2021 Toyota Highlander structure problems

“My 2021 Toyota Highlander is experiencing the exact bumper/under-cover detachment detailed in NHTSA Recall 23V720. In August 2025, an authorized dealer performed the interim 23TA12 clip remedy. That remedy has completely failed. The lower bumper and engine splash shields are unzipping and actively dragging on the ground, creating a severe road hazard. Fred Haas Toyota World on I-45N and Toyota Brand Engagement are both refusing to inspect this failed safety remedy unless I pay an out-of-pocket diagnostic fee. This is a direct violation of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, which mandates all recall diagnostics and remedies be free.”

“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.”

“Lift gate does not open. Hydraulic struts have failed and the lift gate will only open with significant manual effort. This means that the rear door cannot be opened from inside the car.”

“This is a formal report of Recall Non-Compliance regarding Safety Recall 23V-720 (Toyota Recall 23TA12) on my 2021 Highlander Hybrid. An authorized dealership performed the recall on May 6, 2024, utilizing Op Code 23TA12R1 (Inspection & Install Fasteners). The dealership only addressed the lower bumper and failed to properly remedy the upper bumper retention tabs, stating it isn’t part of recall. The upper bumper cover has completely separated from the fenders during normal daily driving. The upper plastic mounting slots are torn out and clips will not hold. The dealership is refusing further repairs, instructing me to file a car insurance claim or pay a body shop myself to correct an un-remedied federal safety defect. The vehicle currently remains an active structural road hazard because the official recall remedy completely failed to secure the bumper assembly from detaching. A TAS case has been opened at the dealer, but federal intervention is requested to ensure recall compliance.”

“The back hatch of the car has issues closing regularly. Nearly half of the time you push the button to shut the back hatch when it is open it will not close and has to be shut manually. Typically, it shuts an inch or two and then beeps at you and when you push the button again nothing happens but beeping. This is an issue because it is very difficult to close. Even as a 6' 200+ lb man who does strength training regularly, shutting the back hatch is difficult to do manually let alone for my much smaller wife. This has let to her having to ask for help from strangers in a parking lot to help close the door which is unsafe, particularly since we have small children. Toyota has acknowledged that this is a known issue and have stated that there is nothing that they can do to fix it. This acknowledgement came when the car was very new and my father was the owner and again just a few months ago when we brought up the issue again with Toyota.”

“The front lower bumper detached while driving on the PA turnpike. The vehicle was traveling in the left lane approximately 75 MPH and was bumping on the road until we were able to pull over all the way to the right lane for approximately 1-2 miles. This hanging bumper dragging on the floor causing some damage to upper bumper as well. This was extremely unsafe for everyone in our vehicle and put the safety of all other driver around us at risk of accidents. No warning lights were present before bumper detached. Toyota dealership looked at it and refused to do anything about it, saying that they see damage to upper bumper and that is not part of recall. I told them the damage to upper bumper was caused by lower bumper falling off and being dragged at speeds of 75MPH until we could safely pull over. They stated that the recal only offered a repair kit to lower bumper. I will include a picture of bumper after lower bumper detached and upper bumper still firmly attached. I had no option and had the bumper repaired by a auto body repair shop. This should have been fixed by toyota and i would like to be reimbursed by toyota. There should be punishment to toyota corp…”