2021 Toyota Highlander airbag problems
50 of the 537 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Toyota Highlander name the airbags (NHTSA’s “Air Bags” heading — airbags, their sensors and warning lights). Filed under the same heading: 1 recall. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the airbags
Source: NHTSA complaint database5 of the 50 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 5 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2021: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 25 · 2025: 20 · 2026: 1
Too few of these complaints carry an odometer reading to say when the problem shows up.
537 complaints in all about the 2021 Toyota Highlander, 1 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Air Bags” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Toyota Highlander airbag problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the airbags. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the master warning light remained illuminated.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); and the vehicle was partially repaired. Additionally, the contact was informed that the air bag sensor had been deactivated until the recall repair was completed.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
What is on file about the airbags
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 23V865000 HighDec 20, 2023 · 999,901 vehicles
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.
Trouble codes named on this system
C1AC2
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2021 Toyota Highlander names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2021 Toyota Highlander
Source: the same files- body and structure problems 55 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre airbag problems common on the 2021 Toyota Highlander?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 50 owner complaints naming the airbags on this model year (9% of everything owners filed about it), and 1 recall is filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the airbags on the 2021 Toyota Highlander?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 23V865000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do airbag problems show up on the 2021 Toyota Highlander?
Too few of the complaints carry an odometer reading to say. The model year's page shows the mileage curve across every system where it can.
What does NHTSA's "Air Bags" heading cover?
Airbags, their sensors and warning lights. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.