The Verdict
Worst problem area
Transmission & Drivetrain
Transmission & Drivetrain leads by volume: 231 of 552 complaints (42%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (6) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 332 in 2020 to 552 in 2021.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 552
- Recall campaigns
- 5
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $1,750–$2,700
- Combined MPG
- 23–36
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | vs. 2021 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,150–2,850 | 1,750–2,700 | 1,750–2,700 | 1,750–2,700 | 1,750–2,600 | |
| Combined MPG | 22–29 | 23–36 | 23–36 | 23–36 | 24–36 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 19–30 / 24–28 | 20–36 / 27–35 | 20–36 / 27–35 | 20–36 / 27–35 | 21–36 / 28–35 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 305–407 | 245–387 | 245–389 | 245–389 | 245–371 | |
| Complaints filed | 516 | 332 | 552 | 272 | 199 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 9 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 22 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 12 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 18 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 12 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2021 Toyota Highlander have?
5 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2021 Toyota Highlander?
Transmission & Drivetrain: 231 of 552 NHTSA complaints (42%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Toyota Highlander get?
EPA rates it 23–36 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2021 Toyota Highlander?
EPA estimates $1,750–$2,700 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (6)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 20 mpg (low) | 28 mpg | 23 mpg (low) | $2,700 (high) | 389 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 21 mpg | 29 mpg | 24 mpg | $2,600 | 372 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (AV-S6) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 36 mpg (high) | 35 mpg (high) | 36 mpg (high) | $1,750 (low) | 245 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 20 mpg (low) | 27 mpg (low) | 23 mpg (low) | $2,700 (high) | 387 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (AV-S6) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 35 mpg | 35 mpg (high) | 35 mpg | $1,800 | 254 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (AV-S6) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 35 mpg | 34 mpg | 35 mpg | $1,800 | 251 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 47 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 231 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 33 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 69 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Steering | 9 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 53 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 31 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 63 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 25 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Other | 69 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (5)
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
- Defect
- 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
- Defect
- 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.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
- Defect
- 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.
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
- Defect
- 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.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC):CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
- Defect
- Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022 Lexus LX 600, Lexus NX 350h, Lexus NX 450h+, Toytoa RAV4 Hybrid, 2021-2022 Lexus LS 500h, Toyota Mirai, RAV4 PRIME, Sienna, Venza, and 2020-2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The Skid Control ECU software may not turn on the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system when the vehicle is restarted after the driver has disabled the VSC system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
- Consequence
- Driving with a deactivated stability control system increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the Skid Control ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 22TA03. Lexus' number for this recall is 22LA01.