Used car guide

2021 Toyota Highlander: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Toyota Highlander first registered in 2021: we looked at the 927 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

927MOTs of 2021 cars, done in 2023–2025
87%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
9,400typical miles a year
2×the usual rate for wipers

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2021 Toyota Highlander?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2021 Toyota Highlander than on all cars registered in 2021.

  • Wipers2× usual
    Toyota Highlander
    7% All 2021 cars
    3.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.7%, against 2.2% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

  • Headlight aim2.6× usual
    Toyota Highlander
    3.9% All 2021 cars
    1.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.9%, against 1.5% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £20–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Park facing a wall at night or in a garage and check both headlight beams sit level. Aim is a cheap adjustment.

Better than most

Brake discs: 2.2% here, against 6.1% of all 2021 cars.

Common 2021 Toyota Highlander MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2021 Toyota Highlander MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    25% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    10% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Lights and electrics
    7% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    4% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

  • Brakes
    3% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    3% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2021 Toyota Highlander

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the wipers? (Flagged at MOT 2× as often on the 2021 Toyota Highlander as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the headlight aim? (Flagged at MOT 2.6× as often on the 2021 Toyota Highlander as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Toyota Highlander?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Toyota Highlander compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023–Too new for MOT data
2022168Tyres 27%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Toyota Highlander cars first registered in 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score