Owners have filed 335 complaints
about the 2002 Toyota Highlander with NHTSA between 2002 and 2020.
The largest single group is the windows, mirrors & wipers.
Across this model's run it ranks 16 of 25 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 59
Against the median year of the Toyota Highlander. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 83
16.1% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 29
17% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 2002 compares with every other Toyota Highlander
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a
system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and
knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Engine
1130.6%
Automatic Transmission
616.7%
AIR Conditioner
411.1%
Electrical Heating Element
38.3%
Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
38.3%
Exhaust System
38.3%
Windshield
38.3%
Frontal
38.3%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
62.6%
1,000 – 9,999 miles
41.7%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
156.6%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
4821.0%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
4419.2%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
4318.8%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
5222.7%
150,000+ miles
177.4%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jan 2002peak 14Feb 2020
Recalls on the 2002 Toyota Highlander
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 200412726,987 units in Canada
Other
On certain vehicles, if the rear side doors are closed very hard with the Child Protection Lock (CPL) lever in the lock position, there is a possibility that the lock lever may contact the body panel due to insufficient clearance, causing the CPL lever to move into the unlock position. This condition could allow the doors to be opened with the inside door handles while the operator believes that the child protection lock was activated. Correction: Dealer will shorten the CPL levers.
Recall 200214213,423 units in Canada
Fuel System
On certain 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 upward direction. When the vehicle was crashed under the new car assessment program (NCAP) test (i.e., 35 mph frontal barrier crash), the clamp "tabs" contacted the underside of the body due to movement of the fuel tank, causing the nozzle to break. In the worst case, nozzle breakage could result in fuel leakage if the vehicle rolls-over after a high speed frontal crash. Correction: Dealers will rotate the specified clamp.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
LA Puente, CAFire
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I SAW SOMEONE STEAL MY CAR AND TOLD THEM THEY HACKED. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD SLOW UP AND DOWN. BURNING OF THE ELECTRICS WHEN TRY TO CHARGE. CAR STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. CAR GOING ON AND OFF. THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, TURNING BACK ON. SPEED CONTROL MESSING UP. SECURITY WARNING GOING UP AND DOWN.. BATTERY WOULD SHUT ON AND OFF. CAR LOCKS GOING ON AND OFF. COULD BARELY STEER THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #11210679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LA Puente, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I SAW SOMEONE STEAL MY CAR AND TOLD THEM THEY HACKED. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD SLOW UP AND DOWN. BURNING OF THE ELECTRICS WHEN TRY TO CHARGE. CAR STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. CAR GOING ON AND OFF. THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, TURNING BACK ON. SPEED CONTROL MESSING UP. SECURITY WARNING GOING UP AND DOWN.. BATTERY WOULD SHUT ON AND OFF. CAR LOCKS GOING ON AND OFF. COULD BARELY STEER THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #11210679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LA Puente, CAFire
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
I SAW SOMEONE STEAL MY CAR AND TOLD THEM THEY HACKED. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD SLOW UP AND DOWN. BURNING OF THE ELECTRICS WHEN TRY TO CHARGE. CAR STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. CAR GOING ON AND OFF. THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, TURNING BACK ON. SPEED CONTROL MESSING UP. SECURITY WARNING GOING UP AND DOWN.. BATTERY WOULD SHUT ON AND OFF. CAR LOCKS GOING ON AND OFF. COULD BARELY STEER THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #11210679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 240,000 milesMiddleboro, MACrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING HOME THE CAR ACCELERATED ON IT,S OWN AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP WITHOUT REARENDING ANOTHER CAR WITHALL THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR AS A MECHANIC I REPAIRED THE BODY ON MY OWN AFTER MAKING REPAIRS I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR FROM THE SHOP I WORK AT TO MY HOUSE THE CAR WAS IDLING A LITTLE HIGH .I RETURNED TOWARD WORK THE NEXT MORNING TO SCAN THE CAR FOR HIGH IDLE .THE CAR ACCELERATED TO OVER 100 MPH WITH MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATER AND BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL I HAD TO SHUT THE CAR OFF TOSTOP IT I HAD IT TOWED TO WORK I SCAN IT AND FOUND CODE C1203 WHICH IS A COMUNICATION FAULT FROM THE ECM TO THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLLER WHILE RESEARCHING THE CODE I FOUND THAT MY CAR FELL UNDER A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT FOR THIS PROBLEM I NOTIFYED TOYOTA WHERE THEY SENT AN OUTSIDE ADJUSTER OUT TO EXAMINE THE CAR HE FILED A REPORT TO TOYOTA SAYING THERE WAS NO PROBLEM HE DID NOT MENTION THE CODE IN HIS REPORT I FILED AN APPEAL ON OCTOBER 2017 AND HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANYTHING WITH THIS PROBLEM I HAVE BEEN A MECHANIC FOR OVER 35 YEARS AND EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM TO THEM WITH NO SOLUTION THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE MAY2017 I JUST WANT A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM WITHOUT HAVING TO EXPLAIN A FIX TO TOYOTA FOR THIER CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT IT SEEMS THAT THE INDEPENENT ASSESSOR IS WORKING FOR TOYOTA AND NOT THE CONSUMER
NHTSA complaint #11052625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 200,000 milesColorado Springs, COCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK, LOWER BACK, AND CHEST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
NHTSA complaint #10701181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 120,000 milesColumbia, SCCrash
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT IS INTERMITTENT AT BEST. REPLACED BULBS MANY TIMES, CLEANED CONTACTS, ETC...BUT NO HELP.ON-GOING PROBLEM . WAS REAR-ENDED DUE TO THIS EXACT PROBLEM. DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT FINE...IT IS ALWAYS PASSENGER SIDE. MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE ON-LINE.
NHTSA complaint #10659709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 242,523 milesSidney, OH
AIR BAGS
MY AIR BAG LITE KEEPS POPING ON
NHTSA complaint #11311792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LA Puente, CAFire
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I SAW SOMEONE STEAL MY CAR AND TOLD THEM THEY HACKED. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD SLOW UP AND DOWN. BURNING OF THE ELECTRICS WHEN TRY TO CHARGE. CAR STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. CAR GOING ON AND OFF. THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, TURNING BACK ON. SPEED CONTROL MESSING UP. SECURITY WARNING GOING UP AND DOWN.. BATTERY WOULD SHUT ON AND OFF. CAR LOCKS GOING ON AND OFF. COULD BARELY STEER THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #11210679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LA Puente, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I SAW SOMEONE STEAL MY CAR AND TOLD THEM THEY HACKED. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD SLOW UP AND DOWN. BURNING OF THE ELECTRICS WHEN TRY TO CHARGE. CAR STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. CAR GOING ON AND OFF. THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, TURNING BACK ON. SPEED CONTROL MESSING UP. SECURITY WARNING GOING UP AND DOWN.. BATTERY WOULD SHUT ON AND OFF. CAR LOCKS GOING ON AND OFF. COULD BARELY STEER THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #11210679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LA Puente, CAFire
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
