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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

Structure complaints

24 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 2003
Structure

A MAJOR WATER LEAK WAS FOUND IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DUE TO THE FRONT COWL PANEL NOT BEING INSTALLED CORRECTLY. IN ADDITION THERE IS NOW A MOLD/MILDEW SMELL THAT THE DEALER CAN NOT GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THEY HAVE RUN THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE OZONE SYSTEM SEVERAL TIMES BUT IT HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10007803

Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2002
Structure

WHILE IN MOTION AND GOING OVER 45 MPH, WITH THE BACK WINDOWS DOWN AND ALL OTHER WINDOWS UP, THERE IS SEVERE TURBULANCE THAT OCCURS WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE TURBULENCE CREATES PAIN TO THE EARS WHICH COULD DISTRACT THE DRIVER CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *JG

NHTSA ODI #567991

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2002
Structure

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN, THERE IS A VIBRATION AND TREMBLING NOISE, THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NLM

NHTSA ODI #8018652

Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2002
StructureUnknown Or Other

ON TWO OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, THE SUNLIGHT WOULD SHINE THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW, REFLECTING OFF THE SHINY WOOD LIKE PANEL OVER THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT BLINDING THE DRIVER, THIS OCCURED FOR OVER AN HOUR ON BOTH OCCASIONS, CONSUMER TRIED AND HELD NEWSPAPERS AND ROAD MAPS AGAINST THE WINDOW TO BLOCK THE SUN RAYS, BU…

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ON TWO OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, THE SUNLIGHT WOULD SHINE THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW, REFLECTING OFF THE SHINY WOOD LIKE PANEL OVER THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT BLINDING THE DRIVER, THIS OCCURED FOR OVER AN HOUR ON BOTH OCCASIONS, CONSUMER TRIED AND HELD NEWSPAPERS AND ROAD MAPS AGAINST THE WINDOW TO BLOCK THE SUN RAYS, BUT THE TRIM IN THE CAR WAS TOO LONG AND RECAPTURED THE SUNLIGHT AS THE HIGHWAY CURVED, MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS DESIGN FLAW. *TT

NHTSA ODI #564614

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.