2002 Toyota Highlander Reliability
The 2002 Toyota Highlander has 327 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about visibility / wipers and speed control / throttle. Compared with nearby Highlander model years (2001–2004), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Highlander's typical year, while the 2001 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
327
NHTSA owner complaints
2
Recall campaigns
27
Complaints citing a crash
6
Complaints citing a fire
2002 Toyota Highlander complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2002 model year, filed between 2002 and 2020. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility / wipers | 141 | 43% |
| Speed control / throttle | 31 | 9% |
| Body structure | 25 | 8% |
| Engine & cooling | 24 | 7% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 18 | 6% |
| Service brakes | 17 | 5% |
| Air bags | 14 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 14 | 4% |
2002 Toyota Highlander recalls
2 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2002 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02V208000 | Jul 30, 2002 | Fuel system — storage / tank assembly / mounting | On sport utility 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… |
| 04V181000 | Apr 15, 2004 | Latches, locks & linkages — doors / latch | Certain sport utility vehicles have a child protection lock (cpl) system on both of the rear side doors. When an operator of the vehicle closes the door very hard with the cpl lever set to the lock position, there is a possibility that the lever may contact… |
How the 2002 compares with nearby Highlander years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Highlander analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 136 | 3 | Visibility / wipers | Solid |
| 2002 (this page) | 327 | 2 | Visibility / wipers | Caution |
| 2003 | 270 | 2 | Engine & cooling | Caution |
| 2004 | 286 | 5 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2002 Toyota Highlander
- Visibility: test the wipers at every speed, washers, defrosters and the climate system (fogging is a common complaint).
- Throttle and speed control: check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Engine & cooling: look for coolant leaks or low coolant, watch the temperature gauge on a long test drive, and check for overheating history.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 2 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2002 Toyota Highlander can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2002 Toyota Highlander reliability FAQ
Is the 2002 Toyota Highlander reliable?
The 2002 Toyota Highlander has 327 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about visibility / wipers and speed control / throttle. Compared with nearby Highlander model years (2001–2004), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Highlander's typical year, while the 2001 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2002 Toyota Highlander problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2002 Toyota Highlander are visibility / wipers (141), speed control / throttle (31), body structure (25), engine & cooling (24). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2002 Toyota Highlander have recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2002 Toyota Highlander, including 02V208000 (fuel system — storage / tank assembly / mounting) and 04V181000 (latches, locks & linkages — doors / latch). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2002 Toyota Highlander compare with the 2001 and 2003 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2001 has 136 complaints and 3 recalls (solid); the 2003 has 270 complaints and 2 recalls (caution). The 2002 has 327 complaints and 2 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2002 Toyota Highlander?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Toyota Highlander research
Other Toyota Highlander model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2002 Highlander, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.