2021 Toyota Highlander Other or unknown Problems
- Complaints
- 70about this part
- Share
- 13%of 533 total for the year
- Median mileage
- —not reported
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 70 complaints about the other or unknown of the 2021 Toyota Highlander, 13% of the 533 complaints for this model year. 3 of these say a crash was involved and 3 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Have been having issues with my 2021 highlander power liftgate strut failure. It will not open at times unless you have to repeat pressing the button. It makes a noise that you know it is definitely not working right. This has been going on for three years and the service department keeps telling me it is working fine for right now...”
NHTSA complaint #11746523, filed 2026-06“My sunroof exploded. I reported it to Toyota USA and dropped my car off at the local Toyota dealership. We had to shut the sun shade to keep glass from falling in on us. The SUV is still in the shop and we have not heard back from them yet. I did not call the police or insurance yet. There was no warning. Nothing hit it. It just exploded.”
NHTSA complaint #11446810, filed 2022-01“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11677424, filed 2025-07“On May 24th I was driving back to work form my lunch break, had to make an additional stop before going back and in the moment I was to make a right suddenly the car would not stop or turn, no light were on at the moment, now the car is a total loss and I went trough the scariest time of my life after running into mangroves”
NHTSA complaint #11466327, filed 2022-05“Several minutes after leaving my vehicle once I parked and shut the engine routinely, it rolls back a hundred feet and crashes into another vehicle. When I come back I became aware of this as I noticed the back of the driver side of my vehicle is lodged into the side of another vehicle. This caused damage to both vehicles.”
NHTSA complaint #11474288, filed 2022-07Related service bulletins
- 11028712Jan 7, 2026Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate…
- 10249327Dec 19, 2024TT: Engine Oil Leak between the Lower Oil Pan and Crank Case
- 11010367Oct 25, 202422TD02 Renotification Letter Certain 2021 Model Year Highlander and Highlander Hybrid Vehicles Sealant for a Seam near the Fuel Inlet Limited Service Campaign 22TD02
- 11010348Oct 15, 2024Toyota plans to conduct Safety Recall and Service Campaign follow-up notifications to owners whose vehicles have not yet had the following Safety Recall or Service Campaign…
- 11010347Oct 15, 2024Service Campaign completion is an important part of our commitment to customer satisfaction of Toyota products. Toyota will be conducting follow-up notifications to remind owners…
- 11005115Jun 17, 2024Toyota plans to conduct Safety Recall and Service Campaign follow-up notifications to owners whose vehicles have not yet had the following Safety Recall and/or Service Campaign…
- 11005114Jun 17, 2024Safety Recall and Service Campaign completion is an important part of our commitment to customer satisfaction of Toyota products. Toyota will be conducting follow-up…
- 11005057Jun 17, 2024Toyota plans to conduct Safety Recall and Service Campaign follow-up notifications to owners whose vehicles have not yet had the following Safety Recall and/or Service Campaign…
- 11005056Jun 17, 2024Safety Recall and Service Campaign completion is an important part of our commitment to customer satisfaction of Toyota products. Toyota will be conducting follow-up…
- 10252259Feb 20, 2024TSB: Some 2018 ? 2022 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System require a Special Service Tool (SST) USB flash drive to update the…
Other or unknown: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 20% |
| 2024 | 14 | 33% |
| 2023 | 40 | 21% |
| 2022 | 42 | 16% |
| 2021 | 70 | 13% |
| 2020 | 45 | 14% |
| 2019 | 83 | 16% |
| 2018 | 45 | 17% |
| 2017 | 55 | 20% |
| 2016 | 21 | 19% |
| 2015 | 43 | 22% |
| 2014 | 33 | 24% |
| 2013 | 23 | 11% |
| 2012 | 24 | 13% |
| 2011 | 14 | 8% |
| 2010 | 16 | 7% |
| 2009 | 7 | 5% |
| 2008 | 18 | 4% |
| 2007 | 10 | 8% |
| 2006 | 10 | 4% |
| 2005 | 8 | 4% |
| 2004 | 6 | 2% |
| 2003 | 11 | 4% |
| 2002 | 14 | 5% |
| 2001 | 5 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2021 Toyota Highlander
228 complaintsBrakes
68 complaintsBody and structure
52 complaintsEngine
47 complaintsAir bags
42 complaintsFuel system
31 complaintsElectrical system
28 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
17 complaintsForward collision avoidance
12 complaintsSteering
9 complaintsVehicle speed control
9 complaintsExterior lighting
8 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2021 Toyota Highlander
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology