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
What owners actually said
301 reports
54,000 miles · May 4, 2007
Unknown Or OtherVisibility
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
NHTSA ODI #10189827
48,000 miles · Apr 30, 2007
EquipmentInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WITH THE JACK PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE JACK BENT FORWARD AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LEAN TOWARDS HIM. HE BELIEVED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO METAL FATIGUE OF THE JACK. AS A RESULT, THE TIRE LANDED ON HIS LEFT FOOT …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WITH THE JACK PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE JACK BENT FORWARD AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LEAN TOWARDS HIM. HE BELIEVED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO METAL FATIGUE OF THE JACK. AS A RESULT, THE TIRE LANDED ON HIS LEFT FOOT AND TRAPPED IT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY SENT HIM A LETTER STATING THAT THE VEHICLE'S WEIGHT CAUSED THE JACK TO FAIL. NO OTHER OFFERS, EXPLANATIONS, OR REMEDIES HAVE BEEN MADE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 55,500 , AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. *AK UPDATED 06/06/07 *TR
NHTSA ODI #10189253
57,400 miles · Apr 26, 2007
Visibility
DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR HAS BEEN FALLING SLIGHTLY FROM IT'S RESTING POSITION ON THE HEADLINER. ON 4-20-07 THE VISOR FELL SUDDENLY ALL THE WAY DOWNWARD AND FULLY BLOCKED MY VIEW OF THE ROAD MOMENTARILY. I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER FOR ADVISE ON THIS PROBLEM. HE THOUGHT THERE HAD BEEN A TSB ON THE VISOR BUT INDICA…
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DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR HAS BEEN FALLING SLIGHTLY FROM IT'S RESTING POSITION ON THE HEADLINER. ON 4-20-07 THE VISOR FELL SUDDENLY ALL THE WAY DOWNWARD AND FULLY BLOCKED MY VIEW OF THE ROAD MOMENTARILY. I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER FOR ADVISE ON THIS PROBLEM. HE THOUGHT THERE HAD BEEN A TSB ON THE VISOR BUT INDICATED THAT IT WAS THE LEXUS VERSION THAT HAD THE BULLETIN. I DO NOT KNOW THIS TO BE A FACT. THE NEW VISOR IN MY CASE IS COST PROHIBITIVE AT OVER 600.00. I AM NOT A SAFETY EXPERT BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE A SLAM DUNK SAFETY ISSUE AND NOT A "I WANT MY VISOR REPLACED FOR FREE" ISSUE. CLEARLY A DEFECT INVOLVING PUBLIC SAFETY. I SUSPECT SOME ACCIDENTS WOULD GET MORE ATTENTION-BUT WHY WAIT FOR ONE WHEN THIS PROBLEM IS SO WELL DOCUMENTED? *JB
NHTSA ODI #10189056
Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 2007
Visibility
SUN VISOR, WHEN FLIPPED FORWARD AS FAR AS IT COULD GO, WOULD IMMEDIATELY DROP DOWN TO A VERTICAL POSITION, THUS BLOCKING MY VIEW. I HAD TO BEND DOWN TO PEEK BELOW THE SUN VISOR. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10183866
77,000 miles · Feb 28, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
I HAVE OWNED A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 4 CYLINDER, 2WD. MY CAR STALLED ON THE ROAD ABOUT TOW WEEKS AGO AND I HAD IT TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALER. I HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF MY CAR AND CAN PROVIDE SOME PARTIAL PAPER WORK OF MY MAINTENANCE. THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THAT I NEED A NEW ENGINE, AND MY BILL WILL GO OVER $5000.00. IT HAS…
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I HAVE OWNED A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 4 CYLINDER, 2WD. MY CAR STALLED ON THE ROAD ABOUT TOW WEEKS AGO AND I HAD IT TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALER. I HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF MY CAR AND CAN PROVIDE SOME PARTIAL PAPER WORK OF MY MAINTENANCE. THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THAT I NEED A NEW ENGINE, AND MY BILL WILL GO OVER $5000.00. IT HAS ONLY 77000 MILES AND NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE CAR (NO ACCIDENTS). I HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE OIL SLUDGE LAW SUIT BUT IT COVERS ONLY 6 CYL BUT NOT 4 CYL. COULD YOU PLEASE HELP ME OUT ON THIS ISSUE. THANKS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10183833
45,000 miles · Feb 11, 2007
Visibility
BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT SUN VISORS BECOME UNABLE TO STAY IN A FIXED VERTICAL POSITION. BOTH HAVE STARTED TO FALL DOWN, WHICH BLOCKS THE DRIVER'S VIEW. THIS IS A VERY SEVERE HAZARD AND COULD CAUSE A WRECK. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10182282
64,350 miles · Feb 7, 2007
Air Bags
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. DEFECTIVE CENTER AIRBAG SENSOR. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10181929
Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2007
Visibility
2002 HIGHLANDER DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR FALLS DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING AND AT TIMES WILL NOT REMAIN IN THE UP POSITION, THUS HINDERING VIEW AT TIMES. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10181304
61,230 miles · Jan 29, 2007
Visibility
THE SUN VISOR ON MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER KEEPS FALLING DOWN INTO MY SIGHT OF VISION. I BELIEVE TOYOTA AND YOUR OFFICE SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS INCIDENT. IT IS BECOMING A SAFETY HAZARD AND IT IS VERY WIDE SPREAD ON MANY OF TOYOTA VEHICLES. YOU ONLY HAVE TO SEARCH THE INTERNET TO SEE HOW MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS THEY ARE . *JB
NHTSA ODI #10181055
53,000 miles · Jan 26, 2007
Visibility
FAILURE OF DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISORS TO STAY IN THEIR NON- USE POSITION. BOTH VISORS FALL WITHOUT ASSISTANCE AND BLOCK VISION CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE. *NM
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.
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.
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