2021 Toyota Highlander
Common Problems
Ranked from 213 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
12 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Transmission Whining and Slipping
52complaintsSafety riskTransmissionThe transmission produces a whining noise and slips, causing delayed power and erratic shifting.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 2
Transmission Failure Leading to Complete Replacement
49complaintsSafety riskTransmissionThe transmission fails, requiring complete replacement, often due to known manufacturing defects.
$2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs laborGet local quotes - 3
Transmission Whining and Failure
45complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe transmission produces a whining noise and fails, requiring replacement.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 4
Transmission Whining/Grinding During Acceleration
43complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe transmission produces a whining or grinding noise during acceleration, indicating potential internal failure.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 5
Transmission Failure Causing Safety Concerns
37complaintsSafety riskTransmissionThe transmission failure can lead to loss of power, stalling, or difficulty shifting gears, posing a safety risk.
$2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs laborGet local quotes - 6
Unexplained Acceleration During Braking
30complaintsHigh severityBrakesThe car experiences an unexplained forward surge during braking, requiring harder braking to stop, increasing the risk of accidents.
- 7
Rear Lift Gate Malfunction
23complaintsSafety riskOtherThe rear lift gate malfunctions, stopping partway during opening or closing.
- 8
Air Bag Recall Non-Resolution
6complaintsHigh severityElectricalThe air bag recall for the 2021 Toyota Highlander remains unresolved, with no action taken by Toyota despite multiple notifications.
- 9
Engine Performance Issues
4complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine experiences power loss and stalling, particularly on the highway, posing safety risks.
- 10
Sunroof Explosions
3complaintsSafety riskOtherThe sunroof unexpectedly explodes without any apparent cause, posing a risk of injury from flying glass.
- 11
Air Bag Deployment Failure
2complaintsSafety riskElectricalThe passenger airbag system in the 2021 Toyota Highlander has failed to deploy during a collision, leading to an open recall.
- 12
Front Bumper Detachment
2complaintsMedium severityOtherThe front bumper of the 2021 Toyota Highlander has detached while driving, leading to a safety concern.
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.