The 2021 Toyota Highlander's elevated safety profile includes 3 recall campaigns and 427 owner-reported complaints. Make recall verification part of your pre-purchase checklist.

Recalls

427

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Recall Findings

23V7200002023-26-10

STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS

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.

A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

View at NHTSA

24V4520002024-18-06

TIRES

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Highlander vehicles. The 20-inch accessory tires with an insufficient load rating for the vehicle's Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) were installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Tires with an insufficient load rating can be overloaded and fail, increasing the risk of a crash.

View at NHTSA

26V1280002026-05-03

SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The second-row seat backs may fail to lock into position during seat back adjustment.

A seat back that fails to lock may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

View at NHTSA

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Top Complaint Areas

The 2021 Toyota Highlander has accumulated 427 NHTSA complaints over 1 years, with power train leading the pack. Know what to look for before you buy.

01Power Train134

02Service Brakes40

03Unknown Or Other34

04Structure33

05Air Bags28

427 total across 1 model years (2021–2021)Full data at NHTSA.gov

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Toyota Highlander Fuel Economy

EPA fuel economy data for all 2021 Toyota Highlander trims

23–36mpg combined

20-36city

27-35hwy

$1,200-$1,900/yr

With 6 configurations tested, the 2021 Toyota Highlander ranges from 23 to 36 MPG combined. That's a 13 MPG gap that can add up to hundreds of dollars a year in fuel costs.

By Trim

Highlander Hybrid - Automatic (AV-S6)

36mpg

2.5L 4-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

36 city35 hwy~$1,200/yr8/10 Clean

Highlander Hybrid AWD - Automatic (AV-S6)

35mpg

2.5L 4-cyl · All-Wheel Drive

35 city35 hwy~$1,250/yr7/10 Clean

Highlander Hybrid AWD LTD/PLAT - Automatic (AV-S6)

35mpg

2.5L 4-cyl · All-Wheel Drive

35 city34 hwy~$1,250/yr7/10 Clean

Highlander - Automatic (S8)

23mpg

3.5L 6-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

20 city28 hwy~$1,900/yr5/10 Average

Highlander AWD - Automatic (S8)

23mpg

3.5L 6-cyl · All-Wheel Drive

20 city27 hwy~$1,900/yr5/10 Average

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Is the XSE Worth It?

Common questions about the 2021 Toyota Highlander XSE

How does the XSE compare to other Toyota Highlander trims?

The XSE occupies a distinct position in the Toyota Highlander range. See how it stacks up on the 2021 overview page.

What should I know about maintaining the 2021 Toyota Highlander XSE?

Budget for standard XSE maintenance plus any trim-specific items. The 2021 has 3 recalls on file. Review the known issues on the model year page for areas to inspect before purchasing.

What are the best years for the Toyota Highlander XSE?

For the XSE, look at the price-to-mileage ratio across model years. Later model years before a redesign tend to be the most refined version of the platform. See the Toyota Highlander buyer's guide.

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