2002 Toyota Highlander complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECURITY SYSTEM FAILED AND CAUSED ALL OF THE DOORS TO LOCK. THE DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED MANUALLY, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO BE TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE DURING EXTREME HEAT. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BROKE THE REAR WINDOW TO RELEASE THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT FELT CONSTANT WEAKNESS IN THE HEAD DUE TO THE EXTREME HEAT EXPOSURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,050 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,106.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISORS WOULD RELEASE DOWNWARDLY WITHOUT INTENT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. THE SUN VISORS WOULD BE PLACED IN THE UPWARD POSITION UPON RELEASING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND TEMPORARILY DISTORTED THE VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO BOTH STATED THAT THE ENTIRE SUN VISOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

THE HEATER WOULD NOT PROVIDE HOT AIR. I PUSHED IN ON THE SWITCH AND THE HEAT WOULD WORK AS LONG AS I HELD THE SWITCH PUSHED IN (NOT DESIGNED TO BE PUSHED - ROTARY SELECTOR). EVENTUALLY, EVEN PRESSING THE SWITCH IN WOULD NOT WORK. I WENT ON LINE AND FOUND A DISCUSSION BLOG THAT DISCUSSED MY EXACT ISSUE. I FOLLOWED THE RECOMMENDATION AND PULLED THE FACE COVER OFF, REMOVED THE CONTROL PANEL AND DISCOVERED EXACTLY WHAT HAD BEEN DESCRIBED - A BROKEN SINGLE STRAND WIRE THAT RAN TO THE BACK OF THE SWITCH. I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE THE REPAIR USING A MULTI-STRAND WIRE AS RECOMMENDED BECAUSE THE DEALER REPAIR OPTION WAS $1,000. THE HEATER APPEARS TO WORK -SLIGHTLY, BUT NOW I HAVE NO AC. I THINK THE CIRCUIT BOARD WAS DAMAGED BY THE SOLDERING IRON HEAT. BECAUSE WE LIVE IN THE SEATTLE AREA, THIS CAUSES ISSUES WITH THE WINDOW DEFOGGER AS WELL AS HAVING NO AC. *TR

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE SUN VISORS ON MY 2002 HIGHLANDER. THE VISORS SEEM OVERLY HEAVY AND DUE TO THE NORMAL VIBRATIONS IN THE CAR THEY FREQUENTLY FALL DOWN, WHICH IS QUITE DISCONCERTING WHEN DRIVING! I'VE TALKED TO TOYOTA BUT THEY MENTION THERE IS NO WAY TO ADJUST THE TENSION AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO PAY 700.00 TO GET THEM FIXED. I'M CONCERNED AS IT LOOKS TO BE A DESIGN FAULT (I.E. BOTH VISORS ARE FALLING DOWN, DUE TO THE WEIGHT OF THE THINGS) AND I DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR NEW ONES TO BE IN EXACTLY THE SAME SITUATION IN 18 MONTHS TIME. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AAND MANY PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THIS PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS. *TT

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. *TR

REAR-RIGHT BREAK LIGHT NOT WORKING. REPLACE BULB AND DID NOT WORK. CHECKED SOCKET AND ALL IS FINE BUT BREAK LIGHT STILL NOT WORKING. I HAVE RESEARCH THIS FOR A WHILE AND NO SOLUTION. THESE SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND TOYOTA DOES NOT HAVE A SOLUTION. DEFINITIVELY A SAFETY ISSUE. I ALREADY GOT A TICKET FROM POLICE FOR NOT HAVING THESE LIGHTS IN WORKING CONDITION.

PASSENGER RIGHT REAR BRAKE INTERMITTENT. TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER, THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. BULB, LIGHT SOCKET, WIRING, FUSE ALL CHECKED GOOD. THE ISSUE HAS NOT GONE AWAY. TODAY I WAS STOPPED BY A POLICE OFFICER BECAUSE OF MY PASSENGER BRAKE LIGHT NOT WORKING. I TOLD THE OFFICER ABOUT WHAT I DID TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE AND THAT I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND OUT THE PROBLEM. AFTER EXPLAINING WHAT I DID TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE, THE POLICE OFFICER EXPLAINED TO ME THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE BRAKE LIGHT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM THIS EVENING AND FOUND 10 WEB SITES ALL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER RIGHT REAR BRAKE INTERMITTENT OR NOT WORKING. I FOUND ONE COMMON THREAD WAS THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE COMPLAINTS WAS ON THE 2002 MODEL AND A FEW ON 2003. *TR

THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW & POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. THE SUN VISORS FAIL & DROP DOWN IN FRONT ON YOU, NO LONGER STAYING AT A PROPER ANGLE OR STAYING UP. I CUT ONE OPEN & FOUND THAT THE PIVOTING PIN IS COATED IN PLASTIC & HELD IN PLACE BY A METAL CLIP. OVER TIME THE PLASTIC CRACKS & FALLS OFF THE METAL PIN CAUSING THE LOSS OF THE REQUIRED FRICTION TO HOLD THE VISOR SECURELY IN PLACE. MY 1ST REPAIR WAS TO REFORM THE PIN WITH EPOXY, BUT THE FORCE FROM THE METAL CLIP WAS TOO MUCH AND IT FAILED IN A FEW MONTHS. THE NEXT FIX WAS TO CUT THE VISOR OPEN AGAIN & FORCE THE PART OF THE PIN STILL COVERED IN THE ORIGINAL PLASTIC COATING DEEPER INTO THE METAL CLIP. THAT REPAIR LASTED UNTIL NOW. THE REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE, BUT NOW I CAN NOT REPAIR IT AND NOT DOING SO WOULD BE A DRIVING HAZARD. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ONLINE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING BY NOW. *JS

2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER STATES AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A COLLISION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED A VAN PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF HUSBAND WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE IMPACT WAS AT 45-50 MPH. THE CONSUMER'S HUSBAND HIT HIS HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUFFERED AMNESIA AND THE CONSUMER SUFFERED A NECK INJURY. *JB

DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR KEEPS FALLING DOWN SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING. WHILE SEARCHING ONLINE, I FOUND OUT THAT MANY 2002 HIGHLANDER OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. REPAIR IS TOO COSTLY. IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO COMPLETELY TURN OFF THE ENGINE IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS STUCK IN THE FORWARD POSITION AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 210,000.

A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO WHITE SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. LAST WEEK, ON A TRIP WITHIN 400 MILES OF MY HOME, THE ENGINE AND VSC LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR COULD STOP SUDDENLY AND LEAVE US STRANDED SO I MADE AN APPT FOR MONDAY MORNING. THE CAR RODE VERY ROUGH FOR THE LAST TWO HOURS AND IT SEEMED AS IF IT IS READY TO STALL ANYTIME. TOYOTA CHARGED ME $ 321.00 FOR A COMPRESSION AND DIAGNOSTICS TEST. TOYOTA FOUND THAT I HAD LOW COMPRESSION. TOYOTA ALSO OFFERED TO TAKE APART MY ENGINE FOR 2667.00 TO SEE IF THE RINGS WERE DAMAGED. I REFUSED THE WORK AND PICKED UP MY CAR. WE CALLED AN ENGINE REPAIR BUSINESS. THE OWNER KNEW THE MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR OF MY CAR AND ASKED IF WE HAD JUST HIT THE 100,000 MILE MARKER. WE HAD. HE TOLD US OF THE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM, SETTLEMENT AND FAULTY ALUMINUM ENGINES. I HAVE RESEARCHED SIMILAR CHARACTERISTICS WITH THE HIGHLANDER AND SEE THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE 2002 HIGHLANDER. THE SLUDGE SITUATION WOULD ONLY BE COVERED IF IT WAS WITHIN 8 YEARS OF THE PURCHASE DATE. WHAT ABOUT THE MANY CONSUMERS WHO STILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS PAST THE EIGHT YEARS? I BOUGHT THIS HIGHLANDER IN 2005, HAD IT SERVICED REGULARLY AND WE ALSO CHANGED THE OIL OURSELVES. IN 2008 I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR A TUNE UP AND AN OIL CHANGE PRIOR TO A LONG TRIP. ON THE WAY HOME, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WE PULLED OVER TO A LOCAL GAS STATION AND THERE WAS LITERALLY NO OIL IN MY ENGINE.

OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS THE DRIVERS SIDE VISOR WOULD FALL WHEN I PRESS THE BREAKS. BLOCKING MY VISION. RECENTLY, THE VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP AT ALL, AND NEEDS TO BE TAPED UP TO PREVENT IT FROM FALLING WHILE I AM DRIVING. *KB

VEHICLE HAS TOYOTA 2AZ-FE (2.4 L) 4 CYLINDER ENGINE. OIL & COOLANT LEAKING FROM BACK OF ENGINE. HEAD BOLTS ON MAIN GASKET FAILED. IN SEARCHING INTERNET, COUNTLESS OTHER OWNERS HAVE UNFORTUNATELY EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE WHICH IS DUE TO AN INHERENT DESIGN PROBLEM BY TOYOTA. BOLTS BETWEEN GASKET AND MAIN ENGINE BLOCK FAIL AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED. HAVE TO BUY AND INSTALL A NEW ENGINE. CALLED TOYOTA USA HEADQUARTERS IN TORRANCE, CA. AND SPOKE TO THEM, THEY SAID THEY WILL DO NOTHING FOR ME. SPOKE TO DYLAN AND THE CASE NUMBER IS 1111291430. I BELIEVE THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED AND THAT TOYOTA SHOULD ASSUME FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE FAILURES, WHICH ARE OBVIOUSLY DUE TO A DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING PROBLEM OF TOYOTA. *KB

THIS STRUT ATTACHES TO THE REAR AXLE AND PREVENTS IT FROM MOVING FORWARD. IT RUSTED OUT AND WAS BOUNCING ON THE ROAD AND HITTING THE CAR AND REAR TIRE. I HAD TO STOP AND GET IT REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY FOR FEAR OF DAMAGING THE TIRE OR CAR. UPON MECHANIC MAKING REPAIR THE OTHER STRUT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE CAR FELL OFF IN HIS HAND. IF BOTH STRUT HAD FAILED THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NOTHING TO STOP THE REAR AXLE FROM MOVING FORWARD AND CAUSING A CASTROPHE ACCIDENT. OR IF THE BOUNCING STRUT LODGE IN THE REAR TIRE THE SAME COULD HAVE BEEN TRUE. THE NEW REPLACEMENT PARTS LOOK INADEQUATE FOR SUCH A CRITICAL COMPONENT. SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IN UNDER 10 YEARS. CAR GET WASHED ONCE EVER TWO WEEKS. FROM MY PERSPECTIVE PART LOOKS THE METAL BRACKET AT THE END OF THE ROD IS WAY TO THIN FOR THIS CRITICAL COMPONENT. PART #48780-4802012398. *TR

THE DRIVER'S SUNVISOR DOES NOT WORK. IT WON'T STAY IN POSITION OR EVEN UP. THE VISOR JUST FALLS DOWN ALL THE TIME, BLOCKING THE DRIVER'S VIEW. THERE ARE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE WITH NO SOLUTIONS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. I TRIED TALKING TO TOYOTA - THEY JUST TOLD ME TO BUY A NEW $700 VISOR. BUT I HAVE KNOWN OTHERS WITH THIS SAME YEAR/MODEL/MAKE (2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER) OF CAR AND EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE VISOR, THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT INOPERATIVE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY OWNER AND DEALER. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AGO HE NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR WOULD FALL AND OBSCURE HIS VISION WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO ADVISED HIM THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. UPDATED 09/21/11*LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE VISOR FAILED AS WELL. UPDATED 09/28/11*JB

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AND BOTH SUN VISORS WILL NOT STAY UP. THIS IS CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN THEY FALL DOWN AND BLOCKS MY VIEW WHILE I AM DRIVING. WHAT'S IT GOING TO TAKE - SOMEONE GETTING KILLED BEFORE TOYOTA WILL ADMIT THAT THE VISOR IS TOO HEAVY AND NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. SEEMS WITH ALL THE NEGATIVE PUBLICITY THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED LATELY THAT THEY WOULD DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM ON ALL THEIR VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM. I KNOW THAT IT WOULD BE COSTLY BUT IT IS THEIR PRODUCT AND THEY SHOULD BE WILLING TO DO THE RIGHT THING. *KB

SUN VISOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUDDENLY FALLS FROM ITS NORMAL POSITION DURING DRIVING BLOCKING THE DRIVER'S FIELD OF VISION. THAT MIGHT CASE AN ACCIDENT. *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

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

SUN VISOR ON MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WILL FREQUENTLY FALL DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THIS RESULTS IN MY VIEW OF THE ROAD BEING UNEXPECTEDLY HINDERED. THIS COULD EASILY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY - I.E. ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE MORE THAN 3 MILES. *TR

MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISORS DROP DOWN WHILE DRIVING. RESEARCH OF THIS PROBLEM INDICATE OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH POTENTIALLY CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BY BLOCKING VISION OR DISTURBING THE DRIVER WHILE DRIVING. NOTIFIED TOYOTA OF THE PROBLEM AND GOT A VERY PROMPT STANDARD CUSTOMER SERVICE REPLY THAT THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND BASICALLY IT IS YOUR PROBLEM VERSUS A POTENTIAL DESIGN FLAW THAT MAY HAVE SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS AND THEY AT LEAST COULD OF PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OTHER THAN A REPLACEMENT AT $660. EVEN AT THAT BASED ON THE INTERNET THAT IS NOT A PERMANENT REPAIR SINCE IT IS A DESIGN FLAW. APPARENTLY THIS IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH OTHER TOYOTA MODELS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE THE DRIVER SIDE WAS IMPACTED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER AND TWO PASSENGERS SUFFERED HEAD AND BACK INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED AS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD BE CALLING HER AFTER ANALYZING THE COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,393.

DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR FALLING INTO DRIVER'S FIELD OF VISION WHEN VEHICLE IN OPERATION. 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED. OCCURS CONSTANTLY AND BEGAN ABOUT THREE YEARS AFTER THE VISOR WAS REPLACED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *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 LEFT BRAKE LIGHTS ON MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED EDITION 4 WHEEL DRIVE DO NOT WORK. I CHANGED THE BULBS AND THEY STILL DO NOT WORK. I HAVE RESEARCHED POSSIBLE CAUSES AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT IN THAT IT AROSE SUDDENLY, FOR NO REASON, AND COMPROMISES THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLES ABILITY TO WARN OTHER DRIVERS THAT THE CAR IS BRAKING. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT RECALLED THE CAR FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE A SIGNIFICANT MALFUNCTION. *TR

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER BRAKE LIGHTS. RIGHT SIDE/PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHTS GO OUT OFTEN AND EVEN WITH NEW BULBS DON'T ALWAYS WORK. FAULTY DESIGN. DUE TO ALL THE POSTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE I'M ASSUMING THIS IS A COMMON AND UNSAFE PROBLEM WITH HIGHLANDERS. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE BREAK LIGHT FAILURE ON 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN OTHER DRIVERS CANNOT SEE YOU BREAK PARTICULARLY FROM THE RIGHT ANGLE. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT HAS HAPPENED TO MANY DRIVERS OF THE SAME MODEL YEAR. SEE THE WEB POSTS AT HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.NET/FORUM/AUTOS/TOYOTA-HIGHLANDER/T7H7LD934GSQLC6BE I AM CONVINCED IT IS A DEFECT IN THE 2002 MODEL AND AS SUCH SHOULD BE RECALLED. I HAVE BROUGHT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER IN MANCHESTER NH 5 TIMES REPLACING LAMP SOCKETS AND OTHER ATTEMPTS AND IT STILL DOES NOT WORK. I HAVE TO BRING IN AGAIN. THERE SHOULD BE A STANDARD WAY TO FIX IT.

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR DOES NOT STAY IN PLACE. AT FIRST OCCURRENCE, THE VISOR WOULD SLOWLY DROOP DOWN WITH NORMAL VIBRATIONS IN THE CAR AND REQUIRED REPEATED TAPING OF THE VISOR BACK INTO PLACE WITH THE DRIVER'S HAND (A DISTRACTION AND HAZARD AS IS). AS TIME WENT ON THE VISOR LOOSENED COMPLETELY AND DOES NOT STAY UP AT ALL. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND DISTRACTING AS IT BLOCKS FULL VISION OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD BY THE DRIVER. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT OF THE VISOR ITSELF BY THE MANUFACTURER AS IT SEEMS AS IF THE VISOR IS TOO HEAVY TO STAY IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE AMONG THIS MAKE AND MODEL AND SEEMS AS IF THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL REGARDING THIS ISSUE LONG AGO.

I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER FROM SIERRA TOYOTA OF LANCASTER, CA. I HAVE EXPERIENCED NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE UNTIL 25 JAN. 2011 WHEN THE ENGINE OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING 40MPH ON CITY STREET. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC AND HE INFORMED ME OF A PROBLEM WITH THE 2.4L 4CYL TOYOTA ENGINES IN WHICH SOME OF THE HEAD BOLTS BECOME LOOSE/STRIPPED WHERE THEY ATTACH AT THE ENGINE BLOCK. I CALLED SIERRA TOYOTA OF LANCASTER AND THEY DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM. ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I DISCOVERED THAT SIERRA TOYOTA HAD A SPECIALIST SERVICING ONE OF THEIR VEHICLES BY PLACING INSERTS INTO THE STRIPPED HOLES THE VERY NEXT DAY. SIERRA TOYOTA REFUSED TO GIVE ME ANY MONETARY ASSISTANCE IN REPAIRING MY VEHICLE. AFTER RESEARCHING THE BOLT PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS TOYOTA OWNERS WITH THE SAME ENGINE, THAT HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES. THE ONLY FIX IS EITHER A COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT OR HAVING AN EXPENSIVE ANCHOR-BOLT REDO. MY COSTS LOOK LIKE TO BE ABOUT $2500, IF THERE IS NO OTHER DAMAGE FOUND DUE TO THE OVER-HEATING. AT THIS POINT, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THE NEW ANCHOR-BOLT SYSTEM WILL WORK. MY VEHICLE WAS ALWAYS WELL-MAINTAINED AND CURRENTLY HAS APX. 126,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

WAS DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR ON MY '02 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SUDDENLY DROPPED DOWN TO OBSCURE MY VISION. THIS NECESSITATED ME HITTING MY BRAKES AND DUCKING DOWN TO THE RIGHT OF THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO VIEW TRAFFIC. THERE WERE NO "EVENTS" LEADING TO MALFUNCTION. THE VISOR WILL NO LONGER REMAIN IN THE "UP" POSITION AND POSES AN ONGOING SAFETY HAZARD AS IT MUST EITHER BE HELD IN PLACE WHILE DRIVING (FORCING THE DRIVER TO USE ONE HAND ON THE WHEEL), TAPED IN PLACE (WHERE IT WILL STILL DROP DOWN IF/WHEN THE TAPE GIVES OUT); OR FORCE THE DRIVER TO LEAN TO THE RIGHT IN ORDER TO SEE AROUND THE VISOR (THUS PROHIBITING THE USE OF THE REARVIEW AND SIDEVIEW MIRRORS(. *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.

2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. IT FLOPS DOWN INTO YOUR VIEW EVERYTIME YOU HIT A BUMP. TOYOTA DEALER WANTED $650 TO FIX/REPLACE HERE IN INDIANAPOLIS. CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES, THIS SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM THAT IS SO EXPENSIVE TO FIX. *TR

2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE TIRES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED ONE OF THE TIRES HE HAD PUT ON THE VEHICLE WERE PUNCTURED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD THE GOODYEAR ROAD HAZARD PROTECTION PLAN. THE CONSUMER STATED LATER IN THE DAY, WHEN HE CONTACTED GOODYEAR, TO CHECK THE STATUS, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRES WERE WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. THE CONSUMER STATED HE ONLY HAD 110,000 MILES AND ONLY 9,000 NEW MILES ON THEM. THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM BEFORE WHICH WAS WHY HE HAD TO PURCHASE NEW TIRES AFTER 20,000 AND ANOTHER TIME PRIOR TO THAT. (GOODYEAR FORTERA TRIPLETRED)*JB

