2003 Toyota Highlander
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 87 of 258 complaints (34%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 301 in 2002 to 258 in 2003.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | vs. 2003 Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,850–3,450 | 2,850–3,450 | 2,850–3,450 | 2,850–3,300 | 2,850–3,300 | |
| Combined MPG | 18–22 | 18–22 | 18–22 | 19–22 | 19–22 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 16–19 / 21–25 | 16–19 / 21–25 | 16–19 / 21–25 | 16–19 / 22–25 | 16–19 / 22–25 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 404–494 | 404–494 | 404–494 | 404–468 | 404–468 | |
| Complaints filed | 137 | 301 | 258 | 286 | 225 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 19 | 24 | 33 | 32 | 35 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 2 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| Injuries reported | 11 | 25 | 11 | 23 | 20 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 4 | 0 | 47 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2003 Toyota Highlander have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2003 Toyota Highlander?
Engine: 87 of 258 NHTSA complaints (34%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2003 Toyota Highlander get?
EPA rates it 18–22 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2003 Toyota Highlander?
EPA estimates $2,850–$3,450 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 4-spd | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 19 mpg (high) | 25 mpg (high) | 22 mpg (high) | $2,850 (low) | 404 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 3.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 17 mpg | 21 mpg (low) | 18 mpg (low) | $3,450 (high) | 494 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 4-spd | 4 | 2.4L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 17 mpg | 22 mpg | 19 mpg | $3,300 | 468 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 3.0L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 16 mpg (low) | 21 mpg (low) | 18 mpg (low) | $3,450 (high) | 494 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 87 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 35 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Steering | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 14 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 29 | 16 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 21 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 48 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH · Campaign 04V181000 · Apr 20, 2004
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL SHORTEN THE CPL LEVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 7, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
WHEELS · Campaign 02V339000 · Jan 15, 2003
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH DIFFERENT STYLE LUG NUTS, A WARNING LABEL FOR THE SPARE RE/ALLOY WHEEL, AND AN OWNER'S MANUAL ADDENDUM.