING ME HOW CAN YOUR CAR BLOW UP? I WAS LIKE WHAT THE HECK !! I TOLD TO HER HANG ON AND IF SHE WAS OK I WAS ON MY WAY TO HER, I CALLED MY HUSBAND AND TOLD HIM AND HE HAD THE SAME REACTION AS ME LIKE WHAT?? . WHEN I ARRIVED TO THE SCHOOL I COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT I SAW THE WHOLE DASHBOARD OF THE VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE CRACKED THE FRONT WINDOW GLASS, MELTED THE SUN VISORS AND THE WHOLE MIDDLE DASHBOARD WAS MELTED COMPLETELY. I HAD TO CALL THE POLICE AND FIRE I HAD NO CLUE IF THIS WAS GOING TO BLOW UP , WHEN THE FIREMEN CAME THEY WATERED IT DOWN AND LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THAT THERE WAS NO FOUL PLAY IT HAD LOOKED LIKE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE . WHAT COUD HAVE CAUSED THIS AND IMAGINE IF MY DAUGHTER WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THE FIRE OCCURED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10585539April 29, 2014
ENGINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10584350April 23, 2014
VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE SUN VISOR (DRIVER SIDE) SUDDENLY DROPPED DOWN AND OBSCURED MY VISION OF A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT AT AN INTERSECTION I WAS APPROACHING AND MY VISION WAS IMPAIRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583688April 19, 2014
ENGINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578625April 9, 2014
ENGINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574187March 22, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHER 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS ONLY THE RIGHT SIDE BRAKE LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574220March 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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10569410March 14, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE REAR LEFT BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT WORK DESPITE HAVING REPLACED THE BULB AND FUSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559714January 13, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE REAR RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT STOPPED BRIGHTENING UPON HITTING THE BRAKES AT FIRST. THEN A FEW MONTHS LATER, NEITHER BRAKE LIGHT IS LIGHTING UP AT ALL. I ALSO WITNESSED THE SAME ISSUE OCCUR ON ANOTHER 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559474January 11, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WE HAVE HAD UNRELIABLE OPERATION OF THE DRIVER-SIDE BRAKE LIGHT FOR SOME TIME (APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE ABOVE WAS FOR MOST RECENT INCIDENT). WEB SEARCH TURNS UP NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH SAME SYMPTOMS - ONE EXAMPLE IS AT WWW.TOPIX.COM. SEVERAL REPORTING THIS PROBLEM REPLACED MAJOR COMPONENTS OF TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY ONLY TO HAVE PROBLEM RECUR. A CALL TO TOYOTA ASKING ABOUT TSB OR RECALL YIELDS NOTHING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10556849December 20, 2013
ENGINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10552720November 18, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
GRANDMOTHER WAS LEAVING AND DROVE THROUGH A CLOSED WROUGHT IRON GATE THAT WAS OVER 10' TALL AND 16' WIDE. CONTINUED ACCELERATING THROUGH A PARKING LOT ACROSS THE STREET, DROVE OVER A LARGE DECORATIVE BOULDERS AND CAME TO HALT AFTER CRASHING INTO A NEIGHBORS FENCE. SHE SAID THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO STOP IN FRONT OF HER GATE TO OPEN IT BUT THE BREAKS WOULD NOT WORK AND THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING. THANKFULLY IT ENDED HOW IT DID LEAVING HER WITH MINOR INJURIES. IT IS ALSO DISGUSTING KNOWING THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE AND IF A CAR DEFECT IS THE REASON NOTHING WILL BE DONE UNTIL DEATHS BEGIN TO OCCUR. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10550530November 1, 2013
ENGINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10546389October 1, 2013
ENGINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10543031September 11, 2013
ENGINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10542655September 9, 2013
ENGINE
HEAD GASKET FAILED, HEAD BOLTS STRIPPED, COOLANT LEAK, A/C BLOWS HOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10533402August 3, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE
ON 7-11-13, GOING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON ROUTE 52 IN NORTH CAROLINA, THE THROTTLE BECAME STUCK WIDE OPEN CAUSING MY CAR TO ACCELERATE BEYOND MY CONTROL. I SLOWED DOWN TO GET OFF ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, BUT I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR, ONLY SLOW IT DOWN, TO APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MPH. GOT BACK ON THE ROAD AND TOOK THE NEXT EXIT. AGAIN I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR, AND THOUGH I SLOWED AGAIN TO ABOUT 10-15 MPH, I DRIFTED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AT THE STOP SIGN, WITH TRAFFIC APPROACHING FROM BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT! I TURNED SHARPLY LEFT, GOT OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND TURNED THE KEY OFF TO STOP THE CAR. GOD WAS WATCHING, BECAUSE NO COLLISION OCCURRED. WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN, IT ROARED LIKE I'VE NEVER HEARD IT BEFORE. SOMEHOW, I DON'T REMEMBER HOW, I GOT THE CAR ABOUT 100 YARDS DOWN THE ROAD TO A MARATHON GAS STATION, TO GET COMPLETELY OFF THE ROAD AND OUT OF THE WAY. A MAN STOPPED AND WALKED OVER TO ME, TELLING ME THAT MY THROTTLE WAS STUCK BECAUSE OF A FAULTY TPS (THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR). HE INTRODUCED HIMSELF AS A MECHANIC, WHO FORMERLY WORKED AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, AND SAID THAT WAS A ?KNOWN? PROBLEM WITH TOYOTAS. HE TOWED ME TO HIS HOUSE, REPLACED THE TPS, AND WE TESTED THE CAR, TO THE SATISFACTION OF BOTH OF US. IT RAN JUST FINE, SO I FOLLOWED HIM TO THE PNC BANK TO GET MONEY TO PAY HIM. WHILE THERE, THE LADY HELPING ME, IN RESPONSE TO MY STORY, TOLD ME THAT HER TOYOTA PARKED OUTSIDE HAD THE VERY SAME PROBLEM! EXCEPT IT COST HER A LOT MORE THAN MY TOW & REPAIR DID. MY INCIDENT WAS MOST DEFINITELY A PART FAILURE, NOT AN OPERATOR ERROR, OR A PROBLEM DUE TO FLOOR MATS, AS IS ALLEGED IN THE PENDING UNINTENDED ACCELERATION? LITIGATION AGAINST TOYOTA, AND MY 2003 HIGHLANDER IS NOT SPECIFICALLY LISTED IN THAT LITIGATION INFORMATION ON-LINE. I AM SENDING A LETTER TO TOYOTA, THE NTSB AND OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10532286July 29, 2013
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
I WAS BACKING MY CAR FROM ACROSS THE STREET. AFTER SHIFTING TO DRIVE, MY CAR JUMPED BACK IN REVERSED FULL SPEED CRASH IN TO MY GARAGE. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE BUT WOULDN'T STOP TILL IT HIT MY GARAGE WALL. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10524625July 13, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE A 2003 HIGHLANDER. WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE, ONLY THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE TAIL/BRAKE LIGHT BECOMES BRIGHTER. WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON, THE BULBS ILLUMINATE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BUT THEY DO NOT GET BRIGHTER WHEN THE BRAKE IS PRESSED. WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE OFF, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I SAW THE SAME PROBLEM TODAY ON A HIGHLANDER JUST LIKE MINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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