2021 Toyota Highlander transmission problems

POWER TRAIN

Transmission Failure Yes TSB No Warning Lights

NHTSA complaint #11764003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Tech: SCOTT RICHART test drove vehicle performed inspection. Noise hear is coming from transmission internally. condition present is similar to condition described in T-SB-0008-21 for whine noise from transmission. Transmission would need replaced to remedy the noise. Vehicle is out of warranty, DOFU is 04/14/21. Transmission is not in the serial number range described in the TSB. Transmission serial # is A3A21C08858. QUOTED $8574.50 TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION WITH REMANUFACTURED TOYOTA TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #11764197 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

There is an unknown whine coming from the transmission when pressing on the throttle. It loud and high pitched.

NHTSA complaint #11763567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Leadcar Toyota LaCrosse WI has diagnosed and reported that the transmission needs to be replaced. Pertains to Service Bulletin T-SB-0008-21 the pinion shaft bearing defect. The major powertrain component is failing prematurely. Cost to repair is over $9,000 as it is out of warranty. We purchased the vehicle at 67,550 miles on 3/29/2025. Since we never owned a Toyota before we thought the whining of the transmission was unique to that vehicle. Once we heard about the service bulletin we took it in to get diagnosed.

NHTSA complaint #11763402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

transmission has failed. Toyota states: Toyota Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0008-21 addresses a whining or grinding noise in select 2021 Toyota vehicles equipped with UA80E orUA80F automatic transmissions caused by a defect in the front carrier assembly pinion shafts. Yes it can be available for inspection. This can be repaired with a $12,000 new transmission. * Sudden loss of acceleration: You may press the gas and the vehicle doesn’t accelerate normally. This is particularly dangerous when merging onto a highway, crossing an intersection, or passing. How this toyota highlander is putting safety at risk: * Unexpected shifting or jerking: A failing transmission can slam into gear, hesitate, or shift unpredictably, potentially causing loss of control. * Loss of drive: The transmission may suddenly stop transferring power to the wheels. You could be unable to move forward even though the engine is running. * Getting stuck in a gear: If it goes into a “limp” or failsafe mode, the vehicle may be restricted to a single gear and have very limited acceleration. * Loss of power while already moving: If the transmission disengages unexpectedly, you can lose the ability to accelerate out of a dangerous situation. * Difficulty maintaining speed: On a highway or uphill, a failing transmission may suddenly stop providing adequate power. * Transmission fluid leaks: A significant leak can cause the transmission to lose lubrication and worsen rapidly. Depending on where fluid goes, it can also create other mechanical problems. * Unexpected engine RPM increases: The engine can rev very high without the Highlander gaining speed (“slipping”), which can leave you unexpectedly slow in traffic. * Being stranded in traffic: A complete failure can leave the vehicle immobile, creating a collision hazard if you’re stopped in a travel lane or on a shoulder. unknown if it has been inspected by anyone. There is no warning lights. Then only way you know is by a high whining sound.

NHTSA complaint #11763069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Transmission failure at 80,000 miles

NHTSA complaint #11763132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The 8 speed automatic transmission (UA80E) in my 2021 Toyota Highlander Limited V6 FWD failed at 75,491 miles. The failure presented as a loud whining noise during acceleration between 30 and 40 mph. A Toyota dealership diagnosed complete transmission failure requiring full replacement of the transaxle assembly at a cost of $8,144.45 (repair order dated August 14, 2026). The dealership service manager confirmed in writing that the failure appears consistent with Toyota TSB T-SB-0008-21, issued February 9, 2021, which documented whine and grind failures of the front carrier assembly pinion shafts in this transmission family. My transmission was built in June 2021, after the serial range covered by that bulletin, and failed the same way, indicating the defect was not confined to the bulletin's production range. This transmission is the subject of multiple pending federal class action lawsuits alleging premature failure. A transmission failure of this type can result in sudden loss of power while driving, which is a safety hazard. The vehicle was purchased new from a Toyota dealership in July 2021, was maintained normally, and was never used under severe service conditions. The problem has been confirmed by the dealer. The vehicle and failed component are available for inspection and the vehicle remains at the dealership.

