Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2021 Toyota Highlander. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Second-Row Seat Backs May Fail to Lock
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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 Toyota’s customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26TB06 and 26TA06.
Tires with Insufficient Load Rating/FMVSS 110
- Summary
- 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."
- Consequence
- 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 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET24A.
OCS Sensors May Short Circuit
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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 were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Lexus 23LB03/23LA03.
Front Bumper Assembly May Detach
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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 at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB12/23TA12.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (527)
527 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The power train is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 527 |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 225 | 42.7% |
| Unknown or other | 68 | 12.9% |
| Service brakes | 67 | 12.7% |
| Structure | 52 | 9.9% |
| Engine | 47 | 8.9% |
| Air bags | 42 | 8% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 31 | 5.9% |
| Electrical system | 27 | 5.1% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 12 | 2.3% |
| Steering | 9 | 1.7% |
How 2021 compares with other Highlander years
Best and worst Highlander years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 268 | 3 |
| 2018 | 268 | 4 |
| 2019 | 490 | 3 |
| 2020 | 319 | 4 |
| 2021 | 527 | 4 |
| 2022 | 259 | 5 |
| 2023 | 182 | 9 |
| 2024 | 42 | 7 |
| 2025 | 10 | 4 |
| 2026 | 2 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2021 Toyota Highlander suv fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 35 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $1,900
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 251 g/mi
- EPA class
- Standard Sport Utility Vehicle
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 35 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · AV-S6 CVT | All-Wheel Drive | 35 / 34 / 35 | $1,900 | 251 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl · 8-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 29 / 24 | $2,800 | 372 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl · 8-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 28 / 23 | $2,900 | 389 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl · 8-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 20 / 27 / 23 | $2,900 | 387 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2021 Highlander for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2021 Toyota Highlander FAQ
How many recalls does the 2021 Toyota Highlander have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 26V128000 (seat), 24V452000 (tire), 23V865000 (air bag), 23V720000 (structure). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2021 Toyota Highlander problems?
Owners filed 527 complaints with NHTSA. Power train (225), Unknown or other (68), Service brakes (67) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2021 Toyota Highlander get?
EPA rates the 2.5 L 4-cyl · AV-S6 CVT version at 35 city, 34 highway and 35 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2021 Toyota Highlander get?
NHTSA rated the 2021 Toyota Highlander suv fwd 5 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (16.9% rollover risk).
How does the 2021 Highlander compare with other years?
Among the 2017–2021 Toyota Highlander model years at least five years old, the 2017 drew the fewest complaints (268) and the 2021 the most (527). The 2021 drew 527. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.