IllustrationWHEN 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.
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
What owners actually said
301 reportsTHE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAME STUCK AND CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY. THE DRIVER HAD TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND MOVE THE ARMS BUT THEY STILL DIDN'T WORK. THE DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED FOR REPAIR. *NLM PH
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.
WHEN ONE PERSON EXITS THE VEHICLE AND LOCKS THEIR DOOR THE SECOND PERSON IS STUCK. ALL ELECTRIC LOCKS ARE INSTANTLY DISABLED. THE ONLY WAY TO EXIT IS TO USE THE MANUAL LOCK BUTTON WHICH WILL SET OFF THE ALARM 30 SECONDS AFTER. THE PASSENGER INSIDE HAS TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOOR, AND SET OFF THE ALARM. THE ONLY WAY TO PREVE…
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WHEN ONE PERSON EXITS THE VEHICLE AND LOCKS THEIR DOOR THE SECOND PERSON IS STUCK. ALL ELECTRIC LOCKS ARE INSTANTLY DISABLED. THE ONLY WAY TO EXIT IS TO USE THE MANUAL LOCK BUTTON WHICH WILL SET OFF THE ALARM 30 SECONDS AFTER. THE PASSENGER INSIDE HAS TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOOR, AND SET OFF THE ALARM. THE ONLY WAY TO PREVENT, IS TO TURN THE IGNITION ON BEFORE EXITING, BUT ISN'T POSSIBLE FOR MOST PASSENGERS. TS SCC
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN REAR WINDOWS ARE DOWN, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES VERY BAD TURBULENCE THAT IS "DEAFENING". THIS OCCURS AT ANY SPEED. TS
CONSUMER TRIED TO DISENGAGE THE VEHICLE CRUISE CONTROL, AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AT A HIGH SPEED WHEN CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, CONSUMER HAD TO TURN THE KEYS IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION, AND ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO COAST TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DEALERSHIP HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVI…
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CONSUMER TRIED TO DISENGAGE THE VEHICLE CRUISE CONTROL, AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AT A HIGH SPEED WHEN CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, CONSUMER HAD TO TURN THE KEYS IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION, AND ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO COAST TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DEALERSHIP HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. PH THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE VEHICLE WAS FINE AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO PROBLEMS SINCE.*JB
THE CONSUMER WAS STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT HIM FROM BEHIND AND THE DRIVER SIDE POWER SEAT COLLAPSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM., TS
NO SUMMARY. DT
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
TOW RECEIVER HITCH DISCONNECTED FROM VEHICLE WHILE TOWING SMALL BOAT TRAILER. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS INJURED BUT ACCIDENT COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES IF TRAILER OVERTURNED ON INTERSTATE. ACCIDENT CAUSED BY A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE PIN ASSEMBLY THAT HOLDS HITCH TO VEHICLE. THE PIN RETAINER CAN BECOME DISLODGED AS VEHICLE…
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TOW RECEIVER HITCH DISCONNECTED FROM VEHICLE WHILE TOWING SMALL BOAT TRAILER. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS INJURED BUT ACCIDENT COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES IF TRAILER OVERTURNED ON INTERSTATE. ACCIDENT CAUSED BY A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE PIN ASSEMBLY THAT HOLDS HITCH TO VEHICLE. THE PIN RETAINER CAN BECOME DISLODGED AS VEHICLE VIBRATION CAUSES IT TO RIDE UP OVER BRACKETS THAT HOLD HITCH TO VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS A TOW VEHICLE BUT IT CLEARLY CAN NOT BE USED AS SUCH DUE TO THIS MANUFACTURER DESIGN DEFECT. SINCE MOST TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS ARE SOLD IN THE NEW ENGLAND AREA WITH THE FACTORY TOW PACKAGE. THIS DEFECT COULD LEAD TO OTHER SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. DT
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.