AI Damage2021 Toyota Highlander: common problems
Owners of the 2021 Toyota Highlander filed 533 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and service brakes. The maker issued 180 service bulletins for this year. We found 1 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 533
- involving a crash
- 17
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 180
- YouTube repair videos
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 43% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 13% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 10% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 9% of all complaints
- 5 Air bags 8% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel/propulsion system 6% of all complaints
- 7 Electrical system 5% of all complaints
- 8 Visibility 3% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 228 complaints (43% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
- Service brakes: 68 complaints (13% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
- Structure: 52 complaints (10% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 37.
- Engine: 47 complaints (9% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 9.
- Air bags: 42 complaints (8% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 6.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 2.5 L · hybrid · 4 cyl
- automatic, 8-speed
- CVT
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 533 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 228 | 3 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 68 | 4 | 2 |
| Structure | 52 | 1 | 37 |
| Engine | 47 | 3 | 9 |
| Air bags | 42 | 5 | 6 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 31 | 2 | 4 |
| Electrical system | 28 | 0 | 50 |
| Visibility | 17 | 0 | 6 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 9 | 1 | 1 |
| Steering | 9 | 2 | 0 |
| Lane departure | 8 | 0 | 3 |
| Tires | 8 | 1 | 2 |
| Exterior lighting | 8 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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.
Vehicle had a very loud high pitch whining noise the rapid accelerated I was braking and brakes were not working vehicle screen was flashing Vehicle Malfunction. yes vehicle is available.
The driver-side and passenger-side air bags did not deploy. The message "Park Brake Malfunction" was displayed. The contact transported his wife to an urgent care clinic the evening of the incident for a medical check-up because the contact's wife was pregnant and was starting to feel pain.
The airbags did not deploy when I was involved in an accident on the freeway July 2025. During the collision, there was a message on the driver dashboard that read "SRS Airbag System Malfunction Visit Your Dealer".
The car jumped the curb hitting, knocking over and and damaging a large ceramic planter and small tree in my neighbor's yard. My split second reaction upon having no brakes and a run away car was to push it out of drive, which ended up putting the car into reverse, causing a harsh jolt, followed by the car…
Headed westbound on 285 in Georgia; hit on passenger side front door and vehicle swerved several lanes and hit a wall going 60 miles per hour. The airbags did not deploy. I was injured badly and the vehicle was totaled.
My vehicle was rear-ended while stopped by a 2014 Toyota Corolla that was estimated to be traveling between 60-70 miles per hour. During the crash, the driver seat failed, resulting in the partially reclining into the second row passenger.
In just two years, the four original tires were severely worn and had a mileage of 35Kmiles, which greatly affected safe driving.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 98 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 5% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Highlander has 229 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 533, above average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Some 2020 – 2026 model year Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a water leak from the…
Some 2020 – 2026 model year Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a water leak from the roof rack attachment clips. This may be caused by the sealant in the roof channel obstructing the proper seating…
- Some 2020 – 2024 model year Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the…
Some 2020 – 2024 model year Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the air conditioner does not cool due to a leak and/or corrosion in the rear underbody air conditioner tube and…
- OBSOLETE NOTICE January 30, 2026
This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0001-26.
- Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System…
Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System require a Special Service Tool (SST) USB flash drive to update the map, points of interest, and system software.
- Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a…
Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition…
- Some 2020 – 2023 model year Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the…
Some 2020 – 2023 model year Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the Power Back Door (PBD) will not open or close and/or stops moving while opening or closing. A modified PBD unit…
- Although the HV Floor Under Wire Harness and Rear Traction Motor Cable is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle…
Although the HV Floor Under Wire Harness and Rear Traction Motor Cable is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers’…
- The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air…
The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and…
- To assist with the early detection and early resolution of audio related concerns you may be asked to…
To assist with the early detection and early resolution of audio related concerns you may be asked to recover MMR data from the head unit. The following steps are instructions on how to retrieve the data from the…
- Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System…
Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System require a Special Service Tool (SST) USB flash drive to update the map, points of interest, and system software…
- The Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset is a feature that allows the registration of new keys when all master…
The Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset is a feature that allows the registration of new keys when all master keys are lost. Once the system is reset, all previously registered keys will be erased and can never be reused…
- TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS LIMITED SERVICE CAMPAIGN 22TD02 FUEL INLET HOUSING CERTAIN 2021 MODEL YEAR…
TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS LIMITED SERVICE CAMPAIGN 22TD02 FUEL INLET HOUSING CERTAIN 2021 MODEL YEAR HIGHLANDER CERTAIN 2021 MODEL YEAR HIGHLANDER HYBRID
NHTSA lists 180 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Toyota Highlander?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, service brakes, structure. Total complaints: 533. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (33%), transmission slipping (12%), warning lights, check engine (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2021 Toyota Highlander?
NHTSA lists 180 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2021 Toyota Highlander from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2021 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.