I SAW SOMEONE STEAL MY CAR AND TOLD THEM THEY HACKED. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD SLOW UP AND DOWN. BURNING OF THE ELECTRICS WHEN TRY TO CHARGE. CAR STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. CAR GOING ON AND OFF. THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, TURNING BACK ON. SPEED CONTROL MESSING UP. SECURITY WARNING GOING UP AND DOWN.. BATTERY WOULD SHUT ON AND OFF. CAR LOCKS GOING ON AND OFF. COULD BARELY STEER THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #11210679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bedford Heights, OH
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ACCELERATOR STICIKING. VEHICLE ACCELERATES AT 4000 TO 5000 RPMS HAD VEHICE TOWED TO TOYOTA OF BEDFORD 440-809-8399
NHTSA complaint #11105039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 240,000 milesMiddleboro, MACrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING HOME THE CAR ACCELERATED ON IT,S OWN AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP WITHOUT REARENDING ANOTHER CAR WITHALL THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR AS A MECHANIC I REPAIRED THE BODY ON MY OWN AFTER MAKING REPAIRS I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR FROM THE SHOP I WORK AT TO MY HOUSE THE CAR WAS IDLING A LITTLE HIGH .I RETURNED TOWARD WORK THE NEXT MORNING TO SCAN THE CAR FOR HIGH IDLE .THE CAR ACCELERATED TO OVER 100 MPH WITH MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATER AND BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL I HAD TO SHUT THE CAR OFF TOSTOP IT I HAD IT TOWED TO WORK I SCAN IT AND FOUND CODE C1203 WHICH IS A COMUNICATION FAULT FROM THE ECM TO THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLLER WHILE RESEARCHING THE CODE I FOUND THAT MY CAR FELL UNDER A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT FOR THIS PROBLEM I NOTIFYED TOYOTA WHERE THEY SENT AN OUTSIDE ADJUSTER OUT TO EXAMINE THE CAR HE FILED A REPORT TO TOYOTA SAYING THERE WAS NO PROBLEM HE DID NOT MENTION THE CODE IN HIS REPORT I FILED AN APPEAL ON OCTOBER 2017 AND HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANYTHING WITH THIS PROBLEM I HAVE BEEN A MECHANIC FOR OVER 35 YEARS AND EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM TO THEM WITH NO SOLUTION THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE MAY2017 I JUST WANT A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM WITHOUT HAVING TO EXPLAIN A FIX TO TOYOTA FOR THIER CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT IT SEEMS THAT THE INDEPENENT ASSESSOR IS WORKING FOR TOYOTA AND NOT THE CONSUMER
NHTSA complaint #11052625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gainesville, FL
VISIBILITY/WIPER
DRIVER SIDE VISOR HAS 2 POSITIONS ONLY. DOWN OR UP. CANNOT ADJUST FOR TALLER DRIVERS.
NHTSA complaint #11012342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Phoenix, AZ
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE AC LIKES TO BLOW HOT AIR WHEN IN THE MAX AC SETTING AND THE TEMP KNOB BEING IN THE COLDEST POSITION. NUT BEING THE TEMP SETTING GAUGE COMES LOOSE CAUSING THE AC TO BLOW HOT AIR. HAPPENS ANYTIME IF PARKED OR DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #10972357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Phoenix, AZ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE AC LIKES TO BLOW HOT AIR WHEN IN THE MAX AC SETTING AND THE TEMP KNOB BEING IN THE COLDEST POSITION. NUT BEING THE TEMP SETTING GAUGE COMES LOOSE CAUSING THE AC TO BLOW HOT AIR. HAPPENS ANYTIME IF PARKED OR DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #10972357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jacksonville, FL
POWER TRAIN
I HAVE HAD RECURRENT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT COST TH OUSANDS TO FIX BUT YET ARE NOT COMPLETELY RESOLVED.L JUST HAD MY TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAIL AFTER BEING SERVICED 17 MONTHS AGO. SINCE REPLACING IT, I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH CLUNKING DIRT THING IN THE MORNING WHEN IT TRIES TO CHANGE GEARS. NOW THERE IS A VIBRATION AND I HAVE TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE SHOP. THE RECURRING PROBLEMS ARE AFFECTING MY JOB WHICH INVOLVES A LOT OF DRIVING AND I HAVE TO RENT CARS AT MY EXPENSE EACH TIME IT GOES FOR REPAIRS AT 2 TO 4 DAYS EACH EVENT. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. MY CAR IS PAID FOR AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY ANO TH ERBONE.
