2021 Toyota Highlander Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 4 NHTSA recalls and 531 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

33/100

Very High Reported Activity — 2021 Toyota Highlander

The 2021 Toyota Highlander shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.

Own or buying a 2021 Toyota Highlander?

Check your specific VIN free for recalls and specs. Full vehicle history report: one-time $4.99, no subscription, no auto-renewal.

NHTSA Recalls

4 recalls on record

531

Owner Complaints

Filed with NHTSA

Crash Reports

4 fire reports

⚠️

NHTSA Recalls — 2021 Toyota Highlander (4)

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

🔧 Structure: Body: Bumpers

A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will repair or replace the upper and lower front bumper covers as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed April 22, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service…

NHTSA #23V720000

🔧 Air Bags: Sensor: Occupant Classification

An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters…

NHTSA #23V865000

🔧 Tires

Tires with an insufficient load rating can be overloaded and fail, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: SET will inspect and replace the tires and information placard, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 16, 2024. Owners may contact SET's customer service at…

NHTSA #24V452000

🔧 Seats: Mid/Rear Assembly: Recliner

A seat back that fails to lock may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the return springs in the seat back recliner assemblies, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 9, 2026. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact…

NHTSA #26V128000

💬

Most Common Problems — 2021 Toyota Highlander

Based on 531 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Power Train

225

Service Brakes

Unknown Or Other

Structure

Air Bags

Electrical System

Fuel/propulsion System

Engine

📊

Toyota Highlander — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2021 model year is highlighted.

→ Recently checked Toyota Highlander VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.

→ Decode a Toyota VIN — free Toyota VIN decoder guide: where to find the VIN and what each part means.

⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2019, 2021 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

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

❓

Frequently Asked Questions — 2021 Toyota Highlander

Is the 2021 Toyota Highlander reliable?

Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 Toyota Highlander has 4 recall campaigns and 531 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get 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 with higher complaint counts: 2019, 2021.

How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.

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.