2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

Typical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: Blue smoke from exhaust on startup or acceleration, Oil level drops 1+ quart between changes, Check engine light with misfire codes, Rough idle and poor acceleration, Catastrophic engine failure if oil level drops too low

Fix: This is the killer issue on the 3.0L 1MZ-FE. Poor PCV design and marginal oil passages lead to sludge buildup and eventually scored cylinder walls. Catch it early, you're looking at valve cover cleaning and strict 3,000-mile oil change intervals with high-quality synthetic. Miss it, and you're into piston ring replacement (16-20 hours) or full engine rebuild/replacement (20-28 hours). Many owners just swap in a used engine.

Estimated cost: $3,500-7,500

Typical onset: 100,000-180,000 mi

Symptoms: Pink or red fluid spots under vehicle, Transmission fluid level drops gradually, Burnt transmission smell if fluid runs low, Transmission slipping or delayed engagement if severe

Fix: The steel cooler lines that run to the radiator rust through at the bends and mounting brackets, especially in salt states. Lines themselves are cheap, but you're looking at 2-3 hours labor to replace both lines, flush the system, and refill. Do NOT ignore this—low trans fluid will grenade the U140/U140F transmission.

Estimated cost: $300-600

Typical onset: 120,000-200,000 mi

Symptoms: Clunking or banging when shifting from Park to Drive/Reverse, Excessive vibration at idle, Visible sagging of transmission when engine is running, Harsh engagement into gear

Fix: The rear transmission mount (and sometimes engine mounts) deteriorate and the rubber separates from the metal bracket. Front-wheel-drive bias means the trans torques hard on shifts. Replace the trans mount (1.5-2 hours), and inspect engine mounts while you're under there. Often all three need doing at once on high-mileage examples.

Estimated cost: $250-500

Symptoms: Liftgate won't latch or stay closed, Have to slam it multiple times to engage, Rattling from rear while driving, Warning light on dash about open liftgate

Fix: The plastic latch mechanism wears out or the striker plate bends from repeated slamming. There was a recall (01V370000) but many vehicles still have the old parts. Replacement latch assembly runs about 1 hour labor. Sometimes adjusting the striker fixes it temporarily, but the latch itself usually needs replacing.

Estimated cost: $150-300

Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi

Symptoms: Clunking noise over bumps from front end, Wandering or loose steering feel, Uneven tire wear on inner edges, Vehicle pulls to one side, Visible play when prying on suspension

Fix: The lower ball joints wear out and develop slop, especially if driven in harsh conditions. On this platform, the ball joint is pressed into the lower control arm, so most shops replace the entire control arm assembly (1.5 hours per side). Do an alignment immediately after. This is a safety item—don't defer it.

Estimated cost: $400-700

Typical onset: 120,000-180,000 mi

Symptoms: Click-click-click when turning key with no crank, Intermittent no-start, works after multiple attempts, Grinding noise during cranking, Car starts fine when cold, fails when heat-soaked

Fix: The Denso starter develops worn brushes or a bad solenoid. On the V6, it's accessible from underneath in about 1.5-2 hours. The 4-cylinder is easier. Rebuilt starters are cheap and reliable. Heat from the exhaust manifold accelerates failure, so this is more common in hot climates.

Estimated cost: $300-550