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Buying a used 2021 Toyota Highlander? Check these 4 recalls first
Three high-severity recalls apply: a front passenger airbag that may not inflate, tires rated too weak for the vehicle, and second-row seat backs that may not lock. The bumper cover campaign carries over from earlier years. Complaint volume is the highest in this group — 511 filings with NHTSA, unverified owner reports, with 16 crashes, four fires and 18 injuries — and powertrain accounts for 218 of them, well ahead of brakes and structure.
Before you buy
- Get the 17-character VIN from the seller and run it at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows which recalls are still unrepaired on that exact car.
- Read the tire sidewall load rating and compare it to the door-jamb placard
- Latch each second-row seat back and confirm the recall repair was done
- Ask about powertrain repairs, since that area drives most owner reports
- Open recalls are repaired free at any Toyota dealer, whoever owns the car — an open recall is a to-do item, not a bill.
Recalls covering the 2021 Toyota Highlander
| Recall | Area | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota and Lexus front passenger airbag may not inflate | AIR Bags | high |
| Toyota Highlander sold with tires rated too weak | Tires | high |
| Toyota Highlander second-row seat backs may not lock | Seats | high |
| Toyota Highlander front bumper cover can loosen or fall off | Structure | medium |
What owners have reported to NHTSA
511 complaints filed for this model year, including 16 mentioning a crash, 4 a fire and 18 injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, and popular models collect more of them simply because more are on the road.
| Problem area | Complaints | Recall in this area? |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 218 | None found |
| Brakes | 66 | None found |
| Structure | 51 | Yes |
| Engine | 44 | None found |
| AIR Bags | 42 | Yes |
| Fuel System | 31 | None found |