Toyota Highlander Complaints (2021)

550 consumer complaints on file.

#11659944May 9, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY
Roof rails leak and allow water to enter the head liner and the air bags in the support arms of the cabin. Toyota has a Toyota Service Bulletin related to this but they and their dealers will not fix this. It would seem to be an issue if the air bags do not function as intended due to Toyota ignoring a manufacturing defect on their vehicles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11659136May 6, 2025
POWER TRAIN
Transmission was making a wine noise. Little grind but winey noise. Went away. Came back few min later at shifting and went away thank went home
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11658625May 3, 2025
POWER TRAIN
Around 76k miles, a whining occurs upon accelerating. Hear ever so slightly in 1st gear. Gradually is more evident as the speed increases. At 78k I decided it was definitely getting louder and was concerned after researching and learning that MULTIPLE 2021 Highlanders have needed transmissions replaced. I brought it in to a mechanic who searched for every possible problem, but ultimately came back to tell me it is my transmission failing.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11658464May 2, 2025
POWER TRAIN
Engine/Transmission 'whining' noise upon acceleration. We cannot drive it, three places said we shouldn't - it will only get worse, and eventually fail. No one knows when. My wife was driving on interstate when it firsts occurred, she couldn't get to the side fast enough. My wife feels unsafe driving it alone and with our young son. We are receiving very high quotes - despite the fact that they don't seem to be doing any real diagnostics. It seems to be a well known problem that only Toyota can address, as their design seems to have caused this dangerous problem and their supply chain issues seem to be common knowledge to many in the industry. Toyota service tells us at least a two month wait for a new transmission to arrive. Then three of four days to install. My wife feels very unsafe driving this vehicle knowing it could just stop operation at any time.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11657685April 30, 2025
POWER TRAIN
While driving the vehicle will wobble, shake and make grinding noises at lower speeds and at higher speeds.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11657416April 29, 2025
POWER TRAIN
The transmission has a whining noise caused by the front carrier pinion shafts. There is a TSB out for the transmission issue. Transmission has been inspected by a technician. No warnings - the noise was a warning I suppose. It first appeared in March 2025.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11657246April 28, 2025
POWER TRAIN
The transmission started to make a higher pitch sound when accelerating. We brought the vehicle in for evaluation @ 70,500 miles. We were advised the vehicle needed a new transmission for $ 9,900.00 Not even 4 years old, and Toyota Warrantee department said past the 60K drive train warranty so no support from them.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11656617April 24, 2025
TIRES:SIDEWALL
P 235 / 55 R 20 This tire has developed a sidewall bulge. It has always been properly inflated. I currently have the tire but the manufacturer has requested that I send it to them.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11656614April 24, 2025
TIRES:SIDEWALL
P 235 / 55 R 20 The sidewall blew out on the highway. I did not hit any road hazards and the tires were properly inflated. I have the tire now but Continental has requested I ship it to them.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11656004April 22, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY TRUNK WILL NOT OPEN OR CLOSE PROPERLY FAULTY SENSORS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11655651April 19, 2025
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My SUV is having issues with the tires air and also the sensors are not working properly
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11655077April 16, 2025
STEERING
Was driving and all of a sudden ‘steering power low’ came on and engine died, got stuck in a busy intersection and needed assistance from police officer until I could be towed. Steering did not work to push car to side of the road so I was stuck in the center of the traffic. There was absolutely no lights or warnings before the steering power low and it died. Could have been very dangerous, I am supposed to drive north through the mountains to go camping in 2 days, lucky it didn’t happen then. At the mechanic now and they jumped the battery and say it’s working fine and they can’t find the problem.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11654844April 15, 2025
POWER TRAIN
There is a whining noise that occurs when the car is accelerating. At times, there car will skip when accelerating. There is also a vibration. I was informed the issue is with the transmission. A bad transmission can make driving very difficult, potentially causing the vehicle to stall or become unresponsive, and can be a safety concern. I drive my child to school daily, over an hour from our home, and drive to homes to provide hospice care to terminally ill patients. This issue causes great concern, both financially and for safety.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11654760April 15, 2025
POWER TRAIN
There is a TSB about the transmission whine between certain serial numbers. My transmission was outside of the range but started whining. I took it to the Toyota dealership and they advised me that the transmission needs to be replaced.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11654713April 15, 2025
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. 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 was made aware of the issue and a case was filed. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11654176April 11, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
Windshield side beveled trim driver’s side snapped and flew off on the highway into oncoming traffic and the passenger side is also loss and almost coming off.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11653870April 10, 2025
POWER TRAIN
The transmission is whining at medium speeds of 30-35 mph. The transmission started making the noise about 3 weeks ago. It appears that Toyota was aware of the potential defect in the transmission as Toyota issued a technical service bulletin (T-SB-008-21 and NHTSA # 10188917) on February 9, 2021. The TSB was sent to dealerships 17 days before we purchased the vehicle. Toyota took no steps to notify the owners or to prevent the sale of the vehicle with a know defective transmission. The TSB said the only cure to the defect was a transmission replacement. Toyota offered no extension for this drivetrain defect beyond the standard 60 month/60,000 mile warranty. Our vehicle is just outside of these parameters at 70k miles. The vehicle should not have been sold with know defects in the transmission and Toyota at the very least should offer to extend the standard warranty.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11652968April 5, 2025
AIR BAGS
I am reporting that the fix for NHTSA recall #23V-865, Toyota recall #23TA15 has not been done in a timely manner & I am concerned for the safety of my passengers. The recall info came out December 2023 & Toyota was supposed to have a fix 3rd quarter 2024. We are now in 2nd quarter 2025 & there is still no fix. This is unacceptable. Again, I am concerned for the safety of my passengers, one of which is my elderly mother-in-law who has difficulty getting in & out of the back seat.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11652936April 5, 2025
POWER TRAIN
Transmission is producing a whining noise during acceleration. Very common with this model transmission.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11652631April 3, 2025
ENGINE
TRANSMISSION, Jolts when backing up, and hesitates in traffic. The dealership confirmed it's the transmission. No warning lights, just running poorly with hesitation, afraid of breakdown. First appear a month ago after my warranty expired. I have a 2021 Highlander with 80,000 miles and still owe $22,992.84 on the vehicle. My warranty 60/60,000 is of is not any good. The issues is the transmission. The dealership is telling me it's not covered even though this is an issue with this model. For a another $11,000 they can install a new transmission. Toyota you are better then this, my Camry I had almost 300,000 on it. I had another highlander before this one. Very disappointed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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