SOME EARLIER MODELS OF TOYOTA'S 2AZ-FE 4 CYLINDER ENGINE ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO SUDDEN FAILURE AND ARE DANGEROUS. THE ENGINE IS WIDELY USED IN TOYOTA'S POPULAR CAMRY, HIGHLANDER, RAV4 AND SCION TC MODELS. TOYOTA NEEDS TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AND INVESTIGATE THE ENGINE. ON 9/11/2010, 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER'S 2AZ-FE ENGINE FAILED AND LEFT OCCUPANTS STRANDED. EVENT TOOK PLACE IMMEDIATELY AFTER EXITING THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE SPUTTERED AND CEASED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 75,000 MILES ON IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHICH REPORTED THE FOLLOWING: - OIL AND COOLANT LEAKING FROM THE BACK OF THE ENGINE HEAD - HYDROCARBON IN THE COOLANT - OIL SEVERELY BURNT DUE TO OVERHEATING THE ESTIMATE TO OPEN UP AND REPAIR THE ENGINE COULD RUN ANYWHERE FROM $2,000 TO $7,500 DEPENDING ON WHETHER THE ENGINE BLOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S SCHEDULE WITH ALL THE RECORDS TO PROVE IT. TOYOTA DENIED REQUEST TO INVESTIGATE AND DEFRAY COSTS. WHILE ENGINE WAS OPENED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT TWO OF THE HEAD BOLTS WERE LOOSE AND THAT THE THREADS IN THE ALUMINUM ENGINE BLOCK FOR 3 HEAD BOLTS IN THE REAR WERE STRIPPED. REPAIRING THE ENGINE INVOLVED RE-THREADING THE HOLES IN THE ENGINE BLOCK FOR ALL TEN HEAD BOLTS USING THE TIME-SERT THREAD REPAIR KIT. *TR

2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER: BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SUNVISORS WILL NOT STAY IN UP POSITION. THE VISORS DROP WITHOUT WARNING MULTIPLE TIMES EVERY DAY SINCE THE PROBLEM BEGAN TO OCCUR. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUNVISOR RANDOMLY DROPS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING COMPLETELY OBSCURING THE DRIVER'S VISION. REPORTED THE DEFECT TO MY TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE ONLY OPTION WAS TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENTS AT A COST OF SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS EACH. THIS ASSESSMENT WAS GIVEN WITHOUT ANY INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE AND IN A MANNER WHICH STRONGLY IMPLIED THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM WHICH THEY WERE VERY FAMILIAR WITH. AFTER SPEAKING TO TOYOTA, I DECIDED TO RESEARCH THIS FOR MYSELF ON THE WEB AND FOUND MANY SIMILAR INCIDENTS. THIS IS CLEARLY A DANGEROUS DESIGN DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE REMEDIATED BY THE MANUFACTURER URGENTLY BEFORE SOMEONE'S FAMILY IS KILLED BECAUSE THE VISOR DROPS AND BLOCKS THEIR VIEW OF THE TRAFFIC AHEAD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LTD (N/A). WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH AND SPEEDING TO 70 MPH TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE PASSENGER REMOVED THE FLOOR MATS BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL FIRMLY, SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNING THE ENGINE OFF. THE RPMS CONTINUED TO INCREASE EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY HAD CARBON AND BUILT UP CORROSION WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AS THE VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD, TOO HIGH IN MILEAGE AND NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 218,000.

THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR ON MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WILL NOT STAY IN THE UP POSITION AND FALLS INTO THE DRIVER'S VIEW WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS. *TR

THE RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOES NOT WORK. I HAVE CHANGED ALL BULBS AND CHECKED FUSES. ALL OTHER LIGHT IN THE ASSEMBLY WORK JUST FINE TAIL,BACKUP,RIGHT BLINKER BUT WHEN YOUR PRESS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS TO THE NHTSA ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. DIRECT ACTION IS NEEDED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OR SOMEONE IS PULLED OVER FOR A PROBLEM THAT IS NOT FIXABLE ON THE CUSTOMERS END. *TR

DEFECTIVE VISOR ON 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER THAT WILL NOT REMAIN IN "UP" POSITION. ANY BUMP WILL CAUSE THE VISOR TO FALL, AND POTENTIALLY BLOCK THE DRIVER'S FIELD OF VISION. DEALER WANTS $667 TO REPLACE THE VISOR - MORE THAN I PAID FOR MY FIRST CAR! *TR

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

I HAVE A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2002 LIMITED, V6, BOTH SUN VISORS CONSTANTLY FALL DOWN AND WON'T STAY UP EVEN WITH HEAVY DUTY VELCRO STRIPS. IT IS DISTRACTING AND BLOCKS THE DRIVERS VIEW. *TR

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

IN JUNE 2008, I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY ENGINE APPARENTLY MELTED DOWN. IT WENT COMPLETELY HOT. I PULLED OVER AND THERE WAS WHAT APPEARED TO BE COOLANT POOLED UNDER THE CAR. PRIOR TO THIS ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE HAD BEEN DONE AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY TROUBLE WITH THE CAR EARLIER THAT DAY. I LATER TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN HIS LIFE. THE ENGINE HAD LITERALLY MELTED. HE THEN TRIED TO CALL TOYOTA AND GOT IN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE BUT THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED EITHER AND WAS UNWILLING TO DEAL WITH IT. HE SAID IT OBVIOUSLY HAD TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT. IT COST ME A WHOLE NEW ENGINE. *TR

AT 108K MILES, MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO TOYOTAS LASTING TO 200K MILES, LIKE IN THE COMMERCIALS? I'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO JUMP UP AND BE THE ONE PROCLAIMING HOW MANY MILES MY TOYOTA HAS NOW! I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED, AS I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE EXPECTING TO DRIVE IT WELL BEYOND 100K MILES AND WITH FURTHER RESEARCH, APPARENTLY I'M NOT THE ONLY DISAPPOINTED HIGHLANDER OWNER WITH THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE SUNVISOR KEEPS FALLING IN TO MY LINE OF VISION UNEXPECTEDLY. IT'S ON MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. IT IS TERRIFYING WHEN YOU'RE ON THE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC AND IT FALLS! *TR

FROM A STOPPED POSITION ON A SIDE STREET, I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO PULL ONTO A MAIN STREET. BECAUSE TRAFFIC ON THE MAIN STREET MOVES RATHER FAST, I ACCELERATED SOMEWHAT ABOVE NORMAL, BUT IN NO WAY EXCESSIVE. AFTER GETTING INTO MY LANE, I BACKED OFF THE ACCELERATOR, BUT THE ENGINE ACTED AS IF I WAS FLOORING IT AND THE CAR CONTINUED ACCELERATING. IT WAS SCARY. I PUSHED HARD ON THE BREAK. THE CAR STILL ACCELERATED. I STEPPED ON THE HAND BRAKE. IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. FINALLY, I TOOK THE CAR OUT OF DRIVE AND INTO NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO SCREAM, BUT I WAS ABLE TO STOP AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AT SOME POINT THE ENGINE DID COME DOWN TO NORMAL IDLE, BUT I WAS SO SHAKEN, I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT HAPPENED. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS AHEAD OF ME, THE ROAD IS STRAIGHT AND LEVEL, ETC. ASIDE FROM SHATTERED NERVES, THERE WAS NO HARM DONE. BUT I CAN IMAGINE ALL KINDS OF HORRIBLE OUTCOMES HAD CONDITIONS BEEN DIFFERENT. THE CAR ACTED AS IF THE ACCELERATOR STUCK ALL THE WAY DOWN, HOWEVER I KNOW I DIDN'T PRESS IT DOWN THAT FAR. LATER MY HUSBAND DROVE THE CAR HOME FROM WHERE I STOPPED IT. WITH THE CAR OFF, MY HUSBAND INSPECTED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL PRESSING IT WITH HIS HAND AND LETTING IT BACK UP. THERE IS A POINT ABOUT HALF WAY BACK UP WHERE THE MECHANISM IS NOT SMOOTH. THE PEDAL COMES ALL THE WAY BACK UP, BUT SOMETHING INSIDE CATCHES AND CAUSES LOTS OF GAS TO FLOW INTO THE ENGINE. AT LEAST ONE TIME HE WAS ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR IN PARK. I AM AFRAID TO EVER

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE SUN VISORS WILL NOT STAY IN THE UP POSITION. THEY RANDOMLY FALL DOWN PARTIALLY BLOCKING MY VIEW AND CREATING A SAFETY HAZZARD. I ORIGINALLY TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHO HAD IT REPLACED BUT THE SAME THING KEPT HAPPENING. I WENT ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT IT'S NOT JUST MY 2002 HIGHLANDER. I'VE TRIED VELCRO BUT THAT WON'T HOLD IT IN PLACE. I'VE HAD SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS ON THE HIGHWAY AS A RESULT OF THIS ISSUE. IT HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY AND I JUST CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE. *TR