NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2002 Toyota Highlander. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOW IN OUR 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. THE VENTS BLOW COLD AIR WHEN THE DIAL IS SET TO THE HOTTEST SETTING. IT IS VERY HARD TO KEEP THE ICE FROM FORMING ON OUR WINDOWS WHEN WE DON'T HAVE HOT AIR BLOWING. THE ICE STORMS IN MISSOURI OCCUR FAIRLY FREQUENTLY AND HOT AIR BLOWING IN THE DEFROST POSITION USUALLY KEEPS THE WINDSHIELD WARM ENOUGH TO KEEP IT CLEAR. HOWEVER, WITHOUT THE HOT AIR, THE WINDSHIELD ICES UP IMMEDIATELY AND MAKES DRIVING VERY DANGEROUS. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS ONE OF THE SITES THAT DESCRIBES THE ISSUE AND ALL THE PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM HTTP://WWW.TUNDRASOLUTIONS.COM/FORUMS/HIGHLANDER/32217-HEATER-QUIT-SORT-OF/ *TR
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.
WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR FALLS DOWN AFTER HITTING MILD BUMP IN ROAD. *TR
2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR DOES NOT STAY UP, DROPS DOWN WHILE DRIVING DUE TO ANY SMALL BUMPS. OFTEN DROPS AND TEMPORARILY BLOCKS VIEW WHILE DRIVING. FROM WEB SEARCHES SOUNDS LIKE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE 02 HIGHLANDERS. *TR
I HAVE READ OF NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS CONCERNING THE A/C SYSTEM ON 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS. THE COMPLAINTS ARE SIMILAR TO MY OWN IN THAT THE A/C JUST STOPS WORKING ONE DAY. IF I TURN THE HOT/COLD SWITCH KNOB TO THE COLD SECTION WHEN JUST THE VENT IS ON, IT BLOWS HOT AIR. IF I TURN IT TO THE RIGHT FOR HOT AIR- IT GETS EXTREMELY HOT. EVEN IF I TURN THE A/C BUTTON ON, COLD AIR DOES NOT COME OUT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN A SWITCH. I'VE HAD THE PRESSURE TO THE A/C CHECKED AND IT WAS NORMAL AND CHARGED. I AM FEARFUL THERE IS A SHORT IN A SWITCH SOMEWHERE THAT MAY CAUSE MY VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE. IT SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR COMPLAINT WITH A LOT OF HIGHLANDER OWNERS. *TR
THE SUN VISOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF OUR 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER FALLS DOWN WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING ALONG. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SINCE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE VISOR WILL DROP DOWN AND OBSTRUCT YOUR VIEW. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW OCCASIONS WHEN I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ALONG AND REACH TO PUT THE TURN SIGNAL ON. AT THAT MOMENT THE VISOR DROPS DOWN AND BEFORE I CAN RECOVER I AM CLOSE TO HITTING A CAR FROM THE REAR. I HAVE TRIED SIMPLE SOLUTIONS BUT THE DEALER INDICATES THAT NOTHING IS WRONG AND IT WILL COST OVER $700 TO FIX. *TR
THE HOT/COLD KNOB IN MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I RESEARCHED AND CALLED TOYOTA THEY SAID THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON IT AND THEY ONLY ISSUE THEM ACCORDING TO HOW MANY PARTS ARE SOLD TO REPAIR THAT VEHICLE. I LOOKED ONLINE AND ALOT OF PEOPLE THAT OWN THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL OF MY SUV ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. TOYOTA QUOTED ME $805 TO REPAIR IT WHEN I WENT IN TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. HE SAID THEY HAVE HAD ALOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE AND HAD ALREADY REPAIRED A COUPLE. WHEN I WENT IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT I HAD HEAT, WHEN I CAME OUT I DIDN'T. THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO FIX IT AND THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE I COULD DO. I CALLED THE MANAGER OF THIS PARTICULAR DEALERSHIP AND HE TOLD ME TO BRING MY CAR BACK IN AND THEY COULD SET IT TO HEAT. WHY DIDN'T THEY RETURN MY CAR IN THE SAME ORDER IT WAS IN WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE. *TR
