2002 Toyota Highlander
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Visibility & Lighting
Visibility & Lighting leads by volume: 151 of 301 complaints (50%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Driver Assistance & Speed Control include more deaths (4) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 137 in 2001 to 301 in 2002.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | vs. 2002 Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,850–3,450 | 2,850–3,450 | 2,850–3,450 | 2,850–3,300 | |
| Combined MPG | 18–22 | 18–22 | 18–22 | 19–22 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 16–19 / 21–25 | 16–19 / 21–25 | 16–19 / 21–25 | 16–19 / 22–25 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 404–494 | 404–494 | 404–494 | 404–468 | |
| Complaints filed | 137 | 301 | 258 | 286 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 19 | 24 | 33 | 32 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 2 | 6 | 1 | 3 | |
| Injuries reported | 11 | 25 | 11 | 23 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 4 | 0 | 47 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2002 Toyota Highlander have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2002 Toyota Highlander?
Visibility & Lighting: 151 of 301 NHTSA complaints (50%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2002 Toyota Highlander get?
EPA rates it 18–22 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2002 Toyota Highlander?
EPA estimates $2,850–$3,450 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 4-spd | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 19 mpg (high) | 25 mpg (high) | 22 mpg (high) | $2,850 (low) | 404 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 3.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 17 mpg | 21 mpg (low) | 18 mpg (low) | $3,450 (high) | 494 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 4-spd | 4 | 2.4L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 17 mpg | 22 mpg | 19 mpg | $3,300 | 468 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 3.0L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 16 mpg (low) | 21 mpg (low) | 18 mpg (low) | $3,450 (high) | 494 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 29 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 13 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 14 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 16 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 31 | 11 | 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 151 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 24 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH · Campaign 04V181000 · Apr 20, 2004
Defect: 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 THE BODY PANEL, CAUSING THE CPL LEVER TO MOVE INTO THE UNLOCK POSITION.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW THE DOOR TO BE OPENED WITH THE INSIDE WHILE THE OPERATOR BELIEVES THAT THE CPL WAS ACTIVATED. IF THE DOOR WERE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, AN OCCUPANT COULD FALL OUT AND BE INJURED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL SHORTEN THE CPL LEVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 7, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING · Campaign 02V208000 · Aug 1, 2002
Defect: 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 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.
Consequence: IN THE WORST CASE, NOZZLE BREAKAGE COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THE VEHICLE ROLLS-OVER AFTER A HIGH SPEED FRONTAL CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ROTATE THE SPECIFIED CLAMP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 23, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.