The Lemon Index2021 Toyota Highlander.
The 2021 Toyota Highlander is about average by owner complaints: 220 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 86, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about brakes, it has 4 recalls, and it gets 23 to 36 mpg combined. The best Toyota Highlander year is 2014.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 546 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Toyota Highlander year. 2021 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 2K to 58K miles on the car (51 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 4
- seats 2026
The second-row seat backs may fail to lock into position during seat back adjustment.
- tires 2024
The 20-inch accessory tires with an insufficient load rating for the vehicle's Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) were installed.
- airbags 2023
A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.
Show all 4 recalls
- body structure 2023
During normal vehicle operation, minor impact to the front lower bumper cover may result in the cover coming loose or detaching.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Toyota told dealers about
Toyota sent dealers 180 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Beginning with the 2021MY, Highlander models no longer have front underbody holes and…
- A seam near the fuel inlet may not have been properly sealed during manufacturing
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota HIGHLANDER SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota HIGHLANDER SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota HIGHLANDER HYBRID SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota HIGHLANDER HYBRID SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1800–2800 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Warning lights appeared while driving on city streets.
2021 Toyota Highlander owner · NHTSA complaint 11507424
More owner reports
Brakes temporarily fail at low speed when regenative brakes switch to hydraulic brakes.
NHTSA complaint 11502100
my car experiences intermittent acceleration when applying the breaks. It lunges forward for some reason. It has also not stopped when hitting the breaks hard but lunges as well. I am using the last date that this happened.
NHTSA complaint 11508626
Quick answers
Is the 2021 Toyota Highlander reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew 1.2× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 86; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Toyota Highlander year by this measure is 2014.
What are the most common 2021 Toyota Highlander problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are brakes (21%), airbags (13%) and body structure (13%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2021 Toyota Highlander have?
4 safety recalls (latest: seats). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Toyota Highlander get?
23 to 36 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2021 Toyota Highlander safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2021 Toyota Highlander problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 2,000 and 58,000 miles. The middle report was at 27,100 miles, from 51 complaints.
Does the 2021 Toyota Highlander have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 13% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2021 Toyota Highlander cost in fuel a year?
About $1800 to $2800 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2021 Toyota Highlander have?
2.5L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
What Toyota Highlander year is better than the 2021?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2014, 2016 and 2017.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works