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Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2021 Toyota Highlander recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2021 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 5
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 546
Latest campaign: Mar 5, 2026

Recall summary by component5

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Seats	1	Mar 5, 2026	26V128000
Tires	1	Jun 18, 2024	24V452000
Air bags	1	Dec 20, 2023	23V865000
Structure	1	Oct 26, 2023	23V720000
Electronic stability control (ESC)	1	Apr 13, 2022	22V239000

Safety recalls5

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Mar 5, 2026Latest campaign


Mar 5, 202626V128000	Seats: mid/rear assembly recliner A seat back that fails to lock may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. DetailsHide details for campaign 26V128000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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. Filed under Highlander, Highlander Hybrid Campaign NHTSA 26V128000 · Mar 5, 2026
Jun 18, 202424V452000	Tires Tires with an insufficient load rating can be overloaded and fail, increasing the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 24V452000 What's wrong 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." Risk 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. Filed under Highlander Campaign NHTSA 24V452000 · Jun 18, 2024
Dec 20, 202323V865000	Air bags: sensor occupant classification An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury. DetailsHide details for campaign 23V865000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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. Filed under Highlander, Highlander Hybrid Campaign NHTSA 23V865000 · Dec 20, 2023
Oct 26, 202323V720000	Structure: body bumpers A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 23V720000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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. Filed under Highlander, Highlander Hybrid Campaign NHTSA 23V720000 · Oct 26, 2023
Apr 13, 202222V239000	Electronic stability control (ESC): control module software Driving with a deactivated stability control system increases the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 22V239000 What's wrong Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022 Lexus LX 600, Lexus NX 350h, Lexus NX 450h+, Toytoa RAV4 Hybrid, 2021-2022 Lexus LS 500h, Toyota Mirai, RAV4 PRIME, Sienna, Venza, and 2020-2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The Skid Control ECU software may not turn on the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system when the vehicle is restarted after the driver has disabled the VSC system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems." Risk Driving with a deactivated stability control system increases the risk of a crash. Remedy Dealers will update the Skid Control ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 22TA03. Lexus' number for this recall is 22LA01. Filed under Highlander Hybrid Campaign NHTSA 22V239000 · Apr 13, 2022

Merged from NHTSA model names: Highlander, Highlander Hybrid. Not every vehicle of a model year is affected by every campaign.

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Toyota recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Buying a used 2021 Toyota Highlander? Recalls cover the model; a history report checks one car's title, odometer and accident records. VinAudit history report → Sponsored · disclosure

Owner complaints by component546

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

546Complaints filed

16Involving a crash

4Involving a fire

18Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Power train	227	42	3	0	3
Service brakes	69	13	4	0	5
Unknown or other	67	12	3	3	1
Structure	56	10	1	0	3
Air bags	50	9	5	0	5
Engine	47	9	3	2	2
Fuel/propulsion system	32	6	2	0	0
Electrical system	29	5	0	2	0
Forward collision avoidance	12	2	2	0	1
Visibility/wiper	10	2	0	0	0
Steering	9	2	2	0	4
Vehicle speed control	9	2	0	0	2
Exterior lighting	8	1	0	0	0
Lane departure	8	1	0	0	0
Tires	8	1	1	0	0

15 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number, merged from NHTSA model names Highlander, Highlander Hybrid.

Latest reports

Electrical system
“On November 19, 2025, the 12.3-inch infotainment display in my 2021 Toyota Highlander Limited went black and never recovered. That screen is the only display for the rear-view backup camera.”
Filed 10/11/2026 · ODI 11770380
Power train
“The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a loud high-pitched whining sound coming from the vehicle.”
Filed 10/09/2026 · ODI 11770086
Power train
“Noticed a whine noise slowly progressing over a couple of weeks. Researched the sound and took it for diagnostic eval. with Holman Toyota in Mt. Laurel, NJ on 10/3/2026. As suspected, the transmission is failing.”
Filed 10/06/2026 · ODI 11769405

Other Toyota Highlander model years

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2021 Toyota Highlander recall questions

How many recalls does the 2021 Toyota Highlander have?

NHTSA lists 5 safety recall campaigns for the 2021 Toyota Highlander. The most recent, 26V128000 (reported March 5, 2026), concerns seats. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What is the most common complaint about the 2021 Toyota Highlander?

Power train is the most-reported component, named in 227 complaints out of 546 filed with NHTSA (42%). Across all complaints, owners reported 16 crashs and 4 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2021 Toyota Highlander?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Toyota recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Toyota dealer.

Check a specific Toyota by VIN

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Recall summary by component5

Safety recalls5

Seats: mid/rear assembly recliner

Tires

Air bags: sensor occupant classification

Structure: body bumpers

Electronic stability control (ESC): control module software