2021 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

What owners reported to NHTSA, ranked by how often and how seriously.

This is complaint data, not a random sample.

It only includes owners who chose to file a federal complaint, so it over-represents dramatic and safety-related problems and under-represents minor issues an owner just had fixed without reporting. Read this as what NHTSA complainants report most, not as this vehicle's true failure rate. Full methodology.

Component ranking

  1. #1

    transmission automatic

    6 stranded, 170 unsafe, 6 broken, 11 annoyance

    193
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=11, median 60,500 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated his wife pulled into a parking spot and turned off the engine while the vehicle was in reverse. The vehicle then switched gears to neutral on its own, started reversing, and slightly crashed into th…"~2,000 mi, complaint #1777049
    • "The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was a whining sound coming from the transmission while accelerating. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the transmission was fau…"~54,000 mi, complaint #2008263
  2. #2

    brake hydraulics

    33 unsafe

    33
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "At random times, when traveling at 10-15 mph and applying the brakes to stop or slow, the brakes will slip for a second or less and then re-in-gauge. Never experienced this before with 2 other Toyota hybrids I have owned. Scary feeling. Have notified Toyota…"complaint #1753698
    • "My new 2021 Toyota highlander hybrid having random issues when braking, I noticed most of the time when the car is going downhill, the car will lose braking for a second and I have to depress the brake harder to slow the vehicle. In that second when it loses…"complaint #1757228
    • "Regarding brakes: There is an inconsistent involuntary brake pressure release occurring when slowing down via braking where the brakes let loose for about a second before applying again. This occurs with no change in pressure applied to the brake pedal. Thi…"complaint #1779154
    • "The Highlander Hybrid is dangerous and someone will get hurt. The brakes will occasionally, at lower speeds and under a variety of circumstances, stop working for a second or two. It actually gives the feeling that the car is accelerating or surging forward. M…"complaint #1813838
    • "On May 24th I was driving back to work form my lunch break, had to make an additional stop before going back and in the moment I was to make a right suddenly the car would not stop or turn, no light were on at the moment, now the car is a total loss and I went…"complaint #1814997
  3. #3

    other

    21 unsafe, 1 broken, 6 annoyance

    28
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=9)

    • "The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, there was a flat tire sound coming from the vehicle The vehicle was steered to the side of the road where the contact observed the undercarriage sticking out from…"~4,000 mi, complaint #1959196
    • "The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V720000 (Structure). The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, an abnormal sound was coming from the front bumper. Upon inspection, the front bumper ha…"~15,000 mi, complaint #2075300
    • "The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at 65 MPH, the front bumper became detached. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over and zip-tied the bumper to the frame of the vehicle. Th…"~47,330 mi, complaint #2106245
  4. #4

    fuel tank and lines

    5 unsafe, 11 annoyance

    16
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=8)

    • "THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE PER SE BUT ONE OF FALSE ADVERTISING. TOYOTA ADVERTISES THE RANGE OF MY HYBRID HIGHLANDER AS 600 MILES ON 17.1 GAL TANK AT 35 MPG. I DO GET 35 MPG (WHICH IS QUITE COMMENDABLE FOR A VEHICLE THIS SIZE) BUT I CANNOT FILL THE FUEL TANK M…"~600 mi, complaint #1738546
    • "I BOUGHT MY 2021 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER XLE AWD FROM TOYOTA OF DALLAS ON 4/11/21. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE FROM THE FUEL GUAGE / DISTANCE TO EMPTY SYSTEM. FROM SHOWING FULL WHEN THE TANK IS NOT FULL TO REFUSING TO CHANGE FROM FULL EVEN AFTER DRIVING OVER 100…"~600 mi, complaint #1741931
    • "THE DTE INDICATOR ON THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING INCORRECTLY. I FILLED THE HIGHLANDER UP WITH 10 MILES DTE AND IT ONLY TOOK 13.2 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE DTE INDICATOR WAS 425 MILES AFTER FILL UP. TOYOTA ADVERTISES 600 MILES PER TANK. MY HIGHLANDER IS 175 MILES OFF O…"~1,250 mi, complaint #1726506
    • "GAS TANK ONLY HOLDS 12.5 - 13 GALLONS WITH A RANGE OF 425-450 AT MOST WHEREAS TOYOTA CLAIMS IN THEIR ADVERTISING AND SPECS THAT THE TANK HOLD 17.1 GALLONS AND THE CAR HAS A RANGE OF 598 MILES. I CONFIRMED WITH TOYOTA THAT THIS IS OFF SPECIFICATION AND THEY SA…"~1,903 mi, complaint #1739728
    • "MY 2021 HIGHLANDER HYBRID PLATINUM IS EXPERIENCING A FUEL FILLING ISSUE. OVER THE FIRST 2,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TAKE MORE THAN 13.5 GALLONS AT FILL UP ' NO TOPPING OFF. THE CAR HAS A 17.1 GALLON TANK. THE CAR HAS GONE AS LOW AS 2 MILES TO EMPTY AC…"~2,000 mi, complaint #1722253
  5. #5

