2021 Toyota Highlander Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

44Engine complaints

9.3%Of all 474 complaints

#4Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

POWER TRAIN188 · 39.7%

SERVICE BRAKES64 · 13.5%

Unspecified / other58 · 12.2%

ENGINE44 · 9.3%

AIR BAGS42 · 8.9%

Share of the 474 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2021 Toyota Highlander overview page.

What owners report

“Unwanted acceleration happen more the 5 to 6 times. While driving in highway exit ramp my vehicle lurched forward while I was trying to slowdown…”NHTSA complaint 11506579 — filed 02/10/2023

“We have owned our 2021 hybrid awd platinum highlander for 8 months and within the past two months (around 16k miles) it has started to…”NHTSA complaint 11480255 — filed 08/19/2022

“On July 19, the car was parked and refused to start. Tried Jump start and the gas was at more than half a tank. The…”NHTSA complaint 11475898 — filed 07/26/2022

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2021 Toyota Highlander have engine problems?

Engine is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2021 Toyota Highlander: 44 of 474 complaints on file (9.3%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2021 Toyota Highlander have in total?

474 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 16 involved a crash, 3 involved a fire, 18 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.