Complaint volume
442 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
442 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2021 Toyota Highlander, grouped by component category.
442 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 146
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
442 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | POWER TRAIN | 2021 Toyota Highlander 87000 miles began making humming noise when stepping on gas and goes away when foot off gas. Toyota said metal shavings in transmission fluid and we need new transmission. We have made appointment to replace. No warning lights. No incident just filing complaint | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Entering the freeway a mile from home the car would not properly excellerate, only reachind 40 mph before exiting the freeway in favor backroads to my appointment. Shaking back and forth while driving, exacerbated when braking and coming to stop, I needed to put the car into neutral to calm down the shaking while waiting for the light to change. I just went through experiencing a brake failure and reporting of that to this Agency and now see another of many defects associated with the 2020-2022 Toyota Highlanders and Siennas Toyota is not addressing through Recalls as they should be, and further frustrated this Agency has or chooses to have no means by which to enforce Toyota's responsibility to the public | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | POWER TRAIN | at 65,000 miles, the transmission has developed a "whining" sound consistent with TSB T-SB-0008-21. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Transmission in our 2021 Toyota Highlander required a full replacement due to a known part defect (front carrier assembly front pinion shaft). Toyota will not cover any portion of the $8k cost. In looking into the issue, this is very widespread with even our dealership confirming four transmission replacements by customers in a short period of time. The transmission is also back ordered (ours took 3 months), but the dealership has seen up to six months. I am guessing this is do to the high demand. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | POWER TRAIN | At 119,000 miles, the UA80F transmission in our 2021 Toyota Highlander XSE started making a whining noise. A dealer confirms the transmission needs to be replaced. After much research, this is apparently a known issue and Toyota will not warranty the repair after the 60,000 mile warranty expires. Estimated repair cost is $11,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Complete failure of transmission at approximately 53k miles. No warnings. No lights. Car had just had its 50k miles service appointment. My safety and that of my family was jeopardized when I unknowingly took this car to/from our family vacation out of state- the gears started jumping a few days after we returned, quickly followed by the grinding, whining noises. Come to find out there is a service bulletin that has been out for 4 years! T-SB- 0008-21 issued on February 9, 2021, for select 2021 Highlander models equipped with a UA80E or UA8OF.8-speed automatic transmission. Why wasn't this a recall? How is this not a safety issue? Why wasn't this disclosed by Toyota when I was sold a car with 30k miles on it for $35k miles? | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, there was an abnormal whining sound coming from the front of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 49,729. | Crash: No Fire: No | 49,729 |
| Aug 2025 | AIR BAGS | The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part for the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted; however, the contact was informed that the parts were not yet available. The contact had been waiting for the parts for over a year. In addition, the contact was fearful of driving her kids around in the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue; however, the contact was informed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | SERVICE BRAKES | As your braking coming to a stop, the vehicle surges forward, feels like you lost your brakes and then it stops. If the car in front of you were to stop suddenly, you would hit them from behind. It had been going on for a while, but since it was my wife’s car she said she just stayed way back from the car ahead of her. I came within inches of hitting someone in early June 2025. I took the car to my Toyota dealer June 25, 2025 and they said there was a computer update for the braking system. It took away most of the problem, but it still surged.On August 19, 2025 I took the car back to the dealer where they had another computer update for the brakes. We will see if that works!! I feel it’s a safety issue, we should have been notified. Out of warranty cost me $348.01 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | POWER TRAIN | My Highlander is making a whine noise due to the issue described in T-SB-0008-21. I was never made aware that this was a potential issue. My car is making the whine noise, but Toyota Of Capistrano refuses to cover the cost of fixing it because my car has 86,000 miles. I would have taken the car in sooner had I known of this issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Started hearing a whining noise when I would accelerate and then my car bucked a couple of times. I brought it into Toyota on 8/07/25 to be checked out and I was told that my transmission would need to be replaced. My car is 4 years old, bought brand new in April of 2021 and have kept up on regular maintenance. In researching this I am finding out that there is a large number of people who are experiencing this same thing with their Highlanders. I have also come to find out that in February of 2021 there was a TSB put out with regards to this same issue. This was 2 months before I even purchased my car. It for some reason does not include every vehicle and only some vehicles are included leaving others with this problem out of luck. I do not understand how that can be. If I have that UA80F transmission in my car and that is what is being named as one of the transmissions that have this problem then why is that certain vehicles are not being taken care of and why is Toyota not issuing a recall? My warranty has expired so I am being expected to pay out of pocket $8,000 (not including labor) and on top of that they do not even have the parts as they are on back order. We have to hold Toyota responsible for this. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Transmission failed and makes whining noise | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Transmission. I believe the transmission is defective. A lot of customers has complained that toyota Highlander 2021 transmission is defective I was driving my car and the transmission went bad, I could not move my car again. I had to tow it to a mechanic and they diagnose that the transmission is bad | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Vehicle starts to produce humming and whining sounds as speed picks up from underneath the vehicle, likely from the transmission/final drive gear area. This problem is consistent and persistent. The whining noise stops when the throttle is released and will resume as throttle is engaged. More reported cases of transmission failure, sudden lost of propulsion and grinding noise are found on public forums. Toyota issued a service bulletin about this problem. Toyota issued extended warranty to prior model years from 2016 to 2017 of the same issue. This will affects millions of Toyota sold with the UA80, UA80E and UA80F transmissions in the US. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | STRUCTURE | I purchased a 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid brand new. This vehicle was manufactured during COVID (production date of 10/2020) with significant mfg defects that have surfaced after several years of ownership. Both the passenger and driver’s side doors have growing cracks/defects which has slowly caused the doors/windows to bow out. A collision company estimates the repairs to be at least $11,000 and after confirming that I had no accidents or work done on the vehicle to cause this problem, agreed that this is a manufacturing defect. Toyota has additionally refused to acknowledge that the vehicle is most likely a safety hazard to drive with the window now so bowed out on the passenger window, that it is exposed to the elements. The Corporation has refused to remedy the mfg defects citing that it has been 4 years and too many miles later, even though I have a nearly 4 year history with them of meticulously taking my vehicle in to get serviced etc. Ultimately they know that this defect was a hidden/growing problem, but because of the extent of the damage involved, they have refused to take ownership. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | POWER TRAIN | whine when accelerating. toyota has released a tsb 0008-21 indicating to replace transmission due to incorrect installation of a retaining clip on a nut securing differential in place. Nut can Become loose and stuck in gears of internals of transmission causing transmission to lock up while driving. this will cause loss of power and could result in an accident. Toyota is aware of the issue but refuses to make repairs due to vehicle being outside of powertrain warranty. Toyota has extended warranty to 10 years on 2017 and 208 model years however the problem still exist in 2017-2024 model years with the same transmission UA80E/UA80F | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | My car has been making a grinding and whining noise. I took it to the dealership and the service manager stated Toyota has been having a known issue on transmission and it will have to be replaced. The vehicle can stop working while i am driving and cause a very bad accident. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | POWER TRAIN | When our vehicle reached about 70,500 miles (10,000 miles past when the powertrain warranty expired), the vehicle started making high-pitched whining noises when the gas pedal was depressed. We brought it to the Toyota dealership and were advised that the vehicle's transmission needed to be replaced and were quoted $9,700. This is for a vehicle that was only 4 years old!! We do not feel that this is a repair/issue that a consumer must bear the cost of! When we shared this with the Toyota technician, he stated that unfortunately, the Highlander's powertrain warranty expired at 60,000 miles. We understand that Toyota was aware of this issue and this should have been escalated as a NHTSA recall where the manufacturer should be responsible for the cost of repair and/or replacement, not the consumer. Please assist us with obtaining a satisfactory resolution with this. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | STRUCTURE | Dull Popping noise from rear bar under seat of 3rd row | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The sunroof glass on our 2021 Highlander unexplainably shattered on our ride home on 7/20/25 at approximately 12:30PM. Sky was overcast, and the temperature was in the mid 80's. We had just entered the highway and were still accelerating to highway speed. We were not near a pedestrian overpass where a rock could have been tossed from above. Broken glass edges are pointing upward. The sunroof was in the fully closed position and not tilted. Safety would have been at extreme risk if we did not have the inner slide closed. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the Toyota dealership or insurance. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Transmission is making a wheezing noise | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | STRUCTURE | The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V720000(Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. An unknown local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Our vehicle has 72k miles at normal use- no towing or off roading. Due to a whining noise we took in the vehicle at a Toyota dealer and after a $200 diagnostic fee concluded we need a new transmission priced at $10,800. There was no explanation/diagnosis summary- just we need a new transmission. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Air conditioning lines eroded and needed to be repaired after 26,000 miles/ 3 or 4 years. A/C line repair cost was $2500. Vehicle is garage kept and cleaned regularly during winter, it should not be having rusting problems, especially in this good of condition. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | POWER TRAIN | I purchased a 2021 Toyota Highlander in June of 2024 with about 45k miles. The transmission completely failed at 67k miles, when I brought it in to have checked in April of 2024. This is not covered under warranty and is costing 7-8k in repairs and over 3k in rental vehicles. I'm told the transmissions are on back order for 3-6 months. No lights went off in the car warning me of this. I smelled burning fumes on and off and reported it to the service dept around 59k (January 2024) miles. I did feel a jump at times, but didn't report that. After my routine oil change at the end of March of 2025, I heard a whining noise only when accelerating and would immediately stop when I released my foot. Two Toyota Service departments diagnosed my car with a failed transmission. I haven't been able to drive my car for 2 months now. My family's safety has been at risk while this issue with this transmission failure has been known and not reported to the consumers prior to my purchase in June of 2024. Potential consequences to a failed transmission while driving are as follows: -Sudden Stop or Coast to a Stop: The car might stop moving entirely, especially if internal components seize or it just loses power and I coast to a stop. -No Response to Acceleration -Pressing the gas has no effect, which is dangerous if I'd be in traffic or on a highway. -Locked-Up Transmission -Rare but possible, especially in catastrophic mechanical failure which could cause wheels to lock briefly. -Stranded | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |