Complaint volume
443 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2021 Toyota Highlander Complaints
443 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2021 Toyota Highlander, grouped by component category.
443 Total complaints
16 Crash reports
3 Fire reports
11 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are power train, service brakes, unknown or other. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 16 crash reports, 3 fire reports, 11 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 38 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 26,599 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to power train, service brakes, unknown or other?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2021 Toyota Highlander?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2021 Toyota Highlander
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2021 Toyota Highlander complaints?
16 Crash
3 Fire
11 Injury
0 Fatality
9 Towed
8 Medical attention
What are the most common 2021 Toyota Highlander complaint categories?
POWER TRAIN 147
SERVICE BRAKES 41
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 34
STRUCTURE 33
AIR BAGS 28
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 22
ENGINE 13
TIRES 8
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 7
VISIBILITY/WIPER 7
443 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | AIR BAGS | Traveling south bound on SC11 (in Seneca South Carolina) a vehicle that was traveling east bound, failed to stop and traveled across my path. The front end of my vehicle impacted the drivers side / passenger door area of the other vehicle. The momentum of the crash, caused the other vehicle to spin counter clock wise and impact me again...on the drovers side passenger door. Our 2021 Toyota Highlander was 4 weeks old with 2K miles on it. Weather conditions were excellent. I immediately stepped on the brakes when I realized the other person was not even slowing down. Our anti lock brakes worked good, but none of the air bags deployed. The drivers side passenger door and pillar is being numerous items to be replaced. Not sure if this is correct information... the Body shop employee stated that air bag sensors are located in the pillar and from end / bumper area? I have photos. I have never been in an accident. I'm surprised the air bags did not deploy! I'll be glad to talk to Toyota folks at some point...thought it my civic duty to report to you folks first. Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 2 Towed Medical attention | Unknown |
| May 2021 | ENGINE | The contact owns a 2021 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact restarted the vehicle and pulled over to the side of the roadway before the vehicle stalled again. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer but was not yet diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 230. The consumer stated that Sansone Toyota falsely stated bad gas was added to the vehicle. Sansone advised consumer to contact insurance company. Geico investigated the claim and agreed a warranty should be issued. The consumer stated that a new engine is needed and had to pay $2799.03. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 230 |
| May 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | THERE IS DEFECT IN THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER PLATINUMS' DRIVER SIDE MIRROR. THE MIRROR GLASS WILL VIBRATE LEFT AND RIGHT WHEN DRIVING. IT DISTORTS THE IMAGE IN THE MIRROR. WHEN ON HIGHWAY, IT IS VERY NOTICEABLE. THIS KIND OF VIBRATION SHOULD ONLY OCCUR IF YOU DRIVE OVER THOSE POTHOLES OR RIPPLE ON THE YELLOW DOUBLE SOLID LINES OR SHOULDER OF ROAD. I HAVE TEST DRIVEN MULTIPLE ONES OF THE SAME TRIM ON THE DEALERSHIP'S LOT TO TRY TO GET DEALERSHIP TO LOOK INTO REPLACING/FIXING MY MIRROR, BUT THEY ARE SAYING ITS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE SINCE THE OTHERS ARE DOING IT. ALSO TEST DROVE A LIMITED TRIM AND THE VIBRATION WAS WORST THAN THE PLATINUM. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS ISSUE WITH OTHER 4 WHEEL CARS. TOYOTA WILL NOT ADDRESS THIS ISSUE JUST BASED ON MY COMPLAINT SO I AM PUTTING THIS COMPLAINT SO HOPEFULLY TOYOTA WILL ADDRESS THE ISSUE. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2021 | ENGINE | VEHICLE HAS 3400 MILES AND STARTING HAVING LONGER THAN NORMAL CRANKING WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. SHORTLY AFTER THAT OCCURRED THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL WHILE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WHERE THEY INSTALLED SOME FUEL SENSORS. 2 DAYS LATER THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN WHILE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. BOTH INCIDENTS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED A SECOND TIME BACK TO DEALERSHIP. THEY ARE NOW REPLACING THE FUEL PUMP. MAYBE THEY NEED TO ADD THIS VEHICLE TO RECALL LIST | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,400 |
| Apr 2021 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | HIGHLANDER HAS SAME ISSUE AS THE 2019-2020 TOYOTA RAV4 FUEL ISSUE IDENTIFIED BY THE NHTSA: VEHICLE FUEL GAUGES DISPLAYING LESS THAN FULL AND/OR TOTAL FUEL DISPENSED IS LESS THAN EXPECTED, WHEN THE FUEL NOZZLE AUTOMATICALLY CLICKS OFF. NOTED THE 'DISTANCE TO EMPTY' SHOWN ON THE MULTI-INFORMATION DISPLAY IS LESS THAN EXPECTED. WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE ABRUPTLY COMES CLOSE TO SHUTTING OFF BECAUSE GAUGES ARE INACCURATE. VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN TO THE FULL CAPACITY OF THE STATED RANGE. GAS TANK IS 17.1 GALLONS BUT VEHICLE CANNOT TAKE MORE THAN 12-13 GALLONS FROM EMPTY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,700 |
| Apr 2021 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | I REPORTED MY GAS TANK NOT FILLING PAST 12.9 GALLONS OF GASOLINE ON NUMEROUS FILL UPS ON MY NEW 2021 HIGHLANDER HYBRID PLATINUM TO TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE HIGHLANDER ON INVOICE SAYS IT'S A 17 GALLON TANK CAPACITY. TOYOTA SERVICE DEPART REFILLED MY EMPTY TANK TO12.6 GALLONS VERIFYING MY COMPLAINT. THE SERVICE ADVISOR INFORMED ME THEY NOTIFIED TOYOTA AND TOYOTA RESPONDED IN SAYING THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND THERE'S NOTHING TODO. THE TOYOTA SERVICE ADVISOR INFORM ME UNTIL THERE IS ENOUGH COMPLAINTS THEN TOYOTA WOULD ISSUE A RECALL | Crash: No Fire: No | 23 |
| Apr 2021 | TIRES | TL *THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE TIRES, TIRE LINE: ALENZA, TIRE SIZE: 235/65/R18, DOT NUMBER: 1W2LAMLAI4520. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING 60 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE EXPLODED, WITHOUT WARNING. THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING SYSTEM DID NOT INDICATE A PROBLEM UNTIL AFTER THE TIRE EXPLODED. THE OUTSIDE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE HAD SEPARATED. KOONS ANNAPOLIS TOYOTA (1107 WEST ST, ANNAPOLIS, MD 21401) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE AND GET BACK TO THE CONTACT. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH FOUR NEW TIRES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 612. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. (NEW HIGHLANDER WAS FOUND AT KOONS ANNAPOLIS TOYOTA AND PURCHASED FROM KOONS WESTMINSTER TOYOTA.) CONTACT HAS NOT HEARD FROM TOYOTA DEALER FOLLOWING MULTIPLE REQUESTS. CONTACT REPLACED ALL BRIDGESTONE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE AT OWN EXPENSE SINCE THEY DID NOT TRUST THE REMAINING THREE BRIDGESTONE TIRES, NOR A REPLACEMENT BRIDGESTONE TIRE THEY MAY (?) HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET FROM THE TOYOTA DEALER. CONTACT WANTS TO WARN THE APPROPRIATE PEOPLE THAT HIS NEW BRIDGESTONE TIRE ON A NEW TOYOTA HIGHLANDER EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON. | Crash: No Fire: No | 612 |
