2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER Complaints

I PURCHASED A USED 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 3 YEARS AGO, LAST YEAR, THE VISOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE STARTED FLIPPING DOWN (WILL NOT STAY UP). I HAVE BEEN QUOTED APPROX $700 TO REPLACE THE VISOR WHICH SEEMS EXCESSIVE ESPECIALLY SINCE IT IS NOT EVEN LIGHTED. *TR

2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. SUN VISOR WITH HOMELINK KEEPS FALLING DOWN WITH HITTING MINOR BUMPS. SAFETY HAZARD, AS VISION IS BLOCKED AND CAN LEAD TO ACCIDENTS. *TR

2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. BOTH SUNVISORS FAULTY. HIT A BUMP AND THEY WILL FALL DOWN IN FRONT OF VISION. CRASH HAZARD IN CERTAIN DRIVING SITUATIONS, ESPECIALLY DRIVING UPHILL OR TRYING TO LOOK AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THEY SUDDENLY FALL AND OBSCURE UPWARD VISION. *TR

2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WILL RANDOMLY FALL DOWN, COMPLETELY BLOCKING THE VIEW OF THE ROAD AHEAD. ON A BUSY HIGHWAY, IF THIS FALLS AT THE WRONG MOMENT, IT CAN RESULT IN A SEVERE MULTI-CAR ACCIDENT. *TR

A/C BLOWS HOT AIR ON DRIVER SIDE WHEN IT SHOULD BLOW COLD AIR AS IT DOES WITH PASSENGER SIDE. *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR (W/ LIGHTED MIRROR AND HOMELINK) ON MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WILL NOT STAY UP AND DROPS DOWN WHEN DRIVING WHICH IS A SERIOUS HAZARD. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THE COST FOR ONLY THE REPLACEMENT PART IS OVER $700.00. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN ISSUE AND SERIOUS HAZARD THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT ADDRESS. *TR

2004, MY HIGHLANDER WAS SERVICED FOR GEL IN THE VALVE SEALS. ON APRIL 2, MY CAR WAS BROUGHT TO LEITH TOYOTA BECAUSE THE CAR MADE A LOUD NOISE AFTER BEING CRANKED AND THE OIL LIGHT WAS ON. AS I DROVE A COUPLE OF MILES, ALL COMPUTER LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE CAR CUT OFF. I WAS TOLD TESTING WAS DONE AND I HAD OIL ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT BEING PUMPED TO THE ENGINE FOR SOME REASON. (I HAVE OIL CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES). THE NEXT DAY, I WENT TO CHECK ON THE PROGRESS AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THEY DROVE THE CAR AROUND AND IT NEVER CUT OFF AND HE REALLY DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC TO FIND OUT AND 10 MILES AWAY, THE ENGINE BLEW UP. NOW, I HAVE NO CAR TO DRIVE AND I AM A SINGLE MOM THAT HAS TO WORK. I FEEL THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER SHOULD HAVE BEEN HONEST WITH ME REGARDING TOYOTA'S PAST ENGINE DEFECTS AND TO DRIVE MY CAR WOULD BE FATAL. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO CHECK FOR OIL SLUDGE AND REQUESTING THAT MY MECHANIC BE PRESENT WHEN DROPPING THE OIL PAN, THEY TOLD ME THAT WAS NOT NECESSARY AND DID IT WITHOUT CALLING ME FIRST. I HAVE LOST ALL FUTURE TRUST WITH THIS COMPANY AND FELL THAT THEIR"HUSH HUSH RECALL" SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE PUBLIC. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE SUN VISORS ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES NO LONGER STAY UP. THIS STARTED NINE MONTHS AGO. IF THE SUN VISOR DOES STAY UP, IT DROPS DOWN WHEN THE VEHICLE HITS A MILD BUMP. *TR

2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR FELL DOWN WHEN HITTING A SMALL POTHOLE, OBSCURING DRIVER VISION...NARROWLY AVERTING A COLLISION WITH ONCOMING VEHICLE BEFORE I COULD GET IT PUSHED BACK UP INTO PLACE, WHEREUPON IT FELL AGAIN AND I HAD TO SWING IT OUT OF THE WAY TO DRIVE HOME...NO FRICTION TO HOLD IT UP OUT OF THE WAY....CALLED DEALERSHIP...SORRY...600 DOLLAR REPLACEMENT W/ HOMELINK..NO OTHER FIX AVAILABLE...DEFINITE DESIGN, ABSOLUTE SAFETY FLAW...WENT ONLINE TO RESEARCH AND NOTED THOUSANDS OF RESPONSES TO THIS EXACT PROBLEM FOR 2002 VEHICLE. I TRULY BELIEVE A RECALL IS WARRANTED. *TR

AC/HEAT TEMPERATURE CONTROL SWITCH MALFUNCTION. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF AND CHOOSES TO DISREGARD, SINCE IT TENDS TO FAIL AFTER THE WARRANTY ON THE NEW PART AND REPLACEMENT PARTS EXPIRES BEFORE THE PROBLEM. A SMALL, SOLDERED WIRE WHICH CONNECTS THE SWITCH TO A CIRCUIT BOARD IN THE DASH FAILS. SHOULD BE AN EASY FIX, BUT TOYOTA DEALERS WILL ONLY REPLACE THE ENTIRE PANEL FOR $800 - 1200. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE TO ME ON THIS SAME VEHICLE. FIRST TIME I PAID $800, THE SECOND TIME I GOT A LOCAL GUY TO SOLDER THE WIRE ON THE OLD PART AND REPLACED MYSELF. TOTAL COST ABOUT $10. SHAME ON TOYOTA. *TR