Does the 2003 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?

2 recalls found in NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026, covering: latches/locks/linkages, wheels. Recalls apply to the model and year; whether a particular vehicle is included, and whether it has been repaired, depends on its VIN.

How do I check if my 2003 Toyota Highlander recall has been fixed?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or ask a Toyota dealer. Recall repairs are free. NHTSA's VIN search doesn't list recalls that were already repaired.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2003 Toyota Highlander?

258 complaints filed with NHTSA. Complaints are unverified reports from the public that NHTSA uses to decide what to investigate.

2003 Toyota Highlander recalls

Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.

2 recalls found in NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026

For the 2003 Toyota Highlander. These apply to the model and year, not to one particular vehicle: check your VIN to see whether yours is included and whether it has been repaired.

Has your Toyota been repaired?

Recalls here come from NHTSA’s records for the model and year. Not every vehicle of a model is included in every recall, and this site can’t see whether a repair has been done. Only a VIN lookup can tell you that.

NHTSA’s VIN search doesn’t show recalls that were already repaired, recalls more than 15 years old, or some small manufacturers’ recalls. Recall repairs are free.

2003 Toyota Highlander recalls, newest first

April 15, 2004NHTSA 04V181000366,572 vehicles potentially affected

Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch

Summary: 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.
Consequence: This condition could allow the door to be opened with the inside while the operator believes that the cpl was activated. If the door were opened from the inside while the vehicle was in motion, an occupant could fall out and be injured.
Remedy: Dealers will shorten the cpl lever. Owner notification began may 7, 2004. Owners should contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

This recall on nhtsa.gov

December 17, 2002NHTSA 02V339000176 vehicles potentially affected

Wheels

Summary: 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 installed. The upgrade included 4 alloy wheels. The original spare tire/alloy wheel was not changed. The spare tire requires the use of a different style of wheel nut to attach it to the vehicle.
Consequence: If the spare tire/wheel is installed on the vehicle using the wheel nuts provided for the upgrade alloy wheel, damage to the wheel could result and could eventually lead to a loose 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.

This recall on nhtsa.gov

Owner complaints

Owners have filed 258 complaints about the 2003 Toyota Highlander with NHTSA. Complaints are unverified reports from the public; NHTSA uses them to decide what to investigate.

Crashes reported: 33
Fires reported: 1
Injuries reported: 11
Deaths reported: 0

Most complained-about components

Engine41
Service brakes33
Engine and engine cooling26
Vehicle speed control24
Visibility19

Other Toyota Highlander years

Other 2003 Toyota models

Most recalled 2003 vehicles

2003 Honda Accord (24 recalls)
2003 Honda Civic (24 recalls)
2003 Honda Odyssey (15 recalls)
2003 Subaru Outback (15 recalls)
2003 Subaru Legacy (15 recalls)

All of 2003’s most recalled vehicles

Questions

Does the 2003 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?: 2 recalls found in NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026, covering: latches/locks/linkages, wheels. Recalls apply to the model and year; whether a particular vehicle is included, and whether it has been repaired, depends on its VIN.
How do I check if my 2003 Toyota Highlander recall has been fixed?: Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or ask a Toyota dealer. Recall repairs are free. NHTSA's VIN search doesn't list recalls that were already repaired.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 2003 Toyota Highlander?: 258 complaints filed with NHTSA. Complaints are unverified reports from the public that NHTSA uses to decide what to investigate.