2003 Toyota Highlander Complaint Log

2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 4.0 HEATER HAS GONE OUT IN THIS VEHICLE AND ONLY THE A/C NOW WORKS THIS HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE AND THE COST TO FIX THIS IS VERY HIGH AND SHOULD BE DEALT WITH PER TOYOTA SINCE IT SEEMS ALOT OF OTHERS ARE ALSO HAVING THE PROBLEM DUE TO A FAULTY KNOB BECOMING LOOSE AND BREAKING A TINY WIRE. *TR

2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 4.0 SUN VISOR ON DRIVERS SIDE FALLS DOWN ON ITS OWN AND WILL NOT STAY WHERE YOU PUT IT, WHEN I ATTEMPT TO PUSH IS MORE TOWARDS THE WINDSHIELD IT FALLS BACK DOWN WHEN I ATTEMPT TO PUT IT UP IN ITS NORMAL POSITION IT FALLS BACK DOWN AND HAS A TENDENCY TO OBSCURE ONES VISION WHILE DRIVING AND THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS MANY HERE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS AND ALL THE THINGS I AM HAVING ISSUES WITH. *TR

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PAINFUL, DRUMMING NOISE WHEN REAR WINDOWS ARE OPEN. SEVERE VIBRATION WHEN IN DRIVE AT FULL STOP WITH BRAKE. *NM

HEADLIGHT LENSES HAVE BECOME PROGRESSIVELY TRANSLUCENT BLOCKING SIGNIFICANT LIGHT ENERGY FROM VEHICLE TO OPERATE VEHICLE IN A TOTALLY SAFE MANNER. (INCIDENT DATE AND ODOMETER READING NOT APPLICABLE IN THIS CASE.) SOME INTERNET WEB SITES SUGGEST DRILLING HOLES IN THE HEADLAMP FIXTURE TO FIX PROBLEM. I BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD STAND BEHIND GETTING THE PROBLEM RESOLVED. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT EXCLUSIVE TO TOYOTAS AS I HAVE OBSERVED OTHER BRANDS OF VEHICLES WITH THE SAME SAFETY PROBLEM AND MAY BE RELATED SPECIFICALLY TO A HEADLIGHT FIXTURE MANUFACTURER SHARED BY OTHER VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD. *TR

WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND OFF. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION,MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

AUTOMATIC WINDOW LOCK MECHANISM CONTINUED TO GO UP AND DOWN WITH A SINGLE TOUCH. THIS ONLY HAPPENED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, AND FOR THE CONSUMER TO CALL TOYOTA. CONSUMERS MAIN CONCERN WAS THAT A CHILD COULD GET STRANGLED TO DEATH IF UNSUPERVISED. *AK

I PURCHASE A NEW TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AUGUST 2003. HAD A FLAT TIRE 6 SEPTEMBER 2004. WENT TO GET THE TIRE REPAIRED AND THE TIRE DEALER FOUND A PATCH ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. DOT OF THE TIRE IS M65L B3DR 0603. THIS TIRE WAS INSTALLED ON A NEW VEHICLE WITH A PATCH. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY, MY WIFE'S SAFETY, AND MY GRANDCHILDREN'S SAFETY USING THIS METHODOLOGY. HOW MANY OTHER TIRE THAT I HAVE, HAVE PATCHES. I DON'T THINK THIS SHOULD BE ALLOWED. I FEEL IT IS A GRAVE SAFETY CONCERN. I AM PURCHASING A TIRE WITHOUT A PATCH BUT DON'T KNOW ABOUT MY OTHER TIRES. *AK

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

GOODYEAR INTEGRITY PASSENGER CAR TIRES CAME ON MY 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SUV. LF TIRE BLEW OUT AT 11,350 MILES AS I WAS MERGING ON TO EXPRESSWAY. AUTHORIZED GOODYEAR DEALER COULD FIND NO EVIDENCE OF ROAD HAZARD DAMAGE TO TIRE. DOT M65L B3DR 2202 STAMPED ON TIRE.*AK

GAS GAUGE BROKE, 2/12/04, 4/20/04 AND 6/11/04. WHEN YOU PUT GAS IN THE CAR THE NEEDLE WOULD NOT REGISTER. SERVICE CLAIMS THAT THEY KEPT FIXING IT FROM 2/12/04. *JB

