2021 Toyota Highlander: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2021 Toyota Highlander
On the 2021 Toyota Highlander, the failure owners report most often is other powertrain problem, with 69 reports on file. The earliest to appear is other body or interior problem, reported by a median of 55,000 miles. Overall it scores 75 out of 100, severe risk for a 2021.
Severe risk for a 2021 — 100th riskiest of the 231 2021 vehicles we can rate. 624 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What owners report breaking
Owners have reported 69 named failure modes on the 2021 Toyota Highlander, and the three most-reported carry 25% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
Other powertrain problem leads with 69 reports and about 0.7 per 1,000 vehicles.
Other brake problem follows with 48 reports, median 5,000 miles.
Other engine problem follows with 42 reports, median 30,000 miles. 1 of those report mention a fire.
By system, the reports fall mostly into transmission (112), body (76) and engine (71).
When these failures get reported
68 of the reports on the 2021 Toyota Highlander came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 25,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 62% by 50,000 miles, 82% by 100,000 miles and 93% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 2 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 0 and 10,000 miles, which alone holds 32% of the dated reports.
56% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles, which is early enough that a fair number of these cars were still under a factory warranty when the owner complained.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 69. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 2 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
How bad it is when it goes
Across the named modes, 24 mention a crash, 4 a fire and 17 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.07, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other powertrain problem at $400–$4,500, other brake problem at $300–$1,800, other engine problem at $300–$4,000 and other body or interior problem at $200–$2,000. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
31% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 69 | 5 | — | 100k | — | 0.7 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 48 | 1 | — | 3k | — | 0.5 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Other engine problem | engine | 42 | 2 | — | 29k | — | 0.4 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 42 | 11 | 13k | 55k | 62k | 0.4 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Complete transmission failure | transmission | 39 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.4 | $2,800–$8,000 | Critical |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 32 | 2 | — | 206k | — | 0.3 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Sunroof failure or glass breakage | body | 20 | 2 | — | 13k | — | 0.2 | $700–$4,500 | High |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 19 | 3 | — | 24k | — | 0.2 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 16 | 4 | — | 925 | — | 0.2 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 16 | 3 | — | 38k | — | 0.2 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Lane keep or steering assist fault | adas | 13 | 2 | — | 5k | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,600 | High |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 12 | 1 | — | 102k | — | 0.1 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 10 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 10 | 3 | — | 4k | — | 0.1 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 10 | 1 | — | 612 | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $200–$900 | High |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 8 | 4 | — | 1k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Other steering problem | steering | 8 | 1 | — | 44k | — | 0.1 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Paint peeling or clear coat failure | body | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $600–$6,000 | Low |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Excessive oil consumption | engine | 6 | 2 | — | 86k | — | 0.1 | $900–$6,500 | High |
| Infotainment screen failure | infotainment | 6 | 1 | — | 20k | — | 0.1 | $400–$2,600 | Low |
| Backup camera failure | infotainment | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Rust or structural corrosion | body | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $500–$6,000 | High |
| Complete engine failure or seizure | engine | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $4,500–$12,000 | Critical |
| Overheating | cooling | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Fuel gauge or level sensor failure | fuel | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Audio or connectivity failure | infotainment | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $150–$900 | Low |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 3 | 2 | — | 27k | — | 0.0 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure | steering | 3 | 2 | — | 139k | — | 0.0 | $700–$2,600 | High |
| Oil leak | engine | 2 | 2 | — | 10k | — | 0.0 | $250–$2,200 | Moderate |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 2 | 1 | — | 105k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Lifter, cam or cylinder-deactivation failure | engine | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $1,800–$7,000 | High |
| Radiator or coolant leak | cooling | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,900 | High |
| Differential or transfer case failure | drivetrain | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $900–$4,200 | High |
| Alternator or charging system failure | electrical | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $450–$1,600 | High |
| Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure | electrical | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,500 | High |
| Airbag failed to deploy in a crash | airbag | 2 | 1 | — | 13k | — | 0.0 | $1,000–$5,000 | Critical |
| Steering column or shaft failure | steering | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $600–$2,500 | Critical |
| Tire blowout or tread separation | wheels | 2 | 1 | — | 80k | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,500 | Critical |
| Liftgate, tailgate or trunk failure | body | 2 | 1 | — | 12k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,500 | Moderate |
| Air conditioning failure | hvac | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $400–$2,800 | Moderate |
| Headlight failure or clouding | lighting | 2 | 1 | — | 20k | — | 0.0 | $150–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Software fault or failed update | software | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $0–$600 | Moderate |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 2 | 1 | — | 12k | — | 0.0 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Head gasket failure | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 75k | — | 0.0 | $1,400–$4,000 | Critical |
| Stalling while driving | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 167k | — | 0.0 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Engine knock or bearing noise | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $2,500–$9,000 | High |
| Turbocharger or supercharger failure | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $1,500–$4,500 | High |
| Transmission slipping | transmission | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $1,200–$5,500 | High |