BOTH SUN VISORS ON MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED FALL DOWN BY THEMSELVES. BOTH HAVE THE LIGHTED MIRROR AND THE RIVER SIDE INCLUDES THE HOMELINK CONTROL. THERE ARE NO OTHER ITEMS ATTACHED TO THE VISORS. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, WHETHER OR NOT I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. I'VE ADDED VELCRO TAPE TO THE VISORS, BUT THE WEIGHT OF THEM IS TOO MUCH FOR THE TAPE TO STICK TO THE CEILING, SO AFTER A WHILE, THE VISORS FALL DOWN AGAIN. *TR
I SEEM TO BE ONE OF MANY THAT IS HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE SUN VISOR ON A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NO LONGER STAY IN PLACE PROPERLY. THIS RESULTS IN IT FALLING DOWN AND BLOCKING THE VISION OF THE DRIVER. SO FAR THIS HAS NOT CAUSED A SAFETY ISSUE BUT THE POTENTIAL IS DEFINITELY THERE. *TR
DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR IN '02 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WILL NOT STAY UP. THE PASSENGER SIDE IS STARTING TO FAIL AS WELL. THIS IS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM. *TR
TOYOTA 2002 HIGHLANDER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 77,754 MILES. REPLACED BY DEALER UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY AFTER PAYING $50 DEDUCTIBLE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND NEEDS A RECALL. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. COST TO REPLACE WITHOUT WARRANTEE WOULD HAVE BEEN $4290. THE CAR NOW HAS 138,235 MILES ON IT AND BASED ON OTHER DRIVERS' EXPERIENCE AND HISTORY I COULD BE FACING ANOTHER AUTO TRANS PROBLEM VERY SOON. *TR
TOYOTA 2002 HIGHLANDER LIMITED DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR FLOPS DOWN INTO DRIVER'S VISION WHILE DRIVING. OBSCURES VIEW MOMENTARILY CREATING A CRASH DANGER. VISOR HAS LIGHTED MIRROR AND GARAGE DOOR OPENER BUILT IN. REPORTED TO DEALER AND VISOR WAS REPLACED UNDER SERVICE PLAN. *TR
THE SUN VISOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AS IT FALLS INTO THE DRIVER'S LINE OF SITE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. *TR
SUN VISOR ON MY DRIVER SIDE OF MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WILL STAY IN THE UP POSITION (AGAINST THE CEILING). ANY SLIGHT BUMP IN THE ROAD CAUSES IT FALL AND BLOCK MY VISION. IT'S QUITE A HAZARD! *JB
SAFETY ISSUE WITH TOYOTA 2002 HIGHLANDER. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR REPEATEDLY FALLS DOWN OBSCURING VISION OF THE ROAD LEADING TO POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS. *TR
HAVE REGULARLY MAINTAINED MY VEHICLE WITH ALL REQUIRED AND SUGGESTED TOYOTA MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES, THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP, AND WITH ONLY 68,000 MILES, I NOW HAVE LEARNED I HAVE AN OIL LEAK BETWEEN THE MOTOR & TRANSMISSION. *JB
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. THE VISOR CONSTANTLY FALLS IN MY LINE OF VISION. I'VE HAD THE PROBLEM OVER TWO YEARS. *TR
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE SUN VISORS ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES NO LONGER STAY UP. THIS STARTED NINE MONTHS AGO. IF THE SUN VISOR DOES STAY UP, IT DROPS DOWN WHEN THE VEHICLE HITS A MILD BUMP. *TR
SUN VISORS ON 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS DID NOT STAY IN POSITION AND INTERFERED WITH DRIVER VISIBILITY- THE SUN VISORS WILL NOT STAY IN THE UP POSITION AND WILL DROP DOWN INTO THE DRIVER'S EYES WHILE DRIVING. FURTHERMORE, THE SUN VISORS WERE RENDERED USELESS AS THEY WILL NOT STAY IN POSITION WHEN IN USE. THE DRIVER IS FORCED TO EITHER NOT USE THE VISOR, A HAZARD WHEN DRIVING INTO THE SUN, OR MUST SLUMP DOWN IN THE SEAT AND USE THE VISOR IN THE COMPLETELY DOWN POSITION. BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S VISORS ARE AFFECTED. THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2002 HIGHLANDERS AS DOCUMENTED ON OWNER'S WEB FORUMS. *AK
DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR ON THE 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WILL NOT STAY UP. IT FALLS DOWN ON A REGULAR BASIS ,AND SOMETIME FALLS DOWN WHILE DRIVING, MOMENTARILY, OBSTRUCTING MY VIEW OF THE ROAD AHEAD. DEALERSHIPS QUOTED ME A COST UPWARDS OF $600, PARTS ONLY, TO REPLACE IT, AND I DIDN'T AND HAVE NEVER USED THE HOMELINK FEATURE, WHICH APPARENTLY WAS LARGELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RELATIVELY HIGH COST OF REPAIR.*AK
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
I PULLED INTO MY GARAGE DURING EARLY AFTERNOON AND CAME TO THE USUAL STOP FACING THE WALL. MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE AND I HAD NOT YET PUT THE CAR INTO PARK. SUDDENLY THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD AND HIT THE WALL WITH GREAT ENOUGH FORCE TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAG. THE BAG FRACTURED MY STERNUM IN TWO PLACES. AT THE TIME I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE PREVALENCE OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION PROBLEMS AND DID NOT REPORT IT. THERE HAVE BEEN NO EPISODES SINCE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE PASSENGER REPLACED THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER AND, WITHOUT WARNING, IT EJECTED AND BURNED HIS HAND. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN THE PASSENGER ATTEMPTED TO USE IT TO WARM HIS COFFEE. ON MAY 22, 2007, AN INSPECTOR FROM TOYOTA VIDEOTAPED AND DUPLICATED THE FAILURE, HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO DISCUSS HIS FINDINGS WITH THE CONTACT. ON JUNE 18, 2007, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THAT A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND THE CASE WAS TRANSFERRED TO TOYOTA MOTOR SALES USA. THE CONTACT WAS GIVEN CASE NUMBER 200705071073 AND WAS INFORMED THAT HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR NOTIFYING TOYOTA MOTOR SALES USA FOR MORE DETAILS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,900 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,563.
WE HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WHICH WE PURCHASED NEW IN APRIL 2002. THE VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 39,000 MILES. FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR SUDDENLY FALLS DOWN AND PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTS THE DRIVER'S VISION. IT FALLS DOWN AT SLOW SPEED WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES OVER BUMPS. IT FALLS DOWN ON THE INTERSTATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FROM VIBRATIONS - SUCH AS EXPANSION JOINTS IN THE ROAD. IT IS USUALLY JUST ANNOYING BUT ONCE IN AWHILE IT IS VERY DANGEROUS SUCH AS WHEN YOUR ARE PASSING ON A TWO LANE ROAD IT WILL SUDDENLY DROP DOWN OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VISION. I HAVE LOOKED ON LINE AND FOUND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 HIGHLANDER. AND IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX IF YOU HAVE THE GARAGE DOOR REMOTE BUILT INTO THE VISOR - AS WE DO. ABOUT AN $800 REPAIR - WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE COST BEING THE PART. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THESE DEFECTIVE VISORS SHOULD BE REPLACED BY TOYOTA. I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT DATE OR MILEAGE WHEN THIS PART STARTED TO FAIL SO I ESTIMATED BOTH. *TR
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
MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAD APPROXIMATELY 110,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME WHEN I STARTED HEARING A NOISE AROUND THE DISTRIBUTOR. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC (NOT TOYOTA FOR OTHER REASONS) AND HE SAID THE BEARINGS IN THE DISTRIBUTOR WERE GOING OUT. I CALLED TOYOTA (TOYOTA OF TEXAS - GRAPEVINE) TO ORDER THE PART. THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY IN STOCK, SO HAD TO ORDER FROM THE DC. THEY SAID IT WOULD BE IN 4 DAYS AND TO CALL BACK. CALLED BACK IN 5 DAYS AND THEY SAID THEY HAD TO ORDER FROM HQ IN CALIFORNIA AND IT WOULD BE IN NEXT WEEK (HA!). CALLED NEXT WEEK. STILL NO DISTRIBUTOR!! HAD TO ORDER IT FROM JAPAN!! AT THAT POINT, THE REGIONAL PARTS MANAGER CALLED ME AND SAID THAT A HIGHLANDER DISTRIBUTOR HAS NEVER GONE OUT. I DISCUSSED MY DISGUST WITH THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NO DISTRIBUTORS FOR A 6 YEAR OLD HIGHLANDER IN THE UNITED STATES!! MY MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO GET WITH A LOCAL DISTRIBUTOR REBUILDER TO TRY TO FIX IT EVEN WITHOUT HAVING THE MANUAL ON THE TOYOTA DISTRIBUTOR. HE WAS ABLE TO REBUILD IT BEFORE THE DISTRIBUTOR I ORDERED CAME IN 3 WEEKS AFTER THE INITIAL ORDER. IN THE END, MY HIGHLANDER SAT AT MY MECHANIC'S SHOP FOR 3 WEEKS AND I WAS STUCK RENTING A THE WHOLE TIME. *TR
