general problems of the 2021 Toyota Highlander - part 1

Vehicle started making a high pitched noise when accelerating at around 98,000mi. I took the vehicle in for the 100,000mi service at 100,854mi and had them also look at this issue. I was told that there was a failure in the front carrier pinion shafts and they recommended replacing the transaxle assembly and rear main seal for $8,354. The vehicle was certified with a 100,000mi power train warranty, but it was just out of warranty. I discovered that there is a class action lawsuit against Toyota for knowingly installing transmissions in 2017 to present vehicles that were known to fail prematurely.

My 2021 Toyota Highlander is experiencing the documented transmission issue impacting vehicles with the ua80e transmission. Our transmission whines and experiences a hesitation or jerks the vehicle. Especially under acceleration. My vehicle was purchased brand new from Toyota. Serviced at a Toyota dealership since purchase.

The transmission is in the whining stage of transmission failure. It has been confirmed by cumberland Toyota in cookeville, TN. There were no warning lamps, etc. However Toyota did post a technical service bulletin (TSB) on February 09, 2021 that my vehicle would have transmission issues. My warranty expired the last of April 2026 and I am over the mileage warranty by 800 miles. I recognized the whining on June 21, 2026 and reported to Toyota on June 22, 2026. Toyota knew this transmission was going to fail and most are being reported just outside the 60,000 mile warranty. I have asked for help and assistance from the local dealership as well as corporate, but both have declined to assist.

Transmission started to whine and act erratically during driving. These effects put safety of those in the vehicle at risk by causing distractions to whomever was driving the vehicle, taking their focus off driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who confirmed the transmission needed to be replaced due to an internal failure. They said they were able to quickly diagnose this problem because "they saw it a lot. " there were no warning lamps or messages from the vehicle.

The transmission in my 2021 Toyota Highlander began producing a whining noise during acceleration between approximately 15-50 mph at around 80,000 miles. The noise stops when the accelerator is released and has progressively become louder. The vehicle was inspected by a Toyota dealership. I was informed that the condition is a known issue affecting some Toyota vehicles, but no repair was offered because the vehicle is outside the 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. There are currently no warning lights or diagnostic trouble codes. I am concerned that the transmission may fail while driving, resulting in loss of power or propulsion and creating a safety risk for myself and other motorists. The vehicle remains available for inspection.

After just passing 100k miles, there is now a whirling noise upon acceleration. After taking to an auto repair shop, they narrowed it down to the transmission and said it was a known problem (referenced t-sb-0008-21) and suggested I take it to the dealership. I took to the dealership where a service manager offered to ride with me to confirm and he confirmed the issue was in fact the known problem noted from the technical service bulletin. The Toyota dealership assistant service manager stated that the noise (which he said was coming from a final drive gear bearing) would continue to get progressively worse and that despite being a known issue, there was no remediation available aside from replacing the transmission completely. He said that he saw no reason that I could not continue to drive the car without complications and without the transmission going completely out for at least a couple more years, but that the noise would get progressively louder until you could no longer tolerate the noise level and would need a new transmission at that point (despite it just beginning last week (or my just noticing it), you can hear it over the the radio when at a low to moderate volume). If this is a "known issue," (a defect that is only in some of the cars per the t-sb-0008-21 notice) this does not seem like a reasonable answer to 'just wait until you can't stand the noise level with acceleration and then completely replace your transmission as there is nothing we can do for you' but it was suggested that I could take it to a body shop that would rebuild transmissions and they may could replace that part.

I own a 2021 Toyota Highlander with approximately 93,000 miles. The vehicle developed transmission symptoms including whining noise. A Toyota dealer diagnosed internal transmission failure and recommended complete transmission replacement at a cost of approximately $9786. 31. Toyota declined repair assistance. I am concerned because a transmission failure at this mileage is unexpected and appears similar to other owner complaints involving the 2021 Toyota Highlander transmission.

