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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

What owners actually said

301 reports
45,000 miles · Dec 15, 2006
Visibility

2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR CONTINUALLY FALLS DOWN WHILE DRIVING. SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WHEN IT HAPPENS IT BLOCKS THE DRIVERS VIEW UNEXPECTEDLY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10176279

45,000 miles · Nov 22, 2006
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT 10 MPH, UPON APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING, AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THERE WAS MODERATE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE WERE ALERTED…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT 10 MPH, UPON APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING, AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THERE WAS MODERATE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE WERE ALERTED, BUT A REPORT WAS NOT TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION OF THE BODY DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 12/12/06. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10174088

40,000 miles · Nov 8, 2006
Visibility

BOTH DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISORS FALL DOWN IN YOUR FACE WHILE DRIVING. OBSCURES VIEW AND THERE COULD BE AN ACCIDENT. DEALER WANTS $667.00 TO REPLACE. TOYOTA CORPORATION SHOULD PAY FOR IT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10172978

Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2006
SuspensionTires

2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER TIRES MADE NOISES AND VIBRATED IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE BALANCED. *KB THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE TIRE WERE NOISY AND THE CONSUMER HAD THEM REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10170138

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2006
Power Train

EXC. VIBRATION IN FRT. AXLE ASSY. VIBRATION CAN ONLY BE FELT OR HEARD IN VEHICLE CAB AT THE FOLLOWING SPEEDS 38-43, 53-55,61-65 AND ABOVE. SOMETIMES AT THE LOWER SPEEDS. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN COMMONWEALTH OF P. R. AND SHIPPED TO THE U. S. DURING THE OWNERSHIP OF THIS VEHICLE, I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GET ANY OF THE DEA…

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EXC. VIBRATION IN FRT. AXLE ASSY. VIBRATION CAN ONLY BE FELT OR HEARD IN VEHICLE CAB AT THE FOLLOWING SPEEDS 38-43, 53-55,61-65 AND ABOVE. SOMETIMES AT THE LOWER SPEEDS. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN COMMONWEALTH OF P. R. AND SHIPPED TO THE U. S. DURING THE OWNERSHIP OF THIS VEHICLE, I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GET ANY OF THE DEALERS IN P. R. OR U. S. TO REPAIR IT. COMPLAINED IN P.R. AND STATED TIRES BALANCED. ALWAYS TIRES PROBLEMS. VIBRATION IN THE STEERING AND CAB AREA. THE NOISE, DRIVE YOU NUTS ,HEARING AND FEELING IT IN STEERING .WHEN RELOCATING TO ILL.,TOOK TO CLOSES DEALER, PEORIA TOYOTA. SEVERAL MONTHS WAIT FOR THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEM. PEORIA TOYOTA WORK ON THE VEHICLE AND STATED TIRES BAD. TIRES REPLACE AND STILL PROBLEMS. REPLACED THE TIRES . SO, I REPLACED TIRES AND FOUND SAME VIBRATION AS BEFORE AND CURT BAUNGART STATED THE WAS THE CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE STILL VIBRATED IN THE FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLE AND IS GETTING WORST WITH MILES ADDED. TOYOTA HAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND REFUSES TO HONOR THEIR WARRANTY. I FILED TWO ARBITRATION HEARING ON THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE FILED THE COMPLAINT WITH LISA MADIGAN'S OFFICE OF THE ATTY. GEN. THEY TOLD ME AND I QUOTE FROM THEIR LETTER" BECAUSE THIS FILE APPEARS TO FALL WITHIN YOUR JURISDICTION, WE ARE REFERRING IT TO YOUR AGENCY FOR YOUR INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION. BY COPY OF THIS LETTER, WE ARE INFORMING THE COMPLAINANT OF THIS REFERRAL" END OF QUOTE. LETTER DATED AUGUST 22, 2006. LISA MADIGAN HAS ALL OF THE CORRESPONDENCES(ALL RECORD AND LETTERS FROM ARBITRATION,TOYOTA AND ETC.), THAT I HAVE SENT TO THEM. IT'S BEEN A LONG JOURNEY AND I HOPE AND PRAY SOMEONE WILL LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. SAFETY IS BEING OVER LOOKED BECAUSE OF THE STATEMENT FROM DEALER AND TOYOTA (VEH. WITHIN SPECIFICATION OF TOYOTA. IS IT RIGHT TO TRADE A VEHICLE OFF, WHICH HAS A PROBLEM? INCIDENT OF FAILURE IS THE DATE OF PURCHASE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10168152

