2021 Toyota Highlander Problems and Complaints

Users Opinions on 2021 Toyota Highlander

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Disliked by Users

W
Wally
• 24/03/2023
Rating:
(1 Out Of 5 stars)
... 171000 miles on it and it doesn’t make the growling noise my 2021 Highlander with 9000 miles on it makes when the AC cycles. I called Toyota Care and they don’t send out a factory representative to have a look at it but rely on the dealership Machanic to determine if it is normal or not. Toyota care is not what it use to be. Quality of Toyota has hit a new low. No longer the quality car they use to make.Read More
Source: edmunds
HD
Highlander is a Downer
• 04/10/2021
Rating:
(2 Out Of 5 stars)
... and rain when your door seal is just inches away from your tires or the ground if you are traveling at any speed at all. BTW, our speed on the muddy road never exceeded 20 mph as it was a narrow forest service trail access road. We're not alone. While we were at the dealer to have this looked at another new 2021 Highlander owner came to us andRead More
Source: edmunds
V
V.
• 28/09/2021
Rating:
(1 Out Of 5 stars)
Toyota has a reputation for quality and reliability -- this is absolutely untrue today. The car was poorly build at the factory with inner doors not fully painted, dents, and more troubling the car was built without a plug installed for the safety system harness. The car never functioned properly since day 1. The selling dealership New Country Toyota of Westport, CT, committedRead More
Source: edmunds

D. Dave

Content Writer,

Updated on August 7, 2024

Reliability is and never has been a concern when it comes to Toyota. The 2021 Toyota Highlander characterizes by the same. With a cabin offering high standards of comfort and luxury, Toyota bids a best-in-class experience with the Highlander. The SUV comes across flaws ranging from defective fuel tanks to engine issues. However, the Highlander shows no signs of a major problem leading to any recalls. NHTSA confirms the same with a record of 58 complaints and 0 recalls registered for the 2021 model year. Hence earning a 5-star NHTSA safety rating. Toyota further gains customer trust with prompt and guaranteed after-sales services. The Highlander competes in the SUV class with heavyweights like the Hyundai Palisade, the Ford Explorer, and the Kia Telluride. The Highlander ranks 3rd in the CarHp list for top-10 mid-sized SUVs of 2021. Let’s get a closer look at the SUV.

User Complaints and Problems

Mechanical Problems

Engine: The Toyota Highlander users are subject to engine stalling under driving conditions. Customers report the auto-start-stop feature to result in engine stalling. Sudden loss of speed puts the vehicle at risk of crashing.
Brakes: 2021 Highlander users report instances of brake slips. Brake slip results in inefficient braking requiring the operator to pump the pedal. Delayed braking poses a threat of crashing.
Accelerator: As per registered complaints, the Toyota Highlander is prone to uncommanded acceleration. The SUV tends to speed up without any user input. Customers also report instances of the SUV accelerating on the application of brakes. Unintended acceleration increases the risks for both the operator and the fellow motorists.
Fuel tank: A major complaint with the 2021 Toyota Highlander is that of defective gas tanks. As per official details, the SUV sports a fuel tank capacity of 17 gallons. But the user complaints report the SUV holding no more than 13 gallons of fuel. This compromises the fuel mileage and efficiency of the SUV.
Body: The SUV body frame tends to experience heavy vibrations while idling. This results in the loosening of body accessories such as the side-view mirrors.

Electrical Problems

Driver aids: Electrical problems with the Highlander relate to the driver assists. Lane assist and auto-emergency-braking(AEB) malfunctions are the most common with the SUV. Lane assist malfunctions result in swerving the rear end of the SUV from side to side. AEB malfunctions lead to abrupt braking. Both these issues increase the risk of crashing.

Exterior Problems

Sunroof/ moonroof: The highlander comes across the common problem of shattering or explosion of the SUV sunroof/moonroof. This is usually followed by a loud sound which can distract the driver. The problem increases the risk of crashing under driving conditions. Toyota claims environmental pressure and temperature variations to be the main cause.

Recalls

For Toyota, durability, and reliability come as the utmost priority. The manufacturer also shows a steadfast approach to recalls. The 2021 Toyota Highlander comes across a fair share of problems and complaints. However, Toyota gives a vote of assurance with no major problems forcing any recalls. As per the NHTSA records, the 2021 Highlander records 58 user complaints but no recalls. Compared to its rivals, the Highlander maintains a clean record whereas. The Ford Explorer tops the list with 4 recalls recorded. Both the Hyundai Palisade and the Kia Telluride register 1 recall each.

Should you buy the 2021 Toyota Highlander?

The 2021 Toyota Highlander establishes itself firmly in the mid-size SUV segment. With the perfect blend of comfort, practicality, and versatility, the Highlander is an ideal option for a family vehicle. With a wide range of features, Toyota adds more to the SUV experience for the users. The Highlander is prone to driver aid malfunctions and defective fuel tank complaints. However, there are no major problems with the car and hence the clean record of recalls for the 2021 model year. NHTSA approves the SUV with a 5-star safety rating. The 2021 Toyota highlander earns the CarHp nod of approval.