Complaint volume
475 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
475 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2021 Toyota Highlander, grouped by component category.
475 Total complaints
16 Crash reports
3 Fire reports
12 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, 12 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
12 Injury
0 Fatality
9 Towed
8 Medical attention
What are the most common 2021 Toyota Highlander complaint categories?
POWER TRAIN 170
SERVICE BRAKES 41
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 36
STRUCTURE 34
AIR BAGS 28
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 22
ENGINE 14
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 8
TIRES 8
VISIBILITY/WIPER 7
475 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2025 | STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER | This is a supplemental complaint to add more detail to a prior submission. I am the original owner of a 2021 Toyota Highlander with 10,000 miles at the time of the issue worsening to the point that I finally broke down and was forced to pay the Toyota dealership's hefty diagnostic fee. The air conditioning system has failed due to a refrigerant leak in the rear A/C lines, specifically near the exhaust area under the vehicle. The dealership diagnosed the issue and quoted me over $3,000 to replace “all necessary components in the rear.” They offered no coverage or goodwill repair despite the vehicle’s age and mileage. Upon researching the issue for longer than a year at this point, I discovered far too many similar complaints from other Highlander owners (years 2019–2021) describing identical failures — typically rear A/C lines corroding, cracking, or leaking prematurely. In some cases, customers were told Toyota is aware of the issue but not issuing a TSB or recall. In other cases, dealers said no permanent fix exists. These repairs are prohibitively expensive and, in some reports, recurring due to poor line placement or dissimilar metal corrosion near heat sources. This significantly impacts safety in several ways: Impaired Visibility: The AC system is integral to effective defogging and defrosting of the windshield, especially in humid or cold conditions. Without it, visibility is severely compromised, increasing the risk of an accident. Driver Impairment: In extreme temperatures, lack of climate control can lead to driver fatigue, distraction, and reduced concentration, posing an indirect safety risk. I am reporting it to request NHTSA monitor the trend. This seems to reflect a possible engineering or design flaw, and the number of similar owner reports suggests it may warrant further review by Toyota and NHTSA. Customers should not be facing multi-thousand-dollar repairs on near-new vehicles with basic systems failing. Thank you for tracking this issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | VISIBILITY | Premature AC refrigerant leak and failure in system in the 2021 Toyota Highlander due to corroded/defective rear AC lines located near the exhaust/spare tire, observed at very low mileage and upon official inspection at the nearest Toyota dealership. Noticed early in ownership and decided to have the vehicle scanned when air being released only continued to grow warmer in the sweltering summer months. Reporting due to advice from friends and owners in my exact situation with the very same issue as well as the pricey three-thousand dollars and upwards quote to have this work done from Curry Toyota, 3026 E Main St, Cortlandt, NY 10567. Vehicle purchased new to avoid these very issues. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | ENGINE | I am seeing a transmission slip and also engine whining noise. There is a widely known issue with this transmission failing. My serial number A3A20M01780 falls right outside the scope of the TSB issued by Toyota for these transmissions. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | POWER TRAIN | My transmission is failing in my 2021 Toyota Highlander. Has started making the high pitched whining noise. Fix is to replace the whole transmission. Dealer has confirmed and does have the transmission on order. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Transmission failure at 62000 miles. Toyota issued a service bulletin in Feb 2021. I bought the vehicle new in August 2021 and was not told of service issue. Also, I took vehicle to Toyota dealership for service every 5000 miles up to 55000. I was never told about service bulletin nor advised there could be a full imminent failure of the transmission. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | ENGINE | My 2021 with 73000 miles is now at a dealershop 700 miles away from home. I didn't drive far while away but a week into my vacation, i started hearing a whining sound upon accelerating. Sound seemed to get louder on second day of hearing the sound. Took it to a dealership in the Leesburg Virginia area....they charged me 203.00 for diagnostics and indicated need new transmission for near $11,000. Each time I went to my dealership in my area for an oil change, they indicated that I needed a transmission fluid change. I read that when Toyota installed a "Sealed Transmission System" these changes would not be needed or at least limited.... Because the so call system is sealed, only dealership techs can check your fluid levels. How do you know if, when they check it, do they replace what they took out and if they do this regularly and don't refill what they took out, your fluid would eventually be pretty low...there is no way to check because "Sealed Transmission System" is only check by the dealerships (no transmission fluid