| Transmission will not engage a gear | transmission | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $1,500–$6,000 | Critical |
| CVT failure | transmission | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $3,000–$8,500 | Critical |
| Shifter, linkage or stuck-in-park failure | transmission | 1 | 1 | — | 226k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,400 | High |
| CV axle or driveshaft failure | drivetrain | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $450–$2,200 | High |
| Parasitic battery drain | electrical | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Instrument cluster or gauge failure | infotainment | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Master cylinder or brake booster failure | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 84k | — | 0.0 | $450–$2,200 | Critical |
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| Loss of power steering | steering | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $600–$2,800 | Critical |
| Strut, shock or spring failure | suspension | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $500–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Alignment fault and uneven tire wear | suspension | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $150–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Door latch or handle failure | body | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,200 | High |
| Catalytic converter failure | emissions | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $900–$3,500 | Moderate |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Wiper or washer failure | glass | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $120–$800 | Moderate |
| Unclassified problem | other | 76 | 4 | — | 24k | — | 0.8 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2021 Toyota Highlander draws about 6.6 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 87th percentile of complaint rates among 2021 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 93,849 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2021 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
Recalls on the 2021 model year
NHTSA has issued 4 recall campaigns covering the 2021 Toyota Highlander, affecting an estimated 197,119 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover seats:mid/rear assembly:recliner, tires, air bags:sensor:occupant classification and structure:body:bumpers. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
One caution about reading these together: a recall usually raises the complaint count for the same part, because owners who read about it go and file. The mileages stay informative; the counts get noisy.
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
550,007 vehicles 2026-03-05- Defect
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The second-row seat backs may fail to lock into position during seat back adjustment.
- Consequence
- A seat back that fails to lock may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the return springs in the seat back recliner assemblies, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 9, 2026. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Toyota’s customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26TB06 and 26TA06.
TIRES
4,763 vehicles 2024-06-18- Defect
- Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Highlander vehicles. The 20-inch accessory tires with an insufficient load rating for the vehicle's Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) were installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
- Consequence
- Tires with an insufficient load rating can be overloaded and fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- SET will inspect and replace the tires and information placard, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 16, 2024. Owners may contact SET's customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET24A.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
999,901 vehicles 2023-12-20- Defect
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.
- Consequence
- An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Lexus 23LB03/23LA03.
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
750,795 vehicles 2023-10-26- Defect
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Highlander & Highlander Hybrid vehicles. During normal vehicle operation, minor impact to the front lower bumper cover may result in the cover coming loose or detaching.
- Consequence
- A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will repair or replace the upper and lower front bumper covers as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed April 22, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB12/23TA12.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2021 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Where 2021 sits in the model line
Severe risk for a 2021 — 100th riskiest of the 231 2021 vehicles we can rate. The comparison is always within the same model year, so an older car is never penalised for having had longer to break.
Across the 24 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2002 comes out best at 60 and 2019 worst at 82, with 2021 itself at 75.
If the model year is negotiable, 2002, 2003, 2001, 2004, 2014, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2008 and 2022 score lower than 2021 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2020–2026 generation specifically, 2022 is the strongest year at 72 and 2021 the weakest at 75.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2020-2026 generation, 2022 Toyota Highlander scores best at 72 and 2021 Toyota Highlander worst at 75.
What to look at before buying one
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other body or interior problem from about 13k.
On a 2021 Toyota Highlander with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other body or interior problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
Treat it as where to point the inspection, not as a prediction. A well-maintained example can sail past every mileage on this page, and a neglected one can fail well before the first of them.
The limits of complaint data
624 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 624 reports, 68 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 11% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
The failure modes are assigned by software reading the owner's own words, which is accurate in bulk and wrong in individual cases. A mode with a handful of reports may contain a misfiled one.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Toyota Highlander?
The most-reported failures are other powertrain problem (69 reports, median 100,000 miles), other brake problem (48 reports, median 5,000 miles) and other engine problem (42 reports, median 30,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2021 Toyota Highlander problems start?
Other body or interior problem is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 55,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 15,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 25,000 miles.
Is the 2021 Toyota Highlander reliable?
It scores 75 out of 100 on our risk index, which is severe — 100th riskiest of the 231 2021 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2021 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Toyota Highlander is best?
Within the 2020–2026 generation, 2022 scores best at 72 out of 100 and 2021 worst at 75. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed