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
327 reports, newest first.
Visibility, Jun 14, 2010
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE SUN VISORS WILL NOT STAY IN THE UP POSITION. THEY RANDOMLY FALL DOWN PARTIALLY BLOCKING MY VIEW AND CREATING A SAFETY HAZZARD. I ORIGINALLY TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHO HAD IT REPLACED BUT THE SAME THING KEPT HAPPENING. I WENT ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT IT'S NOT JUST MY 2002 HIGHLANDER. I'VE TRIED VELCRO BUT THAT WON'T HOLD IT IN PLACE. I'VE HAD SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS ON THE HIGHWAY AS A RESULT OF THIS ISSUE. IT HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY AND I JUST CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Jun 10, 2010, crash
2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER STATES BRAKE FAILURE CAUSING AN ACCIDENT *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE FAILURE CAUSED HER TO ROLL DOWN A HILL AND FLIPPING OVER THREE TIMES. SHE WAS TRAPPED UPSIDE DOWN IN THE VEHICLE. *JB
Visibility, Jun 10, 2010
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP AND IT IS IMPAIRING MY VISION. IF I CAN GET IT TO STAY UP FOR A FEW MINUTES, IT FALLS UNEXPECTEDLY INTO MY VIEW, CUTTING OFF MY LINE OF SIGHT AND NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE ONLY REMEDY I CAN SEE IS TO REMOVE IT, BUT THEN I AM BLINDED BY THE SUN. I DRIVE WITH MY CHILD IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME AND FIND THIS TO BE QUITE DISTURBING WHEN IT HAPPENS. I BOUGHT THE HIGHLANDER BECAUSE OF ITS SAFETY RATING, BUT THIS IS VERY DISAPPOINTING. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR SOME TIME, AND NOW THE VISOR JUST SWINGS IN FRONT OF ME WITHOUT STAYING UP OR FORWARD, OUT OF THE WAY. THE DATE REPORTED BELOW IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. *TR
Visibility, May 28, 2010
WE HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WHICH WE PURCHASED NEW IN APRIL 2002. THE VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 39,000 MILES. FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR SUDDENLY FALLS DOWN AND PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTS THE DRIVER'S VISION. IT FALLS DOWN AT SLOW SPEED WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES OVER BUMPS. IT FALLS DOWN ON THE INTERSTATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FROM VIBRATIONS - SUCH AS EXPANSION JOINTS IN THE ROAD. IT IS USUALLY JUST ANNOYING BUT ONCE IN AWHILE IT IS VERY DANGEROUS SUCH AS WHEN YOUR ARE PASSING ON A TWO LANE ROAD IT WILL SUDDENLY DROP DOWN OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VISION. I HAVE LOOKED ON LINE AND FOUND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 HIGHLANDER. AND IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX IF YOU HAVE THE GARAGE DOOR REMOTE BUILT INTO THE VISOR - AS WE DO. ABOUT AN $800 REPAIR - WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE COST BEING THE PART. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THESE DEFECTIVE VISORS SHOULD BE REPLACED BY TOYOTA. I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT DATE OR MILEAGE WHEN THIS PART STARTED TO FAIL SO I ESTIMATED BOTH. *TR
Visibility, May 23, 2010
2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER DRIVERS SIDE VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. THIS IS THE SECOND $850 UNIT IN 2 YEARS. IT'S ANNOYING, NOT TO MENTION DANGEROUS WHEN IT DROPPED DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY AND BLOCKED MY VIEW THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. BETWEEN THE VISOR AND THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE, I COULD SEE ABOUT A 2" STRIP OF ASPHALT ABOUT 10 FEET IN FRONT OF THE HOOD. VERY VERY DANGEROUS!!!!!! *TR
Visibility, May 20, 2010
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR ON MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER DROPS DOWN BLOCKING THE DRIVER'S VISION. WHEN PUSHED UP IT SIMPLY FALLS BACK DOWN. *TR
Vehicle speed control, May 12, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THIS WAS THE THIRD INCIDENT OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN THE VEHICLE. ON THE FIRST INCIDENT, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING CONSTANT, STEADY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. ON THE SECOND INCIDENT, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK IN THE OPEN THROTTLE POSITION AND HE WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY REMOVE THE PEDAL FROM THE STUCK POSITION. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,532.
