Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Toyota Highlander owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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 ECM to the vehicle speed controller while researching the code I found that my car fell under a class action law suit for this problem I notifyed Toyota where they sent an outside adjuster out to examine the car he filed a report to Toyota saying there was no problem he did not mention the code in …
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. They said everything is working properly now, case closed and I can come get the car. I had it towed there and am afraid to drive it until something is fixed. It was a terrifying experience. I am concerned it could happen again or to other cars. …
Tl contact owns a 2002 Toyota Highlander. The contact was driving 5 MPH into a parking garage when suddenly, the vehicle accelerated. She attempted to engage the brake pedal to stop the vehicle and crashed into a tree. The contact notified the insurance company and they covered the repair cost. The contact was sore after the crash occurred due to minor injuries. Three weeks ago while parking the vehicle it surged forward and hit another vehicle. The manufacturer was notified and stated that they would send someone to inspect the vehicle and if there was something wrong with the vehicle they would reimburse her in 35 days. The contact is concerned about the safety risk and chose to rent a vehicle to drive. The failure mileage was 62,000. The current mileage was 75,000.
Dt*: the contact stated while pulling into a parking space at 10 MPH, upon applying brake pressure, the vehicle lurched forward without warning, and crashed into a parked vehicle. The contact was wearing a seat belt, and no injuries were sustained. There was moderate damage to the front of the vehicle. The police were alerted, but a report was not taken. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop for inspection of the body damage. The manufacturer was alerted. Updated 12/12/06.
Driver made a left turn with foot on brake pedal and rolled into a parking spot within a parking lot, estimated speed to be 2 MPH. The engine surged and the car ran over 3 small trees, went up an incline approximately 3 ft. Higher than the parking lot, then proceeded approximately 8 feet into the adjacent property then struck the brick chimney of a house and bounced back into the parking lot. The brakes were depressed during this occurrence but did not stop the car.
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.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Toyota Highlander. The driver stated that the vehicle suddenly accelerated and crashed into a wall of his garage while driving approximately 5 MPH. There were no injuries. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to the dealership who was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The current mileage was approximately 48,690. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.
I saw someone steal my car and told them they hacked. Windshield wipers would slow up and down. Burning of the electrics when try to charge. Car stopping in the middle of the road. Car going on and off. The middle of the road, turning back on. Speed control messing up. Security warning going up and down.. Battery would shut on and off. Car locks going on and off. Could barely steer the car.
While pulling into a parking area, and when consumer depressed the brakes vehicle surged forward. While trying to control the vehicle and avoid pedestrians vehicle collided with a cement pole in the parking lot. Consumer suffered severe head and knee injuries. The police issued a report on the collision.
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. Since the same behavior happens in both Toyota's I own, it is time that Toyota starts looking at something else than the silly explanations of floormats and sticky gaspedals. It is the engine which runs away, leaving the driver no control over the speed. I had not expect this from Toyota. …
Acceleration complaints in other Highlander years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2002 Toyota Highlander?
NHTSA has 31 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2002 Toyota Highlander, 10% of the model year's 301 complaints. The component named most often is cruise control (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Toyota Highlander acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2002 Toyota Highlander, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2002 Toyota Highlander acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 61,000 miles, and 14% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 11 crashes, 2 fires and 7 injuries and 4 deaths to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.