U.S. public vehicle records

2002 Toyota HIGHLANDER problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

301 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

70,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 205 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Visibility is the most frequently named component, appearing in 108 of 301 complaints (35.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	42	14.0%
Transmission and shifting	15	5.0%
Steering behavior	6	2.0%
Electrical and battery issues	5	1.7%
Engine operation	4	1.3%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Visibility

108

Vehicle Speed Control

Structure

Visibility/Wiper

Unknown Or Other

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Electrical System

Engine And Engine Cooling

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Visibility	108
Vehicle Speed Control	29
Structure	23
Visibility/Wiper	16
Unknown Or Other	14
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	11
Electrical System	10
Engine And Engine Cooling	10

Visibility: 108; Vehicle Speed Control: 29; Structure: 23; Visibility/Wiper: 16; Unknown Or Other: 14; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 11; Electrical System: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling: 10

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 22; 25,000 to 49,999: 46; 50,000 to 74,999: 39; 75,000 to 99,999: 39; 100,000 to 149,999: 44; 150,000 and above: 15

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (46). 96 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2002: 16; 2003: 14; 2004: 16; 2005: 8; 2006: 27; 2007: 32; 2008: 23; 2009: 24; 2010: 59; 2011: 21; 2012: 15; 2013: 17; 2014: 11; 2015: 5; 2016: 6; 2017: 4; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 1

Pattern summary

Visibility leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 42 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 15 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10045176 · 2003-10-31 (October 31, 2003)

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. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 26,731 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045176 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10067090 · 2004-04-13 (April 13, 2004)

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING AREA, AND WHEN CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKES VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. WHILE TRYING TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND AVOID PEDESTRIANS VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A CEMENT POLE IN THE PARKING LOT. CONSUMER SUFFERED SEVERE HEAD AND KNEE INJURIES. THE POLICE ISSUED A REPORT ON THE COLLISION.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067090 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10061049 · 2004-03-01 (March 1, 2004)

VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK WITHOUT WARNING. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED,BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 27,282 miles reported. Look up ODI 10061049 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10197962 · 2007-07-31 (July 31, 2007)

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10197962 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10168152 · 2006-09-13 (September 13, 2006)

EXC. VIBRATION IN FRT. AXLE ASSY. VIBRATION CAN ONLY BE FELT OR HEARD IN VEHICLE CAB AT THE FOLLOWING SPEEDS 38-43, 53-55,61-65 AND ABOVE. SOMETIMES AT THE LOWER SPEEDS. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN COMMONWEALTH OF P. R. AND SHIPPED TO THE U. S. DURING THE OWNERSHIP OF THIS VEHICLE, I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GET ANY OF THE DEALERS IN P. R. OR U. S. TO REPAIR IT. COMPLAINED IN P.R. AND STATED TIRES BALANCED. ALWAYS TIRES PROBLEMS. VIBRATION IN THE STEERING AND CAB AREA. THE NOISE, DRIVE YOU NUTS ,HEARING AND FEELING IT IN STEERING .WHEN REL…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10168152 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10170138 · 2006-09-15 (September 15, 2006)

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10170138 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10073314 · 2004-05-10 (May 10, 2004)

THE HEATING SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER REPLACED SOME WIRES. UPON LEAVING THE DEALER, THE DRIVER TURNED ON THE REAR DEFROSTER AND THE WIRING HARNESS BURNED UP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10073314 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10217098 · 2008-02-06 (February 6, 2008)

COMPONENT: EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:AIR CONDITIONER SUMMARY: 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…

Owner-reported narrative. 115,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10217098 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10158290 · 2006-05-25 (May 25, 2006)

2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER STALL-REDUCE SPEED TO 1000/2000 RPM AND SHUT OFF ENGINE DURING COLD/HOT WEATHER. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10158290 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10183833 · 2007-02-28 (February 28, 2007)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10183833 at NHTSA ↗