NHTSA complaint #11762799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

**Component/System:** Automatic Transmission — 8-speed (UA80E/UA80F), Toyota Highlander **Description of the problem:** My 2021 Toyota Highlander (approximately 116,000 miles) has developed a high-pitched whining noise a while ago, that occurs during acceleration, consistent with the symptom described in Toyota's own Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0008-21 (issued Feb 9, 2021) for whine/grind noise in the transmission on this model. The vehicle has not yet been formally diagnosed by a dealer or independent shop as of this filing; I am submitting this report proactively given the volume of documented failures in this transmission platform and to add to NHTSA's record before the condition potentially worsens. I am aware, through Toyota's own TSB and multiple pending class-action lawsuits (including Pallaya v. Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Case No. 2:25-cv-10613, C.D. Cal., and LeBoutheller v. Toyota, Case No. 4:25-cv-01389, E.D. Tex.), that this transmission (UA80E/UA80F, used in 2017-present Highlander and related Toyota/Lexus models) has a documented pattern of premature failure nationwide, often presenting first as this same whining noise, and in a number of owner-reported cases progressing to sudden power loss, shifting into neutral, or stalling — creating a serious safety risk to occupants and other drivers, particularly at highway speeds.

NHTSA complaint #11762480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

At 57,000 miles the dealership says the transmission must be replaced. Toyota refused to replace it under warranty because they stated it wasn't serviced at Toyota consistently. There isnt a service for the transmission under 100k miles. This is a known issue with this transmission and they act oblivious to this issue.

NHTSA complaint #11761897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

1. The car makes a squeaky sound when I accelerate. The faster I go the louder the noise becomes. I took the car to the Toyota dealership and was told that the transmission needs to be replaced. The car is only 5 years old. I checked online and noticed a lot of other people are also complaining about the same issue with their 2021 Toyota Highlander. 2. While driving on the Turnpike a few months ago, the driver side front door suddenly popped open on me. I had to hold it with my left hand, switched lane to pull safely to the shoulder lane in order to close it. The door was completely closed prior to this incident. When that happened, I was already driving on the road for over 1 hour. There was no previous signal that it was opened. It just popped open out of nowhere.

NHTSA complaint #11761538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The transmission whining started 70,000 miles and it is progressively gotten worse, there has been some sudden shifting at times. The manufacturer has known about this 8 speed transmission. Problem since 2017 and they haven’t done anything to improve it. Isn’t is something that the warranty only covers the drivetrain and. Transmission till 60,000. And know they are telling us that we have to pay anywhere from $7,000-$12,000 to,have it replaced. We have taken it to the Toyota dealership Thayer Toyota in bowling green,oh and they checked it out. And said that the front part of the transmission is ok it’s but the rear differential is the one that is going bad. We are hoping that there will an investigation on this UA80 transmission to see how many of the toyota models that have this transmission in it, have been reported and if any after the 60,000mile they have covered to be repaired at there cost. We understand that there is a CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT against this transmission. We would appreciate any help that you can get us. We can be contacted at [XXX] or phone number [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11761620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Toyota has known that the UA80 transmissions are faulty & they have not issued a recall. Mine failed at 60,500 miles just outside of the warranty period. I paid over $5,000 to have it replaced & the dealer confirmed that it required replacement due to a faulty transmission assembly. Toyota refuses to issue a recall or cover full costs for replacement.

NHTSA complaint #11760864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The car's transmission is failing. •The "Whine of Death": The most common early warning sign is a high-pitched, airplane-like whining noise that rises in pitch with vehicle speed/engine RPM, especially once the transmission reaches operating temperature. •Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs): Toyota has issued internal bulletins (such as T-SB-0008-21 and related updates) addressing abnormal transmission noises and replacement protocols for affected V6 models. •No Formal Safety Recall (as of mid-2026): While the issue has spurred class-action lawsuits and high NHTSA complaint volumes, there has not been a mandatory safety recall for widespread replacement, leaving post-warranty owners to rely on goodwill assistance or third-party warranties.

NHTSA complaint #11759926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

It's about the problem with the automatic transmission UA80 already has the buzz That many customers are complaining sometimes it has jerks too.

