2002 Toyota Highlander Complaint Log

DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. DROPS DOWN WHILE DRIVING BLOCKING DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE RODE. PER TOYOTA DEALER, NEW SUN VISOR REQUIRED AT A COST OF $600 PLUS LABOR. *NM

MY HIGHLANDER LIMITED 2002 HAS A DESIGN FLAW. THE SUN VISOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE KEEPS FALLING DOWN UNDER ROAD LOAD OBSTRUCTING FIELD OF VISION. THE SUNGLASS HOLDER DOES THE SAME THING. TOYOTA NEEDS TO MAKE A RECALL ON THESE ITEMS AND FIX THEM. *JB

THE DRIVER SUN VISOR IS VERY LOOSE AND OFTEN DROPS DOWN WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. SOMETIMES THIS IS JUST A DISTRACTION BUT CAN EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *JB

SUN VISOR ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES ARE DEFECTIVE. THEY KEEP FALLING DOWN AND NOTHING I'VE TRIED WILL KEEP THEM IN PLACE. THIS IS A MAJOR HAZARD AS IT COULD REALLY HURT SOMEBODY IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. SEE FOLLOWING LINKS: HTTP://WWW.TUNDRASOLUTIONS.COM/FORUMS/HIGHLANDER/47694-SUN-VISOR-PROBLEM/ HTTP://WWW.TUNDRASOLUTIONS.COM/FORUMS/HIGHLANDER/47694-SUN-VISOR-PROBLEM-2/ TOYOTA CHARGES OVER $600 FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE, WHICH WE CANNOT AFFORD. *NM

SOMETIME IN 2006, MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. I WAS STANDING ON THE BRAKE TO MAKE THE CAR STOP AND IT WOULDN'T. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT THROUGH THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, HIT THE BRAKE, THEN THROUGH IT INTO PARK WHILE IT WAS STILL MOVING. I CALLED JIFFY LUBE WHO JUST HAD PERFORMED AN OIL CHANGE. THEY SENT A TECHNICIAN OVER TO LOOK AT IT. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR FOR THE TECH THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE. WE BOTH LOOKED TO SEE IF THERE WAS SOMETHING STUCK UNDER THE ACCELERATOR. THERE WAS NOT. WE BOTH PULLED UP ON THE ACCELERATOR AND IT DID NOT APPEAR TO BE STUCK. THE TECH COULDN'T EXPLAIN IT. I CAN'T RECALL IF I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO TOYOTA OR IF THE PROBLEM STOPPED SUDDENLY AND I DROVE MYSELF. TOYOTA IS ONE MILE FROM WHERE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. TOYOTA TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND ASSURED ME THAT IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. I DROVE HIM WITHOUT INCIDENT UNTIL I PULLED IN MY DRIVEWAY, THE CAR ACCELERATED AND I AGAIN HAD TO THROW THE CAR INTO PARK WHILE MOVING. THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO TOYOTA AND WE WERE TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS "FIXED" AND GIVEN SOME EXCUSE THAT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE. IT NEVER HAPPENED AGAIN AND WE TRADED THE CAR FOR A NEW ONE IN 2008. THE DEALERSHIP WAS BOB ROHRMAN TOYOTA IN WESTMONT, IL. I THINK THE RECALL NEEDS TO GO BACK FURTHER TO INCLUDE 2002 VEHICLES. *TR

2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER STALL-REDUCE SPEED TO 1000/2000 RPM AND SHUT OFF ENGINE DURING COLD/HOT WEATHER. *JB

DRIVER SIDE VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP, KEEPS FALLING DOWN AND DISTRACTING ME. THE PROBLEM IS INSIDE THE VISOR, I RARELY USE THE VISOR, BUT IT DOES HAVE THE HOMELINK GARAGE DOOR OPENER, WHICH I USE DAILY. *NM