NHTSA complaint #10969923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 76,171 milesSAN Diego, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET GOING STRAIGHT SLIGHTLY DOWNHILL AND THEN UPHILL. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR. SPEED WAS ABOUT 15-25 MPH. I WAS BRAKING TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN BUT THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN ( TOYOTA CALLS IT "UNINTENDED ACCELERATION"). THE CAR CONTINUED ACCELERATING EVEN THOUGH I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD AND IT WAS NOW GOING UPHILL.. TO AVOID CRASHING I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, AND ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND HAZARDS. THE ENGINE RACED IN NEUTRAL AND THEN STOPPED RACING.. TOYOTA STARTED A CASE FILE AND INSPECTED IT. THEY SAID EVERYTHING IS WORKING PROPERLY NOW, CASE CLOSED AND I CAN COME GET THE CAR. I HAD IT TOWED THERE AND AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT UNTIL SOMETHING IS FIXED. IT WAS A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE. I AM CONCERNED IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN OR TO OTHER CARS. I AM THOROUGHLY DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA'S NONCHALANT ATTITUDE; IT WAS-IS A POTENTIALLY FATAL SITUATION, AND IT SEEMS THAT ACCORDING TO TOYOTA IF SUCH AN ACCIDENT WAS INVESTIGATED NOTHING WOULD SHOW UP.
NHTSA complaint #10907274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 140,000 milesGreensboro, NC
VISIBILITY/WIPER
SUN VISORS FALL DOWN WHILE DRIVING. AT ANY GIVEN TIME WHILE DRIVING BOTH SUNVISORS WILL FALL COMPLETELY DOWN OBSTRUCTING VIEW OF THE ROAD AHEAD. VERY DANGEROUS.TOYOTA WILL NOT RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10896454 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 10 milesColorado Springs, CO
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I PURCHASED AN ADDITIONAL SECURITY DEVICE. IF SOMEONE BREAKS A WINDOW, AN ALARM IS SUPPOSED TO GO OFF. YOU CAN TEST TO SEE IF IT WORKS BY HITTING YOUR CAR KEY AGAINST A CLOSED WINDOW & THE ALARM SHOULD GO OFF. IT HAS NEVER WORKED. AT TIME OF PURCHASE THE DEALERSHIP REMOVED THE CENTER FLOOR GLOVE COMPARTMENT ASSEMBLY. THE MICROPHONE HAD FALLEN OFF THE SIDE & WAS LAYING ON THE FLOOR. THEY GLUED IT BACK TO THE SIDES & IT STILL DIDN'T GO OFF WHEN HITTING A KEY AGAINST THE WINDOW WHEN ALL THE WINDOWS WERE CLOSED. THEY COULDN'T GET IT TO WORK & BREAKING MY WINDSHIELD WAS NOT AN OPTION - OBVIOUSLY. THE DEALERSHIP HAD NO IDEA ON HOW TO FIX IT.
NHTSA complaint #10871207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 120,000 milesHuntley, IL
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAG SENSOR STAY ON WHEN COLD. IT WILL NOT TURN OFF UNTIL CAR WORMS UP AND ENGINE IS SHUT DOWN AND RESTART. THE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY ON AND IT IS FALLING DOWN DURING DRIVING. BOTH ISSUES ARE SAFETY HAZARD
NHTSA complaint #10865179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 120,000 milesHuntley, IL
VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE AIR BAG SENSOR STAY ON WHEN COLD. IT WILL NOT TURN OFF UNTIL CAR WORMS UP AND ENGINE IS SHUT DOWN AND RESTART. THE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY ON AND IT IS FALLING DOWN DURING DRIVING. BOTH ISSUES ARE SAFETY HAZARD
NHTSA complaint #10865179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 115,000 milesDanville, CA
VISIBILITY/WIPER
THIS IS THE FOURTH SUN VISOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THIS CAR WHICH WILL NO LONGER STAY UP BLOCKING MY VISION WHILE DRIVING. THE FIRST WAS REPLACED 09/03 AT ABOUT 22,600 MILES UNDER WARRANTY WITH A HOME LINK INCLUDED AS WAS THE ORIGINAL. THE SECOND REPLACEMENT WAS 01/07 AT 65,300 MILES AND THE PASSENGER ONE WAS REPLACED AT THE SAME TIME. THESE DID NOT HAVE THE HOME LINK FEATURE AS IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE. THE PROBLEM RECURRED IN 3/10 AT 86,000 MILES AND WAS ONCE AGAIN REPLACED. IT IS NOW 3/16 WITH 115,000 MILES AND THE SAME PROBLEM AS BEFORE EXISTS. IT FALLS RIGHT AT EYE LEVEL WHICH IMPAIRS VISIBILITY. WITH THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS TOYOTA HAS RECEIVED ON THIS AND OTHER MODELS, A MANDATORY REPLACEMENT IS WARRANTED.