    airbag system

    15 unsafe

    15
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that on various occasions, water was leaking into the vehicle from the roof rack. The contact stated that there was a bad odor in the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where the fail…"~10,000 mi, complaint #1896123
    • "The contact owned a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed low speed and in the process of merging into the highway, the vehicle was suddenly rear-ended in the rear quarter panel area, near the rear tire, c…"~51,000 mi, complaint #2135792
  6. #6

    glass and windshield

    12 unsafe

    12
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at 65 MPH, she heard a loud abnormally horrific sound coming from the roof of the vehicle. The contact's wife immediately pulled over and upon inspection, she discove…"~19,000 mi, complaint #1780342
  7. #7

    mirror

    11 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    12
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving at 55 MPH, the driver’s side mirror was vibrating abnormally. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the vehicle was diagnosed and it was deter…"~38,000 mi, complaint #2072129
  8. #8

    trunk or liftgate

    6 unsafe, 4 broken, 1 annoyance

    11
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "The rear hatch has been causing me issues for quite a while. Last year, I would have to hit the close button once or twice for it to close. It would close a few inches, beep, and then stop. It has become much worse the last six months. I have to manually close…"complaint #2068224
    • "MY TRUNK WILL NOT OPEN OR CLOSE PROPERLY FAULTY SENSORS"complaint #2084949
    • "Rear liftgate motors no longer functioning. "complaint #2151902
    • "Trunk has stopped working. It loudly beeps and will not open on its own. Trunk has to be manually opened and shut with great force to be used. "complaint #2172444
    • "The liftgate has had issues from the moment I purchased this vehicle. It had 30,000 miles and we purchased all extended warranty options. The liftgate often fails to close, especially in cold weather. There have been times I have to manually push the liftgate…"complaint #2176178
  9. #9

    engine stall or no start

    2 stranded, 6 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    9
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "The contact owns a 2021 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact restarted the vehicle and pulled over to the side of the roadway before the vehicle stalled again. The contact wa…"complaint #1748132
    • "The car was stopped at a red light and the car shook and slightly vibrated and shut off. No warning signs, no warning lights, just died. I was in the car with my twin 3 year olds, the AC shut off, everything shut off, the temperature outside was over 90 degree…"complaint #1762236
    • "The vehicle's automatic stop-start feature malfunctioned and shut the engine off while I was driving with my 3 children in the car. Our safety was at risk because the car shut off in the middle of the road and we had to wait for an hour for the tow truck to co…"complaint #1794644
    • "This is in regards to a 2021 Toyota Platinum AWD with 8500 miles. While cruising at about 40 miles/hour, the car suddenly lost power, and an alpha numeric code popped on the digital display that said “Chip malfunction” and something else I don’t recall. It a…"complaint #1813477
    • "On July 19, the car was parked and refused to start. Tried Jump start and the gas was at more than half a tank. The car would operate for 30 seconds, stutter and then stop. On July 20, took the car to ED MARTIN TOYOTA in Noblesville, IN. They could not diagnos…"complaint #1828526
  10. #10