2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER - DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY IN THE UP POSITION AND WILL NOT STAY IN THE SUN SHADE POSITION. IT FALLS HALF WAY AND IS RIGHT IN THE LINE OF SIGHT OF THE DRIVER. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITION. HTTP://WWW.TUNDRASOLUTIONS.COM/FORUMS/HIGHLANDER/47694-SUN-VISOR-PROBLEM-2/ TOYOTA CLAIMS THAT THIS IS A WARRANTY ISSUE. THERE ARE MANY RECORDED CASES OF THIS PROBLEM AND TOYOTA IS NOT ADMITTING THAT THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH OR GREATER, THE SUN VISOR DROPPED TO A VERTICAL POSITION WHEN THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING AND MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE CONTACT TO SEE THE ROAD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SUN VISOR CLIPS WERE DEFECTIVE. AS OF SEPTEMBER 4, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SUN VISOR COULD DROP ON ANY VEHICLE MOVEMENT SUCH AS BUMPS IN THE ROAD, OR APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE SUN VISOR IN THE VERTICAL POSITION BLOCKS THE DRIVERS VIEW OF THE ROAD. UPDATED 09/18/07. *JB

TOYOTA 2002 HIGHLANDER DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR KEEPS FALLING DOWN AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE HAS AN OIL LEAK, WHICH REQUIRES HER TO ADD OIL TO THE VEHICLE EVERY TWO DAYS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND MILEAGE INFORMATION WERE UNKNOWN.

DEFECTIVE VISOR ON 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER THAT WILL NOT REMAIN IN "UP" POSITION. ANY BUMP WILL CAUSE THE VISOR TO FALL, AND POTENTIALLY BLOCK THE DRIVER'S FIELD OF VISION. DEALER WANTS $667 TO REPLACE THE VISOR - MORE THAN I PAID FOR MY FIRST CAR! *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY IN POSITION. IT WILL ONLY HANG STRAIGHT DOWN, BLOCKING THE VIEW OF THE DRIVER. VISOR HAS NOT BEEN USED IN ANY UNUSUAL MANNER - THE TENSION IN THE VISOR IS SIMPLY GONE. *JB

DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SUN VISORS FALL DOWN OBSCURING VISION WHEN GOING OVER SLIGHTEST BUMP IN THE ROAD - THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ON THE TUNDRASOLUTIONS.COM WEBSITE. *JB

PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS HAVE SEEN SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAILPIPE. SLUDGE HAS BUILT UP AND CLOGGED THE PVC SYSTEM AND INSIDE OF THE VALVE COVER CAUSING OIL TO SIT INSIDE AND DAMAGED THE VALVE SEALS. DEALER WANTS TO CLEAN THE SLUDGE UNDER THE VALVE COVERS AND REPLACE THE VALVE SEALS - COST OF 3,900.00. *NM

SUN VISOR DOES NOT STAY IN POSITION. IT ROTATES DOWN TO A VERTICAL POSITION, OBSTRUCTING DRIVER'S VIEW AND WILL NOT STAY IN HORIZONTAL POSITION AGAINST CABIN CEILING. *TR

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2002 DRIVER SIDE VISOR DOES REMAIN IN POSITION. IT FALLS TO FULL DOWNWARD POSITION, BLOCKING VIEW TO ROAD. *NM

THE DRIVER'S SUNVISOR DOES NOT WORK. IT WON'T STAY IN POSITION OR EVEN UP. THE VISOR JUST FALLS DOWN ALL THE TIME, BLOCKING THE DRIVER'S VIEW. THERE ARE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE WITH NO SOLUTIONS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. I TRIED TALKING TO TOYOTA - THEY JUST TOLD ME TO BUY A NEW $700 VISOR. BUT I HAVE KNOWN OTHERS WITH THIS SAME YEAR/MODEL/MAKE (2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER) OF CAR AND EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE VISOR, THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

IN 30 MPH HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, SEVERAL CARS STOPPED SUDDENLY. I QUICKLY STOMPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT SEEMED LIKE THE WHEELS LOCKED UP, ESPECIALLY THE LEFT FRONT (LIKE SKATING ON ICE AND APPLYING YOUR TOE PICK (BRAKE)). THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. CAME VERY CLOSE TO HITTING THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME AND GETTING HIT FROM BEHIND. THERE IS NO DRIVER CONTROL OF THE BRAKES IN SUDDEN STOPS. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE AND IS VERY SCARY. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER MUD FLAPS HAVE CRACKED. THE FLAPS HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE MUD FLAPS FOR FREE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

