Fuel System
Check engine light, sensors (includes O2 or oxygen sensor), emission control devices (includes EGR), engine computer, engine computer, fuel cap, fuel gauge/sender, fuel injection system, fuel pump, fuel leaks, stalling or hesitation.
What Owners Say
"vacuum system of fuel tank has failed"
Mark F., ON (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.0-L V6)"Needed catalitic converter replaced"
Anonymous, NJ (2003 Toyota Highlander Base 3.0-L V6)"It took two or three visits to the Toyota dealership to finally get the "check engine" light to go off"
Wayne A., UT (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.0-L V6)"lon dash came on....Toyota wanter to chane to cannister for estimated $800. Went to an outside mechanic and he corrected to problem for $60. After running tests it was determined there was a leak in the system. Was a line left of the cannister"
Anonymous, FL (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.0-L V6)"Warning lights come on. Dealer tracks it down to sensor, not actually the emission control device itself"
H L., NC (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.0-L V6)"evap canaster sensor failure $ 800.00"
Everton R., FL (2003 Toyota Highlander Base 3.0-L V6)"catalytic converter failed at 90,000 and again at 140,000"
Donald B., CT (2003 Toyota Highlander Base 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"needed new catalytic converter"
Craig R., VT (2003 Toyota Highlander Base 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"Fuel vapor canister filled up, causing blowback when filling"
Anonymous, NC (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.0-L V6)"Dash indicates "Check Engine". A replacement gas cap fixed it a few years ago"
Michael B., NV (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.0-L V6)"We had to replace the catalytic converter. Dealer thought that there may have been premature failure because my wife did not drive the car very many miles especially not at turnpike speeds and this may have caused excessive heat"
Anonymous, MO (2003 Toyota Highlander Base 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"Check engine light wouldn't go out. Codes indicated catalytic converter. Catalic converter. It's a high time engine. Was successfully replaced. All work done by dealer. We are planning to go to 250,000 miles."
Luanne C., CA (2003 Toyota Highlander Base 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"Replaced at cost of $1000 Califoria model"
Anonymous, TN (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.0-L V6)"I had a very small vacuum leak, in a tiny connection hose under the valve cover. I had a smoke leak detection process done at a independent shop, but ended up at a Toyota Dealership to be smoke tested again to find the small emission system leak. The leak caused a "check engine" light which prevented a car registration inspection, so it had to be found and fixed."
Anonymous, TX (2003 Toyota Highlander Base 3.0-L V6)"Fuel cap sometimes does not fit tight and allows engine light for emission system to come on and then must be reset... Purchased a new cap but still have this occasional problem"
Beth W., AZ (2003 Toyota Highlander Base 3.0-L V6)"Replaced for the 4th time"
Anonymous, CO (2003 Toyota Highlander Base 3.0-L V6)"Check engine light comes on sporadically. Mechanic says code number is a nuisance and he encounters it frequently and rarely finds an actual problem"
Sue K., OH (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.0-L V6)"loose gas cap caused engine light to come on. reinstalled cap and reset light"
Anonymous, MD (2003 Toyota Highlander Base 3.0-L V6)"Have replaced 2x"
Anonymous, TN (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.0-L V6)"Broken hose"
Roger D., NC (2003 Toyota Highlander 3.0-L V6)"All seal on the gas tank deteriorated requiring complete replacement of the tank, fuel pump and all lines."
Anonymous, IL (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.0-L V6)"sticking plunger would not allow sensor to open and close appropriately. Also had hose problems--most emission system hoses had deteriorated over 16 year life of vehicle and required replacing"
Gene C., CA (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.0-L V6)"defective"
Mark F., ON (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.0-L V6)"Two O2 sensors failed requiring replacement"
Anonymous, TX (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.0-L V6)"The o2 sensor on the exhaust pipe went bad and caused a leak in the exhaust pipe. The sensor its self is over 400 dollars. Not cool! Of course the warranty that we have doesn't cover electrical components. It affects other systems and causes really bad gas mileage. Also of note is the radiator. It is leaking again, this will be our 5th new one that will be installed"
Anonymous, WI (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.0-L V6)"Three sensors had to be replaced to pass California smog test"
Anonymous, TN (2003 Toyota Highlander 3.0-L V6)"O2 sensors triggered code in the car computer"
Leon W., NJ (2003 Toyota Highlander Base 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"I have replaced three of the four O2 sensors over the past 4 years. The fourth sensor (downstream) triggered a check engine code about six months ago, but I have chosen to not replace it yet. The cost of this sensor part (~$180) is outrageous."
David C., IL (2003 Toyota Highlander Base 3.0-L V6)"Dashboard lights would not go off. Told to replace the O2 sensor."
Anonymous, TN (2003 Toyota Highlander Base 3.0-L V6)"had steady red check engine light -diagnosed as oxygen sensor- $250 to replace"
Anonymous, MA (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"Replaced two O2 sensors."
Robert L., IL (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.0-L V6)"Sensor kept going off."
