⚡ The short answer
If you are cross-shopping, the Highlander still grades out above most rivals for long-term dependability. The point of this page is not to scare you off, it is to tell you exactly what to test before you buy and where your money is most likely to go after 60,000 miles.
📊 The most-reported problems, ranked
Here are the 2021 Toyota Highlander problems owners report most often, sorted by frequency, with the mileage band where they tend to appear and a realistic repair cost if you are out of warranty.
| Problem | Typical Mileage | Repair Cost | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infotainment / software glitches | 0–40k | $0 (update) to $900 (unit) | Minor |
| Fuel tank will not fill fully | 0–30k | $0 campaign / up to $1,200 | Moderate |
| Wind & road noise | Any | $0–$300 (seals) | Minor |
| Power liftgate stops working | 30k–80k | $250–$600 | Minor |
| 12V battery drain / dead battery | 20k–50k | $200–$350 | Minor |
| Brake / suspension clunk noises | 40k–80k | $150–$700 | Minor |
Notice the pattern: almost everything in that list is an annoyance or a comfort issue, not a stranding-you-on-the-highway issue. That is the whole story of the 2021 Highlander in one table.
🔎 The breakdown, problem by problem
1. Infotainment and software glitches
This is the single most common complaint. The 8-inch and 12.3-inch touchscreens can freeze, reboot on their own, drop Android Auto or Apple CarPlay connections, or stutter on Bluetooth pairing. The good news: many of these are fixed with a free software update at the dealer, and Toyota pushed several over the 2021 to 2023 window. If a screen is physically dead, a replacement head unit can run 600 to 900 dollars, but full failures are uncommon.
2. Fuel tank that will not fill completely
Some 2020 to 2022 Highlanders had a fuel tank design that prevented a full fill, so the pump nozzle clicks off early and you can only get 12 to 14 gallons into a 17.9-gallon tank. Toyota addressed this under a service campaign on affected VINs, typically replacing the tank or sub-tank assembly at no cost. Always run the VIN with a Toyota dealer to confirm whether the vehicle was included and whether the repair was completed. Out of warranty, a tank replacement can reach 1,200 dollars. If you are chasing a related warning, our guide on a car that clicks but will not start covers adjacent fuel and electrical checks.
3. Wind and road noise
Plenty of owners note more wind noise around the A-pillars and mirrors and more tire roar than they expected at highway speed. This is partly a design trait and partly fixable with reseated weatherstripping or quieter tires. Budget 0 to 300 dollars if you want a shop to chase down a specific door seal.
4. Power liftgate acting up
The power tailgate can become slow, refuse to latch, or stop responding to the key fob. Usually it is a strut, an actuator, or a misadjusted sensor, in the 250 to 600 dollar range. Test it five or six times during a test drive, open and close, from the fob and the dash button.
5. 12-volt battery drain
A few owners report the 12-volt battery going flat after the vehicle sits, sometimes traced to a module that does not sleep correctly. A replacement battery is 200 to 350 dollars installed. If you see a dashboard light tied to this, compare it against a logged code like P0420 to rule out unrelated emissions faults before you start replacing parts.
⚠️ What to watch for when buying
The 2021 Highlander earns its reputation, but a used one still deserves a careful look. Before you sign, do these:
- Have a Toyota dealer run the VIN for any open recall or service campaign, especially the fuel tank fill campaign on 2020 to 2022 units.
- Fill the tank during your test drive and confirm it takes a full load without the pump clicking off early.
- Cycle the infotainment system: pair a phone, run CarPlay or Android Auto, and reboot it once to watch for freezes.
- Open and close the power liftgate several times from every control.
- Listen for clunks over bumps from the front suspension and confirm the brakes are quiet and even.
- Get a pre-purchase inspection. If a seller resists one, walk. Read our take on how to spot engine trouble on a test drive.
None of the known 2021 Toyota Highlander problems should kill a deal on their own, but an unfixed campaign or a chronically glitchy screen is great leverage to knock a few hundred dollars off the price.
🧮 Is it a dealbreaker? A quick framework
Use this to decide whether a specific 2021 Highlander you are looking at is worth it:
- Campaign closed? If the fuel tank campaign and any recalls show completed by VIN, that is a green light on the biggest known issue.
- Powertrain healthy? No oil leaks, no rough idle, clean transmission shifts. The V6 and hybrid are durable, so a problem here is unusual and a reason to pause.
- Electronics behaving? A screen that freezes once and recovers is normal-ish and fixable. A screen that constantly reboots is a bargaining chip, not a walk-away.
- Records exist? Regular oil changes and a documented history matter more than any single complaint on this list.
Score three or four greens and you have a strong used SUV. If the powertrain item is the one that fails, that is the only true dealbreaker on this page. Before you accept any shop estimate to fix something, run it through our repair quote checker so you are not overpaying.
❓ Frequently asked questions
📝 TL;DR
The 2021 Toyota Highlander is a known-issues vehicle in the best sense: the issues are known, documented, and mostly minor. Infotainment glitches lead the list, followed by a fuel fill quirk that Toyota addressed under a campaign, plus wind noise, a fussy power liftgate, and the odd dead 12-volt battery. Repairs almost always land under 600 dollars, the V6 and hybrid powertrains are dependable, and the only real dealbreaker is a powertrain fault, which is uncommon. Confirm campaigns are closed by VIN, get an inspection, and buy with confidence.