SHORTLY AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY, MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER BEGAN EXPERIENCING THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM. THE SUN VISORS ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HAS BECOME LOOSE AND OPENS UP WHEN THE VEHICLE TRAVELS OVER EVEN THE SLIGHTEST BUMP ON THE ROAD. THE UNEXPECTED DROPPING OF THE SUN VISORS IN THE DRIVER'S FIELD OF VISION IS AT BEST DISTRACTING AND AT WORST ACCIDENT CAUSING. LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE $600 TO REPLACE JUST THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR. I BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL MY VEHICLES AND OTHERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND REPLACE THE DANGEROUSLY DEFECTIVE SUN VISORS FREE OF CHARGE. *JB

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SUN VISOR DOES NOT STAY IN PLACE AND SUDDENLY DROPS DOWN; IMPAIRING DRIVER'S VISION. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AN ADDITIONAL 10 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY FOUR TO FIVE YEARS AGO AND HAS RECURRED WITHIN THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS. THE DEALER ADVISER HER THAT THERE ARE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000. UPDATED 03/30/10 *BF UPDATED 08/30/10*JB

I PURCHASED A 2001 HIGHLANDER, WHICH THE DMV CLAIMS IS 2002 (DESPITE THE FACT THAT TOYOTA SOLD IT TO ME USED AS A 2001 HIGHLANDER). ITS SUN VISOR WON'T STAY IN PLACE AND KEEPS HANGING DOWN, IMPAIRING MY VISIBILITY, MOSTLY THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IT COSTS OVER $600 TO REPLACE THE VISOR WITHOUT WARRANTY AND IT REALLY SHOULD BE DONE FOR FREE, GIVEN HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE I KNOW WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

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

SUNVISOR ON 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER CONSTANTLY FALLS DOWN INTO DRIVER'S FIELD OF VISION. VISOR WAS REPLACED ONE TIME UNDER WARRANTY BUT PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. COST TO REPAIR PER TOYOTA DEALER IS $650 FOR PARTS PLUS LABOR - THE VISOR CONTAINS A LIGHTED VANITY MIRROR AND A HOMELINK REMOTE CONTROL SO IT IS AN EXPENSIVE PART TO REPAIR. THE VISOR CANNOT BE USED IN A 'PARTIALLY LOWERED' POSITION TO BLOCK SUN OR REFLECTIONS AS IT CONSTANTLY FALLS INTO THE 'FULLY LOWERED' POSITION WHICH OBSTRUCTS THE DRIVER'S FIELD OF VIEW. THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP THE VISOR FROM SAGGING INTO THE DRIVER'S FIELD OF VIEW IS TO USE TAPE OR VELCRO TO ATTACH IT TO THE CEILING. THIS PREVENTS THE VISOR FROM BEING USED IN THE INTENDED MANNER TO BLOCK SUN OR REFLECTIONS. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE DRIVER CAN'T PREVENT SUNLIGHT AND GLARE FROM DIMINISHING VISIBILITY. THIS INCREASES THE CHANCE FOR ACCIDENTS OR HITTING OBJECTS OR PEDESTRIANS IN THE ROAD. *TR

BOTH SUN VISORS ON MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAVE COME LOOSE DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THEY WILL FALL WHILE DRIVING AND OBSCURE THE DRIVER'S VISION, CREATING A SAFETY ISSUE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *JB

DRIVERSIDE VISOR FLOPS DOWN. I WAS TOLD BY THE WATERTOWN AND LEXINGTON TOYOTA SERVICE DEPTS THAT THIS WAS A UNIQUE PROBLEM TO MY CAR. NOW I HEAR THAT OTHER TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2002 OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I FOUND THE FLOPPING SO DISTRACTING THAT I TOOK THE SUNVISOR OFF. *TR

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

BOTH DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISORS FALL DOWN IN YOUR FACE WHILE DRIVING. OBSCURES VIEW AND THERE COULD BE AN ACCIDENT. DEALER WANTS $667.00 TO REPLACE. TOYOTA CORPORATION SHOULD PAY FOR IT. *NM

2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER DRIVERS SIDE VISOR. WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE, NEVER REPORTED UNTIL I SAW HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE SO HERE I GO. *TR

WITHIN A MONTH, BOTH SUN VISORS STARTED FALLING/ROTATING ON THEIR OWN. WHILE DRIVING, THIS CAN BLOCK YOUR VISION AND NOT ALLOW A 'FULL' VIEW OF WHAT'S AHEAD OF YOU. THE DEALERSHIP I CALLED JUST PUT ME THROUGH TO THE 'PARTS' DEPT. AN EMAIL FROM TOYOTA SAID IT WAS MY PROBLEM. THE SUN VISORS HAVE SEEN NOTHING BUT "NORMAL" USE. *NM

WHEN ENGAGING CAR IN REVERSE THE CAR WILL UNPREDICTABLY AT TIMES SUDDENLY ACCELERATE.

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

FAILURE OF DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISORS TO STAY IN THEIR NON- USE POSITION. BOTH VISORS FALL WITHOUT ASSISTANCE AND BLOCK VISION CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE. *NM

2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR FALLS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VISOR FALLS DOWN WILL NOT STAY UP. WHEN THIS HAPPENS YOUR VISION IS UNEXPECTEDLY BLOCKED. I HAVE TRIED SECURING THE VISOR BUT NOTHING HELPS. *NM

WHILE DRIVING BOTH SUN VISORS FALL UNEXPECTEDLY AND BLOCK VISION. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM THE GET-GO AND WE HAD THESE REPLACED ALREADY AND JUST OVER A YEAR LATER THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING AGAIN. *TR

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE VEHICLE HAD 49,000 MILES ON IT WHEN HE PURCHASED IT. RECENTLY HE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MOTOR VEHICLE DIVISION WHICH STATED THAT THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE WAS INCORRECT. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD 84,000 MILES ON IT. THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THE VEHICLE WAS A LEASING COMPANY. THE MOTOR VEHICLE DIVISION TOLD THE CONTACT TO FILL OUT A FORM AND THEY WILL CORRECT THE MILEAGE. THE CONTACT WAS UNHAPPY BECAUSE HE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE THINKING HE HAD 49,000 MILES NOT 84,000 MILES. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 1-22-05 , AND THE ODOMETER READ 84,045 MILES. THE CONTACT PURCHASED IT ON 2-19-05 AND THE ODOMETER SHOWED 49,345 MILES. *AK

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER-2002-ENGINE OIL TURNED TO SLUDGE, ENGINE JUST SHORT OF SEIZING-NEW ENGINE INSTALLED. *JB

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER THAT HAS A DRIVER SIDE VISOR THAT WILL NOT STAY UP AND A PASSENGER THAT POPS DOWN EVERY TIME I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. MY DEALER WANTS TO SPLIT THE COST WHICH IS OVER $600 (HOMELINK VERSION) AND A LESS FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS PROBLEM BEGAN 18 MONTHS AGO WHEN I HAD ONLY 40,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE - JUST OUT OF MANUFACTURES WARRANTY - THIS ALSO WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MY 100000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I SEE MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM. WITHOUT THE VISOR IT IS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE INTO THE SUN AT RUSH HOUR. ALSO, WITH IT FALLING DOWN ALL THE TIME IT IS DANGEROUS TO NOT LEAVE TIED UP AND UNUSABLE. *NM

2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER - BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUNVISORS DO NOT STAY UP. WHEN PLACED IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION, THE SUNVISORS RELEASE OVER ANY SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD. *TR

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

WHENEVER MY VEHICLE IS LOADED UP THE HEADLIGHTS BLIND ONCOMING DRIVERS.I DREAD GOING ON VACATION WITH THIS VEHICLE.TOYOTA DEALER SAID A FIX WAS NOT AVAILABLE.I TOW A 15 FT BOAT 1200LBS.ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS RATED FOR 3500LBS TOWING CAPACITY THE HEADLIGHTS WHEN TOWING BLIND ONCOMING TRAFFIC I ASSUME TO POOR SUSPENSION DESIGN.*AK

THE GOODYEAR INTEGRITY TIRES THAT CAME ON MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER ARE HORRIBLE. SINCE DAY ONE, I FEEL EXTREMELY UNSAFE IN WET CONDITIONS LET ALONE ICE AND SNOW. I COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEY SAY THE TIRES LOOK FINE. I HAVE READ SEVERAL ARTICLES ON THE INTERNET FROM PEOPLE WHO AGREE.*AK