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
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2007. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH THE WRONG SIZE TIRES, PER A FIRESTONE DEALER. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE TIRES. THE CONTACT HAS PURCHASED 4 NEW TIRES. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH PER A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE WRONG TIRE SIZE WAS 215/70/15 AND THE CORRECT TIRE SIZE HE PURCHASED FROM FIRESTONE WAS 195/70/16. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
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
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
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. DEFECTIVE CENTER AIRBAG SENSOR. *NM
THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING A/C CONTROL UNIT. I'D TALKED TO SEVERAL TOYOTA OWNERS ABOUT THIS, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM , AND EACH HAS TAKEN IT TO A DEALERSHIP NEAR THEM AND GOT THE SAME REPLY. THIS WAS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT PART. THE DEALERSHIP THAT I WENT TO SAID THEY HAVE SEEN A FEW VEHICLES. THE OWNERS I TALKED TO OWNED HIGHLANDERS,4 RUNNERS, AND MINIVANS. MY WIFE'S HIGHLANDER IS A 200, 2 THE OTHER VEHICLES RANGE FROM 2002 TO 2004, FOR AS I KNOW THERE HASN'T BEEN ANYTHING REPORTED ABOUT THIS. I SENT AN EMAIL TO TOYOTA AND ALL I GOT BACK WAS THEY HAVEN'T HAD ANY RECALLS FOR THAT. THE PROBLEM WITH MY WIFE'S HIGHLANDER WAS THAT THE HEAT STOPPED WORKING DURING THE WINTER. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT TO WORK WAS TO KEEP TURNING THE KNOB UNTIL IT WOULD START BLOWING WARM AIR, BUT IT WOULD NOT DO IT FOR LONG. THE A/C WORKED FINE ,BUT WHEN WINTER RETURNED, THERE WAS NO HEAT. IF THE WAS A CONTINUING PROBLEM, AND MORE DEALERS FOUND OUT ABOUT, WHY WEREN'T THEY DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT. IF ONE COULD RESEARCH THIS I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. *AK
1. PLASTIC TENSION COIL HOLDING UP VISOR FAILED ALL OF THE SUDDEN. 2. PLASTIC TENSION COIL HOLDING UP VISOR FAILED CAUSING THE VISOR TO FALL DOWN OBSTRUCTING MY VISION WHILE DRIVING. THIS OCCURS ANYTIME I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING. 3. I WENT TO TOYOTA TO HAVE IT FIXED AND THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY SINCE THERE HADN'T BEEN ANY RECALL NOTICES INVOLVING THE DESCRIBED FAILURE. *TR
I PURCHASED A USED 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 3 YEARS AGO, LAST YEAR, THE VISOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE STARTED FLIPPING DOWN (WILL NOT STAY UP). I HAVE BEEN QUOTED APPROX $700 TO REPLACE THE VISOR WHICH SEEMS EXCESSIVE ESPECIALLY SINCE IT IS NOT EVEN LIGHTED. *TR
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
2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR CONTINUALLY FALLS DOWN WHILE DRIVING. SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WHEN IT HAPPENS IT BLOCKS THE DRIVERS VIEW UNEXPECTEDLY. *JB
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
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
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT 10 MPH, UPON APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING, AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THERE WAS MODERATE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE WERE ALERTED, BUT A REPORT WAS NOT TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION OF THE BODY DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 12/12/06. *JB
