Toyota Highlander Complaints (2002)

301 consumer complaints on file.

#10316426March 3, 2010
VISIBILITY
THE 2002 HIGHLANDER DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR DROPS DOWN AND OBSTRUCTS THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROADWAY. TOYOTA CHARGES +/- $600.00 FOR THE PART ALONE. THERE IS A BLOG WITH TOYOTA OWNERS THAT DEMONSTRATES THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON AND IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. THE VISOR DROPS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS IN USE, ESPECIALLY IN WARM WEATHER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315886March 2, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT CONNECTION IS BAD. I HAVE CHANGED THE BULBS AND ALL OTHER LIGHTS ON THAT SIDE WORK. THE TAIL LIGHTS, HAZARDS, REVERSE AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS ALL WORK. THE ONLY LIGHT THAT CONTINUES TO NOT WORK IS THE BRAKE LIGHT LIGHTING UP WHEN THE PEDAL IS PUSHED DOWN. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR A YEAR NOW AND WITH ONLINE SEARCHES, I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315914March 2, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10314651February 26, 2010
TIRES
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10313520February 24, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I BOUGHT A NEW TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN 2002. I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE EXACT YEAR, BUT I'M GUESSING IN 2004-5, I ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SUDDEN RACING ACCELERATOR PROBLEM AROUND 4 TIMES. EACH TIME I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL WHILE THE ENGINE RACED. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, AND IT WORKED PROPERLY AFTER RESTARTING. IT HASN'T HAPPENED IN THE LAST MAYBE 5 YEARS. I REPORTED THIS TO THE TOYOTA DEALER, AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A FLOOR MAT PROBLEM. I DIDN'T BELIEVE IT, BECAUSE I EXPERIENCED THIS, AND THE FLOOR MAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. AS I SAID, IT HASN'T HAPPENED SINCE, SO I DIDN'T FOLLOW UP ON IT. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, AND NO ONE HURT, BUT I SEE THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT INCLUDED THE 2002 HIGHLANDER AS A PROBLEM CAR, BUT I KNOW THAT IT IS. I DON'T WANT ANYONE BEING HURT BY THIS YEAR AND MODEL CAR EITHER. I STILL DRIVE THIS CAR. THANKS FOR ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10313787February 24, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH INTO A PARKING GARAGE WHEN SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. SHE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY COVERED THE REPAIR COST. THE CONTACT WAS SORE AFTER THE CRASH OCCURRED DUE TO MINOR INJURIES. THREE WEEKS AGO WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE IT SURGED FORWARD AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND SOMEONE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND IF THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE THEY WOULD REIMBURSE HER IN 35 DAYS. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK AND CHOSE TO RENT A VEHICLE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10313137February 23, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312682February 22, 2010
VISIBILITY
THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR CONSTANTLY FOLDS DOWN BLOCKING MY VISION WHEN I AM DRIVING. VISOR IN LOOSE. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. AVOIDED A FEW ACCIDENTS ALREADY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312472February 21, 2010
VISIBILITY
2002 HIGHLANDER VISOR DOES NOT STAY IN POSITION, TENDS TO FALL DOWN WHEN IT SHOULD BE UP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310034February 12, 2010
VISIBILITY
