2021 Toyota Highlander electrical system problems
25 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the electrical system on the 2021 Toyota Highlander — 5% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“The back hatch of the car has issues closing regularly. Nearly half of the time you push the button to shut the back hatch when it is open it will not close and has to be shut manually. Typically, it shuts an inch or two and then beeps at you and when you push the button again nothing happens but…”
filed Jul 1, 2026
“Four days after I took delivery of this used vehicle (April 25, 2026), multiple warning lights appeared at once: BRAKE, ABS, PARK, Check Engine, Blind Spot Monitor Unavailable, and RCTA OFF. An independent Toyota dealership diagnosed the vehicle April 27-28, 2026 (approx. 109,000 miles) and found…”
filed Jun 11, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related service bulletins
Some 2020 – 2024 model year Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the air conditioner does not cool due to a leak and/or corrosion in the rear underbody air conditioner tube and…
T-SB-0021-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 18, 2026OBSOLETE NOTICE January 30, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0001-26.
T-SB-0106-22 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 30, 2026Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System require a Special Service Tool (SST) USB flash drive to update the map, points of interest, and system software.
T-SB-0001-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 28, 2026Although the HV Floor Under Wire Harness and Rear Traction Motor Cable is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers’…
22TE09 · Service Campaign · issued Sep 17, 2025The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and…
T-SB-0058-23 Rev1 · Service Campaign · issued Jun 13, 2025
Electrical System problems in other Highlander years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Highlander | 6 | 15% |
| 2023 Highlander | 12 | 7% |
| 2022 Highlander | 16 | 7% |
| 2020 Highlander | 16 | 5% |
| 2019 Highlander | 55 | 12% |
| 2018 Highlander | 24 | 9% |
| 2017 Highlander | 46 | 18% |
| 2016 Highlander | 14 | 13% |
| 2015 Highlander | 51 | 27% |
| 2014 Highlander | 35 | 26% |
| 2013 Highlander | 25 | 12% |
| 2012 Highlander | 29 | 16% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2021 Toyota Highlander
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.