SUN VISOR PROBLEM ... MY DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP AND HAS BECOME AN HAZARD. I'VE ALSO NOTICE THE SAME THING STARTING TO HAPPEN TO MY PASSENGER SUN VISOR, A SEAT IN WHICH IS ALL MOST NEVER OCCUPIED! *TR
I HAVE A COMPLAINT ABOUT MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR HAS A PROBLEM STAYING UP AND MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HAS QUOTED ME A PRICE TO REPLACE THE PART THAT SEEMS EXTREMELY HIGH. THIS VISOR IS THE HOMELINK VISOR. *TR
2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER TIRES MADE NOISES AND VIBRATED IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE BALANCED. *KB THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE TIRE WERE NOISY AND THE CONSUMER HAD THEM REPLACED. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SUN VISOR ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WILL NOT LOCK AND FALLS DOWN INTO THE OCCUPANT'S VIEW LIMITING VISIBILITY. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE ROD WITHIN THE VISORS WERE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. UPDATED 9/13/2006 - THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURE ADVISED THE CONSUMER TO CONTACT THE DEALER. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO METHOD TO REPAIR THE VISORS AND THAT THEY HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM
SAFETY PROBLEM/ACCIDENT POTENTIAL: DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR PROBLEM. VISOR DOES NOT STAY IN UPRIGHT (AGAINST THE ROOF) POSITION. WHEN DRIVING, IT CAUSES A SAFETY HAZARD BY BLOCKING MY VIEW OF THE ROAD BECAUSE IT FALLS DOWN INTO THE VERTICAL POSITION. *JB
MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR CONTINUOUSLY FALLS DOWN AND WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE. THE PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR STAYS IN PLACE IF THE CAR ISN'T MOVING, BUT WILL SUDDENLY FALL DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION. THE DEALER SAYS IT WOULD COST $600 TO REPLACE EACH VISOR, BUT MY QUESTION IS, WHY SHOULD I OR ANY CONSUMER HAVE TO PAY FOR A MANUFACTURER DEFAULT? I HAVE RESORTED TO PLACING A VELCRO STRIP ON THE CEILING TO KEEP THE SUN VISOR IN PLACE, WHICH OF COURSE PREVENTS ME FROM USING THE VISOR AT ALL. *TR
DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. I HAD TO TIE THE THING INTO PLACE IN ORDER TO SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD AND NOW CANNOT USE IT WHEN THE SUN IS AT A BOTHERSOME ANGLE. VERY ANNOYING THAT A PART LIKE THIS SHOULD FAIL. *TR
2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. DRIVER HAD TO SLAM THE VEHICLE INTO PARK FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. *KB THE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR 3 DAYS, RAN VARIOUS DIAGNOSTIC TESTS, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB
SUNVISOR ON DRIVERS SIDE DOES NOT STAY UP. *TR
DRIVER-SIDE SUN VISOR KEEPS FALLING STRAIGHT DOWN, AND CAUSES NEARLY NO VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE '02 HIGHLANDERS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS IT CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *JB
THE AIR BAGS DASHBOARD LIGHT BLINKS INTERMITTENTLY IN TEMPERATURES BELOW 20 F. DEALER SAYS TO BRING IN. TROUBLE IS WE NEED THE CAR FOR HOURS BEFORE THEY OPEN AND BY THAT TIME THE CAR HAS WARMED UP, THE CAR HAS BEEN TURNED ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES DURING ERRAND RUNNING. AFTER WHICH TIME, THE WARNING LIGHT IS NOT SHOWING. 1-TROUBLE IS WE ARE NOT ASSURED THIS IS JUST A WARNING LIGHT ISSUE WHICH MEANS IT'S OKAY TO USE WHILE LIGHT IS FLASHING. NOR DO WE KNOW IF THIS MEANS THE AIR BAGS MAY BE DEFECTIVE AND NOT WORK IN ANY CONDITIONS!? 2-THE DEALER CLAIMS TO NOT BE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE ALTHOUGH A SIMPLE SEARCH OF THE INTERNET SHOWS THE SAME ISSUE--THEIR ANSWER? "WE DIDN'T FIND ANY CODES WHEN WE TESTED IT". 3-THIS ISSUE SHOWED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE OUR CAR WAS COVERED UNDER THE PLATINUM WARRANTY AT THE TIME THEY FIRST "TESTED" FOR PROBLEMS. *TR