general problems of the 2002 Toyota Highlander

The contacts owns a 2002 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would leak antifreeze and the temperature gauge warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who discovered that the motor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

The contact owns a 2002 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, the vehicle began to shake violently as a strong odor of engine oil and fuel emitted from under the hood. The engine warning indicator illuminated continuously. The vehicle was maneuvered to the side of the road and towed to an independent mechanic, who stated that the engine would need to be replaced due to engine sludge. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 99,800.

I bought a new Toyota Highlander in 2002. I'm not sure about the exact year, but I'm guessing in 2004-5, I also experienced the sudden racing accelerator problem around 4 times. Each time I was able to pull over and put the car in neutral while the engine raced. I turned the engine off, and it worked properly after restarting. It hasn't happened in the last maybe 5 years. I reported this to the Toyota dealer, and they told me it was a floor mat problem. I didn't believe it, because I experienced this, and the floor mat had nothing to do with it. As I said, it hasn't happened since, so I didn't follow up on it. There was no accident, and no one hurt, but I see that Toyota has not included the 2002 Highlander as a problem car, but I know that it is. I don't want anyone being hurt by this year and model car either. I still drive this car. Thanks for anything you can do to fix the problem.

May 17, 2002, I was in a car accident with my 3 month old 2002 Toyota Highlander. I was traveling in the right hand lane on highway 80 west bound between davis, CA and san francisco CA at 8:30 am. According to the police report from eye witnesses, my vehicle left the roadway without any brake lights, went through a cyclone fence, continued . 10 miles and down into a ravine. Brake lights never came on and the car never slowed. I was life flighted to the john muir medical center trauma unit. I arrested in the helicopter. I suffered a significant traumatic brain injury, multiple fractures, including a shattered jaw and a paralyzed vocal chord. No other vehicle was involved in the incident.