CarRecallWatchThe 2021 Toyota Highlander has 4 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 535 complaints with NHTSA, including 17 crashes, 4 fires, 19 injuries.
The most-reported problem area is Power Train (229 reports).
2021 Toyota Highlander recalls
Second-Row Seatbacks May Not Lock, Raising Crash Injury Risk
Certain 2021-2024 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles have a defect in which the second-row seat backs may fail to lock into position when adjusted.
Tires May Be Overloaded and Fail, Raising Crash Risk
Certain 2021-2024 Toyota Highlander vehicles were fitted with 20-inch accessory tires whose load rating is too low for the vehicle's Gross Axle Weight Rating.
Passenger Front Airbag May Fail to Deploy in a Crash
A short circuit can develop in the occupant classification sensor, which may stop the front passenger airbag from deploying in a crash.
Front Bumper Cover Can Detach, Creating Road Hazard
A minor impact to the front lower bumper cover can cause the cover to come loose or detach during normal driving.
Most common 2021 Toyota Highlander problems
Problem areas named in the 535 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 229 |
| Service Brakes | 67 |
| Unknown Or Other | 67 |
| Structure | 52 |
| Engine | 47 |
| Air Bags | 42 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 31 |
| Electrical System | 28 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 17 |
| Lane Departure | 11 |
What owners report
When driving I had to brake hard to avoid a collision. My daughter was riding in the front passenger seat. Both my daughter and myself were buckled in our seat belts. When I had to brake, her seat moved all the way to the front position and she was thrown forward towards the front windshield. There is an active recall for my car where the recliner assemblies in the second-row seats may not fully lock after seat back adjustment. This seems to be the exact same issue but we experienced this with the front passenger seat. I reported the issue to Toyota but my vehicle has not been inspected yet. I am having the rear recall fix completed in late November. The issue put my daughters safety at risk
My 2021 Toyota Highlander XLE began making a high-pitched whining noise when accelerating. When researching this noise, associated with the make, model, and year of my vehicle, it became apparent that the noise is associated with a manufacturer's defect in the [XXX]âspeed transmission (Toyota [XXX]). The cited notification states that the correction for this defect is a transmission replacement that is only covered by the 60,000 mile/5 Year warranty. There are three class-action lawsuits associated with this issue, and I wanted to document my incident in the event that my service appointment with [XXX] Toyota in [XXX], on 11/23/2026 indicates that my transmission is affected by the defec
I recently purchased a 2021 Toyota Highlander Platinum. Within a few weeks from purchase, the transmission started making a whining noise. Upon further research, it was discovered that Toyota has been installing the UA80=F transmission in their vehicles, knowing full well that there are serious issues with this particular transmission. But yet they continued using this transmission. Someone needs to address this issue and hold their feet to the fire.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at slower speeds and attempting to park the vehicle, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated into a rail while the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle was towed to a nearby Collision Center for the repair. The contact sustained injuries to the left leg, left hand, and left elbow. The contact sought medical attention for the injuries. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure by telephone. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
On November 19, 2025, the 12.3-inch infotainment display in my 2021 Toyota Highlander Limited went black and never recovered. That screen is the only display for the rear-view backup camera. With it dead, there is no backup camera image when reversing. The failure started as an intermittent blank screen with the reverse camera still working, then progressed to a fully dead screen including the backup camera display. A replacement display unit did not fix it. Toyota has acknowledged this defect in Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0055-22, which identifies the integration control sub-assembly (part 840C2-48010) as the cause, but has not issued a recall. Toyota service repeatedly diagnosed the
2021 Toyota Highlander questions
Does the 2021 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls for the 2021 Toyota Highlander: Second-Row Seatbacks May Not Lock, Raising Crash Injury Risk; Tires May Be Overloaded and Fail, Raising Crash Risk; Passenger Front Airbag May Fail to Deploy in a Crash; Front Bumper Cover Can Detach, Creating Road Hazard. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Toyota Highlander?
Based on 535 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Power Train (229), Service Brakes (67), Unknown Or Other (67).
How do I check if a recall on my 2021 Toyota Highlander has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.