2021 Toyota Highlander · symptom sheet
Transmission fails or needs replacement
- 103owner reports
- 72,000median miles
- $9,000median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 14, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
222 of the 521 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 103 of those describe transmission failure, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2021 Highlander.
Tick what matches of 103 reports
Transmission failure on other Highlander years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024.
What this problem usually is
This is the end of the road for a transmission: the car stops moving under its own power, or a shop says the unit has to be replaced or rebuilt. Half of the owners here mention a warning light or message, and a quarter mention it happening again or to a second unit.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the transmission (103 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2021 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
What owners paid
34 of the 103 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $8,000 to $9,995.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 60,347 and 85,000 miles, from the 64 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Our vehicle has 72k miles at normal use- no towing or off roading. Due to a whining noise we took in the vehicle at a Toyota dealer and after a $200 diagnostic fee concluded we need a new transmission priced at $10,800. There was no explanation/diagnosis summary- just we need a new transmission.”
Filed Jul 15, 2025 · 72,000 miles
“Transmission failure at 62000 miles. Toyota issued a service bulletin in Feb 2021. I bought the vehicle new in August 2021 and was not told of service issue. Also, I took vehicle to Toyota dealership for service every 5000 miles up to 55000. I was never told about service bulletin nor advised there could be a full imminent failure of the transmission.”
Filed May 28, 2025 · 62,000 miles
“transmission failure at approximately 80,000 miles dealer has confirmed diagnosis and recommended replacement on-line forums indicate this is a recurring problem with this model engine noises began at approximately 78,000 miles”
Filed May 12, 2025 · 80,000 miles
“The transmission started to make a higher pitch sound when accelerating. We brought the vehicle in for evaluation @ 70,500 miles. We were advised the vehicle needed a new transmission for $ 9,900.00 Not even 4 years old, and Toyota Warrantee department said past the 60K drive train warranty so no support from them.”
Filed Apr 28, 2025 · 70,500 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 103 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 67 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 42 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 41 reports