1. Home
  2. Toyota
  3. Highlander
  4. 2002

Toyota Highlander 2002

The 2002 Toyota Highlander came with 2 engines: 2.4 L 4-cylinder, 3.0 L 6-cylinder. It gets 18 to 22 MPG combined depending on the engine, per the EPA. 2 recall campaigns and 40 owner complaints are on record.

Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD AWD
None for sale in United States yet
Selling one? Post it free, it shows up on this page. Sell yours
Toyota Highlander
Representative photo of the Highlander. It may show a different year or version. Photo: Kevauto · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Specs

Engine
2,400 cc
4
Cylinders4
TransmissionAutomatic · 4 speeds
DrivetrainAWD
Dimensions (L × W × H)4,690 × 1,830 × 1,745 mm (184.6 × 72.0 × 68.7 in)
Wheelbase2,720 mm (107.1 in)
Curb weight1,670 kg (3,682 lb)
Body styleSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD

Dimensions and weight: median of the 2 versions in Canada's official specifications (NHTSA vPIC). Each version differs slightly.

For sale in United States

No 2002 Toyota Highlander for sale in United States yet Do you own one? Post it free and reach buyers who are already looking at this exact car.
Sell your Highlander

Safety

Crash-test results across markets. They can vary by version and equipment.

NHTSA NCAP
Results · 2002 Toyota Highlander 4-DR.
🇺🇸 Local data
Rollover★★★★★

Fuel economy (MPG)

🇺🇸 Local data
City
17 MPG
Highway
22 MPG
Combined
19 MPG
Emissions
291 g/km
COâ‚‚

By version

EngineTransmissionDrivetrainCityHighwayCombined
2.4 L 4-cylinder Automatic · 4 speeds AWD 17 MPG 22 MPG 19 MPG
2.4 L 4-cylinder Automatic · 4 speeds Front-wheel (FWD) 19 MPG 25 MPG 22 MPG
3.0 L 6-cylinder Automatic · 4 speeds AWD 16 MPG 21 MPG 18 MPG
3.0 L 6-cylinder Automatic · 4 speeds Front-wheel (FWD) 17 MPG 21 MPG 18 MPG

EPA figures for each version sold in the U.S.

Recalls

2 campaigns🇺🇸 Local dataNHTSA
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH 04V181000 · 2004-04-15 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

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.

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 02V208000 · 2002-07-30 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

IN THE WORST CASE, NOZZLE BREAKAGE COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THE VEHICLE ROLLS-OVER AFTER A HIGH SPEED FRONTAL CRASH.

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.

2 campaigns🇨🇦 CA dataTransport Canada

It may not apply to vehicles sold in your country. Check with your VIN at the source.

Other 2004127 · 2004-04-07 · Transport Canada
Details

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.

Fuel System 2002142 · 2002-07-30 · Transport Canada
Details

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.

Common problems

40 reports🇺🇸 Local data

Reported by owners to the source below. It is not a verdict on this car: it is what people wrote.

AIR BAGS 2020-02-27 · NHTSA

MY AIR BAG LITE KEEPS POPING ON

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) Fire 2019-05-29 · NHTSA

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 WOUL…

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2018-07-02 · NHTSA

ACCELERATOR STICIKING. VEHICLE ACCELERATES AT 4000 TO 5000 RPMS HAD VEHICE TOWED TO TOYOTA OF BEDFORD 440-809-8399

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Crash 2017-12-05 · NHTSA

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 WOR…

VISIBILITY/WIPER 2017-08-02 · NHTSA

DRIVER SIDE VISOR HAS 2 POSITIONS ONLY. DOWN OR UP. CANNOT ADJUST FOR TALLER DRIVERS.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2017-04-14 · NHTSA

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.

POWER TRAIN 2017-04-01 · NHTSA

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 VIBRA…

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2016-09-16 · NHTSA

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 B…

VISIBILITY/WIPER 2016-08-16 · NHTSA

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.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2016-05-27 · NHTSA

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.…

AIR BAGS,VISIBILITY/WIPER 2016-05-16 · NHTSA

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

VISIBILITY/WIPER 2016-03-21 · NHTSA

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 REPLAC…

All 40 reports, grouped by component

Questions

What engine does the 2002 Toyota Highlander have?
The 2002 Toyota Highlander came with 2 engines: 2.4 L 4-cylinder, 3.0 L 6-cylinder.
What is the fuel economy of the 2002 Toyota Highlander?
It gets 18 to 22 MPG combined depending on the engine, per the EPA.
Does the 2002 Toyota Highlander have recalls?
2 recall campaigns are on record. The latest concerns Latches/Locks/Linkages (2004-04-15).
What are the common problems of the 2002 Toyota Highlander?
40 owners have filed complaints, most often about Visibility/Wiper.

Other years

Which Toyota Highlander year to buy? Recalls and complaints by year

Other models by Toyota

Do you own one?

Post it for free and reach buyers who are already looking at this exact car.

Post for free