Toyota Corolla Problems — All Years, Common Issues & Reliability

Year-by-year breakdown of safety recalls, NHTSA owner complaints, reported deaths, injuries, crashes, and worst problem areas. Updated daily from federal databases.

125
Total Recalls
7045
Total Complaints
1173
Total Crashes
983
Reported Injuries
9
Reported Deaths
2009
Worst Year
2026
Best Year
0
Poor
Overall Reliability Score (0–100)
Stable +11%
Complaint Trend
273 last 24mo vs 245 prior 24mo

Recent Safety Incidents — Last 5 Model Years

3
Fires Reported
58
Crashes Reported
1
Death Reported
50
Injuries Reported

Own a Toyota Corolla? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.

Toyota Corolla — Year-by-Year Problem Comparison

YearVerdictRecallsComplaintsCrashesInjuriesDeathsTop Issue
2026BestExcellent1146Power TrainFull report →
2025Excellent239109Electrical SystemFull report →
2024Good3972016Unknown Or OtherFull report →
2023Good6237126EngineFull report →
2022Good21031317EngineFull report →
2021Good1981512Air BagsFull report →
2020Good52011831EngineFull report →
2019Good51431117EngineFull report →
2018Good29218141Air BagsFull report →
2017Good31444841Air BagsFull report →
2016Good11424947Air BagsFull report →
2015Good11496455Air BagsFull report →
2014Good219361461Air BagsFull report →
2013Good51283346Air BagsFull report →
2012Good42492816Air BagsFull report →
2011Caution63533631Air BagsFull report →
2010Avoid127567754Air BagsFull report →
2009WorstAvoid9933141931Air BagsFull report →
2008Good42115026Air BagsFull report →
2007Caution55178963Air BagsFull report →
2006Caution85398263Air BagsFull report →
2005Caution848677671Air BagsFull report →
2004Good1027431264Air BagsFull report →
2003Caution1042375691Air BagsFull report →
2002Excellent2771511Air BagsFull report →
2001Good2902750Air BagsFull report →
2000Good21012017Engine And Engine CoolingFull report →
1999Good21102518Air BagsFull report →
1998Good21462222Air BagsFull report →

29 model years shown. Crashes, injuries, and deaths from NHTSA complaint filings. Click any year for full details.

Most Common Toyota Corolla Problems

Air Bags
2414
Steering
575
Vehicle Speed Control
521
Electrical System
442
Engine
379
Power Train
314
Unknown Or Other
313
Engine And Engine Cooling
306
Structure
214
Service Brakes
207
Service Brakes / Hydraulic
179
Seat Belts
137

Based on 7,045 owner complaints filed with NHTSA across all model years.

Recent Safety Recalls — Toyota Corolla (20222026)

#23V3840002022
30/05/2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Corolla Cross vehicles. The instrument panel may have been produced without the required perforation, which could result in the front-passenger air bag not deploying properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safey Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the instrument panel, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 10, 2023. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB04/23TA04.

#23V8640002022
20/12/2023
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Corolla Cross vehicles that were previously inspected at a dealership under recall 23V-384. The instrument panel may have been produced without the required perforation, which could result in the front-passenger air bag not deploying properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the instrument panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 26, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TA16. Vehicles previously inspected under 23V-384 will need to return to the dealership for additional inspection.

#23V4800002023
12/07/2023
STEERING:COLUMN

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, 2023 Lexus RX350, RX350 Hybrid, RX500 Hybrid, 2023-2024 Lexus NX250, NX350, and NX350 Hybrid vehicles. An electrical connection inside the steering column's spiral cable assembly may be insufficiently welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver's air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2023. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TA08. Lexus' number for this recall is 23LA02.

#24V8780002023
21/11/2024
STEERING

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Corolla and Corolla Hybrid vehicles. Due to cracks developed during the manufacturing process, the steering intermediate shaft assembly may fracture and possibly result in the shaft detaching from the steering column.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the intermediate steering shaft, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 17, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 24TB13/24TA13.

