general problems of the 2003 Toyota Highlander

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.

Paint seal delamination.

Driver side sun visor falls from the up position down into the sight path directly in front of the drivers face blocking the view of the road through the windshield. This is due to the tension / resistance to keep it in an up position against the headliner diminishing over time. Occurs repeatedly without warning from road turbulence / bumps. Same issue in the Toyota camry which has been recalled.

Driver side visor is loose and drops down during driving , obstructing view. Is not save during driving , visir can not hold position up.

Needed to have a total engine rebuild due to faulty head bolts that stripped and allowed coolant to enter the engine and burn. Lucky-I guess-that I acted quickly so as to avert catalytic converter issues or sensors getting damaged by burning coolant. I also avoided the total loss of antifreeze and the resulting damage &/or inconvenience that thousands of others had. Still, a huge inconvenience and huge $5425. 82 cost due to manufacturer's defect: weak metal that couldn't withstand the torque/pull on them. . . Perhaps the threading played a part. I only know that 1000s upon 1000s of people suffered the same issue from Toyota on this engine in several years/models. There should be a recall. There should be compensation.

The driver's side sun visor flops down, blocking the driver's vision. It will not stay in the "up" position. When it falls down, this is a potential safety hazard that needs to be corrected to prevent serious injuries or deaths.

Clarification from previous submission (10/21/14). . . . . . . Heating system blows cold air intermittently when the heat is on. The system was cleaned, worked well to a short time. Within two weeks the problem returned. The mechanic noted this was a common problem with the heating control panels of the early model Toyota's. Safety factor: this is hazardous in the winter, as the windows become foggy resulting in the limited visibility especially while the vehicle is in motion. ¿ ¿.