2021 Toyota Highlander problems and recalls

Owners have filed 531 complaints on the 2021 Toyota Highlander, and NHTSA has issued 4 recalls. The most cited component is the Power Train (227 complaints).

531
Complaints
4
Recalls
16
Crash reports
4
Fire reports
18
Injuries
46.4
Severity index

Severity index 46.4 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 46.4p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 70 of 94 by severity index among 2021 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 26% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2021 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Power TrainPower Train: 227 complaints (42.7%)227 43%Service BrakesService Brakes: 68 complaints (12.8%)68 13%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 67 complaints (12.6%)67 13%StructureStructure: 52 complaints (9.8%)52 10%EngineEngine: 47 complaints (8.9%)47 9%Air BagsAir Bags: 42 complaints (7.9%)42 8%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 31 complaints (5.8%)31 6%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 28 complaints (5.3%)28 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
POWER TRAIN22742.7%
SERVICE BRAKES6812.8%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER6712.6%
STRUCTURE529.8%
ENGINE478.9%
AIR BAGS427.9%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM315.8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM285.3%

Complaints filed per year

0851702021: 482022: 362023: 412024: 852025: 1522026: 169 (partial year)212223242526169
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
202148
202236
202341
202485
2025152
2026 (year to date)169
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 3.3x those in 2021 to 2022 (278 against 84).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
23V72000026/10/2023STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERSToyota 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.
23V86500020/12/2023AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATIONToyota 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 ve
24V45200018/06/2024TIRESSoutheast 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 requiremen
26V12800005/03/2026SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY:RECLINERToyota 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.

Other Toyota Highlander model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 13 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-10-21. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.