2021 Toyota Highlander problems
NHTSA has received 665 complaints about the 2021 Toyota Highlander, and 34% of them involve drivetrain & axles. After that come brakes (10%) and body & structure (8%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 665 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Drivetrain & axles 34% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 30 and 7
- Injuries and deaths
- 32 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 31,000 miles 55 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 24 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 6 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 12 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 7 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 1 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 1 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 3 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 1 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 55 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 31,000 miles. For drivetrain & axles specifically, the median reported mileage is about 61,000 miles (10 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 30 complaints mention a crash; 7 complaints mention a fire; 32 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2021 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 24 model years of the Toyota Highlander with enough data (665 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 4 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
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. I could not stop the vehicle I struck three signs and a lady fell down as i was approaching the the building very fast, hit a wrought iron black fence and it fell on a park vehicle and then i hit a park vehicle and it stop i threw it in park. i am not sure.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 23V720000 (Structure) and 23V865000 (Air Bags) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving at night at approximately 35 MPH, the low-beam headlights appeared to shine directly into the eyes of drivers in the opposite lane. The contact stated that other drivers would flash their high-beam headlights. The contact stated that he had checked at night by observing the low beam lights aiming point and he saw that they appeared to be aimed high. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic.