There are 3 owner-reported suspension complaints for the 2002 Toyota Highlanderin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
THIS STRUT ATTACHES TO THE REAR AXLE AND PREVENTS IT FROM MOVING FORWARD. IT RUSTED OUT AND WAS BOUNCING ON THE ROAD AND HITTING THE CAR AND REAR TIRE. I HAD TO STOP AND GET IT REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY FOR FEAR OF DAMAGING THE TIRE OR CAR. UPON MECHANIC MAKING REPAIR THE OTHER STRUT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE CAR FELL OFF IN HIS HAND. IF BOTH STRUT HAD FAILED THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NOTHING TO STOP THE REAR AXLE FROM MOVING FORWARD AND CAUSING A CASTROPHE ACCIDENT. OR IF THE BOUNCING STRUT LODGE IN THE REAR TIRE THE SAME COULD HAVE BEEN TRUE. THE NEW REPLACEMENT PARTS LOOK INADEQUATE FOR SUCH A CRITICAL COMPONENT. SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IN UNDER 10 YEARS. CAR GET WASHED ONCE EVER TWO WEEKS. FROM MY PERSPECTIVE PART LOOKS THE METAL BRACKET AT THE END OF THE ROD IS WAY TO THIN FOR THIS CRITICAL COMPONENT. PART #48780-4802012398. *TR
2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER TIRES MADE NOISES AND VIBRATED IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE BALANCED. *KB THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE TIRE WERE NOISY AND THE CONSUMER HAD THEM REPLACED. *NM
WHILE TRYING TO STOP A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD, AND VEHICLE DID NOT STOP RIGHT AWAY. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026