Car Defect Radar
Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated September 22, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.

Recalls

0 total

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

No recalls on record for this model

No safety recalls were found in this dataset. It is still worth entering the exact VIN on NHTSA before purchase, since recalls can be added at any time.

Owner complaints by system

15 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Minor
1

Most reports here involve software faults.

software faults 1
A recent report: 2 ISSUES- THE DISTANCE TO EMPTY ONLY READS 425 MILES. WITH A FULL 17 GALLON TANK IT SHOULD BE AROUND 600. WHEN YOU FILL IT, IT CLICKS OFF 3-4 GALLONS SHORT OF FULL, ONLY HOLDING ABOUT 14 GALLONS. THE…
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2 ISSUES- THE DISTANCE TO EMPTY ONLY READS 425 MILES. WITH A FULL 17 GALLON TANK IT SHOULD BE AROUND 600. WHEN YOU FILL IT, IT CLICKS OFF 3-4 GALLONS SHORT OF FULL, ONLY HOLDING ABOUT 14 GALLONS. THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWS FULL. I THEN HAD TO TRICKLE IN THE REMAINING 3.5 GALLONS. HOW COULD IT SHOW FULL WITH 3.5 MORE GALLONS GOING IN? WHY IS THE TANK NOT ABLE TO TAKE THE FULL AMMOUNT OF FUEL?

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11385688 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Minor
1

Most reports here involve sudden stalling.

sudden stalling 1
A recent report: 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…
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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 repeatedly. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was determined that the battery level was low and needed to be replaced. The battery was replaced, and other unknown repairs for shifting failure were performed. The vehicle was driven back to the residence; however, the failure recurred upon starting the vehicle the following day. Additionally, the seat belt chime reminders engaged even though the seat belts were securely fastened, and the tailgate had failed to open. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in TSB Number: T-SB-0019-21. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact requested a trade-in or buy-back assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 77,900.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11720641 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Brakes

Minor
2

Most reports here involve unintended acceleration.

unintended acceleration 1loss of braking 1
A recent report: The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at slower speeds, the braking system experienced intermittent brake failures, causing the brakes to erroneously…
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The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at slower speeds, the braking system experienced intermittent brake failures, causing the brakes to erroneously release while being depressed. During the failure, the vehicle unintendedly lurched forward. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted regarding the failures. The failure mileage was 6,000.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11668610 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Airbags & seat belts

Minor
7

Most reports here involve other issues.

other issues 7
A recent report: The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available…
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The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. 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 not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11669012 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Structure & body

Minor
4

Most reports here involve other issues.

other issues 4
A recent report: 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…
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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 motor be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a related recall. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11696325 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 15 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2020 and 2026, roughly 3 a year, which is more than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.