    sunroof

    9 unsafe

    9
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "The fixed moonroof appears to have exploded on its own while parked. No alarm was set off and no objects were found inside the vehicle suggesting an impact. There was no debris around the car. There were no storms or the vehicle is not parked near trees or bal…"complaint #1766499
    • "My sunroof exploded. I reported it to Toyota USA and dropped my car off at the local Toyota dealership. We had to shut the sun shade to keep glass from falling in on us. The SUV is still in the shop and we have not heard back from them yet. I did not call…"complaint #1787346
    • "I was driving with my daughter on the highway where all of a sudden I could here a loud noise on the top of my car. I opened the sunroof to see what's wrong only to see a Crack in the sunroof. Nothing hit the roof but it was cracked up. As I was driving it beg…"complaint #1793537
    • "I have a 2021 Toyota Highlander XLE with a panoramic sunroof. on 5/11/2022 I was driving on the road when I heard an extremely loud explosion. I looked around and didn't see any damage, then I pulled off the road to discover that the sunroof had exploded. I ca…"complaint #1815280
    • "I was driving 50 mph on 28 E in Pineville, Louisiana when I heard what sound like a gunshot. I pulled over and realized my sunroof exploded."complaint #1899845
  11. #11

    tire failure

    3 stranded, 5 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    9
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "TL *THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE TIRES, TIRE LINE: ALENZA, TIRE SIZE: 235/65/R18, DOT NUMBER: 1W2LAMLAI4520. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING 60 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE EXPLODED, WITHOUT WARNING. THE…"~612 mi, complaint #1743628
    • "The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander equipped with Bridgestone Tires, Tire Line: Alenza Sport, Tire Size: 255/50/R20, DOT Number: 276100C2R. The contact stated the vehicle was inspected by the dealer, where it was discovered that all four tires were prema…"~80,000 mi, complaint #2185669
  12. #12

    adas collision warning

    8 unsafe

    8
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "WE ARE EXPERIENCING PCS IS NOT WORKING, WE WERE DRIVING ON FREEWAY WHEN CARS STOPPED SUDDENLY AND NOT EVEN DISPLAYING ANY WARNING SIGNAL OF 'BRAKE' ON THAT MOMENT, WE WERE SO CLOSE TO IMPACT A TRAILER, SECOND TIME SIMILAR SITUATION THE NEXT DAY AFTER THE FIR…"~2,600 mi, complaint #1739189
  13. #13

    engine internal

    1 stranded, 3 unsafe, 3 annoyance

    7
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "Advertisement say make 35 mpg Is lie Car make [REDACTED ADDRESS] not more than that I decide buy this car for save gas, and spend more that any v6, Toyota still a lot money and fake advertisement, and also the dealer charge $3,000 more of the price because t…"complaint #1780529
    • "Recently purchased this Highlander on August 2021. On 11/29/21 at around 8:00 AM, the Check Engine light illuminated resting stop at a red light. Engine still running. Took the vehicle to the dealership at 9:45AM. Vehicle was found to have had misfires as a re…"complaint #1782022
    • "The Check Engine light came on and I took it into Toyota of Downtown dealership where I was receiving periodic maintenance. After 2 days, they said the light was out but they hadn't found the cause. I could either leave if for a few more days or take it and br…"complaint #2041227
    • "Making a whinnig noise while accelerating "complaint #2130295
    • "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. "complaint #2179286
  14. #14

