IllustrationTHE AC LIKES TO BLOW HOT AIR WHEN IN THE MAX AC SETTING AND THE TEMP KNOB BEING IN THE COLDEST POSITION. NUT BEING THE TEMP SETTING GAUGE COMES LOOSE CAUSING THE AC TO BLOW HOT AIR. HAPPENS ANYTIME IF PARKED OR DRIVING.
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Highlander years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
220–25K
4625–50K
3950–75K
3975–100K
44100–150K
15150K+
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
Unknown Or Other complaints
14 reportsI PURCHASED AN ADDITIONAL SECURITY DEVICE. IF SOMEONE BREAKS A WINDOW, AN ALARM IS SUPPOSED TO GO OFF. YOU CAN TEST TO SEE IF IT WORKS BY HITTING YOUR CAR KEY AGAINST A CLOSED WINDOW & THE ALARM SHOULD GO OFF. IT HAS NEVER WORKED. AT TIME OF PURCHASE THE DEALERSHIP REMOVED THE CENTER FLOOR GLOVE COMPARTMENT ASSEMBLY. THE MICROP…
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I PURCHASED AN ADDITIONAL SECURITY DEVICE. IF SOMEONE BREAKS A WINDOW, AN ALARM IS SUPPOSED TO GO OFF. YOU CAN TEST TO SEE IF IT WORKS BY HITTING YOUR CAR KEY AGAINST A CLOSED WINDOW & THE ALARM SHOULD GO OFF. IT HAS NEVER WORKED. AT TIME OF PURCHASE THE DEALERSHIP REMOVED THE CENTER FLOOR GLOVE COMPARTMENT ASSEMBLY. THE MICROPHONE HAD FALLEN OFF THE SIDE & WAS LAYING ON THE FLOOR. THEY GLUED IT BACK TO THE SIDES & IT STILL DIDN'T GO OFF WHEN HITTING A KEY AGAINST THE WINDOW WHEN ALL THE WINDOWS WERE CLOSED. THEY COULDN'T GET IT TO WORK & BREAKING MY WINDSHIELD WAS NOT AN OPTION - OBVIOUSLY. THE DEALERSHIP HAD NO IDEA ON HOW TO FIX IT.
LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN CARTWRIGHT ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE TOYOTA CONCERNS. *SMD 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO TRADE THE VEHICLE, SHE WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE FEDERAL CASH FOR CLUNKER PROGRAM, AND THERE WAS POTENTIAL ODOMETER FRAUD.
PASSENGER AND DRIVER SUN VISORS FALL DOWN WHILE DRIVING POSING A SAFETY HAZARD. HAD THE VISORS REPLACED APRIL 2006, THREE YEARS LATER, HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR DOES NOT STAY IN PLACE. AT FIRST OCCURRENCE, THE VISOR WOULD SLOWLY DROOP DOWN WITH NORMAL VIBRATIONS IN THE CAR AND REQUIRED REPEATED TAPING OF THE VISOR BACK INTO PLACE WITH THE DRIVER'S HAND (A DISTRACTION AND HAZARD AS IS). AS TIME WENT ON THE VISOR LOOSENED COMPLETELY AND DOES NOT STAY UP AT ALL.…
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THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR DOES NOT STAY IN PLACE. AT FIRST OCCURRENCE, THE VISOR WOULD SLOWLY DROOP DOWN WITH NORMAL VIBRATIONS IN THE CAR AND REQUIRED REPEATED TAPING OF THE VISOR BACK INTO PLACE WITH THE DRIVER'S HAND (A DISTRACTION AND HAZARD AS IS). AS TIME WENT ON THE VISOR LOOSENED COMPLETELY AND DOES NOT STAY UP AT ALL. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND DISTRACTING AS IT BLOCKS FULL VISION OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD BY THE DRIVER. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT OF THE VISOR ITSELF BY THE MANUFACTURER AS IT SEEMS AS IF THE VISOR IS TOO HEAVY TO STAY IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE AMONG THIS MAKE AND MODEL AND SEEMS AS IF THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL REGARDING THIS ISSUE LONG AGO.
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 …
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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
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 S…
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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
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
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE VEHICLE HAD 49,000 MILES ON IT WHEN HE PURCHASED IT. RECENTLY HE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MOTOR VEHICLE DIVISION WHICH STATED THAT THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE WAS INCORRECT. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD 84,000 MILES ON IT. THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THE VEHICLE WAS A LEASING COMPANY. …
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DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE VEHICLE HAD 49,000 MILES ON IT WHEN HE PURCHASED IT. RECENTLY HE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MOTOR VEHICLE DIVISION WHICH STATED THAT THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE WAS INCORRECT. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD 84,000 MILES ON IT. THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THE VEHICLE WAS A LEASING COMPANY. THE MOTOR VEHICLE DIVISION TOLD THE CONTACT TO FILL OUT A FORM AND THEY WILL CORRECT THE MILEAGE. THE CONTACT WAS UNHAPPY BECAUSE HE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE THINKING HE HAD 49,000 MILES NOT 84,000 MILES. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 1-22-05 , AND THE ODOMETER READ 84,045 MILES. THE CONTACT PURCHASED IT ON 2-19-05 AND THE ODOMETER SHOWED 49,345 MILES. *AK
WHEN YOU OPEN THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW(S) THERE IS SEVERE, LOUD AND PAINFUL-TO-THE-EAR TURBULENCE INSIDE THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED. IT CAN BE SOMEWHAT, BUT NOT TOTALLY, ALLEVIATED BY OPENING OTHER VEHICLE WINDOWS. IF YOU PERSIST WITH THE REAR WINDOWS DOWN AT SPEED, IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE PHYSICALLY DAMAGING YOUR EARS.
Official recalls
204V181000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.