2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (7) · Structure (3) · Vehicle Speed Control (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Toyota Highlander Hybrid model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (4)
Seats:mid/Rear Assembly:recliner 2026-03-05 · campaign 26V128000 · 686,588 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Fix: 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.
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification 2023-12-20 · campaign 23V865000 · 999,901 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Fix: 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.
Structure:body:bumpers 2023-10-26 · campaign 23V720000 · 750,795 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Fix: 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.
Electronic Stability Control (Esc):control Module:software 2022-04-13 · campaign 22V239000 · 458,110 vehicles
Defect: 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 Vehic
Risk: Driving with a deactivated stability control system increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (159)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-08-20 · T-SB-0110-20 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
obsolete notice august 20, 2026: this bulletin is now obsolete. please see t-sb-0051-26.
Engine 2026-08-11 · 24TE04 · Warranty Program/Extension
although the flow shut-off valve is covered by toyota’s new vehicle limited warranty for 36 months or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at toyota care about the customers’ ownership experience. toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to flow shut-off valve coolant leak.
Structure:body 2026-06-25 · T-SB-0040-24 Rev1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2020 – 2026 model year highlander and highlander hybrid vehicles may exhibit a water leak from the roof rack attachment clips. this may be caused by the sealant in the roof channel obstructing the proper seating position for the clip gasket.
Electrical System 2026-05-14 · 22TE09 · Warranty Program/Extension
although the hv floor under wire harness and rear traction motor cable is covered by toyota’s new vehicle limited warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at toyota care about the customers’ ownership experience. toyota is providing extended coverage under this customer suppo
Electrical System 2026-03-18 · T-SB-0021-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2020 – 2024 model year highlander and highlander hybrid vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the air conditioner does not cool due to a leak and/or corrosion in the rear underbody air conditioner tube and accessory assembly. the anti-corrosion material has been updated to reduce the possib
Engine 2026-02-27 · T-SB-0104-21 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
obsolete notice february 27, 2026: this bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
Showing the 6 most recent of 159 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-02-26 · Electrical System · 77,900 mi“the contact owns a 2021 toyota highlander hybrid. the contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the instrument panel lights were flashing. the vehicle then independently turned off and restarted repeatedly. the vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was determined that the battery level was low and needed to be replaced. the battery was rep…”
2025-10-29 · Structure:body:hatchback/Liftgate:support Device/Strut · 50,000 mi“the contact owns a 2021 toyota highlander hybrid. the contact stated that the hatchback failed to open completely. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the dealer recommended that the hatchback motor be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vin was not included in …”
2025-06-24 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2021 toyota highlander hybrid. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v865000 (air bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the local dealer was contacted. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer…”
2025-06-23 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 6,000 mi“the contact owns a 2021 toyota highlander hybrid. the contact stated that while driving at slower speeds, the braking system experienced intermittent brake failures, causing the brakes to erroneously release while being depressed. during the failure, the vehicle unintendedly lurched forward. the vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable…”
2025-01-13 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2021 toyota highlander hybrid. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v865000 (air bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. the cont…”
2024-12-12 · Air Bags · 31,000 mi“the contact owns a 2021 toyota highlander hybrid. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v865000 (air bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the master warning light remained illuminated. the vehicle was taken to a local dealer for routin…”
2024-11-01 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2021 toyota highlander hybrid. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired nhtsa campaign number: 23v865000 (air bags); and the vehicle was partially repaired. additionally, the contact was informed that the air bag sensor had been deactivated until the recall repair was completed. the contact state…”
2024-10-23 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2021 toyota highlander hybrid. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v865000 (air bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. the cont…”
2024-10-10 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2021 toyota highlander hybrid. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v865000 (air bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. the …”
2024-09-19 · Structure“the contact owns a 2021 toyota highlander hybrid. the contact received notifications of nhtsa campaign numbers: 23v720000 (structure) and 23v865000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. the local dealer was contacted. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.