10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
78,720 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2003 Toyota Highlander:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #6

Jan 252019

Highlander

  • 200,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Highlander. While driving 40 mph on ice, the power steering seized and the rear driver's side wheel locked up. As a result, the vehicle spun out and crashed into a snow mound. The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's home. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The cause of the failure was not determined. The failure mileage was 200,000.

- Dexter, ME, USA

problem #5

Jun 082012

Highlander 6-cyl

  • 50,554 miles
Power steering lines to power steering pump at corroded and leaking.

- Catonsville, MD, USA

problem #4

Feb 122010

Highlander 4WD 6-cyl

  • 56,000 miles
2003 Toyota Highlander-limited (V6): Power steering pump fluid lines corroding and leaking fluid; thereby causing failure of pwr-assisted steering at any speed. In Jan-Feb 2010, my Highlander exhibited significantly reduced steering ease at intermittent periods. Highest safety risk occurrences were at (1) hwy speeds, and (2) city traffic speeds when accident avoidance handling was required. A dealer in frederick, md diagnosed the prob as thoroughly corroded pwr steering pump lines. They replaced the lines at my cost. The vehicle had only 56K miles on it.

- Mount Airy, MD, USA

problem #3

Nov 092009

Highlander

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Highlander. The contact was driving up an incline approximately 65 mph on wet road conditions. The vehicle began pulling to the right with an aggressive force. Suddenly, the vehicle traveled into the highway median. The police was called to the scene. The driver was able to resume operation. The vehicle sustained damages to the bumper. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for replacement of the front bumper. The failure mileage was 80,000. The VIN was unknown.

- Chesterfield, MO, USA

problem #2

Dec 052007

Highlander

  • 85,754 miles
The vehicle was being operated at about 30 mph when it suddenly veered to the left and crashing into a large boulder. The police report suggested it was a mechanical failure. I asked Toyota to do a forensic examination of the vehicle to avoid a similar occurrence on other vehicles as a similar incident at highway speed might have had very serious results. Toyota advised that they inspected the vehicle and "determined that all damage to the vehicle was the result of impact and not the result of any manufacturing defect."

- Washington, NH, USA

problem #1

Feb 172003

Highlander 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 10 miles
1) vibration with one or more windows down. 2) front end pulling to one side while driving at highway speed. Taken to two different dealerships on several occassions for servicing. Told at the dealership of purchase nothing was wrong. They refused to drive it on the freeway at freeway speed to determine if there was a problem. Because the service manager only drove the vehicle on city streets, pulling did not occur. Second dealership drove vehicle on freeway and determined there was no problem, steering, alignment, tires and balance are all ok. Drove vehicle home from second dealership, experienced the exact same problem of pulling. I must hold the steering wheel tight otherwise the vehicle will veer out of lane. Speeds driving range from 50 to 70 mph. Toyota corporate stated there was nothing they could do since Toyota service centers determined there was no problem-useless complaint process which only protects the dealerships. I'm trading the vehicle in for something else. I intend to test drive any vehicle on the freeway prior to purchasing.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA