2003 Toyota Highlander recalls
NHTSA lists 2 safety recall campaigns for the 2003 Toyota Highlander. Between them they involve latches and locks and wheels. The most recent was received on April 15, 2004.
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Latches and locks
Toyota/child protection lock on side doors
The defect: 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.
The risk: 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.
The remedy: Dealers will shorten the cpl lever. Owner notification began may 7, 2004. Owners should contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
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Wheels
Southeast toyota/alloy wheels
The defect: 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.
The risk: 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.
The 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.
Check by VIN
A campaign rarely covers every Highlander built in 2003. Enter your 17-character VIN to find the recall campaigns filed for your make, model and model year. The VIN is on the driver’s side of the dashboard (visible through the windshield), on the door-jamb label, and on your registration and insurance documents.
Is a recall still open on your vehicle? Only NHTSA’s official VIN check can say whether a campaign applies to your exact vehicle and whether the repair has already been done.
Your VIN is decoded with NHTSA’s public vPIC service to identify the make, model and year. It is not stored and is not added to any page address.
What 2003 Toyota Highlander owners should do
- Check your VIN on NHTSA’s lookup to see which of these campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether any are still open.
- Call a Toyota dealer and book the repair, quoting the campaign numbers (04V-181, 02V-339).
- If you have bought the vehicle used, the recall still applies: the repair is free whoever owns the vehicle now.
- Make sure your current address is on file with the manufacturer so the owner letters reach you.
Other Toyota Highlander model years
- 2025 4
- 2023 9
- 2022 5
- 2021 4
- 2020 4
- 2019 3
- 2018 4
- 2017 3
- 2016 2
- 2015 1
- 2014 4
- 2013 3
- 2012 2
- 2011 5
- 2010 10
- 2009 9
- 2008 11
- 2007 4
- 2006 7
- 2005 6
- 2004 5
- 2002 2
- 2001 3
Common questions
Does the 2003 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 campaigns for the 2003 Toyota Highlander: 04V-181 (Toyota/child protection lock on side doors); 02V-339 (Southeast toyota/alloy wheels).
How do I know if my 2003 Toyota Highlander has an open recall?
Enter your VIN in NHTSA’s recall lookup. Most campaigns cover only part of a model year’s production, and the lookup also shows whether the repair has already been done on your vehicle.
Will the dealer charge to fix the 2003 Toyota Highlander?
No. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge by Toyota dealers. Quote the NHTSA campaign number when you book.