31 of the
562 complaints filed about the Toyota Corolla Cross
are about the transmission —
6% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2023.
31
Complaints
6%
Share of all complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
I turned on the car after it had been sitting in the hot sun for about 4 hours (after a 180 mile trip). When I turned on the vehicle, about a minute into driving (on a gravel driveway), the car started blaring multiple lights and the steering wheel locked. Notifications were “System Failure" & "Electric Power Steering Malfunction - please contact dealer.” The steering wheel completely locked/uncontrollable - 3 others tried to help me. I was going ~5 mph when it happened. I was able to put the car into park & turned it off for 10min. On restart, the car acted normal again. If this happened while driving at a high speed I believe it would result in serious injury or death. This is the second episode. The first time it happened (XXX), Toyota did a full inspection/scan of the car but couldn't reproduce the issue despite confirming it was documented in the car's system log. This time, I emailed toyota same day. The car has now been at dealer for 4 days. They haven’t been able to reproduce the issue despite acknowledging both times that the events are documented in the car's log. The dealer recommended replacing the ECU. Unfortunately, toyota corporate claims they "cannot replace it without reproducing the issue" which is ridiculous given that the issue is inherently unpredictable (which is what makes it terrifying) yet irrefutably present. I am concerned I will die due to a malfunctioning steering wheel before toyota corporate will take it seriously. I do not feel safe driving the car now that this has inexplicably happened 2x. Multiple people online reported a similar issue [XXX]; the sounds occurring during the linked video are similar to my event. The main difference is that my car never once said low battery; no engine problems, never have had a dead battery. I was even able to drive 180 miles home that night (praying the whole time cause I had no other choice in a rural area). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11757009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
At around 4:20 pm I was turning left at a stop sign (did not put on turning signal) and then about 30 feet later, turning right at a light. This is the same location I have driven for the past month. The car had been on for about 3 minutes after sitting in a hot parking lot all day (104 degrees). All of a sudden (after turning left) but before/during was turning right, the car’s steering wheel locked and transmission just started beeping. I could not turn the steering wheel more than about 5 degrees in either direction, so instead of turning right I had to go straight. No matter what I did the steering wheel would not turn. - I simultaneously got a notification on my dashboard that said “System failure” “system malfunction” [something along those lines]. Multiple lights on my dashboard illuminated in yellow [auto steering symbol, can’t remember what else] and lots of extremely loud beeping. - I to confirm I was not in neutral (I was not, I was still in drive) but I could not do anything besides brake. - I panicked, slammed brakes. Turned car off/stopped. The location was where 2 roads diverged and I had part of the car sticking out into a lane because there was nowhere else to go. - I sat for about a minute and then turned the car back on and it drove but I was scared to go on the highway. - I have called Toyota for repair (it happened prior to a holiday weekend so they were closed) but to date have not yet contacted insurance/etc. - I believe there are video cameras at this intersection so there may be footage of it.
NHTSA complaint #11748341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My vehicle is subject to Toyota Safety Recall 25TA15 (NHTSA Recall 25V869) involving a loose inverter bolt. Toyota dealership has retained possession of my vehicle since February 23, 2026. As of June 22, 2026, the vehicle has been out of service for more than 120 days. Toyota has failed to provide a repair date, repair timeline, or meaningful resolution despite multiple contacts, a certified mail notice, and attorney involvement. Toyota Case Number: 260323003356.
NHTSA complaint #11745547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to immediately accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while driving up an incline and while driving on a flat road surface. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 4,100.
NHTSA complaint #11742251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
on the freeway after around 10 miles a vibration starts at 70mph and up to 80mph, it gets worse, its from the rear, you can feel it in the steering, through the floor, and seat, over 80 the whole car is one constant resonating vibration, tires have been replaced and conformed ok. Toyota are not doing anything to resolve the issue, and will not drive it as I request, and will not invite me to drive along with them.
