2003 Toyota Highlander Toyota Highlander 2003

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2003 Toyota Highlander repairs by problem area

Engine (46%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (7%)

Brakes and Traction Control (14%)

Suspension and Steering (9%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (16%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (4%)

Other (4%)

Chart based on 57 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2003 Toyota Highlander.

2003 Toyota Highlander repair cost distribution

$2500+ (2%)

$1000 - $2499 (18%)

$500 - $999 (25%)

$100 - $499 (31%)

< $100 (24%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 51 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2003 Toyota Highlander

Engine not specified

Toyota Highlander in New York, United States
May 2012 - May 2012
May 2012

138000 mi

US $500
fuel pump problems 

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2003 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

220-horsepower 3.0L V6 4-speed automatic FWD

Toyota Highlander in California, United States
Mar 2015 - Apr 2015
Apr 2015

279000 mi

US $615
Routine brake maintenance, calipers replaced on rear, pads and rotor machining on front 
Toyota Highlander in Hawaii, United States
Dec 2015 - Jul 2021
Dec 2016

208000 mi

US $2500
new power steering rack, pump and hoses. 
Jul 2021

248000 mi

US $800
Transmission Mount; Engine Mount front & right and torque strut. 
Toyota Highlander in North Carolina, United States
Apr 2015 - Jul 2015
Apr 2015

115000 mi

US $1100
Replaced faulty condensor Replaced rear struts 
Jul 2015

117000 mi

US $123
O2 sensor fault 
Toyota Highlander in California, United States
May 2015 - Jul 2018
Jun 2015

112000 mi

US $800
Replaced the Idle Control Valve 
Toyota Highlander in Texas, United States
Feb 2015 - Sep 2018
Jun 2015

120000 mi

US $20
added 1 can Freon to AC 
Jun 2016

113000 mi
Ac condensor coil had a leak Drivers side electric window lift weak, window would not raise all the way 
Jan 2017

117000 mi

US $700
Brakes wore out. front rotors out of round. rears rotors were too thin to machine, ended up getting all four new. AC lost its charge. Had window motor replaced, another $650 
Jul 2017

120000 mi

US $10
headlight lens cloudy and yellowed, we buffed them clear with 3M cleaner. 
Toyota Highlander in Connecticut, United States
Jan 2010 - Oct 2011
Aug 2010

66000 mi

US $300
Replace A/F Sensor Bank 2 position 1 
Jun 2011

84000 mi

US $500
Stuck caliper wasted left rotor. Full front brake job + one caliper 
Jul 2011

84000 mi
Rear left brake lights went out. Had to retension plug adapter to get it working agin. Fixed at home. 
Oct 2011

87000 mi
Tranny started slipping.  Burned oil smell from leaky engine seals near exhaust. AC system started faulting.  

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2003 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

220-horsepower 3.0L V6 4-speed automatic AWD

Toyota Highlander in New Hampshire, United States
Apr 2011 - Jul 2012
Jul 2012

164000 mi

US $125
Flex pipe and gasket rusted out...replaced 
Toyota Highlander in Pennsylvania, United States
Jul 2016 - Jul 2016
Jul 2016

195000 mi

US $1060
Rear pistons frozen; pads, rotors, calipers needed replaced. both serpentine belts needed replacement due to prior mechanic never adjusting tensioner. 
Toyota Highlander in New York, United States
Jan 2020 - Jun 2022
Oct 2020

134000 mi

US $600
Exhaust leak. Replaced exhaust and muffler 
Mar 2021

136000 mi

US $56
replace passenger-side power window motor 
Jun 2022

141000 mi

US $35
Replace driver's power window motor. 
Toyota Highlander in Massachusetts, United States
Aug 2012 - Jun 2013
Oct 2012

152700 mi

US $1200
check engine light was on; the shop diagnosed that there were several sensors (for emissions) that were no longer working and needed to be replaced. 
Toyota Highlander in Virginia, United States
Jan 2011 - Jul 2016
Jul 2013

103800 mi

US $286
Needed to replace a fuel evaporative control valve. 
Nov 2013

108000 mi

US $500
Replaced oxygen sensor. Rear side window stuck in down position. 
Jan 2014

99000 mi

US $160
A sensor in the exhaust system had loosened and its gasket blew out resulting in a loud exhaust noise. The dealer tightened the sensor and replaced the gasket. 
Dec 2014

