general problems of the 2003 Toyota Highlander

The contact owned a 2003 Toyota Highlander. While the vehicle was in reverse, it accelerated independently. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed, but failed to effectively slow down the vehicle. The gear shifter was placed into drive and the vehicle sped forward and crashed into a tree. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The failure recurred twice prior to the crash. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000. The vehicle was destroyed.

I have been the owner of my 2003 Toyota Highlander, for almost 8 years. I got it in Nov. 2008 at around the 69,000 mark. Since then, I have made sure that my car/baby has had the works in care, to keep the quality and value of the vehicle up. This would include:oil changes, new brakes, new tires, repairs of belts/filters etc, hoses, tune ups, great gas and car washes/body care. Most of this has been done by the dealership here in culver city CA. I've depended on them to tell me what was good/bad about my car and trusted them in doing so. I also made sure to do the repairs they suggested. Sometimes however they said it was fine, but would come to find out, I did have issues. This made me wonder if Toyota was trustworthy/doing their jobs right and now I feel the same lack of trust in my cars performance /current state. I can say I have only put 50,000 miles or so on my car in the last 8 years, and I know Toyotas can/should last until 250,000 or so, without major issues. However since 2015 I have dealt, with one thing after the next with the car. Most recently this past weekend where my engine completely blew. How could a engine blow out on such a well maintained car? well after reviewing other complaints online, it seems this year and model has this problem often, once they reach around 110,000 mark or so. Why? it seems to be a faulty engine /something that should definitely be recalled. We as consumers shouldn't have to spend thousands on a car, thousands to keep it in great condition and then thousands when are engines fail and this has been reported. Other may simply think there is no hope and don't bother. But I am bothered, because now I am without a car. I don't have the funds for this repair. I have a young child and when I bought this car, thought it would last. I also have had problems with braking/cars pedal going into the floor! this is unacceptable!! help!!.

Driver side rear brakes will not illuminate after you depress your brakes. Replaced bulb and socket that houses bulb and will not work. Check online for similar issues and read reports of 2002-2006 Highlanders having either left or right side rear not working.

Driver side rear lights stops working once in a while. The bulbs are fine have replaced them with the new one and the problem still persist. There has been quite a lot of complaint and nothing has been addressed.

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Highlander. While driving approximately 25 mph, the contact had to depress the brake pedal to the floorboard in order to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnosis. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 137,000.

Grandmother was leaving and drove through a closed wrought iron gate that was over 10' tall and 16' wide. Continued accelerating through a parking lot across the street, drove over a large decorative boulders and came to halt after crashing into a neighbors fence. She said that she attempted to stop in front of her gate to open it but the breaks would not work and the car kept accelerating. Thankfully it ended how it did leaving her with minor injuries. It is also disgusting knowing that it could have been much worse and if a car defect is the reason nothing will be done until deaths begin to occur.

Abs engages intermittently when accelerating from a complete stop.

I routinely have difficulty with my brakes on my 2003 Toyota Highlander. I brought the car to the dealer several times and they were never able to reproduce the problem. Just recently I discovered that the problem is cuased by my "big feet" - I am a size 14. If my foot is straight up and down the top of my shoe or boot rests against the metal bracket and I lose all the leverage on the brake. In essence - I have to stand on the brake to make the car stop. I now try to remember to keep my foot tilted to the side so that I only push on the rubber pad of the brake pedal. I don't believe that I should alter how I apply the brakes to get them to work. The brake pedal design needs to be changed. At least twice I have had near accidents when I had to stop suddenly and my reflex was to brake noramlly - not tilt my foot to the side. I entered the last date this occured.

Car was being driven slowly in traffic. When other cars stopped, the brakes were applied. Instead of stopping, the car continued forward, hitting another car. It seemed as though the brakes did not work. The car was taken to the dealer the next day to have the brakes evaluated. We were told that the repairman saw those kind of accidents all the time with anti-lock brakes. " you cannot hit them hard or they will fail".

I have replaced the brakes in my 2003 Highlander in Feb and Aug 2008 complaining of squealing and occasional grinding. I returned in oct, Nov and Dec only to be told they hear no noise. I e-mailed the service mgr in Jan 2009 and they picked up serviced & delivered the car to me. Within 24 hours I had grinding again. I was wondering if these are the same brakes they used on the 2004 Lexus. My husband was unable to stop last week and did tap the bumper of the car in front of us, fortunately their bumper was not a Toyota so it did not scratch like ours does.

: the consumer hit a patch of black ice traveling at 45 mph when approaching a stop sign; the vehicle proceeded through a stop sign striking another vehicle in the passenger side. The airbags did not deploy. The pre-braking was minimal due to the icy road conditions. Both occupants of the vehicle were wearing seat belts and sustained minor injuries. Police were on the scene and a report was taken. The vehicle sustained extensive damage, but was not totaled due to assessment of the insurance adjustor and the lack of airbag deployment. Prior to the accident, the airbag warning light illuminated in cold temperatures, but the vehicle was not seen by a dealer for this problem. Prior to the accident, the rear brakes and rotors were replaced. Updated 03/03/06. Updated.

2003 Toyota Highlander's braking system seems to be defective. The consumer is requesting a lease termination for the 2003 Toyota Highlander in accordance to the georgia lemon law.

2003 Toyota Highlander brakes malfunctioning. Nar 07/09/2003. The consumer requested that the dealership reimburse them all expenses due to a faulty vehicle.