Power train, May 10, 2010
TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSTATE. JUST A WEEK EARLIER, THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY COLD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 29, 2010
MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER V6 BROKE DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT OIL SLUDGE HAS CLOGGED MY ENGINE AND I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE IT REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $6000. I WAS SHOCKED BECAUSE I ALWAYS GOT MY OIL CHANGED WELL BEFORE THE SUGGESTED 7500 MILE MARK. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND OUT MY CAR WAS PART OF A RECALL AND CLASS ACTION SUIT. THEY NEVER SENT A RECALL NOTICE. WE PURCHASED THE CAR WHEN IT WAS 2 YEARS OLD. I CONTACTED TOYOTA USA AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS OIL SLUDGE BUT SINCE A WAS A COUPLE MONTHS BEYOND THE CLASS ACTION SUIT OF 8 YEARS. I ARGUED THAT THEY NEVER SENT US A RECALL NOTICE. THEY PRETTY MUCH SAID TOUGH LUCK. I WAS LUCKY I WAS ABLE TO GET MY CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY ( MY 5 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN THE BACK). I DON'T FEEL TOYOTA MADE ENOUGH OF AN EFFORT TO LET THE CUSTOMER KNOW OF THESE ISSUES.. I FEEL THEY WERE INTERESTED IN PROTECTING THEIR REPUTATION ABOVE THEIR CUSTOMERS SAFETY. I WOULD HAVE CERTAINLY GOTTEN THE CAR FIX IF THEY HAD SENT THE RECALL NOTICE. I WILL NOT PAY $6000 FOR SOMETHING THAT TOYOTA SHOULD. THESE CARS ARE DANGEROUS AND THIS COMPANY IS WRECK-LESS. *TR
Visibility, Apr 19, 2010
HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DO HIGHLANDER OWNERS HAVE TO SUBMIT ABOUT SUN VISORS DROPPING BEFORE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT. IS TOYOTA GOING TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE GETS IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO IT. I HAVE A 2002 HIGHLANDER AND HAVE BEEN TRYING DIFFERENT THINGS TO MAKE THE VISOR STAY UP FOR YEARS, WITH LITTLE SUCCESS. WERE THERE ANY DEATHS OR INJURIES? NO NOT YET WHY WAIT UNTIL IT HAPPENS! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Exterior lighting, Apr 11, 2010
THE RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT ON MY 2002 HIGHLANDER KEEPS GOING OUT, DESPITE THE NUMBER OF BULB CHANGES I'VE DONE. THERE IS A LARGE NUMBER OF HIGHLANDER OWNERS THAT HAVE FILED THIS SAME REPORT ONLINE VIA BULLETIN BOARDS, ETC. *TR
Visibility, Apr 2, 2010
MY 2002 LIMITED TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAS A SUN VISOR THAT WONT STAY UP. IT IS THE DRIVER SIDE AND I AM VERY CONCERN ESPECIALLY WHEN HITTING MILD ROAD BUMPS IT FALLS DOWN. I AM HOLDING IT WITH VELCRO AND I HAVE TO CHANGE THAT EVERY OTHER MONTH. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND WOULD APPERICATE IF SOMEONE CAN LOOK INTO IT. I LOOKED AT THE ONLINE FORUMS FOR HIGHLANDERS AND THEY ARE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM.
Visibility, Mar 31, 2010
THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR, WHICH HAS THE ELECTRONICS BUILT IN, UNEXPECTEDLY FLOPS DOWN. IT STARTED IN 2004 AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. TOYOTA WANTS OVER $750 TO REPLACE IT. REPAIR IS NOT OFFERED. IT OCCASIONALLY FALLS UNEXPECTEDLY AND BLOCKS MY VISION OF TRAFFIC LIGHTS. HOWEVER, I DIDN'T CONSIDER IT A REAL SAFETY HAZARD UNTIL RECENTLY. IT FELL AT AN INOPPORTUNE MOMENT, DISTRACTED ME, AND I WAS ALMOST ENVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THERE IS NO REASON THIS ITEM SHOULD HAVE FAILED AFTER ONLY 1 1/2 YEARS USE AND THERE IS NO REASON A REPLACEMENT SHOULD COST $750. THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD.
Equipment, Other or unspecified, Mar 17, 2010, crash
AFTER ONLY HAVING MY NEW 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER FOR APPROX. 8 MONTHS, THE ACCELERATOR IN THE CAR STUCK AND I ENDED UP RUNNING INTO A CAR. I COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA AND HAD THE DEALER LOOK AT THE CAR NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THEY KEPT TELLING ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. WELL 8 YEARS LATER AND THEY STILL HAVEN'T RECALLED MY CAR, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE OTHER YEARS. *TR
Visibility, Mar 16, 2010
MY 2002 HIGHLANDER ALSO HAD THE FLOPPY VISOR SYNDROME WHEN OUT OF WARRANTY. COST TO REPLACE WAS $660 BUT NORTH KINGSTOWN TOYOTA DID A COURTESY REPLACEMENT AT NO CHARGE. ALL WHO HAVE PAID FOR THIS REPAIR SHOULD CONSIDER A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST TOYOTA FOR IGNORING ANOTHER SAFETY PROBLEM. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Mar 15, 2010
SOMETIME IN 2006, MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. I WAS STANDING ON THE BRAKE TO MAKE THE CAR STOP AND IT WOULDN'T. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT THROUGH THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, HIT THE BRAKE, THEN THROUGH IT INTO PARK WHILE IT WAS STILL MOVING. I CALLED JIFFY LUBE WHO JUST HAD PERFORMED AN OIL CHANGE. THEY SENT A TECHNICIAN OVER TO LOOK AT IT. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR FOR THE TECH THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE. WE BOTH LOOKED TO SEE IF THERE WAS SOMETHING STUCK UNDER THE ACCELERATOR. THERE WAS NOT. WE BOTH PULLED UP ON THE ACCELERATOR AND IT DID NOT APPEAR TO BE STUCK. THE TECH COULDN'T EXPLAIN IT. I CAN'T RECALL IF I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO TOYOTA OR IF THE PROBLEM STOPPED SUDDENLY AND I DROVE MYSELF. TOYOTA IS ONE MILE FROM WHERE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. TOYOTA TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND ASSURED ME THAT IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. I DROVE HIM WITHOUT INCIDENT UNTIL I PULLED IN MY DRIVEWAY, THE CAR ACCELERATED AND I AGAIN HAD TO THROW THE CAR INTO PARK WHILE MOVING. THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO TOYOTA AND WE WERE TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS "FIXED" AND GIVEN SOME EXCUSE THAT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE. IT NEVER HAPPENED AGAIN AND WE TRADED THE CAR FOR A NEW ONE IN 2008. THE DEALERSHIP WAS BOB ROHRMAN TOYOTA IN WESTMONT, IL. I THINK THE RECALL NEEDS TO GO BACK FURTHER TO INCLUDE 2002 VEHICLES. *TR
Visibility, Mar 11, 2010
SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY PUT - IT'S IN THE DOWN POSITION AT ALL TIMES AND WON'T STAY UP OUT OF THE LINE OF SIGHT. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 11, 2010
4 CYLINDER ENGINE BLOCKED WARPED WHERE HEAD MEETS BLOCK. HEAD BOLTS WERE STRIPPED AND COULD NOT BE TIGHTENED DOWN. FOLLOWING LINK DESCRIBES THE PROBLEM WE ENCOUNTERED WITH OUR 2002 HIGHLANDER WHICH HAS THE SAME 2.4 LTR 4 CYLINDER ENGINE AS THE CAMRY. HTTP://WWW.TUNDRASOLUTIONS.COM/FORUMS/ CAMRY/148454-CAMRY-WITH-STRIPPED-HEAD-BOLTS/ ALL DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR OF OUR HIGHLANDER WAS DONE AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN ROSWELL, GA. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 9, 2010, crash