#25V0400002023
29/01/2025
STEERING:COLUMN

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, Lexus RX350, 2023-2024 NX250, and NX350 vehicles that may have been incorrectly repaired under previous NHTSA recall number 23V-480. An electrical connection inside the steering column's spiral cable assembly may be insufficiently welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver's air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 25TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 25LA02.

#24V7080002023
20/09/2024
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC:SOFTWARE/PROGRAMMING

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Corolla Cross Hybrid and 2023-2025 Corolla Hybrid vehicles. A software error in the skid control electronic control unit (ECU) may result in a loss of power brake assist when turning a corner.

Remedy: Dealers will update the skid control ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2024. Additionally, notifications to owners of the Corolla Hybrid vehicles were mailed January 17, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 24TA11.

#24V5480002023
23/07/2024
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain Toyota 2023 GR Supra, 2024 4 Runner, Corolla, Grand Highlander, Grand Highlander Hybrid, Land Cruiser Hybrid, Tacoma, Tacoma Hybrid, 2023-2024 BZ4X, Corolla Cross Hybrid, GR Corolla, GR86, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius Prime, Sequoia Hybrid, Tundra, Tundra Hybrid, Venza Hybrid, 2023-2025 Crown, and 2025 Camry Hybrid vehicles equipped with GST accessories. The load carrying capacity modification label may display inaccurate added weight values. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Remedy: GST will mail new labels to owners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2024. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 24R2.

#26V2030002023
31/03/2026
BACK OVER PREVENTION:WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Corolla Cross Hybrid vehicles. The vehicles may fail to make sufficient pedestrian warning sounds when in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles."

Remedy: Dealers will update the software for the pedestrian warning sounds, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed by May 30, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26TB08 and 26TA08.

#26V1100002026
25/02/2026
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2026 Corolla vehicles. The front headlights may have missing headlight aim markings, which can result in improperly aimed headlights during service. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Remedy: Dealers will replace both front headlight assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 20, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 26TA05.

#25V8690002026
16/12/2025
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Camry Hybrid and 2026 Corolla Cross Hybrid vehicles. A bolt inside the inverter may not have been tightened properly, causing incomplete contact at the inverter terminal.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the inverter assembly, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters explaining the safety risk were mailed March 11, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy becomes available, anticipated in late May or early June 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 25TB15/25TA15.

Showing 10 recalls from 20222026 model years. See the full year-specific pages for older recalls.

Recent Owner Complaints

Direct reports filed with NHTSA by Toyota Corolla owners — 20222026 model years.

Air BagsCRASH04/27/2026

I am writing to formally report a serious safety concern regarding my vehicle’s airbag system following a recent accident. On April 22, 2026, I was involved in a significant collision while driving my Toyota Corolla 2022. The impact was severe enough that the other vehicle involved deployed its airbags. However, despite the force of the crash, the airbags in my vehicle did not deploy. I am extremely concerned that the airbag system may have failed to function as designed. Given that airbags are a critical safety feature intended to protect occupants in high-impact collisions, this raises serious questions about the reliability and safety of my vehicle.

Forward Collision Avoidance04/26/2026

I was driving west bound on I40 with the adaptive cruise control, and lane assist on at 75 MPH. It was around 8:30 PM when I seen the instrument panel flash, just drop for less than half a second, and then come back up but dimmer, like when the headlights come on, except they already were on. At that point all engine noises stopped and the car felt like it was actively braking. I literally lurched forward in my seat. I noticed that the RPM's had dropped to zero and I didn't see anything on the dash that indicated any warning. All green icons and nothing red. Stepped on the gas pedal, nothing. Tried hitting the cancel on the adaptive controls, nothing. I started turning the car from the inside lane to get to the outside shoulder while shifting the car into neutral to get more drift and tried toggling the key from off to start position and the engine. No rev, no RPM's. Car stalls in the outside lane. I turned on the flashers and then put the vehicle in park, removed the key and then re-entered the key and tried to start. Nothing. Attempted to push the car out of the lane in neutral but I wasn't able to get it to move. A couple semi's go by and I about pooped my pants. Waited for highway patrol to come by and get the car towed. Very fortunate no one was hurt or killed. I believe the automatic emergency braking activated or the electronic parking brake activated? All of the interior systems still had power.