    ev drive unit or inverter

    1 stranded, 5 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    7
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "THE VEHICLE EV DOES NOT ENGAGE WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE FOR AT LEAST 10-15 MINUTES OF DRIVING. THIS DRASTICALLY ALTERS THE FUEL ECONOMY."complaint #1733882
    • "When bringing my 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid AWD with ~18,000 miles on the odometer to the Toyota dealership for a flat tire and recall, they performed a routine multi point inspection. They found the inverter radiator was punctured and was leaking coolant…"complaint #1817845
    • "We have owned our 2021 hybrid awd platinum highlander for 8 months and within the past two months (around 16k miles) it has started to do an acceleration upon applying the brake. The car does catch itself and then after hitting the brake harder it does stop. T…"complaint #1834717
    • "I have noticed that if I hit a bump in the road while braking, the brakes release momentarily and I have to press harder to continue braking. I have confirmed that this happens consistently, and is more likely to happen when I am braking slowly (i.e. I'm not…"complaint #1852728
    • "Vehicle self drained 12 volt battery, causing hybrid drive system to not start up, leaving vehicle stranded, wife stranded alone at night. Dealership installed new software, [REDACTED ADDRESS] system glitched again and this time the 12 volt battery was not dr…"complaint #1864186
  15. #15

    unintended acceleration

    6 unsafe

    6
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving approximately 3 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle surged over the curb and sidewalk. The contact was able to release the brake pedal, stopped the vehicle, r…"~12,000 mi, complaint #1876967
  16. #16

    hv system fault reduced power

    5 unsafe

    5
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "We rented this vehicle from Avis at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Tuesday, 11/22/22 at approx. 7:50 pm. It was raining, cold and temperature was dropping. We drove approx. 1/8 to 1/4 of a mile from the facility. As we turned left on to a major roadway (…"complaint #1856378
    • "While in the process of slowing down, especially through roundabouts, the car braking systems seem to fail for a few seconds and actually surge/accelerate forward. It is sporadic but has happened to me more than 10 times in the last 6 month but I worry that i…"complaint #1900287
    • "I had been driving for about 20 minutes at approximately 50-55 MPH when the check engine light came on. Seconds later, the red hybrid malfunction message displayed and I lost the ability to accelerate. I was able to pull over and I saw grayish smoke and flame…"complaint #1984453
    • "The vehicle hesitates during right turns, creating a hazardous, potentially dangerous, situation. From research I understand this is a known issue when transitioning between battery and gasoline propulsion. Research indicates this is a known situation, Toyota…"complaint #1995405
    • "The vehicle is a hybrid. While traveling downhill at a speed around 35 mph with light brake pressure, the vehicle feels like it lurches forward a second or so before returning to braking. It has occurred since we purchased the vehicle new in 2021. It has ha…"complaint #2020727
  17. #17

    infotainment head unit

    1 unsafe, 4 annoyance

    5
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the display screen malfunctioned and displayed a solid black screen. During the failure, several functions and features could not be accessed or activated, includin…"~45,000 mi, complaint #2075484
  18. #18

    lighting exterior

    2 unsafe, 3 annoyance

    5
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving at night at approximately 35 MPH, the low-beam headlights appeared to shine directly into the eyes of drivers in the opposite lane. The contact stated that other drivers would flash th…"~20,000 mi, complaint #1978399
  19. #19

    abs module

    4 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "Vehicle was driving at highway speed, transitioning to off ramp. Warning lights came on stating Braking Power low. Brakes proceeded to fail. Stepping on brakes did nothing but initiate a stuttering response. Vehicle would not slow down. Rolled into dealersh…"~27,109 mi, complaint #1821004
  20. #20

    ac compressor and refrigerant

    4 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "Premature AC refrigerant leak and failure in system in the 2021 Toyota Highlander due to corroded/defective rear AC lines located near the exhaust/spare tire, observed at very low mileage and upon official inspection at the nearest Toyota dealership. Noticed e…"complaint #2097540
    • "This is a supplemental complaint to add more detail to a prior submission. I am the original owner of a 2021 Toyota Highlander with 10,000 miles at the time of the issue worsening to the point that I finally broke down and was forced to pay the Toyota dealersh…"complaint #2097607
    • "My 2021 Toyota Highlander, purchased with 16k miles, has a leak in the AC system in the rear of the vehicle (as of May 2025, at 3 years 10 months into the vehicle's service, with 28k miles). This pipe runs the length of the car and costs $2000-$3000 to repai…"complaint #2097901
    • "Air conditioning lines eroded and needed to be repaired after 26,000 miles/ 3 or 4 years. A/C line repair cost was $2500. Vehicle is garage kept and cleaned regularly during winter, it should not be having rusting problems, especially in this good of condition…"complaint #2109506
  21. #21

