The 2021 Toyota Highlander has 4 safety recalls and 533 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (228 complaints).
Recalls4safety recalls
Complaints533filed by owners
Crashes · fires17 · 4reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths19 · 0reported in complaints
2021 Toyota Highlander in an NHTSA crash test
Safety recalls
Seats › Mid/rear assembly › Recliner
NHTSA recall 26V128000 · Mar 5, 2026 · 686,588 vehicles
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The second-row seat backs may fail to lock into position during seat back adjustment.
Risk: A seat back that fails to lock may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the return springs in the seat back recliner assemblies, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 9, 2026. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Toyotaâs customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26TB06 and 26TA06.
Tires
NHTSA recall 24V452000 · Jun 18, 2024 · 4,763 vehicles
Problem: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Highlander vehicles. The 20-inch accessory tires with an insufficient load rating for the vehicle's Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) were installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Risk: Tires with an insufficient load rating can be overloaded and fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: SET will inspect and replace the tires and information placard, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 16, 2024. Owners may contact SET's customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET24A.
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification
NHTSA recall 23V865000 · Dec 20, 2023 · 999,901 vehicles
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Lexus 23LB03/23LA03.
Structure › Body › Bumpers
NHTSA recall 23V720000 · Oct 26, 2023 · 750,795 vehicles
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Highlander & Highlander Hybrid vehicles. During normal vehicle operation, minor impact to the front lower bumper cover may result in the cover coming loose or detaching.
Risk: A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will repair or replace the upper and lower front bumper covers as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed April 22, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB12/23TA12.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA side barrier crash testNHTSA side pole crash test
2021 Toyota HIGHLANDER SUV AWD
Overall
★★★★★
Frontal crash
★★★★★
Side crash
★★★★★
Rollover
★★★★★
Rollover risk
16.4%
Forward collision warning: Standard · Lane departure warning: Standard
2021 Toyota HIGHLANDER SUV FWD
Overall
★★★★★
Frontal crash
★★★★★
Side crash
★★★★★
Rollover
★★★★★
Rollover risk
16.9%
Forward collision warning: Standard · Lane departure warning: Standard
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Highlander
24mpg combined
City / highway
21 / 29 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S8) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel
Highlander
23mpg combined
City / highway
20 / 28 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S8) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel
Highlander AWD
23mpg combined
City / highway
20 / 27 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S8) · All-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Oct 9, 2026Power train I recently purchased a 2021 Toyota Highlander Platinum. Within a few weeks from purchase, the transmission started making a whining noise. Upon further research, it was discovered that Toyota has been installing the UA80=F transmission in their vehicles, knowing full well that there are serious issues with this particular transmission. But yet they continued using this transmission. Someone needs to address this issue and hold their feet to the fire.
Sep 23, 2026 · 150,000 miles · crash · 1 injuryVehicle speed control The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at slower speeds and attempting to park the vehicle, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated into a rail while the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle was towed to a nearby Collision Center for the repair. The contact sustained injuries to the left leg, left hand, and left elbow. The contact sought medical attention for the injuries. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure by telephone. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
Nov 19, 2025Visibility/wiper On November 19, 2025, the 12.3-inch infotainment display in my 2021 Toyota Highlander Limited went black and never recovered. That screen is the only display for the rear-view backup camera. With it dead, there is no backup camera image when reversing. The failure started as an intermittent blank screen with the reverse camera still working, then progressed to a fully dead screen including the backup camera display. A replacement display unit did not fix it. Toyota has acknowledged this defect in Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0055-22, which identifies the integration control sub-assembly (part 840C2-48010) as the cause, but has not issued a recall. Toyota service repeatedly diagnosed the…
Jul 1, 2026 · 70,100 milesPower train The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a loud high-pitched whining sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated while accelerating and the transmission was shifting rough. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced an internal transmission failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. A local dealer was contacted and associated the failure with Toyota Technical Service Bulletin: 0008-21. The contact stated that a diagnostic test was scheduled. The failure mileage was 70,100.
Sep 20, 2026Power train Noticed a whine noise slowly progressing over a couple of weeks. Researched the sound and took it for diagnostic eval. with Holman Toyota in Mt. Laurel, NJ on 10/3/2026. As suspected, the transmission is failing. Mechanic documented via video the fluid sample containing suspended metallic particles with discoloration and burnt odor. They also verified the whining sound coming from the transmission. This is a known failure for the 2021 highlander with a TSB bulletin. Although they have yet to place a recall. There were no warning messages. The complete failure of a transmission while driving could cause sudden immobilization and most certainly result in an a motor vehicle accident. The…
Oct 4, 2002Service brakes When traveling at slower speeds and applying the brakes on a slight decline, my 2021 Toyota Highlander HYBRID lurches forward with alarming force. On probably 5 separate occasions, this has nearly resulted in me lurching into traffic running perpendicular to me. I have come within 2-3 feet of lunging into oncoming traffic and I am probably the poster child for defensive driving. I had to push the brake petal forcefully to stop. I have not allowed my daughter to drive my car because of this. I first noticed this maybe 2-3 years ago? That's a guess. Why have i waited? b/c i'm a fool and poor at executive function. I looked it up, and apparently Toyota is aware of this problem (T-SB-0059-23)…
Sep 1, 2026Power train 65K miles on the vehicle and have started to get a whining noise from the transmission during acceleration. UA80F transmission installed with multiple class action lawsuits against Toyota for this issue as it leads to catastrophic failure with high replacement cost. Stopped driving the vehicle and looking into transmission replacement options. Toyota needs to be held liable for mechanical defects.
Oct 4, 2026Power train We bought a 2021 Toyota Tacoma Platinum in November 2020. In February 2021, Toyota issued a Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0008-21. The bulletin say transmissions may exhibit a whine or grind noise from the transmission. This condition may be caused by an issue with the front carrier assembly pinion shafts. This bulletin says repair is covered under the Toyota Powertrain Warranty. This warranty is in effect for 60 months or 60,000 miles, whichever occurs first, from the vehicleâs in-service date. Our transmission began making this noise around 75k miles, outside the warrant. Toyota knew about this problem over 5 years ago and did not take action to recall it. Now this repair is going to…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
