Does the 2003 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2003 Toyota Highlander, the most recent reported on April 15, 2004 (Latches/locks/linkages: doors, latch). Check a specific car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Toyota Highlander?

Owners have filed 258 complaints with NHTSA. The most frequently reported area is engine and engine cooling (46 complaints), followed by engine (41).

How many 2003 Toyota Highlander complaints mention a crash or fire?

33 of 258 complaints report a crash and 1 a fire; 11 injuries were reported in total. Complaints are unverified reports from owners.

2003 Toyota Highlander recalls and problems

2 recalls and 258 owner complaints on file with NHTSA for the 2003 Toyota Highlander.

recalls

258

owner complaints

complaints mentioning a crash

mentioning a fire

Recalls apply to specific production ranges. To see whether a particular car still has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Repairs for safety recalls are free at authorised dealers.

2003 Toyota Highlander recalls

Latches/locks/linkages: doors, latch

NHTSA campaign 04V181000 · reported April 15, 2004 · TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. · 366,572 vehicles potentially affected

The problem: 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.
The risk: 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.

Wheels

NHTSA campaign 02V339000 · reported December 17, 2002 · SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS · 176 vehicles potentially affected

The problem: 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 installed. The upgrade included 4 alloy wheels. The original spare tire/alloy wheel was not changed. The spare tire requires the use of a different style of wheel nut to attach it to the vehicle.
The risk: 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.

Most reported problems

Areas named in owner complaints to NHTSA. One complaint can name several areas.

Engine and engine cooling46
Engine41
Visibility31
Vehicle speed control28
Service brakes, hydraulic22
Structure18
Electrical system15
Exterior lighting15
Power train13
Service brakes10

What owners report

Recent complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. These are unverified accounts from owners, not findings.

May 25, 2023 · Engine
Automatically disengage the transmission Stopped the road Icalled my husband Myhusband came and together we got the car to a safe place.Then Icame home with my husband and he called the insurance company and had the car towed. Ifound a place to fix the car and they said the transmission was broken and it cost about…

Mar 22, 2023 · Unknown or other
The hood latch cable inside the vehicle when pulled did not allow the hood to open now the secondary hood latch is stuck in the closed position and will not release..I have to use a strap from wheel opening to wheel opening to keep my hood secure so when I am driving my hood won't open at high speeds

Nov 11, 2020 · Unknown or other
PASSENGER WINDOW HAS HAD TO BE FIXED MULTIPLE TIMES. COMES OFF THE TRACK AND WILL NOT CLOSE. HAVE HAD INTERIOR DAMAGE BECAUSE OF IT

Oct 22, 2019 · Engine · 140,000 miles
2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 4 CYL. SERVICE BULLITON FROM THEM #310436. HEAD BOLTS COMING UNDONE INSIDE MOTOR CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF MOTOR. BOLTS NOT HOLDING DOWN MFGR KNOWS ABOUT THIS. WAS A MANUFACTURING PROCESS THAT DID NOT WORK. ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM THIS IS A RAMPANT PROBLEM REPORTED. READS ALMOST LIKE A PLAY…

Oct 15, 2019 · Air bags · 126,000 miles · crash reported
HEAD ON COLLISION AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY SPEEDS 25-40 MPH

Highlander model years compared

Year	Recalls	Complaints	Crashes	Fires
2001	3	137	19	2
2002	2	301	24	6
2003	2	258	33	1
2004	5	286	32	3
2005	6	224	35	4
2006	7	278	29	4

Across all years, the 2021 Highlander has the most complaints (533). All Toyota Highlander years →

Questions

Does the 2003 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?: Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2003 Toyota Highlander, the most recent reported on April 15, 2004 (Latches/locks/linkages: doors, latch). Check a specific car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Toyota Highlander?: Owners have filed 258 complaints with NHTSA. The most frequently reported area is engine and engine cooling (46 complaints), followed by engine (41).
How many 2003 Toyota Highlander complaints mention a crash or fire?: 33 of 258 complaints report a crash and 1 a fire; 11 injuries were reported in total. Complaints are unverified reports from owners.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint data, updated October 27, 2026. Latest complaint received May 25, 2023.