    adas lane keeping

    4 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently attempted to navigate the steering and lane direction to the opposite direction of where the contact was attempting to steer the vehicle. This caused…"~5,000 mi, complaint #1781314
  22. #22

    fuel pump

    4 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "VEHICLE HAS 3400 MILES AND STARTING HAVING LONGER THAN NORMAL CRANKING WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. SHORTLY AFTER THAT OCCURRED THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL WHILE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WHERE THEY INSTALLED SOME FUEL SENSORS. 2 DAYS LATER TH…"~3,400 mi, complaint #1746489
  23. #23

    parking brake

    4 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "The answer to the above questions is UNKNOWN. I do not clearly remember the moments leading up to the incident. I was parked on the driveway of my daughters house. I was in my Toyota Highlander Hybrid 2021. We were stationary at the top of the driveway after r…"complaint #1762885
    • "Several minutes after leaving my vehicle once I parked and shut the engine routinely, it rolls back a hundred feet and crashes into another vehicle. When I come back I became aware of this as I noticed the back of the driver side of my vehicle is lodged into t…"complaint #1826249
    • "Electronic parking brake not always disengaging and sending error. "complaint #1940826
    • "The electric park brake makes a loud screaming sound during engaging cycle as I put the gear in park. The sound gets worse during warmer weather. I visited the dealer twice for the same problem and reported it to Toyota. During my visit another highlander came…"complaint #2011142
  24. #24

    seat mechanism

    4 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V128000 (Seats). The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact attempted to lower the second-row seats, and the seat failed to lock int…"~58,900 mi, complaint #2234830
  25. #25

    wiring harness

    4 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "I purchased this 2021 Highlander on April 3rd 2021. Power steering Malfunction, SRS Airbag system Malfuction first happened on April 21th 2021 when I started the vehicle. the car was towed to the dealer ship. the dealer simply re-set the system and asked me to…"complaint #1749701
    • "Upon starting my 2021 Highlander Platinum with 10,700 miles on it several warning lights repeatedly came across my display including reduced engine power, brake system malfunction, pre collision system malfunction. See your dealer. No codes showed up on their…"complaint #1856170
    • "Vehicle: 2021 Toyota Highlander XSE Approximate Mileage: 92,000 Location: Boerne, TX (Texas Hill Country) ⸻ 🔧 Summary of the Problem: My vehicle experienced serious electrical failure after heavy rainfall in the Texas Hill Country, where catastrophic flood…"complaint #2107303
    • "The vehicle experienced a transmission failure at approximately 62,000 miles, which required a transmission replacement. Toyota replaced the transmission with a rebuilt transmission. Immediately after the repair, the vehicle began experiencing multiple issues…"complaint #2195437
  26. #26

    acceleration loss or hesitation

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "Varias veces mientras conduzco en la ruta la velocidad permitida, el carro frena, pierde potencia el motor, el sistema de aceleración no responde, esas veces me salve de accidentes mortales junto a mi familia, reclame a toyota corporación indicar eso y para el…"complaint #1955242
    • "While accelerating onto the freeway the vehicle suddenly loses power creating a serious safety issue. A check-engine light comes on but the safefy issue is that the vehicle goes into a power loss mode ON THE FREEWAY. A truck nearly rear-ended me the first tim…"complaint #1992002
    • "Entering the freeway a mile from home the car would not properly excellerate, only reachind 40 mph before exiting the freeway in favor backroads to my appointment. Shaking back and forth while driving, exacerbated when braking and coming to stop, I needed to…"complaint #2125350
  27. #27

    seatbelt and pretensioner

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "We had to cut a seatbelt because it was cutting into a child’s stomach. The child was screaming and complaining and it left a scar on his stomach. If we would have taken into the dealer which was 20 min away it would have done more damage to the child. We trie…"complaint #1792264
    • "Rear passenger seatbelt has torn in multiple places. I believe something inside may be cutting it when it retracts. The buckle is now stuck in a tear and the seatbelt will not fully retract. Toyota refuses to fix it under warranty because it’s “not usual wear…"complaint #1839484
    • "Chest clip is magnetic and can be opened by child without using the buttons to open. No longer staying closed. "complaint #2026905
  28. #28