I HAVE NOW HAD MY AIR CONDITIONER'S BLOWER UNIT GO BAD TWICE IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS. IN OCTOBER OF 2003, THE AIR CONDITIONER BEGAN MAKING A RATTLING NOISE AND WITHIN A DAY OR SO, THE BLOWER COMPLETELY DIED. THE TOYOTA DEALER LOOKED AT IT AND HAD TO ORDER A PART. A WEEK LATER, THEY REPLACED THE BLOWER UNIT.... NOW, THE EXACT SAME THING HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. THE RATTLING NOISE STARTED YESTERDAY AND TODAY, THE BLOWER IS COMPLETELY DEAD. I HAVE TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN! *AK

A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF MY NEW 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, IT HAS DEVELOPED A PRONOUNCED "TICKING" SOUND WITHIN THE ENGINE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD MEAN THAT A PROBLEM IS DEVELOPING, AND IT IS ALSO AN ANNOYING SOUND IN AN OTHERWISE QUIET VEHICLE. I AM GOING TO REPORT THIS TO TOYOTA VIA THEIR WEB SITE. THIS VEHICLE COST ME ALMOST $35K AND I DO NOT FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM IS INSIGNIFICANT NOR SHOULD BE IGNORED BY THE DEALER. SHOULD I CHOOSE TO SELL THE VEHICLE, I WOULD SUSPECT THIS WILL SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THE PRICE I COULD ASK AND MAY EVEN PREVENT ME FROM UNLOADING IT ALTOGETHER. *NM

MY 2003 HIGHLANDER LIMITED 6-CYL. 4WD VEHICLE HAS A LOUD AUDIBLE CLICKING NOISE (SOUNDS LIKE VALVE LIFTERS TICKING) EMINATING FROM THE ENGINE SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW FROM PAGE TOYOTA IN JAN '2003. THE CLICKING NOISE IS ONLY PRESENT WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THE CLICKING NOISE IS ALWAYS AUDIBLE BUT THE VOLUME DECREASES AS THE VEHICLE REACHES NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE.THE CLICKING NOISE IS VERY LOUD WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD. THE CLICKING NOISE FREQUENCY INCREASES WITH INCREASING ENGINE RPM AND DECREASES WITH DECREASING ENGINE RPM. THE TOYOTA RED HOLMAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THE CLICKING NOISE IS NORMAL AND CAN NOT BE REDUCED OR ELIMINATED. *AK

BRIDGESTONE, DUELER H/T, P225/70R16 TIRE HAD A BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL DISCOVERED AT DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. TOLD IT WAS DEFECTIVE. WENT TO BRIDGESTONE, IT TOOK THEM 5 MONTHS TO COME UP WITH A REPLACEMENT AND THEY THEN REFUSED TO WARRANTY. IT HAD 22,934 MILES.*AK

SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED. VEHICLE WENT UP A TWO FOOT EMBANKMENT AND THRU A CHAIN LINK FENCE. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED BY PLACING INTO PARK. THIS ALL HAPPENED WHILE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED FULLY.

AIR BAG COMPUTER SYSTEM HAD A DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON, AND THE SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE COMPUTER SYSTEM.*AK

THE DRIVER'S SUN VISOR OF MY 2003 HIGHLANDER DOES NOT STAY IN ITS PROPER PLACE. IN INTERNET FORUMS THIS SEEMS TO BE A PREVAILING SAFETY ISSUE. SOME SAY THE VISOR FLAPS DOWN WHEN THE HIGHLANDER HITS A BUMP. THIS CAN BE A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. IT HAS STARTLED SOME DRIVERS AND IS DISCONCERTING TO OTHERS. A NEW VISOR WOULD COST OVER $625 TO REPLACE, WHICH SOME HAVE DONE ONLY TO FIND THAT IN 3 TO 4 MONTHS, THE SAME THING OCCURS. TOYOTA DOES NOT WARRANT THE VISOR. *TR

TWO MONTHS AFTER BUYING MY NEW 2003 HIGHLANDER IT DEVELOPED A LOUD TICKING IN THE ENGINE. TOYOTA TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS COMMON AFTER 3000 MILES OR SO BUT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, NOR COULD IT BE FIXED. I THINK THIS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE SINCE I HAVE HAD PASSENGERS ASK ME WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR.*AK

OWNERS MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS STATE THAT CONSUMER CAN PLACE A CHILD INTO THE CONVERTIBLE CHILD SEAT, FACING FORWARD FROM 20-30 LBS, UNDER A YEAR OLD. THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THE INSTRUCTIONS THE INFORMATION IS CORRECT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN INFORMED OF THE MIS PRINT.*AK *PH