| Apr 2021 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | I BOUGHT MY 2021 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER XLE AWD FROM TOYOTA OF DALLAS ON 4/11/21. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE FROM THE FUEL GUAGE / DISTANCE TO EMPTY SYSTEM. FROM SHOWING FULL WHEN THE TANK IS NOT FULL TO REFUSING TO CHANGE FROM FULL EVEN AFTER DRIVING OVER 100 MILES, I HAVE BECOME VERY DISTURBED BY THIS VEHICLE. I AM UNABLE TO GET TOYOTA AND THE DEALERSHIP TO RESPOND TO ME AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY SITTING IN THE GARAGE SHOWING A FULL TANK AFTER DRIVING 169 MILES AFTER REFUELLING! WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON? SOMEONE PLEASE KINDLY HELP. [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). | Crash: No Fire: No | 600 |
| Apr 2021 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | CAN NOT FILL IN A FULL TANK OF GAS. AT MOST THE CAR TAKES 13 GALLONS, WHERE AS THE TANK CAPACITY IS 17, WHICH IS 4 GALLONS SHORTER AND GIVES 140 MILES SHORTER RANGE (CALC ACCORDING TO EPA RATING). 140 MILES IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE. EVEN IF YOU FILL MORE THAN 13 GALLONS, THE RANGE STAYS AT 423 MILES AND DOESN`T INCREASE. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2021 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | TOYOTA MANUAL SPEC AND WEBSITE ADVERTISE THE TANK CAPACITY IS 17.1 GALLONS. HOWEVER, I CAN ONLY FILL TOP OFF AROUND 12.5-13 GALLONS WHICH MISLEADS TO CUSTOMERS. THE PROBLEM IS THAT I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE GAUGE IS INCORRECT (SHOWING FULL TOO EARLY) OR THE TANK IS OUT OF SHAPE WHICH I CAN'T FILL TO 17.1 GALLONS. THIS CAN CAUSE UNWANTED SITUATION WHERE PEOPLE THINK THEY CAN GO COUPLE EXTRA HUNDRED MILES BEFORE IT GOES EMPTY OR PEOPLE CONTINUE FORCING TO PUMP MORE GAS AFTER 12.5 GALLONS DUE TO 17.1 GALLONS CAPACITY. THE TOYOTA APP ALSO GIVES THE RANGE AROUND 420 MILES WHICH IS AN ESTIMATE FOR MPG OF TANK CAPACITY AROUND 12 GALLONS. IT IS HARD TO KNOW WHETHER MY CAR GOT ISSUE OR COMPANY FAULTY ADVERTISES THE TANK CAPACITY (LONG RANGE PER FILL) TO ATTRACT CUSTOMERS. I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON SO I CAN USE IT PROPERLY. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2021 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | GAS TANK ONLY HOLDS 12.5 - 13 GALLONS WITH A RANGE OF 425-450 AT MOST WHEREAS TOYOTA CLAIMS IN THEIR ADVERTISING AND SPECS THAT THE TANK HOLD 17.1 GALLONS AND THE CAR HAS A RANGE OF 598 MILES. I CONFIRMED WITH TOYOTA THAT THIS IS OFF SPECIFICATION AND THEY SAID THE TANK WILL ONLY TAKE 14 GALLONS AND THE RANGE WILL DECIDE ITSELF. I USE THE CAR FOR LONG TRIPS, BOUGHT IT FOR THE TANK SIZE AND RANGE AND AM CONCERNED I AM GOING TO RUN OUT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,903 |
| Apr 2021 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | WE ARE EXPERIENCING PCS IS NOT WORKING, WE WERE DRIVING ON FREEWAY WHEN CARS STOPPED SUDDENLY AND NOT EVEN DISPLAYING ANY WARNING SIGNAL OF 'BRAKE' ON THAT MOMENT, WE WERE SO CLOSE TO IMPACT A TRAILER, SECOND TIME SIMILAR SITUATION THE NEXT DAY AFTER THE FIRST APPT AT SERVICE WHERE THEY STATED THAT PCS WAS WORKING PROPERLY , CARS STOPPED SUDDENLY AND NOT EVEN WITH THE WARNING TIMING SET UP IN TO THE 'EARLY TIME', WARNING US TO USE THE BRAKE. THE EXPLANATION FROM SECOND APPT IT WAS 'IT WORKED WITH CRUISE ON', ON MY PREVIOUS CARS NEVER NEEDED TO TURN ON CRUISE, HAVE A 3TH APPOINTMENT COMING THIS WEEK, BUT ON ELECTRICIAN OPINION IS WORKING FINE WITHOUT HE EVEN KNOWING YOU COULD SET THE WARNING TIMING ON THE MENU BY YOURSELF. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,600 |