NHTSA complaint #10850925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Payson, UT
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ON DASHBOARD DOES NOT TURN OFF IN COLD WEATHER (20 DEGREES F, OR LOWER). THE WARNING WILL STAY ON EVEN WHEN ENGINE AND INTERIOR ARE WARM. IF THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF ONCE WARM, AND THEN TURNED BACK ON, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TURNS OFF WITH ALL OTHER PANEL LIGHTS, AS IT SHOULD. WITH COLD WEATHER, THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL STAY ON WHEN VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, OR IN MOTION, AND AT ANY SPEED AND WILL ONLY SHUT OFF IF CAR IS TURNED OFF AND THEN RESTARTED.
NHTSA complaint #10838078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 22,000 milesVista, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN ENGAGING CAR IN REVERSE THE CAR WILL UNPREDICTABLY AT TIMES SUDDENLY ACCELERATE.
NHTSA complaint #10717542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 78,000 milesSAN Diego, CA
VISIBILITY
DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUN VISORS FALL DOWN INTO DRIVERS AND PASSENGER VIEW. SAFETY ISSUE WAS NOT RECOGNIZED BY VEHICLE MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #10715059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 114,434 milesPomona, CA
ENGINE
I DROVE VEHICLE CROWN TOYOTA FOR A MINOR SERVICE AND MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS DRIPPING OF COOLANT NOTICED ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. REQUESTED 'CHECK AND ADVISE' ON THIS. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 3.0 HOURS, I WENT TO THE SERVICE DESK FOR INFORMATION REGARDING LEAK. I WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR [XXX] AND HE TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE LEAK BECAUSE THAT SITUATION IS DUE TO THE HEAD BOLTS PULLING OUT OF THE BLOCK. THE ESTIMATE FOR SUCH REPAIR WAS $6,780.28 PLUS TAX AND WOULD INVOLVE REPLACING THE SHORT BLOCK. HE MENTIONED THIS PROBLEM WAS KNOWN TO OCCUR WITH VEHICLES HAVING THE 2AZ-FE ENGINES SUCH AS THE ABOVE HIGHLANDER AND THAT I COULD RESEARCH SAME. SINCE I WAS BUYING ONLY TOYOTA CARS SINCE 1972 AND HAVE OWNED 4 SUCH CARS AND ONE LEXUS BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE AND CONCLUSION THAT RELIABILITY IS NUMBER ONE WITH TOYOTA. I CAN ONLY SAY I WAS IN SHOCK. WHEN I TOLD MY WIFE (THIS IS ACTUALLY HER AUTO), SHE WAS SICK FOR THE NEXT THREE DAYS. A SHORT DISCUSSION WITH AAA. SUGGESTED WE LOOK AT THIS WEB SITE FOR COMPLAINTS, ETC. IT TURNS OUT THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED MANY TIMES BEFORE AND APPLIES TO SEVERAL MODELS INCLUDING THE RAV-4 AND HIGHLANDER SOME WITH MUCH LOWER MILEAGE BUT THERE IS NO ACTUAL RECALL OR LETTER NOTICE FROM TOYOTA. ALSO, NO PROPOSED ACTION BY DEALERSHIPS TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I THINK THAT DUMPING THIS SUDDEN, MAJOR EXPENSE PROBLEM ON OWNERS IS VERY IRRESPONSIBLE- NOT WORTHY OF TOYOTA. COMPENSATION REGARDING THE TIME LOSS AND EXPENSE SHOULD BE OFFERED TO OWNERS OR DEALERS SHOULD BE INSTRUCTED BY TOYOTA TO RESOLVE WHEN FOUND. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS VEHICLE AND ALL THE PREVIOUS WAS SERVICED BY TOYOTA /LEXUS DEALERSHIPS. A POSITIVE RESPONSE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10712876 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 200,000 milesColorado Springs, COCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK, LOWER BACK, AND CHEST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
NHTSA complaint #10701181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sunnyvale, CA
VISIBILITY
THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR DOES NOT STAY PROPPED UP IN THE FORWARD DIRECTION. IT DROPS DOWN TO A VERTICAL POSITION DOWNWARDS, WHERE IT BLOCKS THE DRIVER'S VIEW.