    suspension struts shocks

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "While driving the vehicle will wobble, shake and make grinding noises at lower speeds and at higher speeds."complaint #2087319
    • "The rear hatch of the vehicle started malfunctioning right when the three year manufacture's warranty was expiring on 08/2024 (very convenient). It would only open part way, barely or sometimes not open at all. One instance, my dog's tail got stuck in the hatc…"complaint #2142871
    • "Early failure of front struts on a 2021 Toyota Highlander XLE, leaking fluid at 29,000 miles. Manufacturer does not seem to have any reported issues with these components. Issue discovered just one month after warranty expiration. Given the low daily use and t…"complaint #2202473
  29. #29

    alignment and pull

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "I was forced to change lanes quickly from the left lane to the left shoulder of an interstate when a double tandem tractor trailer moved into my lane of traffic. The interstate was dry and the left shoulder was in excellent condition and wide enough to acco…"complaint #1765936
    • "3 wheel alignments in same vehicle needed in less than 30 months: <5,000, 30,000 and 35,000 odometer readings It’s not from pot holes; I have owned about 14 cars in family fleet and have never had 1 vehicle need more than 1 alignment during it’s time of owner…"complaint #1902421
  30. #30

    battery and charging

    1 stranded, 1 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "The Battery was leaking fluid, smoke was visible and rotten smell from the battery. Electrical secondary brake system came on the dashboard "complaint #2041943
    • "On February 16, 2025 the vehicle was parked. The temperatures that day were in single digits. After approximately 1 1/2 hours the 12V system was drained. The driver panel was blank and the vehicle did not respond to any attempt to start. This vehicle had a s…"complaint #2069491
  31. #31

    brake pads and rotors

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "At only 12,000 miles there is significant vibrating and shuddering when applying brakes. I was told after an inspection that it is the rotors. "complaint #1779997
    • "I am reporting a serious safety defect involving the rear brake system of my 2021 Toyota Highlander, purchased from Penn Toyota (Glen Cove, NY). The dealership represented the vehicle as “Toyota Certified” and indicated that it passed all safety inspections.…"complaint #2150643
  32. #32

    control module

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "The start/stop operating system failed. When the engine cut off while waiting for train to pass, the engine went to turn over and completely stopped the vehile. Although the car would not start, I was unable to cut the car off completely. It would say ignition…"complaint #2013482
    • "My system information warning signal and chime indicates that an unbuckled passenger is present in my front passenger seat when nobody is there. Additionally, buckling the seat belt does not turn off the signal and chime. The sporadic signal and chime can cont…"complaint #2238139
  33. #33

    door latch and hinge

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "Broken latch. The car seat would not unlatch properly. Several occasions it takes more than one person to unlatch. If there was an emergency, I would not be able to get this seat out in a timely manner. The latch broke off and my daughter is only 11 weeks old.…"complaint #1809005
    • "I purchased a 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid brand new. This vehicle was manufactured during COVID (production date of 10/2020) with significant mfg defects that have surfaced after several years of ownership. Both the passenger and driver’s side doors have gr…"complaint #2118239
  34. #34

    noise or vibration unspecified

    1 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "Vehicle has had excessive wind noise since new. This was brought to the dealership's attention at the 5,000 mile service, and again at the 10,000 mile service. At the 5,000 mile service nothing was checked or done. At the 10,000 mile service the noise leve…"complaint #1750346
    • "Dull Popping noise from rear bar under seat of 3rd row"complaint #2112113
  35. #35

    power windows and locks

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "After leaving my hotel in San Diego in the early dense foggy morning. I pulled over to help a kid who looked like he was just hit by a car or something. I put my 2021 less than 1500 miles at the time Highlander in park. The kid walked up to my rig, I being a…"complaint #1749608
    • "Both of the front door lock actuators went out, so the vehicle won’t lock at all & I can’t use my Toyota app that I pay for. The left back door/hatch rail that lifts up the door is making a loud sound upon opening & getting stuck when opening. Have to push the…"complaint #2182231
  36. #36

