2021 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
5/5
Safety Rating
499
Owner Complaints
3
Recalls
14
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2021 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
The 2021 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER has received a total of 499 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earned an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. There have been 7 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION, TIRES. 14 technical service bulletins have been issued by Toyota Motor Corporation for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Power Train (131 complaints), Service Brakes (62 complaints), and Unknown Or Other (53 complaints).
Recalls for the 2021 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
NHTSA has recorded 7 recalls for the 2021 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, potentially affecting up to 5,007,745 vehicles.
Recall 23V865000 — AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
| 999,901 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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...
View full details →Recall 23V865000 — AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
| 999,901 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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...
View full details →Recall 24V452000 — TIRES
| 4,763 vehicles affected
Defect: 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."
Consequence: Tires with an insufficient load rating can be overloaded and fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
View full details →Recall 23V720000 — STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
| 750,795 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
View full details →Recall 23V720000 — STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
| 750,795 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
View full details →Recall 23V720000 — STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
| 750,795 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
View full details →Recall 23V720000 — STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
| 750,795 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2021 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
499 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2021 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
I was driving to a stop light when I heard a Raddle. Pull over and all the oil came out the engine. When I took it to the dealer they told me that the engine blew up. 14k repair that Toyota would not cover the repair.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal whining sound coming from the transmission. The contact was concerned about the sound and contacted a dealer. The vehicle was driven to the dealer and was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,347.
I am reaching out regarding our 2021 Toyota Highlander which currently has $65 K miles and is just out of warranty. Recently we noticed a wining noise during acceleration. We took the vehicle to the dealer who told us that the transmission will need to be REPLACED. $9500 repair. This is a known issue with Toyota and they will not work with us on this. We are stuck! No customer goodwill! Thank you!
I purchased my brand new Highlander on January 31, 2021 and was told today that I need a transmission replacement. My vehicle started about two month ago with a whining sound while accelerating. My vehicle currently has 78,000 miles and is out of the extended warranty of 60,000/5 year. I learned that Toyota released a bulletin on February 9, 2021 stating transmission issues for particular Toyota models, the Highlander being one. After researching the issue, there are several stories of Highlander owners who are experiencing the same issue. It’s a shame that they knew of the problem in February 2021 and with the transmission replacements on vehicles less than 5 years old and haven’t issued a formal recall for this known defect.
Power Back Door (PBD) will not open or close and/or stops moving while opening or closing. Problem seems to be in the motor controls of the strut assemblies on both sides of rear hatch. Vehicle is off warranty, but should be covered by Toyota due to faulty factory installed equipment... Instead, they want to charge us $1600 to repair. On the Toyota forums, many people are complaining of the same exact problem! Toyota needs to have a recall and repair at the cost of the manufacturer.
Safety Rating for the 2021 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
The 2021 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
| Test Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Frontal Crash | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Side Crash | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rollover | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Safety ratings are based on controlled crash tests conducted by NHTSA. A 5-star rating indicates the highest level of occupant protection.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2021 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
Toyota Motor Corporation has issued 14 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2021 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
T-SB-0086-25 — STRUCTURE:BODY
Some 2020 – 2023 model year Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the Power Back Door (PBD) will not open or close and/or stops moving while opening or closing. A modified PBD unit assembly is available to address these conditions.
22TD02 — FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
22TD02 expired on 2/7/2025 A seam near the fuel inlet may not have been properly sealed during manufacturing. This can allow water to leak into the interior area of the vehicle, behind the third-row seat, when the vehicle is exposed to wet environmental conditions like rain or a car wash.
TSB005923 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TSB: Some drivers of 2020 ? 2022 model year Highlander Hybrid vehicles may be sensitive to the momentary transition from regenerative braking to hydraulic braking under certain driving conditions, such as while driving downhill, or turning with light brake pedal application. The brake actuator control module can be updated to...
T-SB-0021-23 — VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
TSB: Some 2020 ? 2022 model year Highlander and RAV4 vehicles, and 2022 model year Tundra vehicles equipped with a start/stop switch may exhibit water entry to the vehicle from the HVAC drain hose being disconnected from the air conditioning radiator assembly and/or a grease/oil odor emitting from the vents....
T-TT-0723-23 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TT: Some 2021 to 2023 MY vehicles equipped Rear Motor Generator, MGR (Q610) may experience an oil leak concern. This issue is currently under investigation
T-SB-0049-21 Rev — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TSB: Some 2020 ? 2022 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid and 2021 ? 2022 Sienna Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a MIL ON condition with Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) P0087 (Fuel Rail/System Pressure ? Too Low) and/or P107A2A (Fuel Rail Pressure Sensor (Low) Signal Stuck in Range) present. This condition may occur...
22TD02 Remedy No — STRUCTURE
DL: A seam near the fuel inlet may not have been properly sealed during manufacturing. This can allow water to leak into the interior area of the vehicle, behind the third-row seat, when the vehicle is exposed to wet environmental conditions like rain or a car wash.
22LD01 — STRUCTURE
TI: TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS LIMITED SERVICE CAMPAIGN 22LD01 OPTIONAL BODY-COLORED REAR SPOILER DESIGNED FOR: CERTAIN 2021 MODEL YEAR IS HIGHLANDER AND HIGHLANDER HYBRID VEHICLES
T-TT-0665-21 Rev — EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
TT: Special Service Campaign 21TC05 applies to the following condition: The fuel gauge needle and the ?distance to empty? estimated in the vehicle display accurately indicate the approximate amount of remaining fuel in the fuel tank. However, some drivers are continuing to drive after the low fuel light illuminates, causing...
T-SB-0025-21 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TSB: Some 2020 ? 2021 model year vehicles equipped with Audio, Audio Plus, or Premium Audio (versions 1784) or earlier may exhibit one or more of the following conditions: ?Intermittent blank screen. ?Navigation map update fails. ?Album art inoperative. ?Pause function intermittently inoperative in CD mode. ?Intermittent DTC B15FE present....
Showing 10 of 14 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2021 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
- 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER — 137 complaints
- 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER — 344 complaints
- 2018 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER — 325 complaints
- 2019 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER — 555 complaints
- 2020 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER — 312 complaints
- 2021 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER (current)
- 2022 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER — 244 complaints
- 2023 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER — 188 complaints
- 2024 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER — 39 complaints
- 2025 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER — 5 complaints
- 2026 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER — 0 complaints
Other TOYOTA Models
- TOYOTA CAMRY — 23,209 total complaints
- TOYOTA PRIUS — 15,411 total complaints
- TOYOTA COROLLA — 14,342 total complaints
- TOYOTA RAV4 — 11,737 total complaints
- TOYOTA SIENNA — 10,769 total complaints
- TOYOTA TACOMA — 10,512 total complaints
- TOYOTA TUNDRA — 8,997 total complaints
- TOYOTA 4RUNNER — 6,405 total complaints