2002 Toyota Highlander Engine Problems

You noticed coolant dripping on your garage floor and brought your 2002 Highlander to a Toyota dealership for inspection. The service advisor told you the head bolts are pulling out of the engine block, which is causing the leak. Repairing this problem would require replacing the short block at a cost of over $6,700, and the advisor mentioned this is a known issue with 2AZ-FE engines in Highlanders and RAV-4s. The repair will likely involve removing and replacing the engine's short block to stop the coolant leak.

TL* 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.

TL* 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.

WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY INTERSTATE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT, CAUSING THE NEED TO PULL OVER. THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE TEMPERATURE WAS AT ITS MAXIMUM AND WAS LOOSING COOLANT. AFTER SEVERAL INSPECTIONS, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN AT SUCH LOW OVERALL VEHICLE MILEAGE DUE TO THE ENGINE HEAD BEING MADE OF ALUMINUM AND THE BLOCK BEING MADE OF STEEL. THIS ALSO CAUSED THE VEHICLE HEAD BOLT THREADS TO BE STRIPPED, RESULTING IN THE NEED FOR A NEW ENGINE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER ON THE HIGHWAY AND WAS ACCELERATING TO PASS A CAR WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA, ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY DASH CAME ON AND MY CAR STALLED. I STRUGGLED WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES TO GET MY CAR OVER 2 LANES OF FAST MOVING TRAFFIC AND GET IT ONTO THE EXIT RAMP. MY AUTO HAD DRASTICALLY SLOWED DUE TO ENGINE NOT WORKING AND I WAS ALMOST HIT SEVERAL TIMES AS CARS FLEW AROUND AND PAST ME. I FINALLY MANAGE TO GET IT OFF THE HIGHWAY AND INTO A SAFE SPOT, BUT IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT BECAUSE I HAD LOST ALL POWER AND HAD NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. I AM ONLY THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND I KNOW THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HE TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF THIS CAR DOING ALL THE MAINTENANCE HIMSELF AND USING ONLY TOYOTA PARTS. THE DEALER SAYS MY ENGINE IS RUINED BUT HE NEVER MENTIONED ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS THEY HAVE HAD WITH THESE ENGINES AND SLUDGE AND ENGINE FAILURE. THE ORIGINAL OWNER SAYS HE NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING FROM TOYOTA ABOUT THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT NOR ANY OF THE FIXES FOR THE SLUDGE/ENGINE FAILURE PROBLEM. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AND AM LUCKY I WAS NOT. TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE RECALLED ALL THESE ENGINES AND FIXED OR REPLACED THEM INSTEAD OF JUST SECRETLY FIXING THEM, ONLY WHEN FORCED TO BY THE CUSTOMER FOR ONLY 8 YEARS. FACT IS, IF THE ORIG OWNER HADN'T BABIED THE CAR, THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE GONE MUCH SOONER. SO BECAUSE HE TOOK GOOD CARE OF IT, I AM S-O-L BECAUSE THE 8 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY IS UP. I GUESS THE REAL TRUTH IS THAT TOYOTA MAKE ITS CARS TO LAST LONGER THAN 8 YEARS. *TR

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. *TR

A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO WHITE SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. LAST WEEK, ON A TRIP WITHIN 400 MILES OF MY HOME, THE ENGINE AND VSC LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR COULD STOP SUDDENLY AND LEAVE US STRANDED SO I MADE AN APPT FOR MONDAY MORNING. THE CAR RODE VERY ROUGH FOR THE LAST TWO HOURS AND IT SEEMED AS IF IT IS READY TO STALL ANYTIME. TOYOTA CHARGED ME $ 321.00 FOR A COMPRESSION AND DIAGNOSTICS TEST. TOYOTA FOUND THAT I HAD LOW COMPRESSION. TOYOTA ALSO OFFERED TO TAKE APART MY ENGINE FOR 2667.00 TO SEE IF THE RINGS WERE DAMAGED. I REFUSED THE WORK AND PICKED UP MY CAR. WE CALLED AN ENGINE REPAIR BUSINESS. THE OWNER KNEW THE MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR OF MY CAR AND ASKED IF WE HAD JUST HIT THE 100,000 MILE MARKER. WE HAD. HE TOLD US OF THE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM, SETTLEMENT AND FAULTY ALUMINUM ENGINES. I HAVE RESEARCHED SIMILAR CHARACTERISTICS WITH THE HIGHLANDER AND SEE THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE 2002 HIGHLANDER. THE SLUDGE SITUATION WOULD ONLY BE COVERED IF IT WAS WITHIN 8 YEARS OF THE PURCHASE DATE. WHAT ABOUT THE MANY CONSUMERS WHO STILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS PAST THE EIGHT YEARS? I BOUGHT THIS HIGHLANDER IN 2005, HAD IT SERVICED REGULARLY AND WE ALSO CHANGED THE OIL OURSELVES. IN 2008 I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR A TUNE UP AND AN OIL CHANGE PRIOR TO A LONG TRIP. ON THE WAY HOME, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WE PULLED OVER TO A LOCAL GAS STATION AND THERE WAS LITERALLY NO OIL IN MY ENGINE. TOYOTA DID THE OIL CHANGE BUT DID NOT PUT 5 QUARTS OF OIL INTO MY CAR FOR THIS LONG TRIP. WHEN I RETURNED I DID CONFRONT THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY DENIED ANY WRONGDOING. WE HAVE, SINCE THAT TIME PERIOD HAD TO ADD OIL CONTINUOUSLY. IT TURNS OUT THAT I WILL NEED TO REPLACE MY ENGINE FOR 4500.00. *TR

VEHICLE HAS TOYOTA 2AZ-FE (2.4 L) 4 CYLINDER ENGINE. OIL & COOLANT LEAKING FROM BACK OF ENGINE. HEAD BOLTS ON MAIN GASKET FAILED. IN SEARCHING INTERNET, COUNTLESS OTHER OWNERS HAVE UNFORTUNATELY EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE WHICH IS DUE TO AN INHERENT DESIGN PROBLEM BY TOYOTA. BOLTS BETWEEN GASKET AND MAIN ENGINE BLOCK FAIL AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED. HAVE TO BUY AND INSTALL A NEW ENGINE. CALLED TOYOTA USA HEADQUARTERS IN TORRANCE, CA. AND SPOKE TO THEM, THEY SAID THEY WILL DO NOTHING FOR ME. SPOKE TO DYLAN AND THE CASE NUMBER IS 1111291430. I BELIEVE THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED AND THAT TOYOTA SHOULD ASSUME FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE FAILURES, WHICH ARE OBVIOUSLY DUE TO A DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING PROBLEM OF TOYOTA. *KB

I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER FROM SIERRA TOYOTA OF LANCASTER, CA. I HAVE EXPERIENCED NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE UNTIL 25 JAN. 2011 WHEN THE ENGINE OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING 40MPH ON CITY STREET. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC AND HE INFORMED ME OF A PROBLEM WITH THE 2.4L 4CYL TOYOTA ENGINES IN WHICH SOME OF THE HEAD BOLTS BECOME LOOSE/STRIPPED WHERE THEY ATTACH AT THE ENGINE BLOCK. I CALLED SIERRA TOYOTA OF LANCASTER AND THEY DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM. ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I DISCOVERED THAT SIERRA TOYOTA HAD A SPECIALIST SERVICING ONE OF THEIR VEHICLES BY PLACING INSERTS INTO THE STRIPPED HOLES THE VERY NEXT DAY. SIERRA TOYOTA REFUSED TO GIVE ME ANY MONETARY ASSISTANCE IN REPAIRING MY VEHICLE. AFTER RESEARCHING THE BOLT PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS TOYOTA OWNERS WITH THE SAME ENGINE, THAT HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES. THE ONLY FIX IS EITHER A COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT OR HAVING AN EXPENSIVE ANCHOR-BOLT REDO. MY COSTS LOOK LIKE TO BE ABOUT $2500, IF THERE IS NO OTHER DAMAGE FOUND DUE TO THE OVER-HEATING. AT THIS POINT, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THE NEW ANCHOR-BOLT SYSTEM WILL WORK. MY VEHICLE WAS ALWAYS WELL-MAINTAINED AND CURRENTLY HAS APX. 126,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

SOME EARLIER MODELS OF TOYOTA'S 2AZ-FE 4 CYLINDER ENGINE ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO SUDDEN FAILURE AND ARE DANGEROUS. THE ENGINE IS WIDELY USED IN TOYOTA'S POPULAR CAMRY, HIGHLANDER, RAV4 AND SCION TC MODELS. TOYOTA NEEDS TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AND INVESTIGATE THE ENGINE. ON 9/11/2010, 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER'S 2AZ-FE ENGINE FAILED AND LEFT OCCUPANTS STRANDED. EVENT TOOK PLACE IMMEDIATELY AFTER EXITING THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE SPUTTERED AND CEASED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 75,000 MILES ON IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHICH REPORTED THE FOLLOWING: - OIL AND COOLANT LEAKING FROM THE BACK OF THE ENGINE HEAD - HYDROCARBON IN THE COOLANT - OIL SEVERELY BURNT DUE TO OVERHEATING THE ESTIMATE TO OPEN UP AND REPAIR THE ENGINE COULD RUN ANYWHERE FROM $2,000 TO $7,500 DEPENDING ON WHETHER THE ENGINE BLOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S SCHEDULE WITH ALL THE RECORDS TO PROVE IT. TOYOTA DENIED REQUEST TO INVESTIGATE AND DEFRAY COSTS. WHILE ENGINE WAS OPENED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT TWO OF THE HEAD BOLTS WERE LOOSE AND THAT THE THREADS IN THE ALUMINUM ENGINE BLOCK FOR 3 HEAD BOLTS IN THE REAR WERE STRIPPED. REPAIRING THE ENGINE INVOLVED RE-THREADING THE HOLES IN THE ENGINE BLOCK FOR ALL TEN HEAD BOLTS USING THE TIME-SERT THREAD REPAIR KIT. *TR

IN JUNE 2008, I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY ENGINE APPARENTLY MELTED DOWN. IT WENT COMPLETELY HOT. I PULLED OVER AND THERE WAS WHAT APPEARED TO BE COOLANT POOLED UNDER THE CAR. PRIOR TO THIS ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE HAD BEEN DONE AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY TROUBLE WITH THE CAR EARLIER THAT DAY. I LATER TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN HIS LIFE. THE ENGINE HAD LITERALLY MELTED. HE THEN TRIED TO CALL TOYOTA AND GOT IN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE BUT THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED EITHER AND WAS UNWILLING TO DEAL WITH IT. HE SAID IT OBVIOUSLY HAD TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT. IT COST ME A WHOLE NEW ENGINE. *TR

MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER V6 BROKE DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT OIL SLUDGE HAS CLOGGED MY ENGINE AND I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE IT REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $6000. I WAS SHOCKED BECAUSE I ALWAYS GOT MY OIL CHANGED WELL BEFORE THE SUGGESTED 7500 MILE MARK. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND OUT MY CAR WAS PART OF A RECALL AND CLASS ACTION SUIT. THEY NEVER SENT A RECALL NOTICE. WE PURCHASED THE CAR WHEN IT WAS 2 YEARS OLD. I CONTACTED TOYOTA USA AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS OIL SLUDGE BUT SINCE A WAS A COUPLE MONTHS BEYOND THE CLASS ACTION SUIT OF 8 YEARS. I ARGUED THAT THEY NEVER SENT US A RECALL NOTICE. THEY PRETTY MUCH SAID TOUGH LUCK. I WAS LUCKY I WAS ABLE TO GET MY CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY ( MY 5 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN THE BACK). I DON'T FEEL TOYOTA MADE ENOUGH OF AN EFFORT TO LET THE CUSTOMER KNOW OF THESE ISSUES.. I FEEL THEY WERE INTERESTED IN PROTECTING THEIR REPUTATION ABOVE THEIR CUSTOMERS SAFETY. I WOULD HAVE CERTAINLY GOTTEN THE CAR FIX IF THEY HAD SENT THE RECALL NOTICE. I WILL NOT PAY $6000 FOR SOMETHING THAT TOYOTA SHOULD. THESE CARS ARE DANGEROUS AND THIS COMPANY IS WRECK-LESS. *TR

4 CYLINDER ENGINE BLOCKED WARPED WHERE HEAD MEETS BLOCK. HEAD BOLTS WERE STRIPPED AND COULD NOT BE TIGHTENED DOWN. FOLLOWING LINK DESCRIBES THE PROBLEM WE ENCOUNTERED WITH OUR 2002 HIGHLANDER WHICH HAS THE SAME 2.4 LTR 4 CYLINDER ENGINE AS THE CAMRY. HTTP://WWW.TUNDRASOLUTIONS.COM/FORUMS/ CAMRY/148454-CAMRY-WITH-STRIPPED-HEAD-BOLTS/ ALL DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR OF OUR HIGHLANDER WAS DONE AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN ROSWELL, GA. *TR

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. *TR

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. *TR

I NOTICED COOLANT LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE PLASTIC INTO INTAKE MANIFOLD IN THE REAR OF THE ENGINE. I BROUGHT IT IN FOR REPAIR AND THE MECHANIC SAID HE NOTICED A LARGE PIECE OF FOAM RUBBER BETWEEN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE ENGINE BLOCK AND HEAD.THE LEAK WAS BEHIND THE FOAM PIECE. THE ONLY OPTION TO DISCOVER THE SOURCE OF THIS LEAK WAS TO REMOVE THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD, WHICH THE MECHANIC DID. AFTER THIS WAS REMOVED, IT BECAME OBVIOUS THAT COOLANT HAD BEEN LEAKING A MINOR AMOUNT FOR QUITE SOME TIME DUE TO BUILD UP BETWEEN THE CYLINDER HEAD AND BLOCK. THE ONLY OPTION LEFT IS TO REMOVE THE HEAD, WHICH REQUIRES AN EXTENSIVE DISASSEMBLY (R AND R CYLINDER HEAD). AFTER LOOSENING THE BOLTS IN SEQUENCE, HE NOTICED THREE OF THE HEAD BOLTS IN THE BACK OF THE ENGINE WERE LOOSE. AFTER HE REMOVED THE HEAD SURE ENOUGH, ONE BOLT CAME OUT WITH ALUMINUM IN THE THREAD THUS INDICATING A STRIPPED BOLT. AND THE OTHER THREE WERE LOOSE. HE SAID THE ONLY OPTION WAS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BLOCK, WHICH WILL COST ABOUT $6000 INCLUDING SHIPPING/LABOR. I CAN NOT AFFORD THIS AND SO HAD THE HIGHLANDER TOWED BACK TO MY HOME. *TR

MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SEEMS TO COME ON EVERY 10,000 MILES. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE 2004, AT ABOUT 43000 MILES, WHEN I FIRST TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DEALER MECHANIC. IT IS NOW 2009, 111000 MILES LATER, AND AGAIN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON QUEUE. ORIGINALLY, THE DEALER MECHANICS TOLD ME THEY HAD CORRECTED IT PRIOR TO MY WARRANTY EXPIRING. WHEN MY WARRANTY EXPIRED, THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO GET AN OVERHAUL ON MY CATALYTIC/EXHAUST SYSTEM, WHICH WAS QUOTED TO COST ABOUT $5000 TO FIX! I BELIEVE MY CAR WAS WORTH NO MORE THAN $7000 AT THE TIME. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CATALYTIC SYSTEM AND THAT THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE DETECTION SYSTEM. I'VE BEEN SHOWN HOW TO RESET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BY THE TOYOTA DEALER PERSONNEL, I SUSPECT, BECAUSE IT IS HAPPENING TO OTHER HIGHLANDER OWNERS. I AM BRINGING THIS ISSUE UP NOW BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN ISSUED YEARS AGO. I HOPE SOMEONE FROM TOYOTA WILL RECOGNIZE AND FIX THIS ISSUE. *TR

2004, MY HIGHLANDER WAS SERVICED FOR GEL IN THE VALVE SEALS. ON APRIL 2, MY CAR WAS BROUGHT TO LEITH TOYOTA BECAUSE THE CAR MADE A LOUD NOISE AFTER BEING CRANKED AND THE OIL LIGHT WAS ON. AS I DROVE A COUPLE OF MILES, ALL COMPUTER LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE CAR CUT OFF. I WAS TOLD TESTING WAS DONE AND I HAD OIL ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT BEING PUMPED TO THE ENGINE FOR SOME REASON. (I HAVE OIL CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES). THE NEXT DAY, I WENT TO CHECK ON THE PROGRESS AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THEY DROVE THE CAR AROUND AND IT NEVER CUT OFF AND HE REALLY DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC TO FIND OUT AND 10 MILES AWAY, THE ENGINE BLEW UP. NOW, I HAVE NO CAR TO DRIVE AND I AM A SINGLE MOM THAT HAS TO WORK. I FEEL THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER SHOULD HAVE BEEN HONEST WITH ME REGARDING TOYOTA'S PAST ENGINE DEFECTS AND TO DRIVE MY CAR WOULD BE FATAL. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO CHECK FOR OIL SLUDGE AND REQUESTING THAT MY MECHANIC BE PRESENT WHEN DROPPING THE OIL PAN, THEY TOLD ME THAT WAS NOT NECESSARY AND DID IT WITHOUT CALLING ME FIRST. I HAVE LOST ALL FUTURE TRUST WITH THIS COMPANY AND FELL THAT THEIR"HUSH HUSH RECALL" SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE PUBLIC. *TR

HAVE REGULARLY MAINTAINED MY VEHICLE WITH ALL REQUIRED AND SUGGESTED TOYOTA MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES, THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP, AND WITH ONLY 68,000 MILES, I NOW HAVE LEARNED I HAVE AN OIL LEAK BETWEEN THE MOTOR & TRANSMISSION. *JB