Claudia S., NY (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.0-L V6)"CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON + SKID CONTROL; LIGHT"
Anonymous, OH (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.0-L V6)"Spent $1000 on o2 sensor and fuel line sensor for California model"
Michael S., TN (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.0-L V6)"engine code for o2 sensor. Purchased sensor and replaced it myself"
Anonymous, MN (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.0-L V6)"Had to replace O2 sensor module"
Anonymous, TN (2003 Toyota Highlander Base 3.0-L V6)"engine light keeps coming on. problem diagnosed as sensor. expensive to fix"
Anonymous, MA (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.0-L V6)"check engine light was on O2 sensor replaced"
R A., VT (2003 Toyota Highlander Base 3.0-L V6)"A Mass Airflow Sensor failed"
Anonymous, CA (2003 Toyota Highlander Base 3.0-L V6)"The check engine light came on, and the dealership indicated the O2 sensor was the problem. This is the first time I've ever had a problem with a sensor in this vehicle"
Richard E., FL (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.0-L V6)"replaced oxygen sensor"
Anonymous, PA (2003 Toyota Highlander Base 3.0-L V6)"Check engine light"
Anonymous, TX (2003 Toyota Highlander 3.0-L V6)"Have replaced 2 of 3 sensors in 2 years. Check engine light now on - possible problem with 3rd sensor"
Hughes C., NC (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.0-L V6)"Dashboard lights come on indicating trouble. Dealer investigates, resets sensors. Last time it was an expensive sensor in the gas tank"
H L., NC (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.0-L V6)"Random failure of various sensors"
Anonymous, TN (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.0-L V6)"Had to have them replaced"
Anonymous, IL (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.0-L V6)"Failed O2 sensor"
Anonymous, MD (2003 Toyota Highlander Base 3.0-L V6)"My check engine kept lighting up. It was diagnosed and repaired. A couple months later the light came on again. Replaced more sensors. A couple months later the light came on. Work performed on the spark plugs and wires. About 3 months later the ligh"
Anonymous, MO (2003 Toyota Highlander Base 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"I've replaced the O2 sensor 3 times but the CEL keeps coming on saying the same O2 sensor very frustrating"
Herbert C., NY (2003 Toyota Highlander 3.0-L V6)"B1/S1 02 sensor went bad"
William S., CA (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.0-L V6)"Needed replacement; cost seemed high. Used independent mechanic, whom I consider reliable"
Anonymous, NJ (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.0-L V6)"Sensors have been a problem since about 60K. Last one was the catalytic converter.It was expensive and most likely not needed, except to keep that engine light off"
Anonymous, VA (2003 Toyota Highlander 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"O2 sensor after being replaced less than 12 months ago by the dealer"
Anonymous, NC (2003 Toyota Highlander Base 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"Constant problem since 2007"
Anonymous, NY (2003 Toyota Highlander Base 3.0-L V6)"Oxygen sensors failed and needed to be replaced to meet state requirement"
Todd L., TX (2003 Toyota Highlander Base 3.0-L V6)"both sensors failed in the space of 6 months"
Anonymous, ON (2003 Toyota Highlander Base 3.0-L V6)"Had to replace at last 3 sensors"
Anonymous, NJ (2003 Toyota Highlander Base 3.0-L V6)"Both sensors went bad a required considerable time and money to diagnose and repair"
James B., MI (2003 Toyota Highlander Base 3.0-L V6)"sensor failure turned on check engine light and disabled the VSC system"
Anonymous, MD (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.0-L V6)"The car fails to start on first try. After a few tries, it idles high enough to remain started. The check light code indicated that the air-fuel ratio sensors had failed; however, starting is still a problem"
Anonymous, FL (2003 Toyota Highlander Base 3.0-L V6)"There are two O2 sensors. Sensors replaced three times. Engine light kept coming on until they were both changed at the same time"
Anonymous, NY (2003 Toyota Highlander Base 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"Replaced two O2 sensors. Very expensive ($820 for non-Toyota parts). One sensor failed 3 years ago. Was advised to keep driving with only a slight impact on gas mileage. When the second sensor went this year engine experienced stuttering and lack of"
Anonymous, ON (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.0-L V6)"Engine light kept coming on, abnormal signal levels from the catalytic converter. This took numerous trips to figure out what exactly was the issue in spite of the car being looked at and hooked up."
Anonymous, OR (2003 Toyota Highlander Base 2.3-L 4 Cyl)"The ESC and engine check light are on. This has happen with both Highlander and Avalon requiring that fuel line canister be replaced (expensive). This is second time for each vehicle. Mechanic indicated that this is common problem for Toyotas."
Robert L., IL (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.0-L V6)"air fuel sensor caused vehicle to get only 5 miles per gallon and also caused vehicle to shake when it hit 50 mph"
Anonymous, WI (2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 3.0-L V6)"Check engine light came on and code indicated the rear bank oxygen sensor located after the catalytic converter had failed. The replacement solved the problem."
Anonymous, MN (2003 Toyota Highlander Base 3.0-L V6)
"Had to replace my catalytic converter several times since last engine rebuild"
Greg E., CA (2003 Toyota Highlander Base 2.3-L 4 Cyl)