The defect
ON SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THERE IS A BREATHER HOSE THAT ATTACHES TO THE NOZZLE OF THE ON-BOARD REFUELING VAPOR RECOVERY (ORVR) VALVE, WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE TOPSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. THE BREATHER HOSE IS ATTACHED WITH A CLAMP, WHOSE "TABS" FACE IN THE UPWARD DIRECTION. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS CRASHED UNDER THE NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) TEST (I.E., 35 MPH FRONTAL BARRIER CRASH), THE CLAMP "TABS" CONTACTED THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BODY DUE TO MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL TANK, CAUSING THE NOZZLE TO BREAK.
The risk
IN THE WORST CASE, NOZZLE BREAKAGE COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THE VEHICLE ROLLS-OVER AFTER A HIGH SPEED FRONTAL CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL ROTATE THE SPECIFIED CLAMP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 23, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Toyota Highlander | 2001, 2002 |
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Highlander | 2001 | 137 | 3 |
| Toyota Highlander | 2002 | 301 | 2 |
Other fuel system, gasoline recalls in 2002
31 of the 434 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2002 concerned the fuel system, gasoline; TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. filed 95 campaigns in all.
| 02V344000 23 Dec 2002 | NATIONAL RV, INC. |
| 02V340000 23 Dec 2002 | AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. |
| 02V335000 6 Dec 2002 | SALEEN PERFORMANCE INC. |
| 02V318002 3 Dec 2002 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
| 02V318001 27 Nov 2002 | PACCAR, INC. |
| 02V306000 13 Nov 2002 | AM GENERAL CORPORATION |
| 02V300000 12 Nov 2002 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 02V274000 8 Oct 2002 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2002