Air Bags /Seat BeltsCRASH2 INJURIES04/25/2026

Driver side knee bolster airbag did not inflate correctly resulting in impact of lower leg to airbag hatch door and under dash area. Driver and passenger seatbelts flung open during accident. Driver hit top of thigh against steering wheel. No safety recalls per VIN search. No warning lamps, messages, or symptoms proof to accident.

Electrical System04/24/2026

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the infotainment screen unexpectedly turned on and off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the infotainment system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

Hybrid Propulsion System04/24/2026

The contact owns a 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V869000 (Hybrid Propulsion System). While driving approximately 10 MPH out of a driveway, the vehicle lost power. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer; however, a diagnostic test was not performed. The dealer was notified of the active recall and took possession of the vehicle, and provided the contact with a loaner. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 800.

Electrical System /Engine04/23/2026

Vehicle: 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross (gas‑powered, non‑hybrid) System/Component: Electrical System → Start/Stop System → Driver Information Display Issue Type: Design Defect / Driver Distraction I am reporting a recurring issue with my 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross (gas‑powered, not a hybrid). The vehicle frequently displays a “Battery Charging” message on the dashboard whenever I come to a stop at traffic lights or stop signs. This message appears even when the vehicle is operating normally and there is no actual charging system problem. According to Toyota documentation and owner discussions, this message is triggered when the auto start/stop system decides not to shut off the engine due to the 12‑volt battery’s state of charge. However, the message is unnecessary, cannot be disabled, and provides no actionable information to the driver. It functions as a non‑critical status notification but is presented with the same prominence as a warning. This creates a driver distraction, as the message repeatedly draws attention away from the road for a condition that is not a fault, not a safety issue, and not something the driver can address. The message appears frequently during normal driving and cannot be suppressed. I believe this is a design flaw in Toyota’s start/stop implementation and dashboard messaging. The system should not display a warning‑style message for normal operating behavior, especially when it cannot be corrected by the driver. I am requesting that NHTSA log this issue as a potential driver‑distraction concern and encourage Toyota to revise the software to eliminate or suppress this unnecessary message.

Steering /Electrical System /Engine04/17/2026

I was driving on a cold day. When I stopped at a stoplight seeking to make a left turn, the car would not accelerate when I pressed the gas pedal. I looked down and saw the following warning sign "Engine Stopped, Steering Power Low" appear on the dashboard. However, since the car was not in park, it had rolled forward and was close to the being in the nearest lane of oncoming traffic. It was also difficult to steer to avoid creeping closer to oncoming traffic. Although it did not cause an accident, it easily could have. I took the car to several mechanics, because the car is under a CarMax warranty. However, none of the diagnostics revealed anything of concern (no weak battery, lack of power steering fluid, etc.). The mechanics said they had heard about this happening, but were unable to pinpoint any reason for it occuring. This seems like a serious flaw.

Electrical System04/16/2026

My car was stopped at a stop sign. My auto off engaged, and then my engine shut down. I was stalled out on the road and it took me 6 attempts to restart my car. Message was engine stopped, power steering failure

Service Brakes / Hydraulic /Air Bags /Vehicle Speed ControlCRASH2 INJURIES04/15/2026

