Is the 2021 Toyota Highlander a bad year?
537 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 231, 23× a quiet Highlander year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 58k–99k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 2 of 231 filed since 2016.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2021 Highlander owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 71,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 231 (43%) | 58k–99k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 52 (10%) | 12k–49k miles · mostly behind | — |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 68 (13%) | too few with a mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Engine | 47 (9%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 42 (8%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 31 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 28 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 17 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 12 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 9 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 9 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 8 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Lane assist | 8 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 8 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 71,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 537 complaints: 17 mention a crash · 4 mention a fire · 13 report an injury · 10 say the car was towed.
197 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2021 Toyota Highlander: 4
The second-row seat backs may fail to lock into position during seat back adjustment. A seat back that fails to lock may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The 20-inch accessory tires with an insufficient load rating for the vehicle's Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) were installed. Tires with an insufficient load rating can be overloaded and fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying. An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
During normal vehicle operation, minor impact to the front lower bumper cover may result in the cover coming loose or detaching. A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Toyota: 101
Repair instructions Toyota sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2021 Toyota Highlander. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
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Neighbouring years
2020 Highlander: 323 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2022 Highlander: 264 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Toyota Highlander year
2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Highlander years side by side
Other Toyota models: Toyota 4Runner · Toyota Avalon · Toyota C-HR · Toyota Camry · Toyota Camry Hybrid · Toyota Camry Solara · Toyota Celica · Toyota Corolla · Toyota Corolla Cross · Toyota Corolla Matrix · Toyota Echo · Toyota FJ Cruiser · Toyota Grand Highlander · Toyota Highlander Hybrid · Toyota Matrix · Toyota Prius · Toyota Prius c · Toyota Prius v · Toyota RAV4 · Toyota RAV4 Hybrid · Toyota RAV4 Prime · Toyota Sequoia · Toyota Sienna · Toyota Sienna Hybrid · Toyota Tacoma · Toyota Tundra · Toyota Venza · Toyota Venza Hybrid · Toyota Yaris. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2021 Toyota Highlander a bad year?
537 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 231, 23× a quiet Highlander year. At 71,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 58k–99k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 2 of 231 filed since 2016.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Toyota Highlander?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (231), body structure (52), brakes (68), engine (47), air bags (42). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 58k–99k miles.
How many recalls does the 2021 Toyota Highlander have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Seats (NHTSA 26V-128), Tires (NHTSA 24V-452), Air bags (NHTSA 23V-865), Body structure (NHTSA 23V-720). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.