02 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR DROPS DOWN WHILE DRIVING $650 FOR A TOYOTA REPLACEMENT OR $450 AT THE AUTO WRECKERS , MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308444February 10, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER ACCELERATOR STICKING IN THE FULL DOWN POSITION WHEN PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE. FIRST HAPPENED SUMMER OF 2008. SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED AUGUST 13, 2009. PUT ON FULL BRAKE AND TURNED IGNITION KEY OFF. AFTER VEHICLE STOPPED, ABOUT 5-10 SECONDS, PEDAL RELEASED. SERVICE APPOINTMENT WITH DEALERSHIP AUGUST 18, 2009 TO CORRECT PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. SAID IT WAS THE FLOOR MAT THAT MADE THE ACCELERATOR STICK IN THE OPEN POSITION. DON'T THINK TOYOTA INFORMED OF THIS COMPLAINT. SINCE TOYOTA RECALL HAS TAKEN PLACE, I WANTED TO GET MY VEHICLE BACK IN THE DEALERSHIP TO CORRECT MY PROBLEM. APPOINTMENT MADE 2/09/10 AT 10:30 WITH DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP CHECKED THROTTLE BODY AND THROTTLE CABLE. SAID ALL OKAY. DEALERSHIP CONTINUES TO TELL ME RUBBER MAT COULD CATCH PEDAL AND CAUSE PROBLEM. I DISAGREE WITH THIS DIAGNOSIS. I ASKED DEALERSHIP TO PLEASE INFORM TOYOTA ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN MY MODEL SINCE THE RECALL IS ONLY CORRECTING 2010 MODELS. THE ONLY WAY I WILL TRY AND PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE NOW, ESPECIALLY ON MOUNTAIN ROADS, IS PLACE THE CAR IN SECOND GEAR AND ACCELERATE. I DON'T TRUST PLACING THE PEDAL DOWN TO FLOORBOARD. I OFFER THIS AS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I HOPE TOYOTA WILL CORRECT THIS SITUATION IN "ALL" MODELS OF THEIR CARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308559February 10, 2010
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES IN FREEZING TEMPS AND BLINKS AT DIFFERENT RATES. ONCE THE TEMPERATURE WARMS UP, UPON RESTART THE LIGHT NO LONGER BLINKS. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS WILL CAUSE A PROBLEM IF I NEED AIR BAG SUPPORT IN COLDER TEMPERATURES. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST SEVERAL TIMES AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307932February 9, 2010
VISIBILITY
DRIVERSIDE VISOR FLOPS DOWN. I WAS TOLD BY THE WATERTOWN AND LEXINGTON TOYOTA SERVICE DEPTS THAT THIS WAS A UNIQUE PROBLEM TO MY CAR. NOW I HEAR THAT OTHER TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2002 OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I FOUND THE FLOPPING SO DISTRACTING THAT I TOOK THE SUNVISOR OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307959February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
LEFT (DRIVER SIDE) FRONT ABS BEGAN ACTIVATING SPONTANEOUSLY AS MY 02 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER CAME TO STOP. SERVICE AGENCY FOUND NO CODE. REMOVING FUSE ON ABS SENSOR ELIMINATED 'FALSE ACTIVATION' PROBLEM, BUT DISABLED ABS; REPLACING SENSOR HAD NO EFFECT. DISCOVERED BROKEN SENSOR RING ON REAR AXLE, DUE TO CORROSION. (NECESSARY REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE AXLE) ELIMINATED ABS ACTIVATION ON BRAKING, BUT INDUCED ABS ACTIVATION ON ACCELERATION FROM STOP. REPLACEMENT OF ANOTHER SENSOR (ALSO CONTAMINATED/DAMAGED BY AXLE CORROSION/INFILTRATION) SEEMED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM, BUT I NOW EXPERIENCE NOISE/ACTIVATION WHEN REAR WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGES IN WINTER DRIVING. MY ONLINE RESEARCH (AND SERVICE AGENCY) INDICATE THIS IS A RECURRING, GROWING PROBLEM IN HIGHLANDERS AND LEXUSES AND OTHER TOYOTA MODELS SHARING THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLIES, THAT ARE PRONE TO INFILTRATION CORROSION DAMAGE, ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTHERN STATES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305620February 4, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE, AND THE RPMS RAPIDLY INCREASED FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 SECONDS BEFORE THE RPMS DECREASED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONE TIME AND DIDN'T RECUR WHEN THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 23,500. UPDATED 03/12/10. *LJ UPDATED 07/12/10*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10303870February 2, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AN ADDITIONAL 10 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY FOUR TO FIVE YEARS AGO AND HAS RECURRED WITHIN THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS. THE DEALER ADVISER HER THAT THERE ARE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000. UPDATED 03/30/10 *BF UPDATED 08/30/10*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10303997February 2, 2010
