Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota highlander. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the engine began to overheat. He pulled to the side of the road, and the vehicle was restarted to resume operation. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for inspection. The rear head bolts and a blown head gasket were stripped. Also the cylinder head gasket was replaced. The total cost of the service repair was $1,972. The failure mileage was 120,047. The VIN was unavailable. Updated 05/06/10.
2003 Toyota Highlander engine complaints
Page 4 of 4: complaints 71 to 87 of 87, newest first, as owners wrote them.
This pertains to my wife's 2003 toyota highlander SUV, 4 cylinder engine. On friday, august 28, 2009, while driving she noticed the temperature gage on the dashboard was high. She drove the car home and checked the coolant level. It was extremely low. She refilled the coolant and didn't drive the SUV until she went to her appointment on wednesday, september 9, 2009 with the hawaii toyota dealer servco's motor imports service & parts center at 609 south street, honolulu, hawaii 96813. They told her the engine had a blown head gasket. We understand this is because the cylinder head bolts are stripped on the back side of the engine. This is what caused the coolant leak in the first place. Servco told us that the sure repair (a whole new engine) would exceed $20,000, and the less sure repair (trying to fix the old engine) would cost $13,000. We picked up the car the next day and took it to priam's automotive service & repair at 2002 pauoa road. They did a quick test and said that the head gasket was indeed blown, and referred us to rod's auto service at 972 kawaiahao street because priam's was not equipped to handle that magnitude of repair. Rod's has advised us that the best solution is replacing the entire engine with a rebuilt engine for $5,000, but this has become a common problem with toyota highlanders and locating a rebuilt engine on the mainland will take time. In doing some internet research, I've learned that camrys of the same vintage have also developed similar problems, but it looks like toyota is refusing to recall the vehicles and fix the design flaw. Http://www.camryforums.com/forum/showthread.php?p=21539 to date, the vehicle remains in disrepair.
Engine overheated. Service dept diagnosed bad head gasket. Discovered stripped threads in the block for two rear head bolts. Service dept attempted repair with rethreaded helicoil but would not hold. Engine replacement is required.
I have a 2003 toyota highlander with a @azfe motor in it. There is a major problem with these motors stripping out the headboltsin the back of the motor. I am now in a predicament as I have to get a block when I know it will mess up again and toyota has as of yet to do anything about it.
I noticed that the engine noise changed. Took the SUV to the dealer to check it out, dealer stated that the noise was ok and returned the vehicle to me. After driving the vehicle less than 10 miles returned it to the dealer and the engine was blown.
While driving on the highway, my engine temp in my 4 cyl, 4wd 2003 highlander suddenly spiked high. I had to pull of the road. Towed to dealer. Dealer said bolts on short block of engine were stripped and allowed coolant to leak out and engine overheated. I was at 68,000 miles, so over the warranty period. I took it to my local dealer and they said I had a bad water pump...I paid to have that fixed, but the car still overheated. I took it back to the dealer and they then said it was the engine itself..the short block, something about the screws were stripped, that I had gotten a bad engine with stripped screws. Dealers service manager told me this was a known issue on some 4cyl 2003 highlander but couldn't help me as it was out of warranty!!! The service manager called me back later and said that toyota would help out...I ended up paying a total of almost $1000 for the replacement short block, with toyota paying the rest of the cost for the short block replacement. This was on top of the cost I paid just a few days prior for a water pump that turned out to not be the issue. Very frustrating...I have all my receipts for maintenance and for these repairs. *tr I am filling out this complaint over a year after the incident, because I have seen the same thing in the complaints and wanted to add mine. I do have all the documentation for my repairs for this and am more than willing to answer any questions, thank you.
