IllustrationDRIVER-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
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
Visibility complaints
123 reportsTHE 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
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 …
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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
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
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 …
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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
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SUN VISOR DOES NOT STAY IN PLACE AND SUDDENLY DROPS DOWN; IMPAIRING DRIVER'S VISION. *NM
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
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…
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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
DRIVER SIDE VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP, KEEPS FALLING DOWN AND DISTRACTING ME. THE PROBLEM IS INSIDE THE VISOR, I RARELY USE THE VISOR, BUT IT DOES HAVE THE HOMELINK GARAGE DOOR OPENER, WHICH I USE DAILY. *NM
DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR SWINGS DOWN FROM REST POSITION TO BLOCK VIEW. WE USE VISOR NORMALLY UNTIL IT SUDDENLY GAVE UP AND DID NOT STAY IN ANY POSITION OTHER THAN HANGING STRAIGHT DOWN. WE DO NOT HANG ANYTHING ON THE VISOR TO CAUSE A LOAD. IT JUST SIMPLY "HANG LOOSE" NOW. WHEN I (MALE 5' 11") AM DRIVING, THE VISOR WOULD RANDOMLY AN…
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DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR SWINGS DOWN FROM REST POSITION TO BLOCK VIEW. WE USE VISOR NORMALLY UNTIL IT SUDDENLY GAVE UP AND DID NOT STAY IN ANY POSITION OTHER THAN HANGING STRAIGHT DOWN. WE DO NOT HANG ANYTHING ON THE VISOR TO CAUSE A LOAD. IT JUST SIMPLY "HANG LOOSE" NOW. WHEN I (MALE 5' 11") AM DRIVING, THE VISOR WOULD RANDOMLY AND OFTEN FLIP DOWN RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY EYES BLOCKING MY VIEW. THIS WOULD BE AN EQUIVALENCE TO SOME ONE STICKING THEIR HANDS IN YOUR FACE WHILE YOU DRIVE. THIS DEFINITELY DISTRACTS ME AND CAUSES ME TO TAKE MY EYES OFF THE ROAD. I AM AFRAID THAT THIS WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AT ANY SPEED. SINCE WE DRIVE LONG DISTANCE WITH THIS CAR, OUR WARRANTY WAS OVER QUICK AND WAS NOT COVERED. I AM CURRENTLY HOLDING IT UP WITH VELCRO JUST SO IT WOULD STAY OUT OF THE WAY. IF IT WASN'T FOR THE HOMELINK SYSTEM ON IT, I WOULD HAVE REMOVED IT ALREADY. THE VISOR IS USELESS TO ME SINCE I CAN NOT TILT IT TO BLOCK THE SUN. IT CAN ONLY HANG AND THAT IT TOO LOW FOR ME TO DRIVE SAFELY. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY LITTLE KIDS IN THIS CAR AND HAVE BOUGHT MINI VAN TO DO SO. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NHTSA AND TOYOTA SHOULD LOOK INTO CORRECTING. I KNOW THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME EXACT ISSUE, BUT THEY DO NOT KNOW TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS HERE. PLEASE RESEARCH THIS DEFECT AND HAVE IT CORRECTED BEFORE SOME ONE GET HURT OR KILLED. THANK YOU. *JB
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.