MAY 17, 2002, I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT WITH MY 3 MONTH OLD 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. I WAS TRAVELING IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE ON HIGHWAY 80 WEST BOUND BETWEEN DAVIS, CA AND SAN FRANCISCO CA AT 8:30 AM. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT FROM EYE WITNESSES, MY VEHICLE LEFT THE ROADWAY WITHOUT ANY BRAKE LIGHTS, WENT THROUGH A CYCLONE FENCE, CONTINUED .10 MILES AND DOWN INTO A RAVINE. BRAKE LIGHTS NEVER CAME ON AND THE CAR NEVER SLOWED. I WAS LIFE FLIGHTED TO THE JOHN MUIR MEDICAL CENTER TRAUMA UNIT. I ARRESTED IN THE HELICOPTER. I SUFFERED A SIGNIFICANT TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, MULTIPLE FRACTURES, INCLUDING A SHATTERED JAW AND A PARALYZED VOCAL CHORD. NO OTHER VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENT. *TR
Visibility, Mar 9, 2010
MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER DRIVER'S SIDE SUNVISOR WILL FALL DOWN UNEXPECTED BLOCKING MY VIEW FOR A FEW SECONDS. FOR SAFETY REASONS, I CANNOT USE MY VISOR AS I BUNGY CORD IT TO STAY UP. BUT ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE NOW IS THERE NO PROTECTION FROM THE BRIGHT SUN OR SNOW. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Mar 9, 2010, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A WALL OF HIS GARAGE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,690. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000.
Visibility, Mar 3, 2010
THE 2002 HIGHLANDER DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR DROPS DOWN AND OBSTRUCTS THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROADWAY. TOYOTA CHARGES +/- $600.00 FOR THE PART ALONE. THERE IS A BLOG WITH TOYOTA OWNERS THAT DEMONSTRATES THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON AND IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. THE VISOR DROPS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS IN USE, ESPECIALLY IN WARM WEATHER. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Mar 2, 2010, crash
I PULLED INTO MY GARAGE DURING EARLY AFTERNOON AND CAME TO THE USUAL STOP FACING THE WALL. MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE AND I HAD NOT YET PUT THE CAR INTO PARK. SUDDENLY THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD AND HIT THE WALL WITH GREAT ENOUGH FORCE TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAG. THE BAG FRACTURED MY STERNUM IN TWO PLACES. AT THE TIME I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE PREVALENCE OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION PROBLEMS AND DID NOT REPORT IT. THERE HAVE BEEN NO EPISODES SINCE. *TR
Exterior lighting, Mar 2, 2010
RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT CONNECTION IS BAD. I HAVE CHANGED THE BULBS AND ALL OTHER LIGHTS ON THAT SIDE WORK. THE TAIL LIGHTS, HAZARDS, REVERSE AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS ALL WORK. THE ONLY LIGHT THAT CONTINUES TO NOT WORK IS THE BRAKE LIGHT LIGHTING UP WHEN THE PEDAL IS PUSHED DOWN. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR A YEAR NOW AND WITH ONLINE SEARCHES, I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Tires, Feb 26, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2007. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH THE WRONG SIZE TIRES, PER A FIRESTONE DEALER. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE TIRES. THE CONTACT HAS PURCHASED 4 NEW TIRES. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH PER A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE WRONG TIRE SIZE WAS 215/70/15 AND THE CORRECT TIRE SIZE HE PURCHASED FROM FIRESTONE WAS 195/70/16. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.