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2002 Toyota Highlander

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Toyota Highlander do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 186.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

205 reports with mileage · 96 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Visibility. Review the 123 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

24 crash reports6 fire reports17 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

2 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 29, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed ControlFire

I SAW SOMEONE STEAL MY CAR AND TOLD THEM THEY HACKED. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD SLOW UP AND DOWN. BURNING OF THE ELECTRICS WHEN TRY TO CHARGE. CAR STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. CAR GOING ON AND OFF. THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, TURNING BACK ON. SPEED CONTROL MESSING UP. SECURITY WARNING GOING UP AND DOWN.. BATTERY WOULD SHUT ON A…

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I SAW SOMEONE STEAL MY CAR AND TOLD THEM THEY HACKED. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD SLOW UP AND DOWN. BURNING OF THE ELECTRICS WHEN TRY TO CHARGE. CAR STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. CAR GOING ON AND OFF. THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, TURNING BACK ON. SPEED CONTROL MESSING UP. SECURITY WARNING GOING UP AND DOWN.. BATTERY WOULD SHUT ON AND OFF. CAR LOCKS GOING ON AND OFF. COULD BARELY STEER THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11210679

55,000 miles · Aug 15, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN 2002. A YEAR LATER NOTICED THAT THE IDLE CONTROLLER HAD PROBLEM. WHEN STARTED THE ENGINE IN THE MORNING, THE IDLE WENT DOWN VERY LOW AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AUTOMATICALLY. AT FIRST IT HAPPENED NOT FREQUENTLY. PAST TWO YEARS I TOOK TO A DEALER FOR MAYOR TUNEUP, THE SYMPTOM STILL RESISTED. TOLD THE DEALER A…

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BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN 2002. A YEAR LATER NOTICED THAT THE IDLE CONTROLLER HAD PROBLEM. WHEN STARTED THE ENGINE IN THE MORNING, THE IDLE WENT DOWN VERY LOW AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AUTOMATICALLY. AT FIRST IT HAPPENED NOT FREQUENTLY. PAST TWO YEARS I TOOK TO A DEALER FOR MAYOR TUNEUP, THE SYMPTOM STILL RESISTED. TOLD THE DEALER AND THERE WAS NO ACTIONS AT ALL. NOW IT HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY. USUALLY IF IT HAPPENS, STEP ON THE GAS PEDDLE ( OVER 2K RPM) FOR A FEW SECONDS. SOMETIMES THE IDLE RETURNS TO NORMAL; BUT MOST OF THE TIMES, THE IDLE SETS VERY LOW. I THINK THE IDLE CONTROL FOR THIS MODEL SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10622430

Official recalls

2

04V181000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Apr 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

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

02V208000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting

Jul 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.

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.