2003 Toyota Highlander Review
2003 Toyota Highlander Review
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
+53
Used Highlander for sale
Appraise This CarSee Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Roomy cabin, carlike ride and handling, clean styling.
Cons
- Gets expensive quickly, limited towing and off-road ability.
What’s new
There are no changes for the Highlander this year.
Edmunds says
Need SUV utility but don't want any unnecessary bulk or fuel bills? The Highlander could very well suit your needs.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2003 Toyota Highlander Fwd 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 4A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.36 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$194/mo for Highlander Base
Highlander Base
vs
$196/mo
Avg. Midsize SUV
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2003 Toyota Highlander.
5 star(86%)
4 star(10%)
3 star(3%)
2 star(1%)
1 star(0%)
326 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4.75 out of 5 stars
New Owner-Wierd Issues
mjc333, 11/09/2011
2003 Toyota Highlander Limited AWD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
I just purchased the Toyota Highlander 2003 and upon purchasing the vehicle I was very happy.
The check engine light came on shortly after purchase and apparently the cause is a bad "ECM" board in the SUV.
I am not sure if this is common but I have experienced this problem.
I love the vehicle otherwise and plan on driving it for a while.
Currently at 82K hope it lasts to 200K without … major repairs.
4.38 out of 5 stars
Former Toyota...stripped head bolts
bizmin, 10/06/2010
2003 Toyota Highlander Fwd 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 4A)
2003 Toyota Highlander 2.4 L 4-cylinder engine, 108,000 miles, perfect service, until it developed coolant leak on the back side of the top of the engine, adjacent to an insulator pad at the back of the engine block. The back 3 head bolts were completely stripped, allowing coolant to leak into the engine. Toyota dealer says the short block or entire engine must be replaced, with no other … option [$5200- $7400+.] Based on the frequency of identical engine failures, faulty factory assembly and/or design assures eventual failure of the engine. 25-year Toyota fan, probably lost forever.
4 out of 5 stars
425k miles still going strong
razcob, 04/02/2018
2003 Toyota Highlander Limited AWD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
This has been a very reliable car, and we have only replaced two oxygen sensors, other than normal wear items like brakes, etc. The only negative to this vehicle is the gas mileage. We are getting 18 mpg overall. The interior is holding up well, with a slight tear in the drivers seat. My daughter was in a rear end accident, and the bumper was ripped but the rear structure remained … intact. The other car's front end was totaled, so we rate the safety in this type of crash as excellent.
Update- 295k and it’s still going. This thing has been in a couple of accidents, including a head on collision with a deer. No need to call the insurance on that one. A ball-peen hammer fixed her right up, and a visit to the junkyard for a new light should do it! Yeah, it just keeps running with no mechanical problems. We just drove it loaded from Virginia to Tennessee and it ran great.
320k. I want a new car, but this thing isn’t giving me any reasons or problems to sell it.
Oct 2021- 400k mile. engine burns oil but it keeps running strong.
5 out of 5 stars
Bought used and loved it for 150000 miles!
D Fig, 04/28/2017
2003 Toyota Highlander Limited AWD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
It's a great car!! It doesn't have the bells and whistles of today's cars but if you're looking for something reliable with little maintenance that drives like a dream this is the car for you.
2003 Highlander Highlights
Base
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $23,880 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 22 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $194/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 38.5 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the Highlander include:
- Alarm
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRollover3 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
People who viewed this also viewed
4.0 average Rating out of 35 reviews. |
Starting at $43,320 |
4.1 average Rating out of 24 reviews. |
Starting at $37,090 |
3.7 average Rating out of 16 reviews. |
Starting at $35,990 |
Related Used 2003 Toyota Highlander info
Vehicle reviews of used models
- Used BMW 5 Series 2017
- Used BMW ActiveHybrid 7 2014
- Used Lexus LX 450 2016
- Used Chevrolet Malibu 2022 For Sale
- Used Dodge Intrepid 2022
Shop similar models
- Used Toyota Grand-highlander
- Used Volkswagen Atlas
- Used Chevrolet Traverse
- Used GMC Acadia
- Used Subaru Ascent
Shop used vehicles in your area
- Used Toyota Highlander 2015
- Used Toyota Highlander 2010 For Sale
- Used Toyota Highlander 2017
- Used Toyota Highlander 2013
- Used Toyota Highlander 2012
- Used Toyota Highlander 2011
- Used Toyota Highlander 2014
- Used Toyota Highlander 2018
- Used Toyota Highlander 2016
- Used Toyota Highlander 2019
Popular new car reviews and ratings
- 2023 Audi RS 6
- 2025 GMC Terrain News
- M8
- 2025 BMW M5 News
- Audi RS 7 2023
- 2024 Silverado 2500HD
- Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid 2023
- Volvo V60 Cross Country
- 2023 Chevrolet C/K 1500 Series
- Lexusrx500H
Research other models of Toyota
- Toyota Corolla Hybrid 2023
- 2023 Toyota BZ4X
- 2023 Sequoia
- 2024 T100
- Toyota Crown 2023
- 2023 Toyota GR Corolla
- 2024 Toyota Tundra
- Toyota Highlander 2023
- Toyota Prius 2023
- 2023 Camry Hybrid
Research similar vehicles
- Toyota RAV4 2023
- Chevy SUV Blazer
- 2023 Chevrolet Suburban
- Chevrolet Trailblazer 2023
- 2024 Durango
- Ioni Q 5
- Lincoln Aviator
- Sewell Lexus TX
- Jeep Cherokee
- Porsche Macans
Other models
- Used Mini Clubman in Pottsville, PA
- New Lincoln Aviator for Sale in Phillipsburg, NJ
- New Lexus NX for Sale in Tulare, CA
- Used Mazda Mx-5-Miata-Rf in Hialeah, FL
- Used Infiniti QX55 in Sykesville, MD
- New Kia Soul for Sale in Conover, NC
- New Toyota Prius for Sale in Blue Springs, MO
- Used Chevrolet Silverado-1500-Classic in Braintree, MA
- Used Mercedes-Benz Maybach-Gls in Lincoln, NE
- Used Mercedes-Benz Gl-Class in Hampton, VA