40,000 miles · Sep 12, 2006
Visibility

SUN VISOR ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES ARE DEFECTIVE. THEY KEEP FALLING DOWN AND NOTHING I'VE TRIED WILL KEEP THEM IN PLACE. THIS IS A MAJOR HAZARD AS IT COULD REALLY HURT SOMEBODY IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. SEE FOLLOWING LINKS: HTTP://WWW.TUNDRASOLUTIONS.COM/FORUMS/HIGHLANDER/47694-SUN-VI…

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SUN VISOR ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES ARE DEFECTIVE. THEY KEEP FALLING DOWN AND NOTHING I'VE TRIED WILL KEEP THEM IN PLACE. THIS IS A MAJOR HAZARD AS IT COULD REALLY HURT SOMEBODY IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. SEE FOLLOWING LINKS: HTTP://WWW.TUNDRASOLUTIONS.COM/FORUMS/HIGHLANDER/47694-SUN-VISOR-PROBLEM/ HTTP://WWW.TUNDRASOLUTIONS.COM/FORUMS/HIGHLANDER/47694-SUN-VISOR-PROBLEM-2/ TOYOTA CHARGES OVER $600 FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE, WHICH WE CANNOT AFFORD. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10167948

27,000 miles · Aug 19, 2006
Visibility

SAFETY PROBLEM/ACCIDENT POTENTIAL: DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR PROBLEM. VISOR DOES NOT STAY IN UPRIGHT (AGAINST THE ROOF) POSITION. WHEN DRIVING, IT CAUSES A SAFETY HAZARD BY BLOCKING MY VIEW OF THE ROAD BECAUSE IT FALLS DOWN INTO THE VERTICAL POSITION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10166012

82,000 miles · Aug 17, 2006
Visibility

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SUN VISOR ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WILL NOT LOCK AND FALLS DOWN INTO THE OCCUPANT'S VIEW LIMITING VISIBILITY. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE ROD WITHIN THE VISORS WERE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. UPDATED 9/13/2006 -…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SUN VISOR ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WILL NOT LOCK AND FALLS DOWN INTO THE OCCUPANT'S VIEW LIMITING VISIBILITY. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE ROD WITHIN THE VISORS WERE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. UPDATED 9/13/2006 - THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURE ADVISED THE CONSUMER TO CONTACT THE DEALER. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO METHOD TO REPAIR THE VISORS AND THAT THEY HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10165717

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2006
Visibility

I PURCHASED A 2001 HIGHLANDER, WHICH THE DMV CLAIMS IS 2002 (DESPITE THE FACT THAT TOYOTA SOLD IT TO ME USED AS A 2001 HIGHLANDER). ITS SUN VISOR WON'T STAY IN PLACE AND KEEPS HANGING DOWN, IMPAIRING MY VISIBILITY, MOSTLY THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IT COSTS OVER $600 TO REPLACE THE VISOR WITHOUT WARRANTY AND …

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I PURCHASED A 2001 HIGHLANDER, WHICH THE DMV CLAIMS IS 2002 (DESPITE THE FACT THAT TOYOTA SOLD IT TO ME USED AS A 2001 HIGHLANDER). ITS SUN VISOR WON'T STAY IN PLACE AND KEEPS HANGING DOWN, IMPAIRING MY VISIBILITY, MOSTLY THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IT COSTS OVER $600 TO REPLACE THE VISOR WITHOUT WARRANTY AND IT REALLY SHOULD BE DONE FOR FREE, GIVEN HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE I KNOW WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10165397

48,000 miles · Aug 6, 2006
Visibility

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2002 DRIVER SIDE VISOR DOES REMAIN IN POSITION. IT FALLS TO FULL DOWNWARD POSITION, BLOCKING VIEW TO ROAD. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10164668

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.