Transmission makes a metallic whining sound when you accelerate. Associated and confirmed to be transmission failure. Vehicle has 65,000 miles on it and failure is considered premature. The specific transmission, ua80, is known to have manufacturing defects that cause this problem.

The vehicle transmission has a distinct whine noise as previous models have had. This is a known issue with these transmissions.

Right after the manufacture warranty of 60k miles, the car began to make a humming noise. I took the car into the dealership with 65k miles on 13 Jun 2026, and the Toyota dealership stated that the humming is caused by the transmission and we will need to replace the entire transmission. The cost would be $9,447. 29. This issue is known by Toyota and Toyota put out Toyota service bulletin (t-sb-008-21) but failed to issue recall for this defective transmission.

I own a 2021 Toyota Highlander with approximately 127k miles. The vehicle has developed a noticeable whining/whirring noise during acceleration. The noise appears to originate from the drivetrain/transmission area and has become increasingly noticeable over time. The condition occurs every-time during acceleration and is present under normal driving conditions. I am concerned that this may indicate a transmission or drivetrain-related issue that could affect vehicle reliability and safety. I have found reports from other 2021 Toyota Highlander owners describing similar symptoms involving whining noises during acceleration. The vehicle has been inspected by a Toyota dealership. And is certified through Toyota. The vehicles was bought new from the Toyota dealership and has had all service done through Toyota. I am submitting this complaint so NHTSA can evaluate whether this condition is part of a broader pattern affecting similar vehicles as a defect in the original transmission built in the SUV.

Transmission needed! 76,000 miles and Toyota will not address the issue! we have owned Toyotas for 30 some years! sienna, avalon, rav4, sequoia, and now the Highlander!!!!! there is a massive issue with the transmission across the board in the 2021 and 2022 Highlander and Toyota will not replace.

We purchased our 2021 Highlander xle in the spring of 2024. It came with a powertrain warranty up to 60,000 miles. Unfortunately for us, we're at 65,000 miles and recently started hearing a high-pitched, whining noise when we accelerate. We took it to the Toyota dealership and they told us we need the transmission replaced. A new transmission is around $9,000, before taxes and service fees. We haven't had any other issues and haven't had an accident. There's already a class-action lawsuit against Toyota regarding their Highlander models having ua80 transmission issues. Because of this, we called corporate in hopes they will pay for it under their goodwill assistance program. However, because we never had the Highlander serviced at a Toyota dealership before, they told us they won't cover anything. We've routinely serviced this vehicle. We happened to purchase it at a Nissan dealership, so getting maintenance at Toyota didn't cross our minds. Regardless of where we got the car serviced, it's obvious there's a recurring problem with the Highlander's transmission that Toyota has refused to acknowledge, which is costing consumers around $9,000 apiece. We feel cheated by Toyota, and we hope they eventually have to make things right.

My 2021 Toyota Highlander was making a high pitched whine sound upon acceleration with the sound level holding steady at a consistent speed. We took the vehicle to a Toyota dealership to have it looked at and were told the transmission needs to be replaced. No other warnings were received. We are concerned about our safety if the transmission goes out while on the road.

My 2021 Toyota Highlander makes a whining sound when driving. Took vehicle to dealership and was told it is a $10,000 repair and repair is critical.

My car start with a noise and just lost power in the middle of the road causing almost an accident. This was caused due to the manufacture issue for the transmissions with my car model and brand.

2021 Highlander began with whining noise around may 15, 2026 and just outside the warranty. Had the vehicle inspected at the Toyota dealer for repair. They informed me the transmission failed and needs replaced for a price of $9600. Found on the internet that many folks are having the same transmission issue on several Toyotas made in 2021 with a ua80e or ua80f transmission. Toyota issued a technical service bulletin (t-sb-0008-21) on February 9, 2021! we received no warning until the whining noise. We attempted a “goodwill case” to get Toyota to help pay but were denied for the simple reason we used our own mechanic. This has absolutely no effect on this transmission failure. Since Toyota was always aware of this issue I feel they should be held accountable. This is a major faulty product.

