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SeatsPart report

2021 Toyota Highlander Seats Problems

Complaints
5about this part
Share
1%of 533 total for the year
Median mileage
58,900miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the seats of the 2021 Toyota Highlander, 1% of the 533 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 58,900 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“My vehicle was rear-ended while stopped by a 2014 Toyota Corolla that was estimated to be traveling between 60-70 miles per hour. During the crash, the driver seat failed, resulting in the partially reclining into the second row passenger. The failure mechanism appears to be internal to the seatback, as the seat twisted during the failure, causing me to lean more towards the passenger side of the vehicle.”

NHTSA complaint #11622096, filed 2024-10

“I was vacuuming the second row carpet in my vehicle. I was leaning into my vehicle and pulled the second row seat release to move the seat back. The back of the seat flipped forward hitting me in the right side of my head so hard it resulted in a pinched nerve at C5-C6. It was a substantial blow. I had to stop what I was doing and sit down. I would be very concerned at that amount of force hitting a child. Has Toyota measured the force and done a risk analysis to the vehicle occupant?”

NHTSA complaint #11448773, filed 2022-01

“The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V128000 (Seats). The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact attempted to lower the second-row seats, and the seat failed to lock into position and failed to recline as intended. The vehicle was taken to a dealer approximately five months later when a remedy became available, and the recall repair was attempted, but the dealer stated that the spring was replaced; however, the spring did not allow for the second-row seat to latch or lock securely. …”

NHTSA complaint #11756472, filed 2026-08, 58,900 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Seats: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202425%
20232111%
2022145%
202151%
202021%
201961%
201821%
201731%
201644%
201542%
201421%
2013105%
201232%
201021%
200932%
200831%
200610%
200521%
200421%
200310%
200210%

Other parts of the 2021 Toyota Highlander

Transmission and drivetrain
228 complaints
Other or unknown
70 complaints
Brakes
68 complaints
Body and structure
52 complaints
Engine
47 complaints
Air bags
42 complaints
Fuel system
31 complaints
Electrical system
28 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
17 complaints
Forward collision avoidance
12 complaints
Steering
9 complaints
Vehicle speed control
9 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2021 Toyota Highlander

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 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