NHTSA complaint #10669529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 120,000 milesColumbia, SCCrash
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT IS INTERMITTENT AT BEST. REPLACED BULBS MANY TIMES, CLEANED CONTACTS, ETC...BUT NO HELP.ON-GOING PROBLEM . WAS REAR-ENDED DUE TO THIS EXACT PROBLEM. DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT FINE...IT IS ALWAYS PASSENGER SIDE. MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE ON-LINE.
NHTSA complaint #10659709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesMission Viejo, CA
VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR NO LONGER STAYS FULLY UP. IT STAYS 1/2 DOWN WHICH BLOCKS VISIBILITY. IT SUDDENLY FALLS DOWN FURTHER, BLOCKING MY VIEW EVEN MORE, ESPECIALLY WHEN I BRAKE (EVEN LIGHT BRAKING), CHANGE LANES OR CHANGE VEHICLE SPEEDS. AFTER SEVERAL TIMES OF GETTING SCARED WHEN THE VISOR SUDDENLY FLIPS DOWN, I NOW HAVE TO USE BUNGEE CORDS OR RUBBER BANDS TO HOLD THE VISOR UP SO THAT I CAN SEE. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT MEANS THAT I CANNOT EASILY FLIP IT DOWN TO BLOCK THE SUN, WHICH IS ITS PURPOSE, AND I LIVE IN "SUNNY CALIFORNIA!" I HAVE SEEN DOZENS OF OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAIN ONLINE FALLS ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. MY RESEARCH A FEW YEARS AGO SHOWED THAT THE REPLACEMENT FOR THE VISOR WAS RIDICULOUSLY OVER $800 (I THINK BECAUSE IT HAS A LIGHTED MIRROR). MY ASSUMPTION IS THAT IT ONLY NEEDS A SPRING REPLACED AND TOYOTA SHOULD DO THIS TO PROTECT ITS CUSTOMERS.
NHTSA complaint #10649404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 55,000 milesSAN Diego, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN 2002. A YEAR LATER NOTICED THAT THE IDLE CONTROLLER HAD PROBLEM. WHEN STARTED THE ENGINE IN THE MORNING, THE IDLE WENT DOWN VERY LOW AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AUTOMATICALLY. AT FIRST IT HAPPENED NOT FREQUENTLY. PAST TWO YEARS I TOOK TO A DEALER FOR MAYOR TUNEUP, THE SYMPTOM STILL RESISTED. TOLD THE DEALER AND THERE WAS NO ACTIONS AT ALL. NOW IT HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY. USUALLY IF IT HAPPENS, STEP ON THE GAS PEDDLE ( OVER 2K RPM) FOR A FEW SECONDS. SOMETIMES THE IDLE RETURNS TO NORMAL; BUT MOST OF THE TIMES, THE IDLE SETS VERY LOW. I THINK THE IDLE CONTROL FOR THIS MODEL SHOULD BE RECALLED.
NHTSA complaint #10622430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.