2002 Toyota Highlander Structure Problems

NHTSA component category: STRUCTURE · data through 07/14/2026

23Structure complaints

7.6%Of all 301 complaints

#3Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How structure ranks on this vehicle

VISIBILITY108 · 35.9%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL29 · 9.6%

STRUCTURE23 · 7.6%

VISIBILITY/WIPER16 · 5.3%

Unspecified / other14 · 4.7%

Share of the 301 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2002 Toyota Highlander overview page.

What owners report

“SAFETY ISSUE WITH TOYOTA HIGHLANDER (02 MODEL)...SUN VISOR ON DRIVERS SIDE KEEPS FALLING DOWN AND OBSTRUCTING VIEW.”NHTSA complaint 10231421 — filed 06/18/2008

“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)…”NHTSA complaint 10231144 — filed 06/16/2008

“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…”NHTSA complaint 10230217 — filed 06/07/2008

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Structure complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2002 Toyota Highlander have structure problems?

Structure is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 2002 Toyota Highlander: 23 of 301 complaints on file (7.6%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2002 Toyota Highlander have in total?

301 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 24 involved a crash, 6 involved a fire, 25 reported injuries, and 4 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's structure category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STRUCTURE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.