2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Recalls, Complaints & Specs
4 safety recalls list the 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, and owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
4 safety recalls for the 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Recliner (seats)
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.
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…
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Occupant classification (air bags)
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…
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.…
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Bumpers (structure)
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.
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…
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Software (electronic stability control (esc))
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…
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…
15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 27,502 miles. Complaints peaked in 2024 with 9 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 26, 2026 · Electrical system
“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 mo”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 29, 2025 · Structure
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2021 Toyota Highlander (Highlander AWD, Highlander Hybrid, Highlander Hybrid AWD, Highlander Hybrid AWD LTD/PLAT). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 23–36 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 20–36 / 27–35 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2.5/3.5 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (AV-S6); Automatic (S8) |
Compare Toyota Highlander Hybrid model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Toyota Highlander Hybrid model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | 1 | 0 |
| 2005 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | 1 | 1 |
| 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | 6 | 370 |
| 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | 2 | 110 |
| 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | 6 | 197 |
| 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | 4 | 40 |
| 2010 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | 4 | 22 |
| 2011 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | 1 | 5 |
| 2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | 0 | 9 |
| 2013 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | 0 | 5 |
| 2014 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | 1 | 2 |
| 2015 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | 0 | 4 |
| 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | 0 | 6 |
| 2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | 2 | 3 |
| 2018 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | 0 | 5 |
| 2019 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | 0 | 6 |
| 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | 4 | 9 |
| 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | 4 | 15 |
| 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | 4 | 6 |
| 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | 6 | 9 |
| 2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | 4 | 0 |
| 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | 3 | 0 |
Checking a specific 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
How do I know if my 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Toyota dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 22V239000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Toyota models
- Camry18,189 complaints
- Prius12,516 complaints
- Corolla11,739 complaints
- RAV49,385 complaints
- Sienna8,549 complaints
- Tacoma8,440 complaints
- Tundra6,922 complaints
- Highlander5,745 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.