WITH REAR WINDOWS LOWERED A DEAFENING BUFFETING VIBRATION OCCURS FROM THE AFT CARGO COMPARTMENT. WHEN THE SPEED IS INCREASED, THE BUFFETING INCREASES TO AN UNBEARABLE LEVEL. DEALER DID NOT DISCLOSE THIS INFORMATION PRIOR TO PURCHASE. *JB

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

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER: WITH ONE REAR WINDOW ROLLED DOWN, SLIGHTLY, THERE IS VERY PAINFULL NOISE THAT IS ALMOST UNBEARABLE WHILE DRIVING AT CITY SPEEDS (30-45 MPH). MANF. STATES THAT THIS IS COMMON IN SOME VEHICLES. IN THIS ONE IT IS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS SO TIGHTLE SEALED THERE IS NO PLACE FOR THE AIR TO GO THUS CREATING A PRESSURE DIFFERENCE. NOTICED ON 2ND ADAY AFTER DELIVERY. DEALER FAILED TO PROVIDE US WITH INFO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IN FACT THEY CLAIMED IF WAS THE FIRST THEY HAD HEARD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. NOW AFTER 10 MONTHS I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH, WITH ALL THE WINDOWS SLIGHLTY DOWN AND THE PROBLEM IS WORSE THANEVER. THIS IS A DESIN FLAW THAT TOYOTA HAS FAILED TO CORRECT. THIS GOING TO THE LAST TOYOTA OUR FAMILY WILL PURCHASE!!! CARL783@JUNO.COM. *AK

CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE LOCATION OF THE BRAKE/GAS PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE. THIS RESULTED IN ACCIDENTAL ACCELERATION WHILE REVERSING.*AK

ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE DEALER WE OPENED THE REAR WINDOWS SLIGHTLY. THE RESULT WAS A PULSATING PRESSURE PAINFUL TO THE EARS OF ALL OCCUPANTS. INCREASING SPEED INCREASED THE PAINFUL EFFECT WE LATER LEARNED WAS SOMETHING EXPERIENCED BY ALL HIGHLANDERS FROM 2001. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE "FIRST" HE HEARD OF THIS PHENOMENON. TOYOTA CUSTOMER RELATIONS SAID THEY WERE AWARE THIS HAPPENS WHEN YOU OPEN REAR WINDOW(S) IN A HIGHLANDER AND AGREES THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCLOSED TO US GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE ANOTHER MODEL INSTEAD. AT THIS POINT THIS CONDITION IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND THE DEALER IS GIVING US NO INDICATION THEY ARE GOING TO DO ANYTHING BUT HOPE I GIVE UP. TO PURCHASE A CAR FOR $30,000+ AND BE TOLD NOT TO OPEN THE WINDOWS IS ABSURD. IT IS UNFORTUNATE I AM BEING FORCED TO GO TO ARBITRATION WHEN THE CAR HAS SUCH LOW MILEAGE. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THE HIGHLANDER IS ON THE NATIONAL LEMON LIST. I HOPE THIS WILL HELP ANYONE CONSIDERING THE PURCHASE OF A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER.*AK

I PICKED UP CAR AT THE DEALER AND THE SAME EVENING ROLLED THE REAR WINDOWS DOWN SLIGHTLY AND THE RESULT WAS A PAINFUL PULSATING PRESSURE THAT ALMOST CAUSED MY WIFE TO GO OFF THE ROAD. THIS IS WELL DOCUMENTED SINCE 2001 AND TOYOTA HAD AN OPPORTUNITY AT THAT POINT TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION IMMEDIATELY. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE FIRST HE EVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA RECOGNIZES THE PHENOMENON AND FAXED ME ARBITRATION PAPERS WHICH I FILED AND WAS DENIED BECAUSE IT IS "A DESIGN ISSUE" NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANT". I WILL NOT DRIVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE AND WOULD APRECIATE THE ASSISTANCE OF THE NHTSA IN ORDER TO PREVENT NON-DISCLOSURE OF A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW THAT IS UNSAFE AND HARMFUL TO THE EARS. *AK

WHEN DRIVING WITH THE THE WINDOWS DOWN THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE, AND IT INCREASED WHEN VEHICLE SPEED INCREASED. MANUFACTURE STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. IT WAS A DESIGN ISSUE, AND WILL NOT REPAIR IT UNLESS THEY WAS A LARGE VOLUME OF COMPLAINTS.*AK

UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN. AS NOTED IN SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS THIS VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY NON-DRIVABLE WITH WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN. THIS FACT IS NEVER MENTIONED TO ANY CUSTOMERS AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. I FEEL THAT IF ANYONE BUYING A VEHICLE FOR MORE THAN 30K SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO ANY SUCH DESIGN FLAW. EVEN WHEN ASKING THE DEALER, LATER ON, THE RESPONSE WAS THAT THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM. TOYOTA NEEDS TO CAREFULLY LOOK INTO THIS AS WITH WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN ON FREEWAY SPEEDS, IT CREATES ALMOST A LOW PRESSURE ENV WITHIN THE VEHICLE WITH EAR-ACHES FOR ALL PASSENGERS.*AK

BRAKE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND IT DOES N'T STOP WHERE YOU NEED IT TO STOP I TOOK IT TO DEALER THEY INSPECT THE CAR FOR THREE HOURS AND TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T FIND ANY THING WRONG VERY DANGEROUS CAR. *AK

WHILE DRIVING. A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD AS IF THE VEHICLE HAD RAN OVER SOMETHING LARGE IN THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER NOTICED A LIQUID SPRAYING OUT FROM THE VEHICLE, ONCE HE PULLED OVER, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED A HOLE WAS IN THE GAS TANK. HOWEVER, ONE MONTH LATER THE SAME LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE GAS TANK HAD A DEEP INDENTATION IN IT. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE GAS TANK. *MR *TS *JB

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN HEADLINER BETWEEN SUN ROOF AND SUN VISOR. BURN MARK 5-6 INCHES LONG THROUGH HEADLINER. NO FIRE OR FLAMES BUT COULD SMELL STRONG ODOR OF SMOKE. *JB

THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLES BRAKES WERE SOFT AND THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. NLM THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE BRAKES HAD GONE TO THE FLOOR AND JUMPED THE CURB. A WEEK BEFORE, THE CONSUMER NOTICED (2 OR 3 TIMES) WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE STOPPED BUT THE PEDAL SLOWLY WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE DEALER CURRENTLY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FINE. SCC

2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 4.0 LOUD VIBRATING NOISE WHEN EITHER BACK WINDOW IS ROLLED DOWN ROLLING DOWN FRONT WINDOW SLIGHTLY HELPS ALLEVIATE THE NOISE BUT IT IS STILL DEAFENING TO EVERYONE IN THE VEHICLE. DESIGN FLAW. *TR

2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER'S BRAKING SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE DEFECTIVE.*MR THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A LEASE TERMINATION FOR THE 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN ACCORDANCE TO THE GEORGIA LEMON LAW. *CB *JB

BRAKES ON NEW 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLINDER ARE INCOSISTENT AND PROVIDE LIMITED STOPPING POWER. DEALER SAYS BRAKES ARE SMALL FOR THE SIZE OF THE VEHICLE, THEY OVERHEAT EASILY AND THEY HAVE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM CUSTOMERS. RETURNED VEHICLE 3 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING IT AND REQUEST ATTENTION. AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS AND COMMUNICATIOS TO THE DEALER AND TOYOTA, I WAS TOLD THE BRAKES DON'T WORK WELL, BUT THAT IS HOW THEY WERE DESIGNED. I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO LEARN TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AS THE BRAKES ARE DIFFERENT THAN OTHER VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ON DOWNHILLS.IT IS SO DANGEROUS THAT WE AVOID DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNLESS NECESSARY. IF WE ARE TAKING THE FAMILY ON TRIP THROUGH HILLS OR THE MOUNTAINS WE RENT ANOTHER VEHICLE AS I VALUE THE LIFE OF MY FAMILY.*AK

WIND NOISE INSIDE VEHICLE WITH WINDOWS OPEN MAKES A DRUMMING NOISE THAT BORDERS ON BEING PAINFUL AT ANY SPEED OVER 30 MPH. OPENING ONE OF THE FRONT WINDOWS LESSENS THE NOISE BUT DOES NOT ELIMINATE IT. IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH ONE OR MORE WINDOWS OPEN.

2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER BRAKES MALFUNCTIONING. NAR 07/09/2003.*MR THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT THE DEALERSHIP REIMBURSE THEM ALL EXPENSES DUE TO A FAULTY VEHICLE. *CB

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.

THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WERE INOPERATIVE.*JB

PASSENGER SIDE DOORS (FRONT & BACK) BECOME OFF BALANCED. THEN THE DOORS HAVE TO BE CLOSED VERY HARD. *JB

ANNOYING WIND NOISE WHEN DRIVING WITH EITHER OR BOTH REAR WINDOWS OPEN. OPENING FRONT WINDOW ALLEVIATES THE NOISE. FLAWED DESIGN.