| Apr 2021 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE PER SE BUT ONE OF FALSE ADVERTISING. TOYOTA ADVERTISES THE RANGE OF MY HYBRID HIGHLANDER AS 600 MILES ON 17.1 GAL TANK AT 35 MPG. I DO GET 35 MPG (WHICH IS QUITE COMMENDABLE FOR A VEHICLE THIS SIZE) BUT I CANNOT FILL THE FUEL TANK MORE THAN 12-13 GAL EVEN WHEN NEARLY BONE-DRY EMPTY. IN TURN I CANNOT DRIVE ANY FURTHER THAN 450 MILES WITHOUT FILLING UP. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH EITHER THE DESIGN OF FUEL TANK SUCH THAT NOT ALL THE FUEL CAN BE ACCESSED OR THE DESIGN OF THE FUEL FILLER HOSE SUCH THAT ONE CANNOT FILL THE TANK COMPLETELY. ANOTHER OPTION IS PERHAPS THE FUEL TANK IS NOT TRULY 17.1 GALLONS AS DOCUMENTED. TOYOTA SHOULD NOT ADVERTISE A RANGE OF 600 MILES WHEN THIS IS NOT REALISTIC EVEN WHEN ACHIEVING 35 MPG. | Crash: No Fire: No | 600 |
| Mar 2021 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | THE 2021 HIGHLANDER HYBRID IS NOT TAKING MORE THAN 10-11GALLONS PER FILL UP AND THE DISTANCE TO EMPTY INDICATOR ONLY STATES APPROX. 420MILES NOT THE 590-615MILES BASED ON THE STATED 34/35 MPG PER TOYOTA ON THE HYBRID MODEL. WE HAVE FILLED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND AT MULTIPLE GAS STATIONS AND EACH TIME THE TANK WILL NOT ACCEPT MORE THAN 10-11GALLONS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 320 |
| Mar 2021 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | THE 2021 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID GAS TANK IS EXACTLY 17.1 US GALLONS IN SIZE BUT EVEN WHEN THE LOW FUEL INDICATOR LIGHT TURN ON AND THE THE FUEL GAUGE IS AT NEAR EMPTY IT WILL ONLY ACCEPT A MAXIMUM OF 12.9 TO 13.8 GALLONS. TOYOTA STATES THAT THE MAXIMUM RANGE ON A FULL TANK OF THE VEHICLE IS 615 MILES BUT WHEN FULL THE MAX-RANGE ALWAYS FALLS BETWEEN 460 TO 490 MILES GIVEN MY MPG OF 34.5 TO 36.5. THERE IS AN ISSUES WITH THE FUELING SYSTEM THAT DOES NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO BE PROPERLY FUELED OR THE SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. OTHER DRIVERS HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME ISSUES TRYING TO FILL THEIR GAS TANKS TO THE INDICATED AMOUNT AFTER THE FUEL INDICATOR COME ON AND HAVING LOW RAGE LEFT OF ABOUT 25 MILES. THIS IS AN ISSUES THAT HAPPENS AT VARIOUS GAS STATIONS SO THE ISSUE IS NOT THE PUMP BUT THE VEHICLE. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2021 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | THE VEHICLE EV DOES NOT ENGAGE WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE FOR AT LEAST 10-15 MINUTES OF DRIVING. THIS DRASTICALLY ALTERS THE FUEL ECONOMY. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2021 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | THE DTE INDICATOR ON THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING INCORRECTLY. I FILLED THE HIGHLANDER UP WITH 10 MILES DTE AND IT ONLY TOOK 13.2 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE DTE INDICATOR WAS 425 MILES AFTER FILL UP. TOYOTA ADVERTISES 600 MILES PER TANK. MY HIGHLANDER IS 175 MILES OFF OF THE MANUFACTURES ADVERTISED EXPECTATION. I DON'T KNOW IF I AM OUT OF FUEL AT 0 DTE OR IF I CAN DRIVE ANOTHER 175 MILES BEFORE EMPTY. I AVERAGED 35.6 MPG ON THIS FILL UP BUT EVERY TIME I FILL THE TANK I GET SIMILAR RESULTS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,250 |
| Jan 2021 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | MY 2021 HIGHLANDER HYBRID PLATINUM IS EXPERIENCING A FUEL FILLING ISSUE. OVER THE FIRST 2,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TAKE MORE THAN 13.5 GALLONS AT FILL UP ' NO TOPPING OFF. THE CAR HAS A 17.1 GALLON TANK. THE CAR HAS GONE AS LOW AS 2 MILES TO EMPTY ACCORDING TO THE CAR ESTIMATE. AT EACH FILL UP IT TAKES BETWEEN 12.5 AND 13.5 GALLONS. IT IS NOT CLEAR IF THE TANK IS FILLING UP COMPLETELY AND THERE ARE 4-5 GALLONS LEFT AT 'EMPTY' OR THE TANK IS NOT ABLE TO FILL COMPLETELY. I PURCHASED THIS CAR FOR IT'S FUEL ECONOMY AND RANGE WHILE TRAVELING WITH MY FAMILY. IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW IF THE TANK IS ACTUALLY EMPTY OR STILL HAS SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF FUEL REMAINING SO MY FAMILY IS NOT STRANDED OUT OF FUEL. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,000 |