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#BS-2021-TOYHIG-6E032021 Toyota Highlander
Based on reports from 498 owners and 3 recalls for this exact model.
Preliminary Verdict
Red Flag
Based on 498 complaints, 29 crashes, 3 fires, and 3 recalls. Complaint rate is 2.9x the class average.
Top reported problems
ac condenser punctured with rock chip
1 complaints • Severity 6/10
engine failure piston rod through engine block
1 complaints • Severity 10/10
transmission slips out of gear
1 complaints • Severity 10/10
Preview: What's in your full report
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Mechanic Inspection Checklist
130 owners reported drivetrain issues — failures commonly reported around 12K miles.
Failure Timeline by Mileage
Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (27 reports) • Median: 12K miles
30,000-Mile Cost Projection
Best Case
Most Likely
Worst Case
Top cost driver: Drivetrain (130 reports).
Also in your report
Owner Intelligence
AI-synthesized themes from real complaints
Buyer Lot Checklist
Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers
Negotiation Talking Points
Data-backed dollar deductions
Buy / Skip Verdict
Final recommendation with conditions
Where the complaints fall
2021 Toyota Highlander: Known Issues & Problem Areas
Drivetrain Issues
Drivetrain complaints account for 26% of all reports filed for the 2021 Toyota Highlander, with 130 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 12,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 12K-mile mark.
Brakes Issues
Brakes complaints account for 12% of all reports filed for the 2021 Toyota Highlander, with 62 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to brakes-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Airbags Issues
Airbags complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 2021 Toyota Highlander, with 41 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to airbags-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Engine Issues
Engine complaints account for 7% of all reports filed for the 2021 Toyota Highlander, with 36 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.
Complaint trend by year
Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2021 Toyota Highlander. Recent trend: decreasing.
Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own
Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict
Recall History (3 recalls)
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
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.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
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 circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.
TIRES
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 Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Recall severity analysis & seller scripts
The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
The worst model year for the Toyota Highlander is the 2003 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.
2021 Toyota Highlander vs. Class Average (Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD)
This vehicle
498
Class avg
172
2.9x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical small sport utility vehicle 2wd vehicles.
Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.
About this data
NHTSA Complaints
Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 498 records for this vehicle.
NHTSA Recalls
Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 3 recalls found for this vehicle.
Repair Cost Data
Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.
Other Toyota Highlander Model Years
2021 Toyota Highlander: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Toyota Highlander?
Is the 2021 Toyota Highlander reliable?
How much does it cost to fix 2021 Toyota Highlander problems?
Does the 2021 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?
What mileage do Toyota Highlander problems start?
What’s in the full report?
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
How is this different from Carfax?
What if the report isn’t useful?
Get the Full 2021 Toyota Highlander Report
10 sections of AI analysis based on 498 owner reports. Know before you buy.