VISIBILITY
2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR DOES NOT STAY UP OR DOWN. WHILE TRYING TO MAKE IT WORK PROPERLY I AM DISTRACTED FROM MY PRIMARY DUTY OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THIS A SAFETY OR RECALL ISSUE. COST TO REPLACE $1000.00. IF YOU CHECK THE INTERNET THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM AND HAS BEEN IGNORED BY TOYOTA FOR MANY YEARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10303258January 29, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I BOUGHT A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED IN MAY 2008. THE CAR HAD JUST UNDER 60,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THIS CAR IS MY SECOND CAR, MAINLY TO BE USED TO TOW MY HORSE TRAILER. WITHIN A MONTH OF OWNING THE CAR IT SHOWED THE SUDDEN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. THIS WAS NOT UNFAMILIAR TO ME BECAUSE I ALSO OWN A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. I HAVE OWNED THE HIGHLANDER NOW FOR 1 AND 3/4 YEAR AND THE CAR HAS SHOWED THE DESCRIBED BEHAVIOR OFF AND ON. IT HAPPENS MOSTLY ON THE FREEWAY AND MOSTLY WHEN I AM NOT TOWING. IT DOES NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH FLOORMATS OR STICKY GASPEDALS. SINCE THE SAME BEHAVIOR HAPPENS IN BOTH TOYOTA'S I OWN, IT IS TIME THAT TOYOTA STARTS LOOKING AT SOMETHING ELSE THAN THE SILLY EXPLANATIONS OF FLOORMATS AND STICKY GASPEDALS. IT IS THE ENGINE WHICH RUNS AWAY, LEAVING THE DRIVER NO CONTROL OVER THE SPEED. I HAD NOT EXPECT THIS FROM TOYOTA. I BOUGHT TOYOTAS BECAUSE OF THEIR RELIABILITY AND BECAUSE I TRUSTED THE COMPANY (AS OPPOSED TO FORD, WHICH I ALSO OWNED AND EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WHICH TURNED OUT THE COMPANY KNEW A LONG TIME ABOUT AND DID NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT). I GUESS TOYOTA IS NOT DIFFERENT. ALSO, IT IS TIME THAT THE RECALL GOES FURTHER BACK THEN THE 3-4 YEARS. I EVEN HAVE A COPY OF A PROFESSIONAL CAR REVIEW OF THE CAMRY WHO EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM IN 2002. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302593January 27, 2010
POWER TRAIN
AWHILE BACK IN THE SUMMER OF 2009, I NOTIFIED YOU ABOUT MY CONCERN FOR SAFETY IN MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CAR TOOK OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON ACCELERATING TO AN UNSAFE SPEED. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO STOP BY SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL AND SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES MISSING SEVERAL CARS. THE FEEDBACK I GOT WAS THE FLOOR MAT...WHICH I TOLD THE DEALER WAS BULL. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM MAY BE IN THE COMPUTER. I CHECKED ALL THE CABLES AND THROTTLE BODY CABLES INCLUDING LINKAGE. I HAD THE WHOLE FUEL SYSTEM CLEANED INSIDE AND OUT INCLUDING THE THROTTLE BODY. THIS SEEMED TO TEMPORARY SOLVE THE PROBLEM. MY CONCERNS ARE 1. I THINK TOYOTA NEEDS TO LOOK FURTHER BACK IN YEARS THIS HAS BEEN A CONCERN BY GOGGLING THIS PROBLEM. 2. WHEN THE PROBLEM(S) ARE IDENTIFIED YOU NEED THE LOOK AT REPAIRS WHERE THE PARTS MAY HAVE BEEN USED. 3. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM MAY BE CAUSED BY SEVERAL FACTORS. 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302616January 27, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2005. PETERBORO , NH. 11 AM. DRIVER WAS REPORTED TO PASS VEHICLE ON RIGHT IN BREAK DOWN LANE, THEN TRIED TO PASS ANOTHER CAR BY GOING INTO LEFT LANE AND HIT ONCOMING VEHICLE. FOUR PEOPLE KILLED. DRIVER WAS VERY EXPERIENCED --EXCELLENT SAFETY RECORD. I HAD BEEN IN HIS CAR WITH HIM HUNDREDS OF TIMES. VERY SAFE DRIVER --NO COWBOY. BELIEVE CAR HAD UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION. *CN UPDATED 05/10/10 *BF UPDATED 10/04/10 UPDATED 9/27/11*CW THE INVESTIGATING POLICE OFFICER INSPECTED THE INTERIOR OF THE TOYOTA AND NOTED THE DRIVER'S CARPETED FLOOR MAT WAS OUT OF POSITION FORWARD UNDER THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
4

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