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Check by VIN to confirm the
exact model and see every recall for it.
Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.
US recalls (4)
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.
Risk and remedy
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.
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."
Risk and remedy
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.
Air bags: sensor, occupant classification
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 and remedy
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.
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.
Risk and remedy
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.
Canadian recalls (4)
Show 4 Canadian recalls
Seats and restraints
2026-09-09 · campaign 2026-427
Issue:
On certain vehicles, the seatback recliners for the second-row seats may not have been manufactured properly. As a result, the seatback(s) may not lock in position and could move in a crash.
Note: This recall replaces Transport Canada recall No. 2026-101.
Safety Risk:
A seatback that moves could increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Corrective Action:
To reduce the safety risk, Toyota recommends not using the second-row seats to transport passengers until the recall repairs have been completed. Toyota will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the spring in the second-row seatback recliner assemblies.
Seats and restraints
2026-03-05 · campaign 2026-101
This recall was replaced by Transport Canada recall no. 2026-427.
Issue:
On certain vehicles, the seatback recliners for the second-row seats may not have been manufactured properly. As a result, the seatback(s) may not lock in position and could move in a crash.
Safety Risk:
A seatback that moves could increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Corrective Action:
To reduce the safety risk, Toyota recommends not using the second-row seats to transport passengers until the recall repairs have been completed. Toyota will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the spring in the second-row seatback recliner assemblies.
Airbag
2023-12-20 · campaign 2023-684
Issue:
On certain vehicles, a sensor for the occupant classification system (OCS) may not have been manufactured properly. As a result, the sensor could short circuit and cause the airbag system to turn off the passenger-front airbag even when a passenger is seated.
Note: This problem would cause a warning message to display on the instrument panel and the airbag indicator light would display "passenger airbag off".
Safety Risk:
An airbag that is turned off could increase the risk of injury to a passenger in a crash.
Corrective Actions:
Toyota will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to inspect and, if necessary, replace the OCS sensor.
Structure
2023-10-26 · campaign 2023-574
Issue:
On certain vehicles, the front lower bumper cover may not be attached properly. As a result, if there is a minor impact to the front bumper, the lower bumper cover, engine under cover, and the fender liners could separate from the vehicle while driving.
Safety Risk:
Parts that detach from the vehicle could create a road hazard for others and increase the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:
Toyota will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to inspect the front bumper cover and secure it. If damage is found, the dealer will also replace the upper and/or lower front bumper cover(s).
Owner complaints (533)
Owners filed 533 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Toyota Highlander (17 crashes, 4 fires, 19 injuries reported). Among 28 model years of this model, it ranks #1 for the most complaints (median 207).
| Most-reported problem | Complaints | |
|---|
| Power train | 228 | |
| Service brakes | 67 | |
| Unknown or other | 67 | |
| Structure | 52 | |
| Engine | 47 | |
| Air bags | 42 | |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 31 | |
| Electrical system | 28 | |
Crash test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2021 Toyota Highlander.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|
| 2021 Toyota HIGHLANDER SUV FWD | 5★ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ |
| 2021 Toyota HIGHLANDER SUV AWD | 5★ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ |
Fuel economy
EPA ratings for each 2021 Toyota Highlander version.
| Version | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined | Yearly fuel cost |
|---|
| Highlander 3.5 L Automatic (S8) | 20 | 28 | 23 | $2,900 |
| Highlander 3.5 L Automatic (S8) | 21 | 29 | 24 | $2,800 |
| Highlander AWD 3.5 L Automatic (S8) | 20 | 27 | 23 | $2,900 |
| Highlander Hybrid 2.5 L Automatic (AV-S6) | 36 | 35 | 36 | $1,850 |
| Highlander Hybrid AWD 2.5 L Automatic (AV-S6) | 35 | 35 | 35 | $1,900 |
| Highlander Hybrid AWD LTD/PLAT 2.5 L Automatic (AV-S6) | 35 | 34 | 35 | $1,900 |
Need this data in your app?
Recalls, complaints, crash ratings and fuel economy as a JSON API. Decode up to 50 VINs per call and get a daily feed of new recalls.
Explore the API →Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport
Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada).
Recalls updated 2026-10-30.