2002 Toyota Highlander Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 31about this part
- Share
- 10%of 301 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 61,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 31 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 2002 Toyota Highlander, 10% of the 301 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 61,000 miles. 11 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I pulled into my garage during early afternoon and came to the usual stop facing the wall. My foot was still on the brake and I had not yet put the car into park. Suddenly the car lurched forward and hit the wall with great enough force to deploy the air bag. The bag fractured my sternum in two places. At the time I was not aware of the prevalence of unintended acceleration problems and did not report it. There have been no episodes since.”
NHTSA complaint #10315914, filed 2010-03, 45,000 miles“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 brakes as hard as I could and it was now going uphill.. To avoid crashing I put the car in neutral, and engaged the emergency brake and hazards. The engine raced in neutral and then stopped racing.. Toyota started a case file and inspected it. …”
NHTSA complaint #10907274, filed 2016-09, 76,171 miles“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 work the next morning to scan the car for high idle .the car accelerated to over 100 MPH with my foot off the accelerater and both feet on the brake pedal I had to shut the car off tostop it I had it towed to work I scan it and found code c1203 which is a comunication fault from the…”
NHTSA complaint #11052625, filed 2017-12, 240,000 miles“From a stopped position on a side street, I pressed the accelerator to pull onto a main street. Because traffic on the main street moves rather fast, I accelerated somewhat above normal, but in no way excessive. After getting into my lane, I backed off the accelerator, but the engine acted as if I was flooring it and the car continued accelerating. It was scary. I pushed hard on the break. The car still accelerated. I stepped on the hand brake. It continued to accelerate. Finally, I took the car out of drive and into neutral. …”
NHTSA complaint #10340327, filed 2010-06, 64,874 miles“I bought a 2002 Toyota Highlander limited in may 2008. The car had just under 60,000 miles on the odometer. This car is my second car, mainly to be used to tow my horse trailer. Within a month of owning the car it showed the sudden unexpected acceleration. This was not unfamiliar to me because I also own a 2002 Toyota camry. I have owned the Highlander now for 1 and 3/4 year and the car has showed the described behavior off and on. It happens mostly on the freeway and mostly when I am not towing. It does not have anything to do with floormats or sticky gaspedals. …”
NHTSA complaint #10303258, filed 2010-01, 61,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10244113Aug 17, 2023TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most…
- 10045140Jun 13, 2012Toyota: accelerator pedal sensor assembly information regarding the inspection, removal, and installation, if lubrication or oil, is applied.
Vehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 30% |
| 2024 | 1 | 2% |
| 2023 | 9 | 5% |
| 2022 | 8 | 3% |
| 2021 | 9 | 2% |
| 2020 | 10 | 3% |
| 2019 | 13 | 3% |
| 2018 | 9 | 3% |
| 2017 | 13 | 5% |
| 2016 | 4 | 4% |
| 2015 | 11 | 6% |
| 2014 | 5 | 4% |
| 2013 | 31 | 15% |
| 2012 | 14 | 8% |
| 2011 | 12 | 7% |
| 2010 | 22 | 10% |
| 2009 | 14 | 10% |
| 2008 | 45 | 11% |
| 2007 | 16 | 13% |
| 2006 | 43 | 15% |
| 2005 | 39 | 17% |
| 2004 | 40 | 14% |
| 2003 | 28 | 11% |
| 2002 | 31 | 10% |
| 2001 | 15 | 11% |
Other parts of the 2002 Toyota Highlander
139 complaintsBody and structure
24 complaintsEngine cooling
23 complaintsOther or unknown
14 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
14 complaintsAir bags
13 complaintsElectrical system
13 complaintsBrakes
12 complaintsExterior lighting
12 complaintsEquipment
11 complaintsEngine
7 complaintsTires
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Toyota Highlander
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology