2002 Toyota Highlander problems
NHTSA has received 335 complaints about the 2002 Toyota Highlander, and 42% of them involve wipers, windshield & visibility. After that come cruise control (9%) and engine (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 335 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Wipers, windshield & visibility 42% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 27 and 8
- Injuries and deaths
- 26 and 4
- Typical mileage
- 70,000 miles 228 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 19 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 26 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 49 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 32 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 34 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 27 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 20 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 10 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 3 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 7 |
What the data shows
Among the 228 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 70,000 miles. For wipers, windshield & visibility specifically, the median reported mileage is about 64,000 miles (98 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 27 complaints mention a crash; 8 complaints mention a fire; 26 injuries reported; 4 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2002 ranks 15th most-complained-about out of 24 model years of the Toyota Highlander with enough data (159 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Toyota highlander 2005. Peterboro , nh. 11 am. Driver was reported to pass vehicle on right in break down lane, then tried to pass another car by going into left lane and hit oncoming vehicle. Four people killed. Driver was very experienced --excellent safety record. I had been in his car with him hundreds of times. Very safe driver --no cowboy. Believe car had uncontrolled acceleration.
Driver made a left turn with foot on brake pedal and rolled into a parking spot within a parking lot, estimated speed to be 2 MPH. The engine surged and the car ran over 3 small trees, went up an incline approximately 3 ft. Higher than the parking lot, then proceeded approximately 8 feet into the adjacent property then struck the brick chimney of a house and bounced back into the parking lot. The brakes were depressed during this occurrence but did not stop the car.
While traveling at less than 20 MPH, the driver in front slammed into the car in front of them (no brake lights). I immediately stomped on the brakes... The highlander slowed very briefly and then went "numb". The highlander came to a stop only by hitting the car in front of me. There was plenty of room to stop and it should have. This is the 3rd time the highlander has "locked up" on sudden short stops.
Driver/s side sun visor will not stay up. While driving, it suddenly drops obscuring my vision and putting the driver at extreme risk for an accident (impaired vision of the road). There is no apparent way to fix this problem short of replacing the sun visor (estimated cost of approx. $700 per blogs). This problem has been experienced by many owners of 2002 highlanders as exemplified via "complaint" postings.
Driver side visor will not stay in place, drops down due to vibration. Appears to be a design flaw. Visor too heavy for armiture, dealership cost to replace approximately 800.00.