Recalls, complaints, and safety data from NHTSA
The 2021 Toyota highlander has 4 recalls, 412 complaints, and a 5-star overall safety rating from NHTSA.
4
Recalls
412
Complaints
★★★★★
Safety Rating
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 9, 2026
23V720000
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Highlander & Highlander Hybrid vehicles. During normal vehicle opera...
23V865000
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, ...
24V452000
TIRES
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Highlander vehicles. The 20-inch accessory tires with an insufficient load ra...
26V128000
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The second-row seat backs ...
Overall
★★★★★
Front Crash
★★★★★
Side Crash
★★★★★
Rollover
★★★★★
Rating for: 2021 Toyota HIGHLANDER SUV AWD
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 7, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | A whining noise was observed at around 78k miles. Brought to the dealer and they indicated parts in ... |
| Mar 28, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | My 2021 Toyota Highlander was my first car I purchased that I saved up for and has had a sudden issu... |
| Mar 23, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Transmission failure @110,000miles and a $9000.00 replacement cost. Service advisor at Toyota Deale... |
| Mar 16, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | During acceleration above 25 mph a noticeable whining sound is heard from the transmission. When no... |
| Mar 16, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | The transmission began making a wheezing sound. The dealership looked at the vehicle and determined ... |
| Mar 3, 2026 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed s... |
| Mar 1, 2026 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | While driving westbound on I-8 at approximately 70 MPH in the left lane, a warning message suddenly ... |
| Feb 27, 2026 | STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTION | The vehicle experiences intermittent power steering malfunction while driving. Warning messages incl... |
| Feb 27, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | My vehicle is experiencing a transmission safety issue that has been diagnosed by the authorized Toy... |
| Feb 21, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced transmiss... |
| Feb 19, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed s... |
| Feb 17, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | I am reaching out regarding our 2021 Toyota Highlander which currently has $65 K miles and is just o... |
| Feb 16, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | I purchased my brand new Highlander on January 31, 2021 and was told today that I need a transmissio... |
| Feb 10, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Toyota is asking me to pay for a brand new transmission replacement in my car that is only 5 years o... |
| Feb 4, 2026 | STRUCTURE | Power Back Door (PBD) will not open or close and/or stops moving while opening or closing. Problem s... |
| Feb 3, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Transmission has started to whine, my understanding is this is common for the transmission I have. I... |
| Feb 2, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | I had the 60,000 mile service on February 2,2026 and after the service was completed I left the deal... |
| Feb 2, 2026 | ENGINE | Complete transmission replacement for failure. Toyota said it is an unknown issue but has not issued... |
| Feb 1, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Known transmission failure.whining noise when accelerating. T-SB-0008-21 |
| Feb 1, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | The transmission in my 2021 Toyota Highlander began making a loud whining/whirring noise that increa... |