The SUV was out of coolant & water and my husband take the car to the dealer to check this problem and for regular maintenance (the car only has received service at the dealer, except for tires). The diagnostic was that the shock block has it threads separated from the screws (or bolts). The engine has to be removed in order to change the shock block. The repair has cost $4701.31, because it was also recommended to change the oil pump. Previous to this repair, the SUV was taken to the dealer because there was a recall to reprogram its computer because the check engine light turned on (this happened twice). We have a full record in the dealer of all maintenance checks and repairs the SUV had.
Engine head bolts on 2003 toyota highlander became loose; threads had worn off on 2 or 3 bolts that hold the top of the engine to the main engine block. Vehicle has been well-maintained; 87,000 miles. Repair requires new engine block at cost of $6,400. Appears to be manufacturing defect - engine bolts should not come loose. Toyota refuses to provide any assistance in repair. Vehicle overheated and was towed to repair shop.
Replacement of a charcoal canister on a 2003 toyota highlander. No accidents occurred as a result of the replacement of this part; however, I am concerned about the number of reports of having to replace this very expensive part. Also if the part is a safety hazard (may cause an engine fire) it should not be at the expense of the owner. The part is an emission control device that is surely required by the government. This action is taken because I noticed, while researching charcoal canisters that toyotas come up frequently as having to have this type repair. At this writing I am unable to confirm the part is defective as it is the original part that came with the vehicle when I purchased it brand new. This is not a pre-owned vehicle.
My car engine is filled with sludge and the manufacturer (toyota motor corp.) will not honor the warranty.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 toyota highlander. While driving at an unknown speed, the check engine light illuminated. Two to three months later, the contact received a recall notice regarding the engine. Toyota repaired the vehicle. The current mileage was 50,000 and failure mileage was 40,000.
Sudden rapid increase in engine temperature. Mechanic found leak at back of head gasket. Two bolts to engine block were loose enough to be removed by hand and new bolts could not be reinstalled due to defect in threads. Only repair said to be new engine. Vehicle was previously well maintained and had 73,000 miles.
2003 toyota highlander v6 4wd 45000 miles. It wa s already more than 2 years I have been experiencing exactly the same problem as 'described in the federal safety agency recall 100i0160 000- concerning accessory drive belt squeal/ belt tensioner rattles. Dealership response was that the federal safety agency item number 100i0160 didn't apply to v6 highlanders.
1) noticed radiator fluid slowly leaking under bottom (towards back of engine). Had mechanic check engine, - was leaking at back of head gasket, took apart engine and noticed 3 back bolts to engine block (heads) could be removed by hand. When heads were fixed could not install new bolts (would not tighten) - mechanic said there is a manufacturer defect - no threads. 2) cannot fix engine - need new engine 3) trying to get toyota to pay for repair - in progress with them now - no resolution yet.
A few months after the purchase of my new 2003 toyota highlander, it has developed a pronounced "ticking" sound within the engine. I am concerned that this could mean that a problem is developing, and it is also an annoying sound in an otherwise quiet vehicle. I am going to report this to toyota via their web site. This vehicle cost me almost $35k and I do not feel that this problem is insignificant nor should be ignored by the dealer. Should I choose to sell the vehicle, I would suspect this will significantly lower the price I could ask and may even prevent me from unloading it altogether.
My 2003 highlander limited 6-cyl. 4wd vehicle has a loud audible clicking noise (sounds like valve lifters ticking) eminating from the engine since I purchased the vehicle new from page toyota in jan '2003. The clicking noise is only present when the engine is running. The clicking noise is always audible but the volume decreases as the vehicle reaches normal operating temperature.the clicking noise is very loud when the vehicle is cold. The clicking noise frequency increases with increasing engine RPM and decreases with decreasing engine RPM. The toyota red holman customer service representative stated that the clicking noise is normal and can not be reduced or eliminated.
Two months after buying my new 2003 highlander it developed a loud ticking in the engine. Toyota told me that this was common after 3000 miles or so but that there was nothing wrong with it, nor could it be fixed. I think this significantly reduces the value of the vehicle since I have had passengers ask me what was wrong with my car.
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