2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER Complaints

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. *NM

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. *AK

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

SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED. VEHICLE WENT UP A TWO FOOT EMBANKMENT AND THRU A CHAIN LINK FENCE. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED BY PLACING INTO PARK. THIS ALL HAPPENED WHILE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED FULLY.

AIR BAG COMPUTER SYSTEM HAD A DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON, AND THE SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE COMPUTER SYSTEM.*AK

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.*AK

OWNERS MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS STATE THAT CONSUMER CAN PLACE A CHILD INTO THE CONVERTIBLE CHILD SEAT, FACING FORWARD FROM 20-30 LBS, UNDER A YEAR OLD. THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THE INSTRUCTIONS THE INFORMATION IS CORRECT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN INFORMED OF THE MIS PRINT.*AK *PH

UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN. AS NOTED IN SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS THIS VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY NON-DRIVABLE WITH WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN. THIS FACT IS NEVER MENTIONED TO ANY CUSTOMERS AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. I FEEL THAT IF ANYONE BUYING A VEHICLE FOR MORE THAN 30K SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO ANY SUCH DESIGN FLAW. EVEN WHEN ASKING THE DEALER, LATER ON, THE RESPONSE WAS THAT THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM. TOYOTA NEEDS TO CAREFULLY LOOK INTO THIS AS WITH WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN ON FREEWAY SPEEDS, IT CREATES ALMOST A LOW PRESSURE ENV WITHIN THE VEHICLE WITH EAR-ACHES FOR ALL PASSENGERS.*AK

WITH REAR WINDOWS LOWERED A DEAFENING BUFFETING VIBRATION OCCURS FROM THE AFT CARGO COMPARTMENT. WHEN THE SPEED IS INCREASED, THE BUFFETING INCREASES TO AN UNBEARABLE LEVEL. DEALER DID NOT DISCLOSE THIS INFORMATION PRIOR TO PURCHASE. *JB

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