dip stick on 2021 highlanders (and 2022, 2024, 2025). So you can't check it like an oil dip stick. We're [XXX].....INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Routine maintenance was done 5000 miles ago. Routine maintenance. At 50,151 miles and routine 50,000 mile maintenance a whistling/whining sound was noted. I was told a new transmission is needed. PLEASE MAKE THIS A RECALL. PLEASE MAKE TOYOTA STOP CHANGING OUT TRANSMISSIONS AT 50,000 miles on the regular. There is a known TSB, but so many VIN's are outside of this range experiencing the exact same issue that it is inconceivable that Toyota doesn't know they have a problem. Having a warranty that covers it is a band-aid. The wear and tear on the overall engine and parts due to transmission failure means they are knowingly selling cars that will fail. Why isn't it told to every buyer to expect transmission failure at 30-50,000 miles at the time of purchase? TELL US AND THEN LET US DECIDE IF THAT IS HOW WE WANT TO INVEST OUR MONEY IN OUR CARS. My first Toyota and my last. AND what is worse, the NHTSA KNOWS about all these incidents and just lets it ride. We have lost the consumer in the values we hold as a country. Insurance doesn't mean insurance. Transmissions are only worth 30-50,000 miles when it should be 200,000+ by now. Quality standards are there for a reason. Having a powertrain warranty that protects the manufacturing IS NOT how it was intended. FORCE TOYOTA TO FIX THIS ISSUE. STOP SELLING CARS WITH FLAWED TRANSMISSIONS. I feel taken advantage of and am stuck with a car I no longer want, (because as the service advisor said, "if it happens again, you will still be covered at no cost to you?!") - this is not ethical or technically sound. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | POWER TRAIN | A whirring and grinding sound from transmission when put into gear. Intermittent sluggish when accelerating. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Transmission whine | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | POWER TRAIN | When accelerating there is a whining noise coming from the front of the vehicle. There was no warning lamp that came on just the noise is what prompted me to take it to Toyota of Hattiesburg to be diagnosed. The transmission is what malfunctioned. Yes Toyota confirmed the problem and said my transmission needs to be replaced. I am very disappointed because Toyota’s has the reputation to last forever. As this is my 3rd Toyota and I have been very happy until now because Toyota is not taken responsibility for this problem that is continuing to arise in the transmissions. I have attached the paperwork showing what Toyota said. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | POWER TRAIN | I am filing this complaint due to a severe transmission failure in my 2021 Toyota Highlander XSE, which I believe poses a significant safety hazard. At approximately 70,000 miles, the vehicle’s 8-speed automatic transmission failed. Prior to this failure, I reported a persistent gear noise (described as a whining or grinding sound during acceleration and gear shifts) to my Toyota dealership [Shore Toyota] when the car had less than 60,000 while the vehicle was under the 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. The dealership dismissed the noise as “normal” and did not perform diagnostics or repairs, despite my concerns. The gear noise worsened over time, leading to more frequent noise and shifting, jerking, issue failure in May 2025. The noise occurres while driving from 0 to at 35mph. I later learned that the 2021 Toyota Highlander’s 8-speed transmission (UA80E/UA80F) has known issues, as documented in Toyota Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) T-SB-0008-21 (issued February 2021). The TSB describes a whining noise identical to what I reported, requiring a full transmission replacement for affected vehicles. Numerous other owners have reported similar failures, with some experiencing delays of 3–6 months for replacement parts due to backorders. My vehicle’s symptoms match the TSB, and the dealership’s failure to address the noise during the warranty period likely allowed the defect to progress to catastrophic failure. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | ENGINE | My 21 Highlander has a wine noise coming from the transmission. There is currently a bulletin out by Toyota T-SB-000821 confirming that the transmission in this model needs to be replaced. I took my car to two separate mechanics who confirmed the noise is coming from transmission. I called Toyota this morning. Spoke with a lady and she told me she cannot locate the bulletin on my VIN number so pretty much there’s nothing they can do to help. I’m having the issue with my car that Toyota is aware about and has put out a bulletin regarding the issue. I think Toyota needs to take care of this. This is not something that should be VIN specific if I’m having the issue then fix it! At least send me to a Toyota dealership for you guys to confirm the issue and fix it! | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | POWER TRAIN | 2021 Highlander has 103000 miles. Transmission started a whine that only presents under acceleration. It follows the speed of the car, not the engine speed and is getting louder. My [XXX] granddaughter asked today what is that loud whining noise. It was diagnosed by my mechanic as another bad Toyota transmission. They stated it could stop working at the most inoperative time. Could cause death. I have to wait for more than 2 months to hopefully get a new transmission. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The transmission started making a whirring and grinding noise so I took it into the mechanic who notified me that Toyota put out a TSB on this issue in February 2021. I leased this vehicle in April 2021 and it was never disclosed to me that I would experience a transmission issue down the line. At the end of my lease, I purchased the vehicle and again it was never disclosed to me of this issue. I immediately took the car into the Toyota dealership where they heard the noise and confirmed it is the transmission defect that Toyota previously identified. I am ordered to bring my four minor children from Las Vegas to Los Angeles minimum once a month and my fear is getting stuck on the 15 freeway at 75 miles an hour in the heat of summer. This is a huge safety issue and this matter should have been a recall. I understand from the Toyota service manager that Toyota did not redesign the transmission so even if I get a new transmission it will experience this issue again. At $11,000 for a new transmission or $4500 for the extended warranty, it isn't right that the consumer is on the hook for a defect Toyota knew about and didn't disclose. This is auto fraud and negligent. A car is a hefty investment and Toyota took advantage of the public. They should be held accountable. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | POWER TRAIN | transmission failure at approximately 80,000 miles dealer has confirmed diagnosis and recommended replacement on-line forums indicate this is a recurring problem with this model engine noises began at approximately 78,000 miles | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | POWER TRAIN | There is a known flaw with this car that the transmissions fail prematurely. There is a technical service bulletin (TSB0008-21) released 2 months before purchasing the car on this exact issue and we were not made aware before purchase. Toyota has not recalled these vehicles and this applies to a very select serial number range of transmissions implying a manufacturer defect even further. Now my car, with 68k miles, is expected to have a transmission replaced at full cost. There are many forums discussing this issue and I hope that more people come forward because this is clearly a defect in the design that Toyota should be responsible in fixing. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | STRUCTURE | Roof rails leak and allow water to enter the head liner and the air bags in the support arms of the cabin. Toyota has a Toyota Service Bulletin related to this but they and their dealers will not fix this. It would seem to be an issue if the air bags do not function as intended due to Toyota ignoring a manufacturing defect on their vehicles. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Transmission was making a wine noise. Little grind but winey noise. Went away. Came back few min later at shifting and went away thank went home | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Around 76k miles, a whining occurs upon accelerating. Hear ever so slightly in 1st gear. Gradually is more evident as the speed increases. At 78k I decided it was definitely getting louder and was concerned after researching and learning that MULTIPLE 2021 Highlanders have needed transmissions replaced. I brought it in to a mechanic who searched for every possible problem, but ultimately came back to tell me it is my transmission failing. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Engine/Transmission 'whining' noise upon acceleration. We cannot drive it, three places said we shouldn't - it will only get worse, and eventually fail. No one knows when. My wife was driving on interstate when it firsts occurred, she couldn't get to the side fast enough. My wife feels unsafe driving it alone and with our young son. We are receiving very high quotes - despite the fact that they don't seem to be doing any real diagnostics. It seems to be a well known problem that only Toyota can address, as their design seems to have caused this dangerous problem and their supply chain issues seem to be common knowledge to many in the industry. Toyota service tells us at least a two month wait for a new transmission to arrive. Then three of four days to install. My wife feels very unsafe driving this vehicle knowing it could just stop operation at any time. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | POWER TRAIN | While driving the vehicle will wobble, shake and make grinding noises at lower speeds and at higher speeds. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The transmission has a whining noise caused by the front carrier pinion shafts. There is a TSB out for the transmission issue. Transmission has been inspected by a technician. No warnings - the noise was a warning I suppose. It first appeared in March 2025. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The transmission started to make a higher pitch sound when accelerating. We brought the vehicle in for evaluation @ 70,500 miles. We were advised the vehicle needed a new transmission for $ 9,900.00 Not even 4 years old, and Toyota Warrantee department said past the 60K drive train warranty so no support from them. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | TIRES | P 235 / 55 R 20 This tire has developed a sidewall bulge. It has always been properly inflated. I currently have the tire but the manufacturer has requested that I send it to them. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | TIRES | P 235 / 55 R 20 The sidewall blew out on the highway. I did not hit any road hazards and the tires were properly inflated. I have the tire now but Continental has requested I ship it to them. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |