TroubleCAR
68
Trouble

2003 Toyota Highlander

Complaints: 258Avg mileage: 86,227 miSince: Jan 2003
CrashFire11 injured

Problem Areas

Engine
41
Engine and Engine Cooling
26
Vehicle Speed Control
24
Visibility
19
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
15
Engine and Engine Cooling:Engine
14
Exterior Lighting
14
Electrical System
13
Structure:Body
11
Service Brakes
10

Complaints Over Time

Recent Complaints

AIR BAGS
126,000 miOct 15, 2019FORT PIERCE, FL
Crash1 injured

HEAD ON COLLISION AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY SPEEDS 25-40 MPH

AIR BAGS
216,616 miSep 26, 2019FRANKLIN, GA
Crash1 injured

I WAS IN MOTION WHEN WE HIT A COW GOING 45MPH THAT JUMPED OUT AT MY HUSBAND AND I MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY THE CAR IS TOTALED WAS CITY STREET

AIR BAGS
148,000 miDec 18, 2016WHITE PINE, TN
Crash1 injured

DURING A WRECK AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN I HIT AN UNMARKED UTILITY POLE IN THE ROADWAY OF A PARKING LOT EXIT.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
51,082 miJan 13, 2016BROOMFIELD, CO
Crash1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING A CRASH. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER LEFT FOOT. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,082.

SERVICE BRAKES
Nov 18, 2013ALBUQUERQUE, NM
Crash1 injured

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

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
Feb 18, 2011HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA
Crash1 injured

2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER SUBMITS DOCUMENTATION RELATED TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ISSUES WITH VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND SUBSEQUENTLY, CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE DIVIDER, STRUCK A PALM TREE AND THEN A METAL LIGHT POLE. EVEN AFTER THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV VERY FAST. IT FINALLY STOPPED A FEW SECONDS AFTER THE IMPACT. *JB

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
60,000 miMar 2, 2010MANHASSET, NY
Crash1 injured

CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN SLOWLY IN TRAFFIC. WHEN OTHER CARS STOPPED, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. INSTEAD OF STOPPING, THE CAR CONTINUED FORWARD, HITTING ANOTHER CAR. IT SEEMED AS THOUGH THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY TO HAVE THE BRAKES EVALUATED. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE REPAIRMAN SAW THOSE KIND OF ACCIDENTS ALL THE TIME WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. " YOU CANNOT HIT THEM HARD OR THEY WILL FAIL". *TR

AIR BAGS
67,000 miJan 19, 2006SCHUYLER FALLS, NY
Crash2 injured

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

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
36,232 miMar 1, 2005SEATTLE, WA
Crash1 injured

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

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
10,000 miAug 27, 2004MILL VALLEY, CA
Crash1 injured

MY 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WHILE THE BRAKE WAS FULLY APPLIED AS I TURNED INTO A PARKING SPOT. LUCKILY, IT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS 60% OR SO INTO THE SPACE, AS I ONLY ACCELERATED INTO A BRICK WALL, NOT ANOTHER CAR OR PERSON. *AK

STEERING
200,000 miJan 28, 2019DEXTER, ME
Crash

TL* 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.

AIR BAGS
40,000 miOct 24, 2017COPIAGUE, NY
Crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT FELT LIGHTHEADED AND CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INSURANCE LOT WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE BODY DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED FOR THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

AIR BAGS
150,000 miJan 5, 2017PITTSBURGH, PA
Crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, IT ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO EFFECTIVELY SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE GEAR SHIFTER BUTTON WAS PUSHED INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE SPED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. *JS

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
95,268 miJan 17, 2016SAN DIEGO, CA
Crash

PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT KAISER HOSPITAL AS I HIT THE BRAKE THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED. THE CAR SPED FORWARD WHILE MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE. I HIT A TREE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FRONT AREA OF THE CAR (LIGHTS, FENDER, BUMPER) HAD CAR REPAIRED. AT THE TIME I THOUGHT THAT I HAD ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE GAS PEDAL;HOWEVER, ONE MONTH LATER WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, AS I STOPPED, THE SAME THING HAPPENED. LUCKILY NO CAR OR PEDESTRIAN WAS IN THE INTERSECTION. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BY SHIFTING INTO PARK. TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC. HE WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SINCE THIS UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION OCCURRED IN THE SAME WAY (COMING TO A STOP WITH FOOT ON BRAKE AND GEAR-SHIFT IN DRIVE) , IN A FIVE WEEK PERIOD, IT COULD BE A TRANSMISSION OR ACCELERATER PROBLEM. I NO LONGER FEEL CONFIDENT DRIVING THE CAR AND CONSIDER IT UNSAFE.

STRUCTURE:BODY
47,000 miSep 23, 2015HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA
Crash

WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN A STRIP MALL, ABOUT 10 FEET BEFORE THE PARKING BLOCK THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL HARD TO THE LEFT AND HIT THE BRAKES TO AVOID THE BUILDING. I DID HIT THE AWNING SUPPORTS AND CAUSED THE AWNING TO SAG. WAS ABLE TO FINALLY STOP THE CAR AND GOT OUT SAFELY. THE CAR LATER WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY.

POWER TRAIN
77,867 miJul 29, 2013OVERLAND PARK, KS
Crash

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

POWER TRAIN
62,000 miMay 6, 2013SYLMAR, CA
Crash

ON APRIL 15, 2013 WHILE PARKING MY 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR ACCELERATED WHILE SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE WHILE I WAS PARKING. SUDDENLY MY CAR TOOK OFF WITH THE ENGINE FULL SPEED TO RED LINE ON THE TACHOMETER IN A SPACE OF FOUR FEET IT JUMPED THE PARKING BLOCK AND SMASHED INTO THE CENTER BLOCK WALL WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR WAS $2000.00. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY, BECAUSE I COULD HAVE BEEN HURT AND OTHER PEOPLE. I AM SCARED NOW WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR. *TR

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
85,000 miJan 1, 2013HOMOSASSA, FL
Crash

CAR ACCELERATED AND CHASED INTO HOUSE IN NOV 20011. CAR ACCELERATED IN PARKING LOT DEC. 2012. NO DAMAGE THIS TIME BUT IN 2011 THERE WAS 14,000 $ DAMAGE TO HOUSE AND CAR. CAR WAS CHECKED OUT AT TOYOTA TWICE ,NO PROBLEM FOUND. WIFE WILL NEVER DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN. SHE IS INFEAR OF HURTING SOMEONE. *TR

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
125,000 miNov 3, 2010SAINT JOHNS, FL
Crash

AUTO WAS STOPPED THREE FEET FROM ANOTHER AUTO. SUDDEN NON INITIATED ACCELERATION (FULL THROTTLE) WITH DAMAGE TO OTHER VEHICLE SEVERE, MINIMAL TO HIGHLANDER. *TR

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
95,000 miJul 29, 2010WASHINGTON, DC
Crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 95,000.

Other Highlander Years

Other Toyota Models