2021 Toyota Highlander Fuel System Problems
NHTSA lists 31 Fuel System complaints for the 2021 Toyota Highlander, 6% of its 517 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 925. No related recalls are listed. Complaints center on the hybrid fuel tank not filling to its rated capacity.
- Fuel System complaints
- 31
- 6% of 517
- Crashes reported
- 2
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 925 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical fuel system symptoms owners report
- Owners report the hybrid model's 17.1-gallon fuel tank will only accept about 12.5 to 13.8 gallons even when the tank is nearly empty, cutting real-world range well below the advertised figure.
- Several owners say the fuel gauge and distance-to-empty display behave erratically, showing full readings that don't change after driving significant distances or resetting inconsistently.
- One owner described the EV mode failing to engage in cold weather for the first several minutes of driving, which they said hurt fuel economy.
- One report describes a hybrid system malfunction warning appearing while driving on the highway, followed by a sudden loss of power and acceleration that forced the driver to move across lanes to the shoulder.
- Multiple owners contacted dealers and Toyota about the tank-filling issue and said the problem was acknowledged internally but not resolved with a fix.
When 2021 Toyota Highlander fuel system complaints were filed
First complaint Jan 25, 2021, latest Jul 30, 2026.
Fuel System recalls for the 2021 Toyota Highlander
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Fuel System complaints by Highlander model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- Does the 2021 Toyota Highlander have a fuel system recall?
- No. NHTSA lists no related recalls tied to the Fuel System complaints for this year.
- How many fuel system complaints does the 2021 Highlander have?
- NHTSA lists 31 Fuel System complaints for the 2021 Highlander, which is 6% of the 517 total complaints filed for that model year.
- What is the main fuel system problem on the 2021 Highlander Hybrid?
- Most complaints describe the tank not filling past roughly 12.5 to 13.8 gallons despite a rated 17.1-gallon capacity, along with erratic fuel gauge and range readings.
- At what mileage do these fuel system problems show up?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 925 miles, suggesting many owners noticed it very early in ownership.
- Were there any crashes linked to fuel system complaints on the 2021 Highlander?
- NHTSA data shows 2 crashes and 0 fires associated with Fuel System complaints for the 2021 Highlander, with 0 injuries reported.