2021 Toyota Highlander
4 recalls · 412 complaints · Safety Score F
Recall History
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 & Remedy
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.
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 cir...
Consequence & Remedy
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 mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Lexus 23LB03/23LA03.
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 ...
Consequence & Remedy
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.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The second-row seat backs may fail to lock into position during seat back adjustment.
Consequence & Remedy
Consequence: A seat back that fails to lock may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the return springs in the seat back recliner assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 20, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota’s customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26TB06 and 26TA06.
Recent Complaints
| Date | Component | Description | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/07/2026 | Power Train | A whining noise was observed at around 78k miles. Brought to the dealer and they indicated parts in the transmission are... | No | No |
| 04/01/2026 | Power Train | The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced transmission failure while dr... | No | No |
| 03/31/2026 | Steering,electrical System,back Over Prevention | The vehicle experiences intermittent power steering malfunction while driving. Warning messages including “Power Steerin... | No | No |
| 03/29/2026 | Power Train | Transmission has started to whine, my understanding is this is common for the transmission I have. I have had this verif... | No | No |
| 03/28/2026 | Power Train | My 2021 Toyota Highlander was my first car I purchased that I saved up for and has had a sudden issue accrue with a winn... | No | No |
| 03/27/2026 | Power Train | Upon inspection at my local Toyota dealership, the UA80F 8-speed transmission on my 2021 Toyota Highlander has a known w... | No | No |
| 03/23/2026 | Power Train | Transmission failure @110,000miles and a $9000.00 replacement cost. Service advisor at Toyota Dealership indicated they... | No | No |
| 03/18/2026 | Power Train | My 2021 Toyota Highlander is experiencing a transmission issue causing a high pitched whining. It has the problematic U... | No | No |
| 03/18/2026 | Power Train | 2021 Toyota Highlander xse all-wheel drive model. Transmission failure: unusual sounds started just after 60,000 miles.... | No | No |
| 03/17/2026 | Power Train | During acceleration above 25 mph a noticeable whining sound is heard from the transmission. When not acceleration the s... | No | No |
Most Complained-About Components
Frequently Asked Questions
The 2021 Toyota Highlander has 4 recall campaigns on record with NHTSA. Total complaints filed: 412.
The 2021 Toyota Highlander has a Safety Score of 19/100 (Grade F). This score factors in recall severity (40%), complaint frequency (30%), crash and fire reports (20%), and trend direction (10%).
The 2021 Toyota Highlander received a Safety Score of F. This vehicle has a below-average safety record — review the specific recalls and complaints below. There are 16 crash reports on file. There are 2 fire reports.
Contact your nearest Toyota dealership to schedule a free recall repair. You can also check your specific vehicle by VIN at NHTSA.gov. Manufacturers are required by law to fix recall-related defects at no cost.
Safety Score is calculated from recall severity (40%), complaint frequency (30%), crash/fire reports (20%), and safety trend (10%).