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.
Of the 2002 reports, 27 involved a crash and 6 involved a fire. 27 people were injured and 4 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
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
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: visibility
141 reports, newest first. Show all
Visibility, Other or unspecified, May 4, 2007
DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR FALL DOWN INTO DRIVERS VIEW WITHOUT WARNING, BLOCKING THE DRIVERS VIEW AND CREATING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THE DRIVERS VISOR WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE ON MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THERE IS NO VISIBLE DEFECT WITH THE VISOR AND NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE THAT CAUSED THIS PROBLEM TO START. JUDGING FROM THE WEB SITE "HTTP://WWW.TUNDRASOLUTIONS.COM/FORUMS/HIGHLANDER/47694-SUN-VISOR-PROBLEM/" THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. COST TO REPLACE THE VISOR WITH HOME LINK GARAGE DOOR OPENER IN IT COSTS OVER $600, CAUSING MANY PEOPLE TO TRY MANY DIFFERENT POOR METHODS OF FIXING THIS SAFETY PROBLEM. *JB
Visibility, Apr 26, 2007
DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR HAS BEEN FALLING SLIGHTLY FROM IT'S RESTING POSITION ON THE HEADLINER. ON 4-20-07 THE VISOR FELL SUDDENLY ALL THE WAY DOWNWARD AND FULLY BLOCKED MY VIEW OF THE ROAD MOMENTARILY. I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER FOR ADVISE ON THIS PROBLEM. HE THOUGHT THERE HAD BEEN A TSB ON THE VISOR BUT INDICATED THAT IT WAS THE LEXUS VERSION THAT HAD THE BULLETIN. I DO NOT KNOW THIS TO BE A FACT. THE NEW VISOR IN MY CASE IS COST PROHIBITIVE AT OVER 600.00. I AM NOT A SAFETY EXPERT BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE A SLAM DUNK SAFETY ISSUE AND NOT A "I WANT MY VISOR REPLACED FOR FREE" ISSUE. CLEARLY A DEFECT INVOLVING PUBLIC SAFETY. I SUSPECT SOME ACCIDENTS WOULD GET MORE ATTENTION-BUT WHY WAIT FOR ONE WHEN THIS PROBLEM IS SO WELL DOCUMENTED? *JB
Visibility, Mar 1, 2007
SUN VISOR, WHEN FLIPPED FORWARD AS FAR AS IT COULD GO, WOULD IMMEDIATELY DROP DOWN TO A VERTICAL POSITION, THUS BLOCKING MY VIEW. I HAD TO BEND DOWN TO PEEK BELOW THE SUN VISOR. *JB
Visibility, Feb 11, 2007
BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT SUN VISORS BECOME UNABLE TO STAY IN A FIXED VERTICAL POSITION. BOTH HAVE STARTED TO FALL DOWN, WHICH BLOCKS THE DRIVER'S VIEW. THIS IS A VERY SEVERE HAZARD AND COULD CAUSE A WRECK. *NM
Visibility, Feb 1, 2007
2002 HIGHLANDER DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR FALLS DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING AND AT TIMES WILL NOT REMAIN IN THE UP POSITION, THUS HINDERING VIEW AT TIMES. *JB
Visibility, Jan 29, 2007
THE SUN VISOR ON MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER KEEPS FALLING DOWN INTO MY SIGHT OF VISION. I BELIEVE TOYOTA AND YOUR OFFICE SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS INCIDENT. IT IS BECOMING A SAFETY HAZARD AND IT IS VERY WIDE SPREAD ON MANY OF TOYOTA VEHICLES. YOU ONLY HAVE TO SEARCH THE INTERNET TO SEE HOW MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS THEY ARE . *JB
Visibility, Jan 26, 2007
FAILURE OF DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISORS TO STAY IN THEIR NON- USE POSITION. BOTH VISORS FALL WITHOUT ASSISTANCE AND BLOCK VISION CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE. *NM
Visibility, Dec 15, 2006
2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR CONTINUALLY FALLS DOWN WHILE DRIVING. SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WHEN IT HAPPENS IT BLOCKS THE DRIVERS VIEW UNEXPECTEDLY. *JB
Visibility, Nov 8, 2006
BOTH DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISORS FALL DOWN IN YOUR FACE WHILE DRIVING. OBSCURES VIEW AND THERE COULD BE AN ACCIDENT. DEALER WANTS $667.00 TO REPLACE. TOYOTA CORPORATION SHOULD PAY FOR IT. *NM
Visibility, Sep 12, 2006
SUN VISOR ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES ARE DEFECTIVE. THEY KEEP FALLING DOWN AND NOTHING I'VE TRIED WILL KEEP THEM IN PLACE. THIS IS A MAJOR HAZARD AS IT COULD REALLY HURT SOMEBODY IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. SEE FOLLOWING LINKS: HTTP://WWW.TUNDRASOLUTIONS.COM/FORUMS/HIGHLANDER/47694-SUN-VISOR-PROBLEM/ HTTP://WWW.TUNDRASOLUTIONS.COM/FORUMS/HIGHLANDER/47694-SUN-VISOR-PROBLEM-2/ TOYOTA CHARGES OVER $600 FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE, WHICH WE CANNOT AFFORD. *NM
Visibility, Aug 19, 2006
SAFETY PROBLEM/ACCIDENT POTENTIAL: DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR PROBLEM. VISOR DOES NOT STAY IN UPRIGHT (AGAINST THE ROOF) POSITION. WHEN DRIVING, IT CAUSES A SAFETY HAZARD BY BLOCKING MY VIEW OF THE ROAD BECAUSE IT FALLS DOWN INTO THE VERTICAL POSITION. *JB
Visibility, Aug 17, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SUN VISOR ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WILL NOT LOCK AND FALLS DOWN INTO THE OCCUPANT'S VIEW LIMITING VISIBILITY. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE ROD WITHIN THE VISORS WERE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. UPDATED 9/13/2006 - THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURE ADVISED THE CONSUMER TO CONTACT THE DEALER. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO METHOD TO REPAIR THE VISORS AND THAT THEY HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM
Visibility, Aug 14, 2006
I PURCHASED A 2001 HIGHLANDER, WHICH THE DMV CLAIMS IS 2002 (DESPITE THE FACT THAT TOYOTA SOLD IT TO ME USED AS A 2001 HIGHLANDER). ITS SUN VISOR WON'T STAY IN PLACE AND KEEPS HANGING DOWN, IMPAIRING MY VISIBILITY, MOSTLY THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IT COSTS OVER $600 TO REPLACE THE VISOR WITHOUT WARRANTY AND IT REALLY SHOULD BE DONE FOR FREE, GIVEN HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE I KNOW WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB
Visibility, Aug 6, 2006
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2002 DRIVER SIDE VISOR DOES REMAIN IN POSITION. IT FALLS TO FULL DOWNWARD POSITION, BLOCKING VIEW TO ROAD. *NM
Visibility, Other or unspecified, Jul 27, 2006
BOTH SUN VISORS ON MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAVE COME LOOSE DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THEY WILL FALL WHILE DRIVING AND OBSCURE THE DRIVER'S VISION, CREATING A SAFETY ISSUE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *JB
Visibility, Jul 25, 2006
2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR FALLS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VISOR FALLS DOWN WILL NOT STAY UP. WHEN THIS HAPPENS YOUR VISION IS UNEXPECTEDLY BLOCKED. I HAVE TRIED SECURING THE VISOR BUT NOTHING HELPS. *NM
Visibility, Jul 19, 2006
DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. DROPS DOWN WHILE DRIVING BLOCKING DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE RODE. PER TOYOTA DEALER, NEW SUN VISOR REQUIRED AT A COST OF $600 PLUS LABOR. *NM
Visibility, Jul 17, 2006
DRIVER-SIDE SUN VISOR KEEPS FALLING STRAIGHT DOWN, AND CAUSES NEARLY NO VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE '02 HIGHLANDERS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS IT CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *JB
Visibility, Jul 16, 2006
THE DRIVER SUN VISOR IS VERY LOOSE AND OFTEN DROPS DOWN WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. SOMETIMES THIS IS JUST A DISTRACTION BUT CAN EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *JB
Visibility, Jun 20, 2006
2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER - DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY IN THE UP POSITION AND WILL NOT STAY IN THE SUN SHADE POSITION. IT FALLS HALF WAY AND IS RIGHT IN THE LINE OF SIGHT OF THE DRIVER. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITION. HTTP://WWW.TUNDRASOLUTIONS.COM/FORUMS/HIGHLANDER/47694-SUN-VISOR-PROBLEM-2/ TOYOTA CLAIMS THAT THIS IS A WARRANTY ISSUE. THERE ARE MANY RECORDED CASES OF THIS PROBLEM AND TOYOTA IS NOT ADMITTING THAT THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *NM
Visibility, Jun 19, 2006
DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SUN VISORS FALL DOWN OBSCURING VISION WHEN GOING OVER SLIGHTEST BUMP IN THE ROAD - THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ON THE TUNDRASOLUTIONS.COM WEBSITE. *JB
Visibility, Jun 14, 2006
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER THAT HAS A DRIVER SIDE VISOR THAT WILL NOT STAY UP AND A PASSENGER THAT POPS DOWN EVERY TIME I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. MY DEALER WANTS TO SPLIT THE COST WHICH IS OVER $600 (HOMELINK VERSION) AND A LESS FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS PROBLEM BEGAN 18 MONTHS AGO WHEN I HAD ONLY 40,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE - JUST OUT OF MANUFACTURES WARRANTY - THIS ALSO WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MY 100000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I SEE MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM. WITHOUT THE VISOR IT IS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE INTO THE SUN AT RUSH HOUR. ALSO, WITH IT FALLING DOWN ALL THE TIME IT IS DANGEROUS TO NOT LEAVE TIED UP AND UNUSABLE. *NM
Visibility, Jun 6, 2006
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SUN VISOR DOES NOT STAY IN PLACE AND SUDDENLY DROPS DOWN; IMPAIRING DRIVER'S VISION. *NM
Visibility, Jun 4, 2006
MY HIGHLANDER LIMITED 2002 HAS A DESIGN FLAW. THE SUN VISOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE KEEPS FALLING DOWN UNDER ROAD LOAD OBSTRUCTING FIELD OF VISION. THE SUNGLASS HOLDER DOES THE SAME THING. TOYOTA NEEDS TO MAKE A RECALL ON THESE ITEMS AND FIX THEM. *JB
Visibility, May 18, 2006
SHORTLY AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY, MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER BEGAN EXPERIENCING THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM. THE SUN VISORS ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HAS BECOME LOOSE AND OPENS UP WHEN THE VEHICLE TRAVELS OVER EVEN THE SLIGHTEST BUMP ON THE ROAD. THE UNEXPECTED DROPPING OF THE SUN VISORS IN THE DRIVER'S FIELD OF VISION IS AT BEST DISTRACTING AND AT WORST ACCIDENT CAUSING. LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE $600 TO REPLACE JUST THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR. I BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL MY VEHICLES AND OTHERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND REPLACE THE DANGEROUSLY DEFECTIVE SUN VISORS FREE OF CHARGE. *JB