TroubleCAR
64
Trouble

2002 Toyota Highlander

Complaints: 301Avg mileage: 75,726 miSince: Jan 2002
4 deathsCrashFire25 injured

Problem Areas

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
Air Bags
9
Exterior Lighting
9

Complaints Over Time

Recent Complaints

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Jan 27, 2010CHESTNUT HILL, MA
4 deathsCrashFire

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.

AIR BAGS
200,000 miMar 23, 2015COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
Crash1 injured

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.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Feb 15, 2012SEQUIM, WA
Crash2 injured

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

AIR BAGS
87,393 miApr 11, 2011CARSON, CA
Crash3 injured

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.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1,000 miMar 9, 2010DAVIS, CA
Crash1 injured

MAY 17, 2002, I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT WITH MY 3 MONTH OLD 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. I WAS TRAVELING IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE ON HIGHWAY 80 WEST BOUND BETWEEN DAVIS, CA AND SAN FRANCISCO CA AT 8:30 AM. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT FROM EYE WITNESSES, MY VEHICLE LEFT THE ROADWAY WITHOUT ANY BRAKE LIGHTS, WENT THROUGH A CYCLONE FENCE, CONTINUED .10 MILES AND DOWN INTO A RAVINE. BRAKE LIGHTS NEVER CAME ON AND THE CAR NEVER SLOWED. I WAS LIFE FLIGHTED TO THE JOHN MUIR MEDICAL CENTER TRAUMA UNIT. I ARRESTED IN THE HELICOPTER. I SUFFERED A SIGNIFICANT TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, MULTIPLE FRACTURES, INCLUDING A SHATTERED JAW AND A PARALYZED VOCAL CHORD. NO OTHER VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENT. *TR

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
45,000 miMar 2, 2010LARCHMONT, NY
Crash1 injured

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

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
62,000 miFeb 24, 2010NEW ORLEANS, LA
Crash1 injured

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.

AIR BAGS
38 miAug 10, 2005AUSTIN, TX
Crash2 injured

I T-BONED A CAR GOING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH WITH NO BRAKING TIME AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IT CAUSED OVER $12,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF MY CAR, BUT THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T GO OFF? I BOUGHT THE CAR USED, BUT WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A "CERTIFIED" TOYOTA USED CAR. I NOW WONDER IF THERE WAS AN AIR BAG IN IT AT ALL. *JB

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
47,100 miMar 11, 2005OMAHA, NE
Crash1 injured

HEAD ON COLLISION OF AN ABANDONNED VEHICLE AT 30-35 MPH IN A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER-AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
34,000 miDec 9, 2004BURBANK, CA
Crash3 injured

WHILE TRAVELING AT LESS THAN 20 MPH, THE DRIVER IN FRONT SLAMMED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF THEM (NO BRAKE LIGHTS). I IMMEDIATELY STOMPED ON THE BRAKES... THE HIGHLANDER SLOWED VERY BRIEFLY AND THEN WENT "NUMB". THE HIGHLANDER CAME TO A STOP ONLY BY HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WAS PLENTY OF ROOM TO STOP AND IT SHOULD HAVE. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THE HIGHLANDER HAS "LOCKED UP" ON SUDDEN SHORT STOPS.*AK

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
15,000 miApr 13, 2004NASHUA, NH
Crash1 injured

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

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
33,500 miMar 25, 2004MURRIETA, CA
Crash1 injured

THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND WAS HIT HEAD ON. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH AT IMPACT. THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
26,731 miOct 31, 2003GREENVILLE, SC
Crash3 injured

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

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
May 1, 2003HARLAN, KY
Crash1 injured

VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS ON CAUSING VEHICLE TO START UP STEEP HILL WHERE THE FRONT END SLID TO THE RIGHT WHERE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO GO UP A DRIVE/CARPORT STRIKING A PORCH AND ROCK WALL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
240,000 miDec 5, 2017MIDDLEBORO, MA
Crash

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

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
120,000 miNov 20, 2014COLUMBIA, SC
Crash

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. *TR

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Jun 10, 2010GAITHERSBURG, MD
Crash

2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER STATES BRAKE FAILURE CAUSING AN ACCIDENT *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE FAILURE CAUSED HER TO ROLL DOWN A HILL AND FLIPPING OVER THREE TIMES. SHE WAS TRAPPED UPSIDE DOWN IN THE VEHICLE. *JB

EQUIPMENT
10,000 miMar 17, 2010MANHATTAN BEACH, CA
Crash

AFTER ONLY HAVING MY NEW 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER FOR APPROX. 8 MONTHS, THE ACCELERATOR IN THE CAR STUCK AND I ENDED UP RUNNING INTO A CAR. I COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA AND HAD THE DEALER LOOK AT THE CAR NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THEY KEPT TELLING ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. WELL 8 YEARS LATER AND THEY STILL HAVEN'T RECALLED MY CAR, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE OTHER YEARS. *TR

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
38,000 miMar 9, 2010HOUSTON, TX
Crash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A WALL OF HIS GARAGE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,690. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
45,000 miNov 22, 2006SAN MARCOS, CA
Crash

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

Other Highlander Years

Other Toyota Models