2021 Honda Pilot vs 2021 Toyota Highlander
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2021 Honda Pilot | 2021 Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 412 | 485 |
| Recall campaigns | 10 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 99 | 180 |
| Investigations | 1 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 12 | 16 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 3 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 22–23 | 23–36 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 31,000 mi | 23,555 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Honda Pilot | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 24 | 199 |
| Electrical System | 119 | 25 |
| Engine | 96 | 44 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 92 | 12 |
| Service Brakes | 24 | 64 |
| Air Bags | 30 | 42 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 21 | 31 |
| Structure | 4 | 48 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 33 | 17 |
| Vibration / shaking | 22 | 19 |
| Check engine light | 11 | 12 |
| Won’t start | 9 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 9 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 8 | 21 |
| Hesitation / surging | 6 | 30 |
| Shifting problems | 0 | 7 |
2021 Honda Pilot
2021 Toyota Highlander
Compare all Honda Pilot vs Toyota Highlander years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.