I HAVE OWNED A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 4 CYLINDER, 2WD. MY CAR STALLED ON THE ROAD ABOUT TOW WEEKS AGO AND I HAD IT TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALER. I HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF MY CAR AND CAN PROVIDE SOME PARTIAL PAPER WORK OF MY MAINTENANCE. THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THAT I NEED A NEW ENGINE, AND MY BILL WILL GO OVER $5000.00. IT HAS ONLY 77000 MILES AND NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE CAR (NO ACCIDENTS). I HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE OIL SLUDGE LAW SUIT BUT IT COVERS ONLY 6 CYL BUT NOT 4 CYL. COULD YOU PLEASE HELP ME OUT ON THIS ISSUE. THANKS. *JB

2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER STALL-REDUCE SPEED TO 1000/2000 RPM AND SHUT OFF ENGINE DURING COLD/HOT WEATHER. *JB

PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS HAVE SEEN SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAILPIPE. SLUDGE HAS BUILT UP AND CLOGGED THE PVC SYSTEM AND INSIDE OF THE VALVE COVER CAUSING OIL TO SIT INSIDE AND DAMAGED THE VALVE SEALS. DEALER WANTS TO CLEAN THE SLUDGE UNDER THE VALVE COVERS AND REPLACE THE VALVE SEALS - COST OF 3,900.00. *NM

I BOUGHT A TOYOTA SAQUOIA LIMITED 4X4 USED IN 2003. WHEN I TOOKIT TO A FRIENDS HOUSE HER HUSBAND SIAD I SHOULD GET THAT TICKING NOISE CHECKED OUT. I TOLD HIM THAT ALL OF THE SUV'S AT THE DEALERSHIP MADE THE TICKING NOISE. WELL, HE WAS RIGHT. WHEN I TOOK IT IN TO BE INSPECTED I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD A CRACKED MANIFOLD. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT ALL OF THE TOYOTA SUV'S AND TRUCKS HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR MANIFOLDS. IF THIS IS TRUE, WHY HAVE THEY NOT DONE A RECALL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM? I MANIFOLD IS NOT A CHEAP PART TO REPLACE.

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER-2002-ENGINE OIL TURNED TO SLUDGE, ENGINE JUST SHORT OF SEIZING-NEW ENGINE INSTALLED. *JB

SHORTLY AFTER THE SECOND OIL CHANGE, 10000 MILES THE EXHAUST SYSTEM STARTED MAKING NOISE. IT STARTED AS A LOUD SOUND FROM THE MUFFLER AND NOW HAS BECOME A RATTLING SOUND AND LOUD EXHAUST NOISE. THE BANGING/RATTLING SOUND IS WORST DURING LEFT HAND TURNS. DEALER STATED WE DAMAGED THE EXHAUST PIPE AND THE BRACKETS NEEDED REPAIR $175. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO SHOW ME ANY PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. I NOTICED THE NEW HIGHLANDERS HAVE A DIFFERENT AND SMALLER MUFFLER WHICH DOES NOT BANG INTO ADJACENT PARTS. I WONDER IF I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. *AK

BLACK SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE, AND VEHICLE CONSUMED EXCESSIVE OIL. DEALERSHIP WANTED TO REPLACE THE VALVE SEAL AND PISTON O-RING S, BUT THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER. *AK VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS AND CONSUMER WAS ASKED TO USE A RENTAL CAR SINCE VEHICLE'S PARTS FOR REPAIR WHERE NOT AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME. CONSUMER RECEIVED A CALL FROM DEALER THAT VEHICLE WAS READY TOP BE PICKED UP. WHEN CONSUMER PICKED UP THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT VEHICLE IS ONCE AGAIN SMOKING AND EXPERIENCED HESITATION. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND REPLACED THE TIMING BELT WHICH CAUSED THE HESITATION. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM WITH THE SMOKE COMING OUT AND OCCASIONAL HESITATION STILL EXIST. *LA

THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT WAS COMING ON WHEN BRAKING. I HAD RECENTLY HAD THE OIL CHANGED. THE ENGINE WAS ALSO EMITTING A WHITE SMOKE WHEN STARTING THE CAR. OIL WAS SHOWING ABOUT 1/2 QUART LOW ON INITIAL INSPECTION. IT TOOK TWO TRIPS TO THE DEALER FOR THEM TO FINALLY DISCOVER INTERNAL OIL GELLING. NO INFORMATION WAS GIVEN BY THE DEALER ABOUT PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND ENGINE GELLING.

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL UNDERNEATH . *AK