I own a 2021 Toyota Highlander with approximately 100,500 miles. The vehicle has developed a noticeable whining noise coming from the transmission/drivetrain area that continues to worsen over time. The noise is most noticeable during acceleration and while driving at highway speeds. I brought the vehicle to Toyota for inspection and was informed that the issue is related to the transmission. However, Toyota denied repair assistance because the vehicle is outside the powertrain warranty period. After researching the issue, I discovered multiple similar complaints involving 2021 Toyota Highlanders equipped with the ua80 transmission, including Toyota technical service bulletin t-sb-0008-21 regarding “whine or grind noise from the transmission. ” the symptoms described in the bulletin closely match the symptoms my vehicle is experiencing. Toyota appears aware of this transmission-related issue, yet many owners outside the warranty period are being denied coverage despite similar failures and complaints. I am concerned this may represent a broader transmission defect that could lead to premature transmission failure, unsafe driving conditions, hesitation, loss of power, or expensive repairs for consumers. I believe this issue should be investigated further by NHTSA due to the growing number of similar complaints involving whining transmission noises and transmission failures in Toyota Highlander vehicles. At this time, the vehicle has not yet experienced a complete transmission failure, but the condition is worsening and raises significant concerns regarding reliability and safety.

Transmission. My 2021 Toyota Highlander with approximately 94,500 miles developed a consistent whining noise during acceleration. The issue occurs daily during normal driving and appears to be worsening. A Toyota dealership diagnosed the problem and confirmed the noise is coming from the transmission and that the transmission requires replacement. This appears to be a premature failure of a major drivetrain component. The condition could lead to loss of power or transmission failure while driving, creating a potential safety risk. There was no prior warning, and the vehicle has been properly maintained.

The transmission on the 2021 Toyota Highlander failed at only 5 1/2 years old (66,000 miles). This is a known issue from Toyota and they should be held responsible to cover items just barely out of warranty for well maintained vehicles.

Car makes a high pitched whining noise at low speeds of approx. 10-30 mph.

2021 Toyota highalnder ua80f transmission whine / known defect - potential for sudden failure I own a 2021 Toyota Highlander platinum v6 awd (ua80f 8-speed automatic transmisstion) purchased in July 2021. Current milage is 78k. Starting 3 days ago I noticed a faint whine noise coming from the transmission. The pitch changes with speed and when the throttle is depressed (it's louder under load/acceleration). This matches the exact symptoms described in Toyota TSB t-sb-0008-21 for whine/grind noise caused by the front carrier assembly pinion shaft issues in 2021 Highlanders with ua80 transmissions. On April 27, I went to a Toyota dealer to confirm the source of the noise and diagnose. As per their diagnosis report "tech took vehicle on road test to duplicate concern, after confirming complaint vehicle was then lifted up and inspected while under a load, tech as able to isolate noise to transmission at this time, fluid level and condition was inspected to ensure there were no signs of shavings or discoloration and after inspection tech found nothing abnormal during fluid level check. Tech then ran a health check to ensure there were no dtc present related to transmission concern and found no dtc present. Recommend replacing transmission and torque converter at this time". They provided a quote of $9,392. This condition represents a safety concern because the internal wear can progress to harsher shifting, loss of power, limp mode, or complete transmission failure while driving, potentially causing a crash or stranding the vehicle in traffic. I have audio/vehicle recordings of the whine and service records showing regular Toyota dealer maintenance. I am requesting the the NHTSA investigate this ongoing ua80 transmission issue as it appears to be a known manufacturing or design defect tat continues beyond the narrow TSB applicability and warranty limits.

My automatic transmission failed per the dealership and is just outside of the warranty but is considered a premature failure based on the expected life of the vehicle.

My 2021 Toyota Highlander equipped with the ua80 transmission developed a whining/grinding noise under acceleration around 73,000 miles. Toyota diagnosed internal transmission failure and recommended full replacement costing approximately $9,000. Toyota issued TSB t-sb-0008-21 acknowledging defects involving the front carrier assembly pinion shafts in these transmissions. This defect creates a potential safety hazard due to possible loss of power or drivability during highway operation. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate the widespread transmission failures affecting 2021 Highlanders and related Toyota vehicles.

A whining noise was observed at around 78k miles. Brought to the dealer and they indicated parts in the transmission are failing and it requires replacement. They said this has been happening more frequently on 2021 Highlanders (also see t-sb-0008-21). It's also a well-documented issue online. My contact with Toyota was that they did not intend to cover any repairs as the vehicle is out of warranty, even though it's not an isolated issue. They would not disclose how many vehicles have reported this issue. I believe it has reached safety recall-level.

Transmission has failed as have many others of the same year make and model without acknowledgement of a manufacturer defect.

My 2021 Toyota Highlander was my first car I purchased that I saved up for and has had a sudden issue accrue with a winning sound out of now where. I took it to the dealer ship and they told me I need a new transmission. My vechile only has 73k miles and I noticed this sound is getting worst and worst. I don’t know what to do so I turned to the internet and I was blow away to see how many people have this same issue with the same year and it’s been happing to so many people. I am a father of a special needs child and I sport my family on my own I can not afford to replace this and they won’t do anything for me. I beg anyone that reads this to please help us out cause this is not fair they we pay our hard earned money to get hit with this unexpected issues that they obviously know about but want do anything cause it will ruin there rep.

Transmission failure @110,000miles and a $9000. 00 replacement cost. Service advisor at Toyota dealership indicated they have seen other similar failures on this Highlander platinum model at their dealership but unit is out of warranty by a few thousand miles.

Car was making whining sound with acceleration at 62k miles. Dealer told me I need to spend 8k on a replacement.

During acceleration above 25 mph a noticeable whining sound is heard from the transmission. When not acceleration the sound goes away. The vehicle only has 72300 miles.

The transmission began making a wheezing sound. The dealership looked at the vehicle and determined it needed a new transmission. This is a known problem. Toyota issued a service bulletin on the issue in February 2021. I purchased the vehicle a few months after that. T-sb-0008-21.

60k miles on the car and the transmission needs to be replaced out of pocket due to a gear pinon wearing down. This is a 10k dollar repair and just happens to be after the warranty has expired.

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a whining sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The dealer stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. After the vehicle was parked and turned off, there was transmission fluid leaking from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the head gasket had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact then noticed fluid leaking from the transfer case while the vehicle was parked and turned off. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transfer case had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 74,700.

2021 Toyota Highlander xse awd with approximately 60,400 miles. Vehicle has developed a noticeable driveline/transmission humming/whining noise during acceleration, beginning at lower speeds and increasing with vehicle speed under throttle. Noise is most noticeable while pressing the accelerator and appears consistent with Toyota t-sb-0008-21 regarding transmission whine/grind concerns on ua80f transmissions.

My vehicle is experiencing a transmission safety issue that has been diagnosed by the authorized Toyota dealer service center (Toyota of scranton). During my most recent service visit on 3/2/26, the dealer reported that the transmission is “failing and whining” and recommended full transmission replacement. This condition creates unsafe driving behavior, including abnormal whining noise during acceleration and the concern for sudden transmission failure while driving. The Highlander started exhibiting issues with the transmission within the past 7 days. This issue appears consistent with the known transmission defect referenced in Toyota technical service bulletin t?sb?0008?21, which addresses whining and grinding noises caused by internal transmission component failure in 2021 model?year vehicles equipped with ua80-series transmissions. Multiple independent reports indicate that this condition can worsen and may lead to loss of power or drivability while the vehicle is in motion. For safety reasons, I am submitting this complaint so the issue can be evaluated as part of any ongoing or future defect investigations. I am concerned about the potential risk of transmission failure while driving, which could increase the chance of a crash.