2003 Toyota Highlander problems, recalls, safety rating, MPG & value

Q: Does the 2003 Toyota Highlander have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls for the 2003 Toyota Highlander. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Q: What gas mileage does the 2003 Toyota Highlander get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2003 Toyota Highlander at about 19 mpg combined (17 city / 22 highway).

Q: How much is a 2003 Toyota Highlander worth?

Comparable 2003 Toyota Highlander listings run roughly $4,000–$8,200, typically around $5,728 (from 182 vehicles).

2003 Toyota Highlander at a glance

Safety recalls2

Owner complaints270

Combined19 mpg

Typical price$5,728

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2003 Toyota Highlander recalls 2

Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch NHTSA Campaign #04V181000 · 15/04/2004

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.

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 · 17/12/2002

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 INSTALL…

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.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2003 Toyota Highlander common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 270 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Engine

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

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

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

Exterior Lighting

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

Service Brakes

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

Forward Collision Avoidance

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

2003 Toyota Highlander MPG & running costs

Combined19 mpg

City17 mpg

Highway22 mpg

Est. annual fuel cost$3,213

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2003 Toyota Highlander worth?

Low

$4,000

Typical price

$5,728

High

$8,200

From 182 comparable 2003 Toyota Highlander listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2003 Toyota Highlander costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$16,065

Fuel only$16,065

Per mile$0.21

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2003 Toyota Highlander trims & engines on record

Trims

Base · Limited · STD

Engines

3.0L 6-cyl 220 hp · 2.4L 4-cyl 155 hp

2003 Toyota Highlander vehicles on record

2003 Toyota Highlander BaseJTEGF21A730110558 2003 Toyota Highlander BaseJTEGF21A530115242

2003 Toyota Highlander BaseJTEGF21A830094497

2003 Toyota Highlander BaseJTEGD21A430064564

2003 Toyota Highlander BaseJTEHF21A330127877 2003 Toyota Highlander BaseJTEHF21A430098910

2003 Toyota Highlander BaseJTEGD21A230067270 2003 Toyota Highlander LimitedJTEHF21A630133544

2003 Toyota Highlander BaseJTEHF21A530144759 2003 Toyota Highlander BaseJTEHF21A030154888

2003 Toyota Highlander BaseJTEHD21A530023106 2003 Toyota Highlander BaseJTEGD21A430072552

2003 Toyota Highlander BaseJTEGD21AX30057537 2003 Toyota Highlander BaseJTEHF21A130127344

2003 Toyota Highlander BaseJTEHF21A430116791

2003 Toyota Highlander BaseJTEHF21A430126270

2003 Toyota Highlander BaseJTEGD21A730062680

2003 Toyota Highlander BaseJTEHF21A730153933

2003 Toyota Highlander BaseJTEGF21A030116511 2003 Toyota Highlander BaseJTEHF21A630122799

2003 Toyota Highlander BaseJTEGF21A230101444 2003 Toyota Highlander BaseJTEHD21A330020446

2003 Toyota Highlander BaseJTEGF21A130110460

2003 Toyota Highlander BaseJTEHF21A530131042

Other Toyota Highlander model years

2003 Toyota Highlander — frequently asked questions

Does the 2003 Toyota Highlander have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls for the 2003 Toyota Highlander. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

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

Based on 270 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are engine, air bags, wheels.

What gas mileage does the 2003 Toyota Highlander get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2003 Toyota Highlander at about 19 mpg combined (17 city / 22 highway).

How much is a 2003 Toyota Highlander worth?

Comparable 2003 Toyota Highlander listings run roughly $4,000–$8,200, typically around $5,728 (from 182 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.