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#BS-2021-TOYHIG-6E03

2021 Toyota HighlanderProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 663 owners and 4 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·NHTSA complaints through October 19, 2026

Complaints
663
Crashes
29
Fires
7
Recalls
4
TSBs
180
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 663 complaints, 29 crashes, 7 fires, and 4 recalls. Complaint rate is 3.2x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

whining noise while driving

3 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
2

ac condenser punctured with rock chip

1 complaints • Severity 6/10

$X,XXX
3

rear leak in ac pipe

1 complaints • Severity 6/10

$X,XXX
4

huge gape on back door passenger side

1 complaints • Severity 4/10

$X,XXX
5

brake pedal pulsation

1 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the DrivetrainHIGH

224 owners reported drivetrain issues — failures commonly reported around 31K miles.

!Inspect the BrakesMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

27
0–30K
15
30–60K
8
60–90K
1
90–120K
3
120–150K
150K+

Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (27 reports) • Median: 31K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Drivetrain (224 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

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

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Drivetrain224 (34%)
Brakes68 (10%)
Other67 (10%)
Engine47 (7%)
Airbags42 (6%)
Structure:body36 (5%)
Fuel System31 (5%)
Electrical28 (4%)

2021 Toyota Highlander: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Drivetrain Issues

Drivetrain complaints account for 34% of all reports filed for the 2021 Toyota Highlander, with 224 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 31,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 31K-mile mark.

Brakes Issues

Brakes complaints account for 10% of all reports filed for the 2021 Toyota Highlander, with 68 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to brakes-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 47 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Airbags Issues

Airbags complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2021 Toyota Highlander, with 42 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to airbags-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

63
21
51
22
60
23
105
24
181
25
203
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2021 Toyota Highlander. Recent trend: stable.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (4 recalls)

23V720000Apr 2024

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.

23V865000Oct 2024

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.

24V452000Aug 2024

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."

26V128000Sep 2026

SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The second-row seat backs may fail to lock into position during seat back adjustment.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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2021 Toyota Highlander NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Frontal crash

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

Side crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Rollover

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.

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

663

Class avg

206

3.2x 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. 663 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 4 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated . NHTSA complaints received through October 19, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Toyota Highlander Model Years

20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001
View all Toyota Highlander years →

2021 Toyota Highlander: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2021 Toyota Highlander?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2021 Toyota Highlander is related to the drivetrain, with 224 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2021 Toyota Highlander reliable?
The 2021 Toyota Highlander has 663 complaints, 29 crash reports, and 7 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 3.2x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How safe is the 2021 Toyota Highlander?
NHTSA rates the 2021 Toyota Highlander 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 stars in frontal crash tests, 5 stars in side crash tests, 4 stars for rollover resistance. Where NHTSA tested more than one version, the lowest rating is shown.
How much does it cost to fix 2021 Toyota Highlander problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2021 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?
Yes, the 2021 Toyota Highlander has 4 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Toyota Highlander problems start?
Based on 54 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 31,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2021 Toyota Highlander data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 21, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 19, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 663 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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