Toyota · Known Issues
2021 Toyota Highlander Problems: 12 Known Issues
2021 model year · 920+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2021 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
2021 model year · 920+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2021 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
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According to Au7o's analysis of 920+ owner reports, the 2021 Toyota Highlander has 12 documented known issues, with 3 rated critical. The most serious are UA80 8-Speed Transmission Whine/Grind — Front Carrier Pinion Shaft Failure ($0-$12,000 repair), Second-Row Seat Back May Fail to Lock (Recall 26V-128) ($0-$0 repair) and Occupant Classification System (OCS) Sensor Short Circuit — Front Passenger Air Bag Will Not Deploy (Recall 23V865000) ($0-$1,300 repair). The most commonly reported issue is 8-Speed Automatic Transmission Shudder and Hesitation with 920 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $100 to $12,000. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2022 4Runner, Tacoma, Highlander, and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The load carrying capacity modification labels may not be permanent and can fade, becoming illegible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
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.
TIRES
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2022-2024 model year Highlander L and Highlander LE vehicles equipped with the Blackout Package that includes 20" black alloy wheels and tires. The installed tires have an insufficient load rating. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
TIRES
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."
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The second-row seat backs may fail to lock into position during seat back adjustment.
+ 9 more recalls. Check all on NHTSA.gov
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According to Au7o's analysis of 920+ owner reports, the 2021 Toyota Highlander has 12 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: UA80 8-Speed Transmission Whine/Grind — Front Carrier Pinion Shaft Failure, Second-Row Seat Back May Fail to Lock (Recall 26V-128), Occupant Classification System (OCS) Sensor Short Circuit — Front Passenger Air Bag Will Not Deploy (Recall 23V865000). Of these, 3 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
The 2021 Toyota Highlander has 12 known issues documented across 920+ owner reports. 3 issues are rated critical: UA80 8-Speed Transmission Whine/Grind — Front Carrier Pinion Shaft Failure and Second-Row Seat Back May Fail to Lock (Recall 26V-128) and Occupant Classification System (OCS) Sensor Short Circuit — Front Passenger Air Bag Will Not Deploy (Recall 23V865000). Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
Repair costs for known Toyota Highlander issues range from $0 to $12,000, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, UA80 8-Speed Transmission Whine/Grind — Front Carrier Pinion Shaft Failure, typically costs $0-$12,000 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
The UA80E/UA80F 8-speed automatic in V6 Highlanders can develop a whine or grind noise traced to defective front carrier assembly pinion shafts/bearings. As the bearings delaminate they shed metal debris through the fluid, which can progressively damage the torque converter and t… Repairs typically run $0-$12,000. Severity: high.
Toyota recalled approximately 550,007 model-year 2021-2024 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid SUVs (NHTSA 26V-128) because the second-row seat-back recliner teeth may not fully engage when the seat back is adjusted, due to a supplier design change to the recliner guide/ratchet comb… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: high.
The front passenger seat on 2020-2022 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles carries an Occupant Classification System sensor mat that weighs the occupant and tells the air bag control module whether — and how hard — to fire the passenger air bag. Improperly manufactured senso… Repairs typically run $0-$1,300. Severity: high.
The Direct Shift 8AT transmission in 4th-gen Highlanders exhibits shudder, hesitation on acceleration, and rough downshifts. The torque converter lockup clutch causes vibration at low speeds, particularly between 25-45 mph. Repairs typically run $0-$2,500. Severity: medium.
On 2020-2021 Highlander Hybrids a fuel-tank venting/charcoal-canister defect causes the gas pump's automatic shut-off to trigger prematurely. The advertised 17.1-gallon tank typically accepts only ~12-14 gallons from empty before the nozzle clicks off, and forcing more fuel can c… Repairs typically run $0-$1,200. Severity: medium.
Fourth-generation Highlanders and Highlander Hybrids repeatedly kill their 12V battery while parked, sometimes over just a few days and often with a battery only weeks old. Owners on ToyotaNation trace it to modules that never go to sleep: the Data Communication Module (the telem… Repairs typically run $100-$700. Severity: medium.
On 2020-2022 Highlander Hybrid vehicles the Skid Control ECU software does not turn Vehicle Stability Control back on when the vehicle is restarted after the driver has manually switched VSC off. The car therefore restarts with stability control still disabled, which does not com… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: medium.
Owners report steering-wheel shimmy and brake-pedal pulsation from warped/unevenly-deposited front rotors at surprisingly low mileage (some as early as 10,000–37,000 miles). The mechanism is usually uneven pad-material transfer ('rotor painting') from heat rather than literal war… Repairs typically run $250-$700. Severity: medium.
The front-mounted A/C condenser on the Highlander is built with thin fins/tubes that owners say cannot survive a stray rock, so it develops small refrigerant leaks and loses cooling — and because the condenser sits low and forward, it gets struck more often than on many vehicles. Repairs typically run $600-$1,100. Severity: medium.
Owners of Toyota Safety Sense-equipped Highlanders frequently report the windshield cracking easily from minor stone chips, and the replacement is far more involved and expensive than a traditional windshield because the forward camera below the rearview mirror (used for pre-coll… Repairs typically run $350-$1,100. Severity: medium.
Fourth-generation (XU70) Highlanders with the panoramic/twin-panel moonroof are widely reported to develop a rattle or creaking noise over bumps and on angled driveway approaches, caused by the glass and seal rubbing against the folded sheet-metal roof edge. A separate but relate… Repairs typically run $0-$600. Severity: low.
Fourth-generation Highlander owners widely report excessive wind noise that intensifies at highway speed (typically 40 mph and up) — a whistle near the windshield/upper A-pillar or sunroof area and noise off the exterior mirror housings — which Toyota has acknowledged as a poor-s… Repairs typically run $0-$250. Severity: low.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.