2003 Toyota Highlander Wheels Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 1%of 258 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 200,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the wheels of the 2003 Toyota Highlander, 1% of the 258 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 200,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“2003 Toyota Highlander 4.0 have had serious problems with the brakes on this vehicle since I purchased it due to Toyota originally installing brakes that are too small for the size of this vehicle. Trying to get it to a stop is a problem and the brakes fail alot as well as the fact that they destroy the oem rotors and pads and I have replaced the pads several times as well as had the rotors turned twice and now need to replace all 4 rotors and pads due to this something really needs to be done to fix this issue per Toyota.”
NHTSA complaint #10369766, filed 2010-12“The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Highlander. While driving 40 MPH on ice, the power steering seized and the rear driver's side wheel locked up. As a result, the vehicle spun out and crashed into a snow mound. The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's home. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The cause of the failure was not determined. The failure mileage was 200,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11172554, filed 2019-01, 200,000 miles“The locking lug nuts on the Toyota Highlander wheels break and fragment with sharp metal shards when they are removed with the matching lock lug socket and 1 foot wrench without any abnormal torsion. The equipped lug wrench is exactly 12 inches long (lever length). The lug nuts when broken cannot be removed to change the tires. This has happened twice: once on the highway and the second time with a new matching socket and the 12 wrench. The original locking lug nut had to be drilled off by the dealer. The person applying the torque weighs 153 lbs. Patrick vanschoyck, m.d.”
NHTSA complaint #10133262, filed 2005-08Related recalls
- 02V339000Dec 17, 2002On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with five factory alloy wheels (model 6934 and 6936), with factory llat, and with port installed wr4, four alloy…Covers: Toyota Highlander 2003, 4RUNNER 2003
Related service bulletins
- 10207946Jan 12, 2022POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Toyota. This information must be kept…
- 10177781Jun 23, 2020TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. ST005-01, SU001-08, and T-SB-0391-08. The aforementioned bulletins are…
Wheels: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 4 | 2% |
| 2022 | 1 | 0% |
| 2021 | 2 | 0% |
| 2020 | 1 | 0% |
| 2019 | 2 | 0% |
| 2018 | 4 | 1% |
| 2017 | 6 | 2% |
| 2016 | 4 | 4% |
| 2015 | 1 | 1% |
| 2014 | 3 | 2% |
| 2013 | 3 | 1% |
| 2012 | 3 | 2% |
| 2011 | 1 | 1% |
| 2010 | 4 | 2% |
| 2009 | 3 | 2% |
| 2008 | 6 | 1% |
| 2007 | 5 | 4% |
| 2006 | 2 | 1% |
| 2005 | 4 | 2% |
| 2004 | 3 | 1% |
| 2003 | 3 | 1% |
| 2002 | 1 | 0% |
Other parts of the 2003 Toyota Highlander
46 complaintsEngine
41 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
34 complaintsBrakes
33 complaintsVehicle speed control
28 complaintsBody and structure
18 complaintsElectrical system
15 complaintsExterior lighting
15 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
13 complaintsOther or unknown
11 complaintsFuel system
10 complaintsAir bags
9 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Toyota Highlander
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology