2021 Toyota Highlander problems and complaints
Owners have filed 514 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Toyota Highlander. The most-reported areas: Power Train (220), Service Brakes (67), Unknown Or Other (62).
Key takeaways
- 514 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 16 involve a crash, 4 a fire, 18 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 220 | 43% |
| Service Brakes | 67 | 13% |
| Unknown Or Other | 62 | 12% |
| Structure | 51 | 10% |
| Engine | 45 | 9% |
| Air Bags | 42 | 8% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 31 | 6% |
| Electrical System | 27 | 5% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 12 | 2% |
| Visibility/Wiper | 9 | 2% |
| Lane Departure | 8 | 2% |
| Steering | 8 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Toyota HIGHLANDER SUV AWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2021 Toyota HIGHLANDER SUV FWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Power Train - filed 2026-09-21
In my Toyota Highlander 2021 XLE model ,on 9/18 I hear a whinning noise when gas pedals is pressed. Took it to the Toyota TriCounty dealer in Limrick,PA for diagnosis. It was reported it is due to a transmission issue and it would cost around 10,600$ to repair. I haave been taking this vechile to same dealer to servie ...
Service Brakes, Hydraulic,electrical System,engine - filed 2026-09-17
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. While driving 20 MPH uphill, the messages "Engine Failure," "Brake Failure," and "Pull Over to A Safe Place, See Owner's Manual" were displayed, and several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, but the failure persisted. After a...
Power Train - filed 2026-09-14
Transmission Failure Yes TSB No Warning Lights
Diagnose it yourself
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
More for the 2021 Toyota Highlander
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.