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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

Exterior Lighting complaints

12 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 2005
Exterior Lighting

I HAVE A 2002 TOOYOTA HIGHLANDER, AFTER A HEAVY RAINSTORM IN JULY OF 2004, I NOTICED THAT THE HEADLAMP ON MY FRONT DRIVERS SIDE HAD MOISTURE AND WAS FOGGY ON THE INSIDE OF IT. IT WENT AWAY IN ABOUT A WEEK OR SO. AFTER GOING TO A CARWASH I NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE AREA WAS WIDER. I NOTIFIED LEE'S TOYOTA IN QUEENS NY. I WA…

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I HAVE A 2002 TOOYOTA HIGHLANDER, AFTER A HEAVY RAINSTORM IN JULY OF 2004, I NOTICED THAT THE HEADLAMP ON MY FRONT DRIVERS SIDE HAD MOISTURE AND WAS FOGGY ON THE INSIDE OF IT. IT WENT AWAY IN ABOUT A WEEK OR SO. AFTER GOING TO A CARWASH I NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE AREA WAS WIDER. I NOTIFIED LEE'S TOYOTA IN QUEENS NY. I WAS TOLD BY THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. JASON THAT IT WAS NORMAL AND THE HEAT FROM THE LAMP WILL EVENTUALLY MAKE THE MOISTURE EVAPORATE BECAUSE IT WAS MADE THAT WAY. AFTER SEVERAL EPISODES AND THE AREA OF MOISTURE SPREADING EACH TIME IT RAINS SNOWS OR I GO TO A CAR WASH. I NOW HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE VISION ON MY DRIVERS SIDE ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. THE AREA IS BEING OBSTRUCTED BECAUSE OF THE FOG IN THE HEADLAMP. I ALMOST HAD 2 ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF IT.I NOTIFIED LEE'S TOYOTA ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD DO NOTHING UNLESS I PAY FOR IT. I AM DISABLED, MUST WEAR CORRECTIVE LENSES WHILE DRIVING AND NOW I HAVE A PROBLEM THAT HINDERS MY VISION. I READ THE CAR MANUAL AND THERE ARE NO ARTICLE ABOUT THIS. MY NIECE HAS THE SAME SUV AND SHE DOES NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM, I CONTACTED TOYOTA MOTOR CORP. AND WAS TOLD THAT I SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED THEM BEFORE AND I TOLD THEM I DID NOTIFY THEM WHEN I BECAME AWEAR OF THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA MOTORS TOLD ME THAT THEY WILL PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED BUT I MUST FIX IT AND PAY FOR IT FIRST AND THEY WILL REIMBURSE ME. I FEEL THAT IT IS A DEFECT AND THAT TOYOTA SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEMAND PAY FOR IT BEFORE I HAVE A ACCIDENT OR SOMETHING. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SITUATION. I AM ON A FIXED INCOME AND CAN'T AFFORD IT AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA ODI #10116187

1 miles · Dec 2, 2004
Exterior Lighting

WHENEVER MY VEHICLE IS LOADED UP THE HEADLIGHTS BLIND ONCOMING DRIVERS.I DREAD GOING ON VACATION WITH THIS VEHICLE.TOYOTA DEALER SAID A FIX WAS NOT AVAILABLE.I TOW A 15 FT BOAT 1200LBS.ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS RATED FOR 3500LBS TOWING CAPACITY THE HEADLIGHTS WHEN TOWING BLIND ONCOMING TRAFFIC I ASSUME TO POOR SUSPENSION DESIGN.*A…

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WHENEVER MY VEHICLE IS LOADED UP THE HEADLIGHTS BLIND ONCOMING DRIVERS.I DREAD GOING ON VACATION WITH THIS VEHICLE.TOYOTA DEALER SAID A FIX WAS NOT AVAILABLE.I TOW A 15 FT BOAT 1200LBS.ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS RATED FOR 3500LBS TOWING CAPACITY THE HEADLIGHTS WHEN TOWING BLIND ONCOMING TRAFFIC I ASSUME TO POOR SUSPENSION DESIGN.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10100913

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.