At a glance

Reported mileage173,831 mi

LocationFl, USA

ColorSilver

Last listed price$7,000

Open recalls2

Vehicle identity & specifications

Make

Toyota

Model

Highlander

Year

2003

Trim

Base

Body style

Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]

Vehicle type

MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE (MPV)

Engine

2.4L 4-cyl 155 hp

Cylinders

4

Fuel type

Gasoline

Drivetrain

4x2

Doors

4

Assembly plant

MIYAWAKA, FUKUOKA, JAPAN

Manufacturer

TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION

What's a 2003 Toyota Highlander worth?

What comparable 2003 Toyota Highlander vehicles are listed for — a quick gut-check before you negotiate.

Low

$4,000

Typical price

$5,728

High

$8,200

Most 2003 Toyota Highlander listings fall between $4,000 and $8,200, from 182 comparable cars.

Is the seller's price fair? Get this exact VIN's current market value — retail, trade-in & loan value — in the full report.

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Full vehicle history report

$14.99 USD · one-time

What a full report checks for VIN JTEGD21A530048504

⚠️ 2 open safety recalls — shown above, free 🔒 Title & brand records 🔒 Accident & damage history 🔒 Salvage, total-loss & theft 🔒 Odometer & owner count 🔒 Liens & market valuation

A full report searches national title databases (NMVTIS) and licensed history providers for this VIN and shows whatever records are on file — not every vehicle has every record type. The decode, safety recalls and owner complaints above are always free.

📜 Title status Clean, salvage, rebuilt, junk, flood or lemon

🏷️ Title brand history Every brand ever applied, by state

🧾 Number of owners How many registrations on record

🛞 Odometer readings Reported mileage over time

🔎 Rollback check Mileage inconsistency / tamper flags

💥 Accident & damage Reported collisions and damage events

🚧 Total-loss records Insurance total-loss declarations

♻️ Salvage & auction Salvage-yard and auction history

🚓 Theft records Reported / recovered theft events

🏦 Liens & impounds Outstanding liens or impound records

🏷️ Sale & listing history Past marketplace and dealer listings

💰 Market valuation Estimated value for this exact spec

Unlock full report — $14.99 → or get up to 20 reports a month for $19.99/mo → One-time purchase · permanent access · VIN JTEGD21A530048504

Safety recalls 2

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

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.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL SHORTEN THE CPL LEVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 7, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

NHTSA Campaign #04V181000 · 15/04/2004

WHEELS

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 …

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.

NHTSA Campaign #02V339000 · 17/12/2002

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Common problems & what to inspect

Based on 270 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Toyota Highlander, here are the most-reported problem areas — and exactly what to check before you buy.

💥 4 involved a crash 🚑 2 reported injuries

Engine 4 reports

🔍 Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.

Air Bags 3 reports

🔍 Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.

Wheels 2 reports

🔍 Inspect wheels for bends, cracks and curb rash, and feel for vibration at highway speed.

Exterior Lighting 2 reports

🔍 Confirm all headlights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights work, with no moisture inside the housings.

Service Brakes 1 report

🔍 Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.

Forward Collision Avoidance 1 report

🔍 Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

Pre-purchase checklist

Match the VIN on the dash, door jamb and title — they must be identical.
Cold-start the engine; listen for knocks and check for blue or white exhaust smoke.
Test-drive through all gears at low and highway speed — no slipping, shudder or pulling.
Confirm every warning light clears at startup (none should stay on).
Check fluids — oil, coolant, transmission — for level, color and leaks.
Look underneath for rust, fresh undercoating or signs of collision repair.
Always get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic.

Owner complaints 270

Complaints filed with NHTSA by owners of the 2003 Toyota Highlander.

WHEELS,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE

Many things are happening to my truck that’s why I am contacting you people to see if I got any callback thank you so much

NHTSA ODI #11714805

ENGINE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

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 6500 dollars.Icontacted the insurance co…

NHTSA ODI #11523925

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

NHTSA ODI #11513146

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

NHTSA ODI #11374150

ENGINE

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 BOOK ON HOW THE MOTOR OVERHEATS AND FAIL…

NHTSA ODI #11270240