2002 Toyota Highlander Airbags Problems
14 owner-reported airbags complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (14)
Your airbags failed to deploy during a crash at 50 mph, resulting in serious injuries to the driver. The vehicle was destroyed in the collision. The airbag system will need complete diagnostic testing and likely replacement of the airbag modules and control unit.
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Your airbag warning light keeps turning on. This indicates a problem with your airbag system that needs to be diagnosed and repaired by a technician using a diagnostic scanner to identify the specific fault.
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Your airbag warning light stays on when it's cold outside and won't turn off until the car warms up, you shut down the engine, and restart it. Additionally, your sun visor keeps falling down while you're driving instead of staying in place. Both of these issues create safety concerns.
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Your airbag warning light stays on whenever it's 20°F or colder outside, even after the engine and cabin warm up. The light only turns off if you completely shut down and restart the engine. This happens whether you're parked or driving at any speed.
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THE AIR BAGS DASHBOARD LIGHT BLINKS INTERMITTENTLY IN TEMPERATURES BELOW 20 F. DEALER SAYS TO BRING IN. TROUBLE IS WE NEED THE CAR FOR HOURS BEFORE THEY OPEN AND BY THAT TIME THE CAR HAS WARMED UP, THE CAR HAS BEEN TURNED ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES DURING ERRAND RUNNING. AFTER WHICH TIME, THE WARNING LIGHT IS NOT SHOWING. 1-TROUBLE IS WE ARE NOT ASSURED THIS IS JUST A WARNING LIGHT ISSUE WHICH MEANS IT'S OKAY TO USE WHILE LIGHT IS FLASHING. NOR DO WE KNOW IF THIS MEANS THE AIR BAGS MAY BE DEFECTIVE AND NOT WORK IN ANY CONDITIONS!? 2-THE DEALER CLAIMS TO NOT BE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE ALTHOUGH A SIMPLE SEARCH OF THE INTERNET SHOWS THE SAME ISSUE--THEIR ANSWER? "WE DIDN'T FIND ANY CODES WHEN WE TESTED IT". 3-THIS ISSUE SHOWED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE OUR CAR WAS COVERED UNDER THE PLATINUM WARRANTY AT THE TIME THEY FIRST "TESTED" FOR PROBLEMS. *TR
2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER STATES AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A COLLISION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED A VAN PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF HUSBAND WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE IMPACT WAS AT 45-50 MPH. THE CONSUMER'S HUSBAND HIT HIS HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUFFERED AMNESIA AND THE CONSUMER SUFFERED A NECK INJURY. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE THE DRIVER SIDE WAS IMPACTED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER AND TWO PASSENGERS SUFFERED HEAD AND BACK INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED AS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD BE CALLING HER AFTER ANALYZING THE COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,393.
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES IN FREEZING TEMPS AND BLINKS AT DIFFERENT RATES. ONCE THE TEMPERATURE WARMS UP, UPON RESTART THE LIGHT NO LONGER BLINKS. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS WILL CAUSE A PROBLEM IF I NEED AIR BAG SUPPORT IN COLDER TEMPERATURES. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST SEVERAL TIMES AS WELL. *TR
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. DEFECTIVE CENTER AIRBAG SENSOR. *NM
I T-BONED A CAR GOING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH WITH NO BRAKING TIME AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IT CAUSED OVER $12,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF MY CAR, BUT THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T GO OFF? I BOUGHT THE CAR USED, BUT WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A "CERTIFIED" TOYOTA USED CAR. I NOW WONDER IF THERE WAS AN AIR BAG IN IT AT ALL. *JB
HAD AN SIDE IMPACT ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WAS HIT BY A TRUCK TRAVELING BETWEEN 45-50 MPH. STRUCK RIGHT IN FRONT OF DRIVERS DOOR. DRIVERS HEAD WENT THROUGH DRIVERS WINDOW. VEHICLE WAS EQUIPED WITH SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED ENOUGH TO BE CONSIDERED TOTALED. (ESTIMATE WAS OVER $23,000) TO FIX. WANT TO KNOW WHAT WENT WRONG? PAID EXTRA FOR AIRBAGS THAT DIDN'T WORK. WHO'S RESPONSIBLE?
HEAD ON COLLISION OF AN ABANDONNED VEHICLE AT 30-35 MPH IN A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER-AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND WAS HIT HEAD ON. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH AT IMPACT. THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS ON CAUSING VEHICLE TO START UP STEEP HILL WHERE THE FRONT END SLID TO THE RIGHT WHERE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO GO UP A DRIVE/CARPORT STRIKING A PORCH AND ROCK WALL