2003 Toyota Highlander electrical problems

Filed May 12, 2017 · Electrical · VA

Check engine light keeps reporting an issue and despite takata recall - spending thousands of dollars on coded repairs, the light comes back on. I have spent numerous dollars to replace cat converter, 2 sets of injectors, fuel pump, on and on......within 2 days, the light is back on. I saw a service campaign release 12/6/2006, but my 4 cylinder highlander VIN does not show up on your list. Next would be a class action suit for lost monies?

Filed Nov 25, 2014 · Brakes, Electrical · 215,000 miles · GA

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.

Filed Nov 25, 2014 · Brakes, Electrical · 215,000 miles · GA

Driver side rear brake lights will not illuminate even when you depress your brakes even after you replace bulb and light socket. Right side rear is ok. I have looked online and it appears other 2003-2006 highlanders are having similar issues. Some on right side and others on left like myself.

Filed Oct 24, 2014 · Electrical, Visibility · 94,000 miles · OH

Clarification from previous submission (10/21/14)....... Heating system blows cold air intermittently when the heat is on. The system was cleaned, worked well to a short time. Within two weeks the problem returned. The mechanic noted this was a common problem with the heating control panels of the early model toyota's. Safety factor: this is hazardous in the winter, as the windows become foggy resulting in the limited visibility especially while the vehicle is in motion. ? ?

Filed Aug 11, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · 136,500 miles · CA

Parking light is not functioning, will not be able to drive at night. Safety issue.

Filed Jun 25, 2014 · Brakes, Electrical · 64,699 miles · NJ

Right side (passenger) brake lights do not light bright when brakes are applied, driver of another car almost hit our vehicle when turning right on to main road. Our car was stopping, but other driver did not see our brake lights on the passenger side as they were not working... The left (drivers) side works fine, but was not visible to the other driver. This seems to be an on going problem with 2002-2007 toyota highlanders, dealer said no recall was issued? This is a real safety issue that could be fatal. Not to mention the cost of a ticket for having a defective brake light. There are many other toyota highlander owners that have experienced the same problem with no recourse from toyota. Just google "toyota 2003 highlander brake light problem" time to issue a recall for safety issues.

Filed May 30, 2014 · Electrical · 100,000 miles · FL · fire

My daughter had parked her car at the school parking lot on 5/27/2014 at 7:02 am , she went to school stayed the whole day at school , she went to dance practice after she got out at about 3:30 pm she headed to the parking lot to go home, she said as she was approaching the vehicle she hit the alarm to open the door but the alarm did not go off, so she contined to get closer to the car and she could smell something burning when she opened the door to the vehicle a cloud of smoke came out , she started coughing and could not believe what happened , she called me right away hysterically crying couldnt even talk and she was telling me that her car had blown up , I said what your car blow up how could that be ,I could not understand what she was telling me how can your car blow up? I was like what the heck !! I told to her hang on and if she was ok I was on my way to her, I called my husband and told him and he had the same reaction as me like what?? . When I arrived to the school I could not believe what I saw the whole dashboard of the vehicle had caught on fire cracked the front window glass, melted the sun visors and the whole middle dashboard was melted completely. I had to call the police and fire I had no clue if this was going to blow up , when the firemen came they watered it down and looked at it and said that there was no foul play it had looked like an electrical fire . What coud have caused this and imagine if my daughter would have been driving the car when the fire occured.

Filed Mar 14, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · 90,000 miles · AZ

The rear left brake light does not work despite having replaced the bulb and fuse.

Filed Jan 11, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · 145,000 miles · CA

We have had unreliable operation of the driver-side brake light for some time (approximate incident date above was for most recent incident). Web search turns up numerous complaints with same symptoms - one example is at www.topix.com. Several reporting this problem replaced major components of taillight assembly only to have problem recur. A call to toyota asking about tsb or recall yields nothing.

Filed Jul 13, 2013 · Brakes, Electrical · 124,000 miles · TX

I have a 2003 highlander. When I press the brake, only the driver side of the tail/brake light becomes brighter. When the lights are on, the bulbs illuminate on the passenger side but they do not get brighter when the brake is pressed. When the lights are off, the brake lights do not illuminate on the passenger side. I saw the same problem today on a highlander just like mine.