One problem related to engine funny noise has been reported for the 2002 Toyota Highlander. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2002 Toyota Highlander based on all problems reported for the 2002 Highlander.
Last Saturday 4/13/13 the check engine light came on and the car started shaking and making a weird noise. I haven't driven it since then when I parked it in the driveway. I didn't even trust it to park it in the garage because it smelled hot. White smoke and the smell of exhaust has been coming out of the exhaust. Today was the soonest I could get it looked at (by a trusted local repair shop) and I was just told it's an internal engine problem. I see this has been a problem with this engine and because of a class action suit Toyota has had to replace the engine in cars 8 years and newer, I don't qualify. I was never notified by Toyota of this problem. . . . And I am the original owner. I have replaced 3 oxygen sensors and the air conditioning compressor.