Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | |||||
| 4584B | 03/03/2005 | 4583B | 10015846 | '03 highlander front brake repair manual correction. 00400-rm987-u2. *tt '02 highlander. 00400-rm918-u2. *tt | 08/15/2005 |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC | |||
| 06/25/2010 | |||
| Toyota highlanders suv brake lights for years 2002-2003 has a serious issue with either the left or right brake lighting. my wife's 2003 toyota limited edition highlander right rear brake light stop working on 25 june 2010. after reading and learning many other toyota highlanders owners are having the same issue, i had to submit this, since toyota has not announced a recall for this proble. please click here for other comments from toyota highlander's owner: http://www.topix.com/forum/autos/toyota-highlander/t7h7ld934gsqlc6be. i worry about this issue since so many owners have paid a great deal of money trying to have this is resolved, and the only reply/respond they receive from the dealership techs are more money and a statement informing them that there is not a recall. i also worry about this because what would my wife say to a police officer if she is citated repeatedly? please assist in serious matter. | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | |||
| 01/16/2012 | 100000 | ||
| Abs engages intermittently when accelerating from a complete stop. | |||
| 02/22/2011 | 100000 | ||
| Brake light bulb burns out periodically | |||
| 01/01/1901 | 2 | ||
| 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 | |||
| 03/10/2009 | 60000 | 1 | |
| Car was being driven slowly in traffic. when other cars stopped, the brakes were applied. instead of stopping, the car continued forward, hitting another car. it seemed as though the brakes did not work. the car was taken to the dealer the next day to have the brakes evaluated. we were told that the repairman saw those kind of accidents all the time with anti-lock brakes. you cannot hit them hard or they will fail. *tr | |||
| 01/11/2010 | 10000 | 1 | |
| I routinely have difficulty with my brakes on my 2003 toyota highlander. i brought the car to the dealer several times and they were never able to reproduce the problem. just recently i discovered that the problem is cuased by my big feet - i am a size 14. if my foot is straight up and down the top of my shoe or boot rests against the metal bracket and i lose all the leverage on the brake. in essence - i have to stand on the brake to make the car stop. i now try to remember to keep my foot tilted to the side so that i only push on the rubber pad of the brake pedal. i don't believe that i should alter how i apply the brakes to get them to work. the brake pedal design needs to be changed. at least twice i have had near accidents when i had to stop suddenly and my reflex was to brake noramlly - not tilt my foot to the side. i entered the last date this occured. *tr | |||
| 01/27/2009 | 95310 | 1 | |
| I have replaced the brakes in my 2003 highlander in feb and aug 2008 complaining of squealing and occasional grinding. i returned in oct, nov and dec only to be told they hear no noise. i e-mailed the service mgr in jan 2009 and they picked up serviced & delivered the car to me. within 24 hours i had grinding again. i was wondering if these are the same brakes they used on the 2004 lexus. my husband was unable to stop last week and did tap the bumper of the car in front of us, fortunately their bumper was not a toyota so it did not scratch like ours does. *tr | |||
| 11/27/2005 | 67000 | 1 | 02/01/2002 |
| Dt*: the consumer hit a patch of black ice traveling at 45 mph when approaching a stop sign; the vehicle proceeded through a stop sign striking another vehicle in the passenger side. the airbags did not deploy. the pre-braking was minimal due to the icy road conditions. both occupants of the vehicle were wearing seat belts and sustained minor injuries. police were on the scene and a report was taken. the vehicle sustained extensive damage, but was not totaled due to assessment of the insurance adjustor and the lack of airbag deployment. prior to the accident, the airbag warning light illuminated in cold temperatures, but the vehicle was not seen by a dealer for this problem. *jb prior to the accident, the rear brakes and rotors were replaced. updated 03/03/06. *jb updated | |||
| 03/01/2005 | 36232 | 1 | 05/05/2003 |
| I have an '03 toyota highlander. brakes failed while parking causing me to crash into cement retaining wall. the brake pedal went all the way to the floor and the brakes failed to slow and stop. there is body damage and leaking fluids as a result. the car has been towed to a toyota dealer. brakes have yet to be evaluated. this has not happened before. although the car was moving slowly i was injured upon impact. *jb | |||
| 03/24/2003 | 1 | 03/24/2003 | |
| 2003 toyota highlander brakes malfunctioning. nar 07/09/2003.*mr the consumer requested that the dealership reimburse them all expenses due to a faulty vehicle. *cb | |||
| 04/03/2003 | 1 | 12/01/2002 | |
| 2003 toyota highlander's braking system seems to be defective.*mr the consumer is requesting a lease termination for the 2003 toyota highlander in accordance to the georgia lemon law. *cb *jb | |||
| 3 | 03/24/2003 | ||
| 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 | |||
| 1 | 03/24/2003 | ||
| 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 | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK | |||
| 05/25/2003 | 800 | 4 | 05/19/2003 |
| Brake does not work properly pedal goes all the way to the floor and it does n't stop where you need it to stop i took it to dealer they inspect the car for three hours and told me they didn't find any thing wrong very dangerous car. *ak | |||
| 04/01/2003 | 100 | 03/24/2003 | |
| Brakes on new 2003 toyota highlinder are incosistent and provide limited stopping power. dealer says brakes are small for the size of the vehicle, they overheat easily and they have numerous complaints from customers. returned vehicle 3 days after purchasing it and request attention. after several trips and communicatios to the dealer and toyota, i was told the brakes don't work well, but that is how they were designed. i was told i would have to learn to drive this vehicle as the brakes are different than other vehicles. the vehicle is very dangerous to drive on the freeway and is extremely dangerous on downhills.it is so dangerous that we avoid driving the vehicle unless necessary. if we are taking the family on trip through hills or the mountains we rent another vehicle as i value the life of my family.*ak | |||
| 04/16/2003 | 4500 | 3 | 01/06/2003 |
| The consumer noticed that the vehicles brakes were soft and the vehicle experienced extended stopping distance. nlm the vehicle was pulled into a parking space when the brakes had gone to the floor and jumped the curb. a week before, the consumer noticed (2 or 3 times) when the brakes were applied, the vehicle stopped but the pedal slowly went to the floor. the dealer currently stated that the vehicle was fine. scc | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC - PADS | |||
| 07/06/2003 | 4529 | 1 | |
| Consumer feels that the location of the brake/gas pedal are too close. this resulted in accidental acceleration while reversing.*ak | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC - ROTOR | |||
| 07/26/2007 | 58400 | 1 | |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 toyota highlander. the contact stated that toyota is placing new brake pads on vehicles which last longer, but get so hot that they warp the vehicle's rotors. she stated that formerly it would cost $60 to replace the brake pads, but now it costs $300, not including the replacement of the warped rotors. the warped rotors cause the steering wheel to shake uncontrollably when applying the brakes at 60 mph or greater. the current and failure mileages were 58,400. on september 14, 2007, during an oil change,the dealer checked the tire tread and brake pads and the brake pads are operating normally. the contact stated that the vehicle is still shaking at 50mph because the rotors are damaged due to the front brake pads. the dealer and mechanic stated that the newly designed brake pads don | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - MASTER CYLINDER | |||
| 02/04/2009 | 1 | ||
| 2003 toyota highlander. consumer writes regarding brake fluid leak *tgw the consumer stated the brake master cylinder had to be replaced. *jb | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - POWER ASSIST | |||
| 01/29/2005 | 25000 | 1 | 08/22/2003 |
| Pulling into parking space the brakes did not stop the car even a that slow rate. my car hit the parked car in front of me causing substantial damage to that car and only moderate bumper damage to my vehicle. at other times the engine seems to power up while driving and this may have happened while trying to park when the accident happened. *jb | |||