SET BELT BUCKLE (FEMALE RECEPTICAL) FAILURE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. *AK

MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SEEMS TO COME ON EVERY 10,000 MILES. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE 2004, AT ABOUT 43000 MILES, WHEN I FIRST TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DEALER MECHANIC. IT IS NOW 2009, 111000 MILES LATER, AND AGAIN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON QUEUE. ORIGINALLY, THE DEALER MECHANICS TOLD ME THEY HAD CORRECTED IT PRIOR TO MY WARRANTY EXPIRING. WHEN MY WARRANTY EXPIRED, THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO GET AN OVERHAUL ON MY CATALYTIC/EXHAUST SYSTEM, WHICH WAS QUOTED TO COST ABOUT $5000 TO FIX! I BELIEVE MY CAR WAS WORTH NO MORE THAN $7000 AT THE TIME. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CATALYTIC SYSTEM AND THAT THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE DETECTION SYSTEM. I'VE BEEN SHOWN HOW TO RESET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BY THE TOYOTA DEALER PERSONNEL, I SUSPECT, BECAUSE IT IS HAPPENING TO OTHER HIGHLANDER OWNERS. I AM BRINGING THIS ISSUE UP NOW BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN ISSUED YEARS AGO. I HOPE SOMEONE FROM TOYOTA WILL RECOGNIZE AND FIX THIS ISSUE. *TR

APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AGO I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY SUN VISOR RANDOMLY FLOPPING DOWN AS I WAS DRIVING, AND IT WOULD NOT STAY IN POSITION WHEN I TRIED TO USE THE VISOR TO BLOCK THE SUN. THE DEALER DID REPLACE THE VISOR UNDER WARRANTY, BUT ADVISED ME THAT THE PART COST OVER $500 DUE TO THE "HOME LINK" SYSTEM IN THE VISOR. THE VISOR IS ONCE AGAIN STARTING TO BECOME LOOSE, AND WILL NOT STAY IN POSITION UP AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD. THIS IS VERY INCONVENIENT BECAUSE I HAVE TO DUCK DOWN TO SEE UNDER THE VISOR AT TRAFFIC SIGNALS TO SEE WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGES. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT IT WILL SOON START RANDOMLY FLOPPING DOWN AS I'M DRIVING AGAIN. ONE WEEK AGO, THE DEALER AGREED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH MY VISOR AND THIS TIME TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE PART IN THE VISOR, WHICH THEY REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE VISOR STAYED IN POSITION FOR ONLY ONE DAY. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE VISOR ON HIGHLANDERS, AND THAT TOYOTA HAD CORRECTED THE PROBLEM WITH THE NEW MODELS BY INSTALLING THE HOME LINK SYSTEM ELSEWHERE IN THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE MANAGER, HOWEVER, INSISTED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE VISOR, AND THAT WAS THE WAY IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE. AFTER A GREAT DEAL OF DISCUSSION, THE SERVICE MANAGER FINALLY AGREED TO ORDER A NEW VISOR FOR MY VERHICLE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS WILL BE AN ONGOING BATTLE WITH THE DEALERSHIP IF THE PROBLEM PERSISTS SINCE MY VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE PART IS EXPENSIVE. *AK

LARGE AMOUNT WATER IN PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE COMPARTMENT, DEALER STATED DUE TO CLOGGED A/C DRAIN. OUR TODDLER DEVELOPED CONGESTION AND ALLERGY SYMPTOMS FOLLOWED BY MILDEW ODOR IN VEHICLE. DEALER CLEANED OUT DRAINS AND SUBSEQUENTLY HAD TO CHANGE CARPETS AND DISINFECT VEHICLE. DUE TO OVERWHELMING DEODORANT SMELL IN VEHICLE CANNOT TELL IF MILDEW STILL PRESENT, BUT WE ARE AFRAID TO PUT THE TODDLER BACK IN VEHICLE. TOYOTA ALSO TRYING TO SAY NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. *LA

THE SUN VISORS ON MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER ARE BOTH FAILING. THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR FAILED AFTER ABOUT 2 YEARS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY. NOW IT IS FAILING AGAIN. THE PASSENGER SIDE VISOR IS NOW FAILING AS WELL. ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC, THE COST TO REPLACE THEM WOULD BE ABOUT $1,000 - PARTS ONLY. *TR