UsedScore

2021 Toyota Highlander: Use caution

Owners filed 340 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Toyota Highlander in its first five years on the road, about 135 for every 100,000 sold: 1.6× the rate of a typical Highlander year. That's above average, so use caution.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (27% of complaints).

Complaint index
1.6×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Highlander year
Rank
13th of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
340
first five years; 135 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
5
campaigns
4th generation, 2020–2026 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2020 Toyota Highlander XLE AWD

Photo: 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE AWD · Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Powertrain27% · 93 complaints
  2. Brakes16% · 54 complaints
  3. Air bags13% · 45 complaints
  4. Engine8% · 28 complaints
  5. Fuel and propulsion8% · 28 complaints · median 1,000 miles
  6. Body and structure11% · 39 complaints · median 27,000 miles
  7. Driver assistance5% · 17 complaints
  8. Electrical5% · 17 complaints
  9. Visibility5% · 16 complaints
  10. Steering2% · 6 complaints

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Air bags

Many 2021 Highlander owners report a passenger air bag/sensor recall with no repair parts available for a long time, leaving a warning light on. A few owners in actual crashes say their air bags did not deploy.

Warning signs:
Many owners describe an illuminated air bag or SRS warning light on the dash, sometimes with no other signs before a crash.
What shops did:
Dealers often told owners no repair part was available yet, gave interim notices, or in a few cases only partially completed the repair or replaced a battery.
Mileage:
most between 30,000 and 50,000 miles, among 5 complaints that give it

“the air bag warning light remained illuminated while operating the vehicle”

“Our anti lock brakes worked good, but none of the air bags deployed.”

Brakes

Many owners of this hybrid model describe a scary moment where the brakes seem to let go and the car surges forward before finally stopping, most often at low speeds, downhill, or over bumps. Dealers frequently can't reproduce it, sometimes call it normal hybrid braking behavior, and a software update mentioned by several owners doesn't always fully resolve it.

Warning signs:
Many describe a brief sensation of the brake pedal 'letting go' or the car surging forward, especially when slowing at low speed, downhill, or over bumps, often with no warning lights.
What shops did:
Dealers often could not reproduce the issue, told owners it was normal hybrid regenerative braking, or performed a software/brake actuator reprogram that some say only partially or temporarily helped.

“The brakes will occasionally, at lower speeds and under a variety of circumstances, stop working for a second or two.”

“While slowing and braking to stops (approximately less than 20 mph), the vehicle will lurch/lunge forward.”

Powertrain

Many owners of this model report the transmission developing a whining or grinding noise during acceleration that dealers say means the transmission needs full replacement. Owners describe repair costs running into thousands of dollars, long waits for backordered parts, and frustration that warranties often just expired before the noise appeared.

Warning signs:
Many owners first notice a whining, humming, or grinding sound that grows louder with acceleration, sometimes with jerky or delayed shifts, occasional bucking, or metal shavings in the fluid.
What shops did:
Dealers commonly diagnose internal transmission failure and recommend full replacement, but owners report long backorder waits, high out-of-pocket costs once the powertrain warranty has expired, and some cases where the vehicle was left unrepaired.
Mileage:
most between 55,000 and 65,000 miles, among 11 complaints that give it

“A whine developed while accelerating on the highway. The whine continued any time I accelerated higher than about 35 mph.”

“Transmission starting to make a loud whining noise while driving.”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (5)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 26V128000March 2026686,588 vehicles

    Seats: mid/rear assembly: recliner

    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.

  • NHTSA 24V452000June 20244,763 vehicles

    Tires

    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.

  • NHTSA 23V865000December 2023999,901 vehicles

    Air bags: sensor: occupant classification

    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.

  • NHTSA 23V720000October 2023750,795 vehicles

    Structure: body: bumpers

    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.

  • NHTSA 22V239000April 2022458,110 vehicles

    Electronic stability control (ESC): control module: software

    Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022 Lexus LX 600, Lexus NX 350h, Lexus NX 450h+, Toytoa RAV4 Hybrid, 2021-2022 Lexus LS 500h, Toyota Mirai, RAV4 PRIME, Sienna, Venza, and 2020-2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The Skid Control ECU software may not turn on the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system when the vehicle is restarted after the driver has disabled the VSC system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."

    Risk: Driving with a deactivated stability control system increases the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will update the Skid Control ECU software, free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Toyota sent NHTSA 231 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2021 Highlander. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • 24TE04 · August 2026 · Warranty extensionAlthough the flow shut-off valve is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 36 months or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers’ ownership experience.
  • 22TE09 · May 2026 · Warranty extensionAlthough the HV Floor Under Wire Harness and Rear Traction Motor Cable is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about…
  • TSB010421 · February 2024TSB: Some 2018 ?
  • TSB005923 · August 2023TSB: Some drivers of 2020 ?
  • TSB003220 · August 2023TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ?
  • T-SB-0094-21 Rev · November 2022TSB: Some 2005 ?
  • TSB004321Rev2 · July 2022TSB: Some 2020 model year vehicles equipped with Audio Plus (version 1021) or Premium Audio (version 1021) or earlier may exhibit one or more of the following conditions: ?Barge in function defaulted…
  • 22TC01 Team Memb · March 2022SSC: SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN 22TC01 Over-the-Air (OTA) pilot program.

All 2021 Highlander bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2021 Toyota Highlander reliable?
Owners filed 340 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Toyota Highlander in its first five years on the road, about 135 for every 100,000 sold: 1.6× the rate of a typical Highlander year. That's above average, so use caution. Ratings compare Highlander years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2021 Highlander problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (27%), the brakes (16%) and the air bags (13%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2021 Toyota Highlander been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2021 Toyota Highlander, the most recent in March 2026 (seats). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Toyota. The 2021 Toyota Highlander on NHTSA.gov · How we rate