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2021 Toyota Highlander Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 4 NHTSA recalls and 447 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

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This is a known problem year for the Toyota Highlander

The 2021 model year has significantly more owner complaints than average for this model. Consider a different year if possible.

F
36/100

Avoid This Year — 2021 Toyota Highlander

The 2021 Toyota Highlander is among the worst-performing model years for this vehicle. NHTSA data shows high complaint and recall activity. Strongly consider a different model year.

4
NHTSA Recalls
4 recalls on record
447
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
16
Crashes + Injuries
3 fire reports

Own or buying a 2021 Toyota Highlander?

Check your specific VIN for open recalls, market value, full specs, and a free AI buyer summary.

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NHTSA Recalls — 2021 Toyota Highlander (4)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Toyota dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #23V720000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #23V865000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #24V452000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #26V128000
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Most Common Problems — 2021 Toyota Highlander

Based on 447 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Power Train
167
Service Brakes
47
Unknown Or Other
43
Structure
39
Air Bags
35
Fuel/propulsion System
22
Electrical System
19
Engine
15
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Toyota Highlander — Complaints by Year

Spike in a year = known problem year. The 2021 model year is highlighted.

2015 186 complaints 2016 109 complaints 2017 258 complaints 2018 252 complaints 2019 453 complaints 2020 285 complaints 2021 447 complaints 2022 208 complaints 2023 156 complaints 2024 37 complaints 2025 7 complaints

⚠ Years to avoid: 2019, 2021 — These model years show significantly elevated complaint activity.

✅ Best model years: 2016, 2024, 2025 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2021 Toyota Highlander

Is the 2021 Toyota Highlander reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 Toyota Highlander has 4 recalls and 447 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated issues — consider alternatives or a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2021 Toyota Highlander have?
The 2021 Toyota Highlander has 4 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Toyota Highlander?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2021 Toyota Highlander are: Power Train, Service Brakes, Unknown Or Other, Structure. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2021 Toyota Highlander safe to buy?
The 2021 Toyota Highlander has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 4 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Toyota Highlander should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Toyota Highlander are: 2016, 2024, 2025. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years to avoid: 2019, 2021.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.