113000 mi

US $260
The area around the rear anti-lock brake sensors was rusty, and was creating a mechanical situation where the antilock brakes were activating each time the car stopped. My mechanic was able to diagnose the problem and fix it. 
Dec 2015

130000 mi

US $1300
Replace catalytic converter. 
Toyota Highlander in Georgia, United States
Jan 2011 - Jun 2015
Sep 2013

165000 mi

US $2000
Replaced timing and accessory belts, also replaced charcoal canister and other emissions items 
Toyota Highlander in Massachusetts, United States
Jan 2018 - Jul 2020
Feb 2018

151000 mi

US $65
sticky left rear brake 
Toyota Highlander in Colorado, United States
Jan 2007 - Jul 2011
Jun 2007

90220 mi

US $38
canister valve vacuum hose loose from air box 
Toyota Highlander in California, United States
Feb 2009 - Dec 2012
Jan 2009

64000 mi
Front mud flaps started to tear due to wind resistance on freeway 
Toyota Highlander in New Jersey, United States
Sep 2012 - Jul 2013
Apr 2013

158800 mi

US $370
Pinion oil seal with new 80W90 Gear oil. Noisy exhaust system - repair and weld exhaust pipe and bracket. 
Jun 2013

163000 mi

US $536
Sensor # 2. Gas too lean. 

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2003 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

155-horsepower 2.4L I4 4-speed automatic FWD

Toyota Highlander in Quebec, Canada
Feb 2014 - Jun 2014
Jun 2014

122140 mi
Head bolts stripped, causing coolant leak. Fix is replacement of short block = beaucoup de $$$ 
Toyota Highlander in New Hampshire, United States
Jan 2011 - Jul 2016
Dec 2011

175000 mi

US $40
RR caliper overheating. Removed, cleaned and greased sliders. Seems better. 
Jul 2012

189000 mi

US $1750
Classic head bolt failure, Time-Cert thread repair done. 
Aug 2013

209600 mi

US $100
A single coil pack failed causing misfire and the check engine light to come on. A trip to the parts store for a code reading showed a failed coil pack on cylinder 3. Replaced coil pack. 
Dec 2013

216000 mi

US $920
Repairs to the gas tank emissions control components. Involved removing the tank and replacing abour $250 in parts. Heavy labor cost. Had CEL on and strong gasoline odors with a full tank. 
Jul 2014

225000 mi

US $94
Metal return line of steering system rusted and developed a leak causing power steering issues. Temporarily fixed by topping up fluid then replaced metal line. Used Toyota part. 
Jan 2015

233000 mi

US $105
Failed coil pack - was actually the one that failed before and was replaced. I took the opportunity to replace them all. They are old. 
Aug 2015

240800 mi

US $275
LR wheel ABS sensor failed. It is less expensive to replace the whole axle hub. Brake backing plate had to be replace due to rust.Job took longer than it should due to frozen bolts and corrosion on the backing plate. 
Nov 2015

244000 mi

US $425
Alternator failed and battery was weak enough that it was recommended to replace it at the same time. 
May 2016

251000 mi

US $330
Replaced the catalytic converter. I had installed an Eastern Catalytic catalytic converter about two years ago when the OEM original failed. The Eastern unit failed about 10 months ago but I am just getting around to fixing it. 
Toyota Highlander in Massachusetts, United States
May 2011 - Jun 2014
Jun 2011

129000 mi

US $1800
Struts replaced and alignment 
Jun 2014

164000 mi
Transmission gave out after 3+ years of minor power fluctuations. 
Toyota Highlander in British Columbia, Canada
Sep 2011 - Oct 2011
Oct 2011

111600 mi

C $800
Spent $800 dismantling engine to find problem. Bolts on engine mount stripped. Needed new engine, too costly, about $7000. 

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2003 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

155-horsepower 2.4L I4 4-speed automatic AWD

Toyota Highlander in Ontario, Canada
Aug 2014 - Jan 2017
Sep 2014

144460 mi

C $560
Worn-out Front universal joint 
Oct 2015

159640 mi

C $200
Rusted hose 
Dec 2015

161200 mi

C $270
One defective coil 
Jan 2017

161200 mi

C $250
Windshield Wiper transmission broke. Replaced 

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2003 Toyota Highlander 4dr SUV

Toyota Highlander in Texas, United States
Mar 2017 - Sep 2018
Jun 2018

148000 mi

US $1400
The electrical system was replaced. The air conditioner would not work. 

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See TrueDelta's information for all Toyota models.

2003 Toyota Highlander Repair Histories

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2003 Toyota Highlander problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.