2002 Toyota Highlander Problems, Recalls & Reliability
335 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2002 Toyota Highlander, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 60/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Visibility & wipers leads the reports, typically around 65,000 miles.
Below average
Where 2002 sits among all Highlander years
What owners report
“Consumer states that when rear windows are down, the vehicle experiences very bad turbulence that is "deafening". This occurs at any speed. Ts”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Highlander
“Vehicle accelerated on its on causing vehicle to start up steep hill where the front end slid to the right where vehicle proceeded to go up a drive/carport striking a porch and rock wall”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Highlander
“The engine oil light was coming on when braking. I had recently had the oil changed. The engine was also emitting a white smoke when starting the car. Oil was showing about 1/2 quart low on initial inspection. It took two trips to the dealer for them to finally discover internal oil gelling. No…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Highlander
“Passenger and driver sun visors fall down while driving posing a safety hazard. Had the visors replaced april 2006, three years later, having the same problem”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Highlander
“Air conditioner thermostat does not work properly. It swings back and forth between cold and hot without touching dial. This is very dangerous during winter where you could die if not able to get heat.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Highlander
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 222 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 72,500 miles. Half of those reports fall between 45,000 and 105,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (2)
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…
Fix: 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…
Fix: 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…
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2002 Toyota Highlander reliable?
The 2002 Toyota Highlander drew 335 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 60/100, scored against the model's worst year (2008).
What are the most common 2002 Toyota Highlander problems?
The top reported problems for the 2002 Toyota Highlander are visibility & wipers (140 complaints), speed control (31), and engine (31).
At what mileage do 2002 Toyota Highlander problems show up?
Owners most often report 2002 Toyota Highlander problems around 72,500 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 45,000 and 105,000 miles.
Does the 2002 Toyota Highlander have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 2002 Toyota Highlander. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.