2003 Toyota Highlander Complaint Log

WHEN THE DRIVER'S WINDOW WAS DOWN, A LOUD WHISTLING NOISE WAS HEARD. *JB

IN VERY COLD MAINE TEMPERATURES, AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS SET UNUSED ALL NIGHT, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON IN THE MORNING WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. THIS ALSO HAPPENS IN VERY WARM TEMPERATURES AFTER VEHICLE HAS SET UNUSED ALL NIGHT. AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS RUN A SHORT WHILE AND WARMED UP OR COOLED DOWN, THE AIRBAG SIGNAL WARNING GOES OFF.

2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER UNCONTROLLED SURGE IN ACCELERATION. CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS LIMITED TO NO USE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE FLOOR MAT PLAYED ABSOLUTELY NO ROLE IN THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION INCIDENT. THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED NUMEROUS PARTS, BUT COULD NOT EXPLAIN THE CAUSE. *JB

2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH BRAKES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER HE PICKED HIS VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALER AFTER HAVING THE 60,000 MILE SERVICE DONE, HE HEARD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEELS WHEN DRIVING OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT OR SPEED BUMPS AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WITHIN DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THE CLICKING NOISE FROM THE BRAKES HAD BEEN REMEDIED. IN MARCH 2010, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CONSUMER DETECTED A SHIMMY COMING FROM THE FRONT END AND TRANSMITTING THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE SHIMMY CONTINUED WITH INCREASED INTENSITY OVER TIME DURING HIS TRIP AND THERE WAS AN ODOR OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. A CLOSER INSPECTION REVEALED, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HAD EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST AND IT SEEMED TO BE HOTTER THAN THE OTHER SIDE ALONG WITH A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE SAME LOCATION. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE RIGHT FRONT CALIPER HAD SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. THE CONSUMER STATED ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE, THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT, ALONG WITH THE BRAKE PADS AND CALIPER. *JB

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE BRAKES, MASTER CYLINDER WAS FAULTY. *MR THE BRAKES FADED WHILE THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT THE BRAKES WERE FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT IF THE BRAKES WERE DESIGN THIS WAY. *SCC *NLM

BACKING OUT OF GARAGE IN A HIGHLANDER AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY RACED W/O FOOT ON GAS PEDAL, CAUSING CONSUMER TO REACT BY APPLYING THE BRAKES. CONSUMER'S FOOT SLIPPED OFF BRAKE PEDAL AND LANDED ON THE ACCELERATOR RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE HITTING THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE. A 2003 CAMRY WAS SUPPLIED AS A RENTAL VEHICLE WHEN THE HIGHLANDER WASTAKEN FOR REPAIR. WHILE USING THE CAMRY, THE CONSUMER WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKE FOR A STOP SIGN AND INADVERTENTLY APPLIED BOTH THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL. CONSUMER RAISED HIS FOOT THEN REAPPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL (ONLY) AND WAS ABLE TO STOP BEFORE ENTERING THE INTERSECTION.

LTR FM WILLIAM LORBER (CA) CONCERNED ABOUT THE BRAKE PROBLEM ON HIS 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AND REQUEST TOYOTA TO REPLACE THEM.*MR CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES FELT AS IF THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS FAULTY. HE NOTIFIED THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY STATED THE BRAKES WERE "FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED." EVEN THE DEALERS SERVICE PERSONNEL SAID THE SAME THING AFTER HE ALMOST REAR-ENDED A VEHICLE AT 35 MPH WHILE TEST DRIVING THE HIGHLANDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER TO TRY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RESOLVED BUT IT WAS NOT. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD IF HE RETURNED AGAIN FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS, HE WOULD BE CHARGED A SERVICE CALL. ONCE AGAIN THE DIAGNOSES WAS "FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED." *PH THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE WERE SMALLER AND WITH THE ADDED WEIGHT IT WOULD TAKE LONGER TO STOP *JB

WHILE THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD ABRUPTLY. VEHICLE JUMPED AN EMBANKMENT AND WENT THROUGH A FENCE. *AK