2021 Toyota Highlander — Known Issues & Recalls

Your transmission failed at 55,803 miles while you were driving. You noticed an abnormal whining sound that got louder as you accelerated, but no warning light appeared on your dashboard. The dealer confirmed the transmission had failed internally. The fix will likely require transmission repair or replacement.

Your 2021 Toyota Highlander's transmission started making unusual whining sounds around 60,000-70,000 miles and eventually failed. A transmission shop recommends rebuilding it rather than replacing it, citing poor design and known issues with this transmission. The repair cost is approximately $8,000.

Your transmission is making an abnormal whining noise during acceleration and has been diagnosed by your Toyota dealer as failing. The dealer recommends a full transmission replacement due to concerns that the transmission could suddenly lose power while you're driving, which could be unsafe. This issue started recently and matches a known Toyota technical bulletin for 2021 Highlanders with UA80-series transmissions. Fixing this will likely require replacing the entire transmission assembly.

While driving to a stop light, you heard a rattling noise and then all the oil drained from your engine. The dealer determined your engine had failed catastrophically, requiring a $14,000 repair that Toyota refused to cover under warranty.

Your 2021 Toyota Highlander is making a whining sound that's getting progressively worse, and the dealer says you need a new transmission at only 73,000 miles. You've found that many other owners of the same model year are experiencing this identical issue. Transmission replacement typically involves removing and replacing the entire transmission unit.

Your 2021 Highlander's 8-speed transmission has a known issue where the transmission pump fails, causing a whining noise when you accelerate from 0 to 50 mph (the noise stops at highway speeds). If the transmission fails completely while driving, you could be stranded or create a traffic hazard. Toyota dealership repairs cost around $11,500, while independent shops quote around $6,000, and this problem typically appears around 60,000 miles with no warning before it happens. The repair will likely involve replacing the transmission pump or rebuilding the transmission.

Your transmission failed at 110,000 miles and required a $9,000 replacement. The Toyota dealership service advisor mentioned they've seen similar transmission failures on other 2021 Highlander Platinum models, though your vehicle was just out of warranty. The fix involves replacing the entire transmission unit.

Your 2021 Toyota Highlander transmission is making a high-pitched whining noise, and this appears to be a known issue with the UA80F transmission model. Toyota has refused to repair or replace the transmission despite acknowledgment of the problem. The fix will likely involve transmission service, fluid replacement, or potentially a full transmission replacement or rebuild.

Your transmission makes a noticeable whining sound when you accelerate above 25 mph, but the sound stops when you're not accelerating. This is happening at just over 72,000 miles, which is relatively early in the vehicle's life. The issue likely involves transmission fluid condition or internal transmission components that may need inspection or service.

Your transmission has started making a wheezing sound, which your dealership says requires a complete transmission replacement. Toyota issued a service bulletin about this problem in February 2021, indicating it's a known issue affecting other vehicles. The repair will involve removing and replacing your entire transmission.

Starting around 70,000 miles, your transmission began making unusual noises. At 80,000 miles, a service visit revealed debris in the transmission fluid, and you were told the transmission will either need to be replaced soon or will eventually fail completely. With fewer than 100,000 miles and you being the only owner, this is a significant issue for such a new vehicle. Fixing this will require a full transmission replacement or rebuild.

Your transmission is making a whining noise that started around 90,000 miles. Two different garages have confirmed this is a known issue with your transmission model. There are no warning lights on your dashboard, but the noise is noticeable during operation. A transmission service or fluid replacement may help reduce the noise.

Your car's fuel pump has failed, causing the engine to stall suddenly while you're driving at highway speeds. When this happens, you lose all power and have to shift to park, turn off the engine, and restart it to get moving again—which is extremely dangerous in traffic. An independent mechanic confirmed the fuel pump is the problem after your Check Engine light came on multiple times and you noticed hesitation during acceleration.

While driving at highway speed on I-8, your Highlander's dashboard suddenly showed a hybrid system malfunction warning, and the vehicle immediately lost power and stopped accelerating. You had to quickly change lanes across multiple lanes of traffic to reach the shoulder, creating a dangerous situation. A mechanic determined a faulty fuel pump caused the problem, and your vehicle needed to be towed since it wouldn't run. Fixing this will likely require fuel pump replacement and diagnosis of the hybrid system.

Your power steering system is malfunctioning intermittently while driving, making the steering wheel stiff and hard to turn. When this happens, you'll see warning messages about power steering malfunction, low voltage, AWD problems, and safety system failures all at once. This creates a safety risk because you need extra force to steer, which could lead to loss of control, especially at low speeds or while turning. The fix will likely involve diagnosing and repairing the electrical system and power steering components, possibly including the battery, alternator, or steering control modules.

Your brakes occasionally fail to engage when you press the brake pedal while slowing down, causing your car to jerk forward and continue into intersections. This happens frequently, and the dealership hasn't been able to resolve the issue. The problem could involve your brake master cylinder, brake lines, or brake fluid system needing inspection and repair.

All four of your Bridgestone Alenza Sport tires wore out prematurely and showed defects, with failure occurring at just 7,000 miles. Your dealer replaced them under a manufacturer recall (NHTSA Campaign 24V452000), indicating the issue was related to a known tire defect. The problem was discovered during a dealer inspection at 80,000 miles on your vehicle.

Your 2021 Highlander developed a whining sound while driving, which your dealer diagnosed as transmission failure requiring replacement. After the repair, you noticed transmission fluid leaking when parked, which was traced to a failed head gasket that also needed replacement. Subsequently, you discovered fluid leaking from the transfer case, which your dealer determined had also failed. These multiple powertrain component failures occurred around 74,700 miles with no warning lights to alert you beforehand. Repairs may involve replacing the transmission, head gasket, and transfer case—all major powertrain components that require significant labor and parts replacement.

Your front door locks don't work, so your doors won't lock and you can't use the Toyota app remote lock feature. The left rear door hatch rail is making loud noises and getting stuck when you try to open it — you often have to push the button multiple times or manually force it open. Both issues require dealer repairs and the parts are difficult to find.

Your 2021 Highlander has experienced multiple windshield cracks in a short period—three replacements since April 2024 with only modest mileage and no highway driving. You've noticed other 2021-2023 Highlander owners reporting the same repeated windshield failures, suggesting a possible design or manufacturing issue with how the windshield is supported or sealed in the frame. The windshield may need replacement, and the underlying frame or seal that holds it may require inspection or repair.