This is an online automotive information provider of a detailed information on complaints, defects and recalls for Toyota HIGHLANDER 2003 engine. Our users can find data on mass market car models from most popular brands. The service allows to compare and analyze statistics for reported problems, complaints, recalls for various manufacturers. We hope our site will help with selecting of a reliable and safe car. By using this tool, you will be able to get records with description of safety issues for vehicles, equipment, tires and child restraints. These issues include safety recalls for your Toyota HIGHLANDER 2003 engine and complaints other owners have filed.

Enter valid VIN:

2003 Toyota HIGHLANDER Engine Problems, Complaints and Defects

Issue ID	1059213
Internal NHTSA #	10583688
Manufacurer	Toyota Motor Corporation
Brand	TOYOTA
Model	HIGHLANDER
Model Year	2003
File date	14/04/14
Component	ENGINE
Product type code	VEHICLE
Description of the problem	Head gasket bolts stripped out causing coolant to leak and loss of cylinder compression. This occurred on a toyota 2. 4 liter engine. This is a common failure mode on these engines due to a design defect. The thread fatigues at the intake side of the engine because the manifold is plastic and there is a rubber insulator between the manifold and block which traps the heat in that part of the block and fatigues the aluminum threads on the head bolts. This happens on many models from 2001-2006 that utilize the toyota 2. 4 liter aluminum engine. This is a $2,500-$5,000 repair. Toyota has issued a service bulletin on this. I believe they should have some responsibility in fixing this design problem. Engines shouldn't fail at 100,000 miles without cause such as overloading or abuse. I don't have a tow package and have garaged this vehicle. There was no cause and effect. This failure i've come to learn is common for this engine.
Vehicle Mileage at Failure	101150
Number of Occurences	1
Source of the issue	NHTSA WEB SITE
City and State	WAUWATOSA, WI
VIN pattern	JTEGD21A230XXXXXX
Was vehicle invloved in a crash?	N
Was vehicle involved in a fire?	N
Was incedent reported to police?	N
Was medical attention required?
Was part original equipment?
No. of injured persons	0
No. of fatalities	0
Date of purchase	08/08/26
Was original owner?	N
Anti-lock brakes	N
Cruise control	N
Number of cylinders	4
Drive train type
Transmission type
Vehicle speed	0
DoT tire identifier
Tire size
Location of tire code
Type of tire failure code
Was defective tire repaired?
Date of manufacture
Type of child seat code
Type of restraint
Dealer's name
Dealer's telephone number
Dealer's city
Dealer's state code
Dealer's ZIP code

What is Recall?
A recall is when a product is removed from the market or a correction is made to the product because it is either defective or potentially harmful.
What is Failure?
Failure is the state or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, and may be viewed as the opposite of success. Product failure ranges from failure to sell the product to fracture of the product, in the worst cases leading to personal injury, the province of forensic engineering.
What is Defect?
Non-conformance of a car component with the specified requirements, or non-fulfillment of user expectations, including the safety aspects.

Last decoded VIN:

5NTJEDAF6NH038070 6FPAAAJLCMSD22558 ZARCABDCXF7365317 LDP95E963ME014751 SALWR2FE0HA144483 PP32M41GRF1002321 WDB2112871X183596 KNALB4125J5124653 MHYZE8159HJ305148 1HGCS22709A600524 KNAHU815GG7146228 WVGZZZCT7SW438064

Rating: 4.7 from 5 (3783 reviews)

2003 Toyota HIGHLANDER Engine Problems, Complaints and Defects, Recalls and Failures

2003 Toyota HIGHLANDER Engine Problems, Complaints and Defects

What is Recall?

What is Failure?

What is Defect?