NHTSA complaint #11760076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

At 66,000 miles the transmission on my 2021 toyota highlander is failing. This is a known issue with these transmissions and toyota is actively working against people to help get the parts replaced at their cost.

NHTSA complaint #11759634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Bought my 2021 Toyota Highlander XLE AWD 3 years ago due to supposed safety and reliability. Transmission went out right after warranty at 64,000 miles. Was not made aware that this is a common issue. Vehicle hard shifted and suddenly lost power when driving home with my 4 year old while making a left turn, and we were almost hit by oncoming traffic. Have not had prior issues in the past to suspect this would happen, so it was very sudden and unexpected. There has been no recalls or awareness for this which could have seriously injured my child and I. Went to take it to the closest mechanic right away to troubleshoot since the vehicle was not throwing any codes.

NHTSA complaint #11758405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I made my last payment on my Toyota in June and the week I made my payment my mechanic confirmed a whining that had just started to be a transmission failure. After taking to another specialty transmission shop my transmission is failing. The internal bearings are failing just like the recall in other 2021 models. I’ve been told my VIN isn’t part of the recall but it is the same problem. I am having to pay $8500 on a transmission for a just paid off Toyota. I was so excited to be debt free. This is unacceptable. A Toyota transmission should not fail the minute it’s paid off. I’m very disappointed in Toyota. I contacted the dealership and the warranty help team to try to get part or all paid for and got nowhere. My car needs to be included in the recall of Highlanders with the internal bearing failure.

NHTSA complaint #11758572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

At around 75000 miles (less than 5 year old vehicle) the transmission exhibited a noticeable whine. After further research I presented the vehicle to the local Toyota dealer service department. An active technical service bulletin T-SB-0008-21 that describes a manufacturing defect with the front carrier assembly pinion shaft (essentially a catastrophic transmission failure) was matched to the symptom the vehicle was exhibiting. Further, my transmission serial number is directly within the affected production defect list. Failure to replace this transmission at significant cost (should not normally be routine maintenance on a highway driven vehicle at this age and mileage) could result in total loss of power and control causing the potential for a severe traffic hazard or accident.

NHTSA complaint #11757911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

This vehicle experienced transmission failure at 43,000 miles. There is a technical bulletin regarding a known manufacturer defect for this Make/Model/Year (TSB-008-21) and we were told by our Toyota service technician that our vehicle displayed all of the same symptoms as those identified in the technical bulletin. Unfortunately the serial number for our vehicle was not included in the bulletin and we were four months outside of the power train warranty, therefore Toyota refused to cover the costs of replacing the transmission. We are requesting that TSB-008-21 is reviewed and expanded to cover additional vehicles including ours that were affected by this manufacturer defect that caused both a safety risk as well as a financial hardship for our family.

NHTSA complaint #11757967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Vehicle is experiencing a distinct, high-pitched mechanical whine or grind sound from the transmission during acceleration that increases in pitch with vehicle speed. The noise does not happen while cruising or coasting. This symptom aligns directly with Toyota Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0008-21 ('Whine or Grind Noise From Transmission'). I am concerned about a premature, catastrophic internal bearing or gear assembly failure of the UA80 8-speed transmission while driving at highway speeds, which poses a severe sudden loss of propulsion safety risk.

NHTSA complaint #11754631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

My transmission started to have a noticeable whine at 53k miles. It became noticeably louder during acceleration. It was diagnosed at the Toyota dealership as a failing transmission. My vehicle was a few months out of warranty. I was told to contact Toyota corporate to ask for assistance. I was told since I did not have a service record at the dealership, they would deny my claim. I advised them the transmission was a sealed unit with no dipstick. My vehicle has been meticulously maintained with records. They said sorry, and the conversation ended.

NHTSA complaint #11754750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

High pitched whirring from engine when accelerating. Took to mechanic who diagnosed worn internal transmission bearings that could lead to transmission failure. No warning lights or indicators. Toyota is aware of this issue (see Toyota Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0008-21) but is doing nothing in response.

NHTSA complaint #11754021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

This vehicle was purchased new in 2021 with 4 original miles. Today it has 58,000 miles and has been maintained, per manufacturer recommendations, a certified Toyota dealership. At around 56,000 miles we noticed a slight whine in first gear. This was attributed to normal noise that we simply had not noticed. by 58,000 miles the while had extended to all gears and become more prominent. Research online shows that this is a known issue with the UH80 transmissions and has been since at least 2017. Toyota has a TSB for it (TSB-0008-21). This was not mentioned at the time of purchase or any of the various maintenance appointments in the last 5 years. This KNOWN issue WILL lead to complete transmission failure. This can happen while parked or in motion and can include the transmission shifting out of an active gear, locking into a gear and being unable to shift to another or park/neutral and there is no way to avoid it. I called Toyota corporate about this because I was not made aware of the TSB until July of 2027 and was advised that, although I was below the 60,000 mile allowance, I had surpassed the 60 month coverage period by two months and would not be granted a warranty exception (Toyota case number: 260710000821). Due to a known defective part on a vehicle that Toyota sold without advisement of said known issue, I am expected to pay $8,000 in repair fee's for a 40,000 dollar car that I have already spent over $20,000 on. The dealership confirmed the issue on 7/28/2026 and are attempting to use my 3rd party warrant which only covers parts. I will still be expected to pay for the labor costs which they expect to land between 2-3k dollars. Toyota is knowingly allowing a defect to persist that puts their customers and anyone else on the road at the time, at risk of serious injury and death. They expect their customers to cover the cost of repairs for an issue that they were aware of at the time of sale

NHTSA complaint #11753805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, there was an abnormal whining sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure due to a pinion shaft failure. The dealer determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 62,300.

NHTSA complaint #11753484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The transmission has failed due to a defect within the transmission. Toyota is aware of the defect but refusing to assist owners claiming warranty expiration despite the transmission failure occurring due to a defect and not normal wear and tear. Toyota service bulletin accepting the defect. T-SB-0008-21

NHTSA complaint #11752018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken for oil filter maintenance and a spark plug change, and after the maintenance, the vehicle made an abnormal sound each time while accelerating. The dealer was contacted and diagnosed the vehicle with transmission failure. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.

NHTSA complaint #11751494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I bought the vehicle used from a Cadillac dealer in Orlando with 72700 miles on it. At approximately 75000 miles my wife and I noticed a faint whine coming from somewhere. As it worsened, I researched the issue to find that Toyota has a TSB for a manufacturing defect in the transmission. As I understand it, the transmission can fail suddenly causing a serious safety concern. I need to fix this problem as soon as possible for my family’s safety but since I am out of the warrantee period and there are class action law suits in progress I am starting here. The cost of the repair, I am told will be $9000 a $11000. There should be a safety recall for this.

NHTSA complaint #11751011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

My 2021 Toyota Highlander Platinum is experiencing a transmission issue consistent with a known problem affecting the UA80 eight-speed transmission used in 2020–2024 Highlander models. The vehicle is currently at Greentree Toyota in [XXX] for diagnosis. This failure is occurring at 63,913 miles, only about 3,900 miles past the vehicle's 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. I have opened a case with Toyota (Case #XXX) and am requesting this be documented as part of a broader pattern reported by other 2020–2024 Highlander owners, including other 2021 Platinum trim owners INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11750009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Our Transmission is failing on our 2021 Highlander. It has a little over 76,000 miles on the vehicle. 2021 and 2022 seem to have many issues with the transmission failing. The dealership's estimate is almost $11,000! We only buy Toyotas and never had this issue with our Sequoia, sienna, avalon, Rav 4 with lots of miles and never needed a new transmission!

NHTSA complaint #11749504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The Automatic transmission is making a whining noise when you press the accelerator. I took it to the dealer and they confirmed it needs a new transmission. the vehicle started making noise at 58,000 miles. When I was able to bring it in it had 60,200 miles on it. They would not cover it under warranty because the 5-year portion of the warranty was up a few month prior. I filed for a goodwill replacement with Toyota and they denied me. Dealer estimate for a replacement was over $8,100 dollars. No warning lights, the problem started with a gentle hum or whine much like a bad pulley bearing then got progressively worse.

NHTSA complaint #11749252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.