repaired · 2026 Q3
Mid/rear assembly: recliner
NewRisk. A seat back that fails to lock may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
2021 Toyota HighlanderProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 539 owner complaints about the 2021 Toyota Highlander, most often about the power train. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 23V-865 the manufacturer reports only 59% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 6, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2021 Toyota Highlander has problems
539 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
233Power train3 crash/fire/injury
67Service brakes5 crash/fire/injury
52Structure2 crash/fire/injury
47Engine6 crash/fire/injury
42Air bags5 crash/fire/injury
31Fuel/propulsion system
28Electrical system
12Forward collision avoidance
10Visibility/wiper
7216 other systems10 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 233 | 3 |
| Service brakes | 67 | 5 |
| Structure | 52 | 2 |
| Engine | 47 | 6 |
| Air bags | 42 | 5 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 31 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 28 | 2 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 12 | 2 |
| Visibility/wiper | 10 | 0 |
| 16 other systems | 72 | 10 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2021 Toyota Highlander recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2026 Q2
Tires
Risk. Tires with an insufficient load rating can be overloaded and fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Sensor: occupant classification
Risk. An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
repaired · 2026 Q1
Body: bumpers
Risk. A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Toyota.
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Power train
41 owners mentioned a cost$9,392median
Middle half: $8,100 – $10,000
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2021 vs. every other Highlander year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Highlander median. How we score
'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2021 Toyota Highlander safety ratings
2021 Toyota HIGHLANDER SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (16.4% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Standard
- Lane departure warning: Standard
In owners' words
What Highlander owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
There is Powertrain - Transmission failure on my 2021 Highlander V6 8 speed with just over 50,000 miles. Toyota is aware of transmission failures with the Highlander family of vehicles equipped with the UA80 transmission. The failure with the UA80 transmission can cause a sudden power loss in…
The transmission started whistling around 66k miles. It was diagnosed by 3 different dealerships, including Toyota, as a transmission failure. It was diagnosed as a known issue with this year Highlander, with no fix on the market. I am having to pay $10k out of pocket because this is out of…
**Component:** The 8-speed automatic transmission (Aisin UA80F, AWD) failed internally. A Toyota dealer test-drove the vehicle on 10/09/2026 and verified the noise comes from transmission internals. The repair order states: "Internal transmission failure causing whining noise while…
Own a 2021 Highlander?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.