Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2021 Toyota Highlander
NHTSA data on file today
The 2021 Toyota Highlander has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 535 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #26V128000 Second-Row Seat Backs May Fail to Lock NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V452000 Tires with Insufficient Load Rating/FMVSS 110 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V865000 OCS Sensors May Short Circuit NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V720000 Front Bumper Assembly May Detach NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 229 complaints
- Service Brakes 67 complaints
- Unknown or Other 67 complaints
- Structure 52 complaints
- Engine 47 complaints
- Air Bags 42 complaints
Of the 535 complaints on file, 17 report a crash and 4 a fire; across all 535 complaints, owners report 19 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $8,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2021 Toyota Highlander faces several recalls, particularly with seat assembly and airbag sensors, alongside numerous drivetrain complaints. While solid overall, reliability concerns lower its rating to average.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| power train | 30,000–60,000 miles | $1,500–$3,000 | common |
| service brakes | 40,000–70,000 miles | $300–$600 | occasional |
| engine | 50,000–80,000 miles | $500–$2,500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- oil and filter changes
- tire rotation and balance
- air filter replacement
- brake fluid checks
- coolant system maintenance
- transmission fluid checks
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- drivetrain noise at low speeds
- brake pedal softness
- engine knocking sounds
- frequent electrical issue warnings
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2021 Toyota Highlander at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.