The contact owned a 2025 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while attempting to drive from a complete stop, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond as intended. The front end of the vehicle lowered down while the rear-end rose and made an abnormal squealing sound. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact's husband assisted the contact in driving, and the vehicle was able to respond after several attempts; however, the contact's husband stated that the vehicle felt like the parking brake was engaged unintendedly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the failure could not be duplicated; however, an unknown part was replaced. The contact stated that while driving 35-45 MPH, the vehicle in front of the contact's vehicle slammed on the brakes. The contact then depressed the brake pedal, but the pedal travelled down and rested on the floorboard. Additionally, the front end of the vehicle lowered while the rear end of the vehicle rose, and the vehicle crashed underneath the rear-end of the truck. There was no warning light illuminated. The air bags failed to deploy. Toyoya Safety Connect system automatically connected the contact to a representative. The contact was transported to the hospital by emergency units. The contact sustained a fractured sternum, three fractures on the back, and the contact was hospitalized for 3 days. The contact's husband later arrived at the hospital and received medical assistance. The contact's husband sustained headaches, neck pain, bruised stomach as the seat belt fractured. The other driver did not sustain injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and totaled by the insurance company. The dealer and the manufacturer were contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000.

Hybrid Propulsion System04/13/2026

The contact owns a 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V86900 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM); 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 dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts for the recall repair were not yet available. The vehicle was taken to another dealer, Town Toyota (500 3rd St SE, East Wenatchee, WA 98802), where the vehicle remained while awaiting parts. The manufacturer was informed of the failure, and a dispute was filed to buy back or trade the vehicle. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Air Bags /Service BrakesCRASH04/07/2026

The contact owns a 2025 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving approximately at 65 MPH, and applying the brake pedal to exit off a ramp, the vehicle failed to decelerate. The contact continued to press the brake pedal; however, the vehicle did not stop, causing them to rear-end another vehicle, which caused their vehicle to come to an abrupt stop. The air bags did not deploy. The contact did not receive any injuries, and no medical attention was needed. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed by Georgia Carolina Recovery Services. The contact was informed by the adjuster that the vehicle may be totaled; however, the decision had not been finalized. The dealer was contacted and informed about the incident. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 8,500.

Steering /Suspension /Power Train04/07/2026

Front end vibrates and floats around at highway speeds. Vibration through the floor from the rear. rear of the vehicle steps out and wanders with weight in the vehicle causing passengers to get concerned. tires have been replaced, no change to front or rear or handling.

522 total complaints retrieved from NHTSA for 20222026. For older model years, see individual year pages.

Corolla Years to Avoid

2009 Corolla
933 complaints · 9 recalls · 141 crashes · 1 deaths
Details →
2010 Corolla
756 complaints · 12 recalls · 77 crashes
Details →
2006 Corolla
539 complaints · 8 recalls · 82 crashes
Details →

Ranked by combined complaints, recalls, crashes, injuries, and deaths.

Best Corolla Years to Buy

2026 Corolla
14 complaints · 1 recalls
Details →

Years with fewest complaints and recalls.

Toyota Corolla Problems by Year

Select a year to see detailed complaints, recall notices, and safety incident data.

Frequently Asked Questions — Toyota Corolla Reliability

What year Corolla has the most problems?

Based on NHTSA data, the 2009 Toyota Corolla had the highest combined complaint and recall count — 933 complaints and 9 safety recalls. See the full 2009 report for specific defects.

Is the Toyota Corolla reliable?

The Toyota Corolla has accumulated 7,045 owner-filed complaints and 125 safety recalls across all model years in NHTSA's database. There have been 9 reported deaths associated with complaints. The 2026 model year shows the fewest reported issues. Always run a VIN check before purchasing any used Corolla.

What are the most common Corolla problems?

The most frequently cited problem areas are: Air Bags (2414 reports), Steering (575 reports), Vehicle Speed Control (521 reports), Electrical System (442 reports). Based on NHTSA complaints across all model years.

How do I check if my Corolla has an open recall?

Use the vehicle's 17-character VIN at VinCheckEngine.com. Our free VIN report pulls the latest NHTSA recall data along with auction history, odometer records, and 30+ intelligence signals.

Check a Specific Toyota Corolla VIN

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