    steering electric assist

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "Was driving and all of a sudden ‘steering power low’ came on and engine died, got stuck in a busy intersection and needed assistance from police officer until I could be towed. Steering did not work to push car to side of the road so I was stuck in the center…"complaint #2083585
    • "The vehicle experiences intermittent power steering malfunction while driving. Warning messages including “Power Steering Malfunction” and “Low Voltage Abnormality” appear, and the steering wheel becomes stiff and difficult to turn. This has occurred multiple…"complaint #2192207
  37. #37

    brake booster

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "When coming to a stop, when I apply the brakes, they stop working and I have to press harder on the petal to stop the car. It feels like the brakes "let go" , it is scary since the brakes stop working. I have searched the web and found the Manufacturer has…"complaint #1896056
  38. #38

    driveshaft axle cv

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "39,000 miles- Transmission starting to make a loud whining noise while driving. Dealership stated failed carrier bearing, unsafe to drive as this could cause the transmission to lock up at any moment. Toyota has a TSB out for this and has provided a loaner. My…"complaint #2058633
  39. #39

    engine mounts

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "THE ENGINE COVER ASSEMBLY DETACHED FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY CAR WHILE DRIVING. SIMILAR TO THE EXISTING RECALL FOR THE FRONT LOWER BUMPER COVER ASSEMBLY. While pulling out of a parking lot, I noticed that there was a scraping noise under my car. Prior to park…"complaint #2003973
  40. #40

    evap system

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "Car has stopped while pumping gas seems to be specifically after rain. There was a heavy rain and immediately after while pumping gas car was not able to start. Received message steering power low. Happened 3 times after first incident while pumping gas. Car w…"complaint #2213587
  41. #41

    fluid leak unspecified

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "During rain, the A-pillar and headliner show evidence of a leak. Open source research found this is likely due to faulty or poor quality components used in the roof rail system. My vehicle is completely stock with no additions or installations on the roof, jus…"complaint #2133747
  42. #42

    fuel injector

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "On July 25, 2026, while driving my 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid at high speeds on the freeway, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of drive power accompanied by a check engine light and a severe hybrid system error warning. The failure occurred without any…"complaint #2230629
  43. #43

    heater core and blower

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "Visibility for interior windows defroster/defogger is not functioning. Inside windows are fogging up and icing no matter what heating setting is used. This poses significant risk of visibility in all windows. I have had to try to defrost the inside of my windo…"complaint #1860397
  44. #44

    instrument cluster

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE 2021 HIGHLANDER, THE LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON UNTIL NEARLY EMPTY. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE DAY ONE. MY LAST TOYOTA THE LOW FUEL LIGHT TYPICALLY ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH AROUND 35 MILES DTE. I WAS RELIEVED TO SEE TOYOTA…"complaint #1798036
  45. #45

    interior trim

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that rainwater leaked into the roof panel into the front driver’s and passenger’s side door panels, causing a mildew odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer w…"complaint #2069642
  46. #46

    key fob and immobilizer

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "The doors lock and sometimes don't lock with the key"complaint #2152557
  47. #47

    parking sensors

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "The parking sensor bracket has failed twice now and the sensor keeps falling through. There are no signs of scratches or bumps on the bumper. The dealer said that’s not something they will fix. I have had it fixed once before and now it’s happening again. "complaint #2207947
  48. #48

    torque converter

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "Transmission leak requiring torque converter replacement "complaint #2213074
  49. #49

    tpms

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "My SUV is having issues with the tires air and also the sensors are not working properly "complaint #2084437
  50. #50

    transfer case awd

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "At 4 years of ownership and 45,723 miles our 2021 Toyota Highlander XLE experienced a Transfer Case Failure"complaint #2057966
  51. #51

    unknown

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "Warning lights appeared while driving on city streets. "complaint #1873610

Search NHTSA's own recall and complaint database for TOYOTA HIGHLANDER directly.