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2002 Toyota Highlander

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Visibility is the leading concern among 327 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 4th highest complaint count among 25 Highlander model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  2. 327

Of the 2002 reports, 27 involved a crash and 6 involved a fire. 27 people were injured and 4 people died.

Primary concernVisibility125 reports · 38% of complaints
Owner complaints327Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship2 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Visibility125
  2. Vehicle speed control31
  3. Engine and engine cooling24
  4. Structure24
  5. Power train18
  6. Service brakes17
  7. Visibility/wiper16
  8. Other or unspecified15

Recalls and investigations

  1. Latches/locks/linkages, doors, latchApr 15, 2004

    CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE A CHILD PROTECTION LOCK (CPL) SYSTEM ON BOTH OF THE REAR SIDE DOORS. WHEN AN OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE CLOSES THE DOOR VERY HARD WITH THE CPL LEVER SET TO THE LOCK POSITION, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE LEVER MAY CONTACT THE BODY PANEL, CAUSING THE CPL LEVER TO MOVE INTO THE UNLOCK POSITION.

    THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW THE DOOR TO BE OPENED WITH THE INSIDE WHILE THE OPERATOR BELIEVES THAT THE CPL WAS ACTIVATED. IF THE DOOR WERE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, AN OCCUPANT COULD FALL OUT AND BE INJURED.

    DEALERS WILL SHORTEN THE CPL LEVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 7, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

    Campaign 04V181000 on NHTSA.gov

  2. Fuel system, gasoline, storage, tank assembly, mountingJul 30, 2002

    ON SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THERE IS A BREATHER HOSE THAT ATTACHES TO THE NOZZLE OF THE ON-BOARD REFUELING VAPOR RECOVERY (ORVR) VALVE, WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE TOPSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. THE BREATHER HOSE IS ATTACHED WITH A CLAMP, WHOSE "TABS" FACE IN THE UPWARD DIRECTION. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS CRASHED UNDER THE NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) TEST (I.E., 35 MPH FRONTAL BARRIER CRASH), THE CLAMP "TABS" CONTACTED THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BODY DUE TO MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL TANK, CAUSING THE NOZZLE TO BREAK.

    IN THE WORST CASE, NOZZLE BREAKAGE COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THE VEHICLE ROLLS-OVER AFTER A HIGH SPEED FRONTAL CRASH.

    DEALERS WILL ROTATE THE SPECIFIED CLAMP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 23, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

    Campaign 02V208000 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints: vehicle speed control

31 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Vehicle speed control, Apr 13, 2004, crash

    WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING AREA, AND WHEN CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKES VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. WHILE TRYING TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND AVOID PEDESTRIANS VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A CEMENT POLE IN THE PARKING LOT. CONSUMER SUFFERED SEVERE HEAD AND KNEE INJURIES. THE POLICE ISSUED A REPORT ON THE COLLISION.*AK

  2. Vehicle speed control, Oct 31, 2003, crash

    DRIVER MADE A LEFT TURN WITH FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL AND ROLLED INTO A PARKING SPOT WITHIN A PARKING LOT, ESTIMATED SPEED TO BE 2 MPH. THE ENGINE SURGED AND THE CAR RAN OVER 3 SMALL TREES, WENT UP AN INCLINE APPROXIMATELY 3 FT. HIGHER THAN THE PARKING LOT, THEN PROCEEDED APPROXIMATELY 8 FEET INTO THE ADJACENT PROPERTY THEN STRUCK THE BRICK CHIMNEY OF A HOUSE AND BOUNCED BACK INTO THE PARKING LOT. THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED DURING THIS OCCURRENCE BUT DID NOT STOP THE CAR. *LA

  3. Vehicle speed control, Jun 6, 2003

    ENGAGED FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATION HAPPENED, DAMAGING MANY OTHER CARS. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

  4. Air bags, Vehicle speed control, May 1, 2003, crash

    VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS ON CAUSING VEHICLE TO START UP STEEP HILL WHERE THE FRONT END SLID TO THE RIGHT WHERE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO GO UP A DRIVE/CARPORT STRIKING A PORCH AND ROCK WALL

  5. Vehicle speed control, Dec 9, 2002

    CONSUMER TRIED TO DISENGAGE THE VEHICLE CRUISE CONTROL, AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AT A HIGH SPEED WHEN CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, CONSUMER HAD TO TURN THE KEYS IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION, AND ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO COAST TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DEALERSHIP HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. PH THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE VEHICLE WAS FINE AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO PROBLEMS SINCE.*JB

  6. Vehicle speed control, Oct 4, 2002, crash

    CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE THROTTLE WILL STICK. DEALER NOTIFIED. *MR