NHTSA complaint #11737682 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11729754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The component that has malfunctioned is the hybrid inverter assembly, a loose internal bolt within the hybrid propulsion system. This vehicle is currently held at Fred Haas Toyota Country (Houston, TX) and is available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of the public are at risk because, as stated by the recall notice given on December 16 2025, this defect involves a bolt in the hybrid powertrain that "can become loose and could lead to a loss of motive power or could lead to a fire when the vehicle is on." The safety risk was confirmed by Fred Haas Toyota on March 6, 2026 and while there is no formal "Stop Drive" order, the dealership agreed to ground the vehicle and lend me a rental. As of today, March 28, 2026 there is still no remedy despite Toyota saying they "estimate the remedy can be available in the 1st quarter of 2026." Since my vehicle is currently in possession of the dealership, I am not sure if they have inspected it. Before I gave my car to Fred Haas Toyota Country I did not see any warning lights or messages, but the risk was still there (NHTSA 25V869000). My vehicle has been out of service for 22 days with no estimate repair date or remedy announced and the manufacturer has failed to provide a comparable loaner and has been unresponsive to my calls and messages. I am reporting a failure to remedy a known safety defect in a reasonable timeframe and am requesting an investigation into this delay and assistance with an appropriate rental or vehicle repurchase.
NHTSA complaint #11727688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission failed to properly shift into third gear. Additionally, the vehicle was hesitating while accelerating and was losing automotive power. The vehicle was driven to the dealer, but the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,082.
NHTSA complaint #11725065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE: 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross L FWD MILEAGE: 40,000 miles DATE OF FAILURE: [Insert date] DEFECT DESCRIPTION: My vehicle's coolant bypass valve (part #16671-F2010) has failed, causing coolant leaks and triggering error codes. An independent shop diagnosed the issue as a defective coolant bypass valve before I took it to the Toyota dealership for confirmation. SAFETY CONCERN: This is a known defect affecting multiple Toyota models from 2019-2023. Coolant bypass valve failures can lead to engine overheating, potential engine damage, and loss of vehicle control if the engine fails while driving. This creates a serious safety hazard. MANUFACTURER RESPONSE: Toyota issued Customer Support Program 24TE04 covering this exact defect for 2020-2021 Corollas and certain RAV4 models. However, they arbitrarily excluded 2022-2023 Corolla Cross vehicles despite using THE IDENTICAL DEFECTIVE PART (F0010 coolant bypass valve) in all gas models through early 2024. Toyota dealership charged me $99 for a diagnostic to confirm what was already known. The repair quote was nearly $1,000. Toyota Corporate denied goodwill assistance, stating they only provide it to "loyal customers" who have spent significant money on servicing or own multiple Toyotas. CONSUMER IMPACT: This is the same defect that led to the class action lawsuit Barrientos v. Toyota. Toyota settled privately and created CSP 24TE04, but deliberately excluded newer model years with the same defective part. Consumers with 2022-2023 vehicles are forced to pay $900-1,300 out-of-pocket for a manufacturing defect that Toyota has already acknowledged in other model years. REQUESTED ACTION: I am requesting NHTSA investigate why Toyota's Customer Support Program excludes 2022-2023 model years when they contain the identical defective coolant bypass valve. Toyota should be required to extend CSP 24TE04 to cover ALL vehicles with part #16671-F2010 or F0010, regardless of model year.
NHTSA complaint #11717414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bracket for Right rear differential cracked and broke in two separate places. causing a severe banging noise when turning right or left and or going from backing up to forward motion. have video and Toyota report . never went over any pot holes and was in driveway when noise started backing up. vehicle currently at freehold Toyota dealership service dept. component item was seen by service mngr, service tech and several others stating they never saw anything like this before. the whole wheel could have broken off while driving causing death or severe injury to my family. it broke in two separate places on either side of bolts holding rest together . Have Toyota Premier vsa Protection plan-Toyota states not part of protection??This could have killed us on the highway if the whole rear wheel fell off and we flipped over.
NHTSA complaint #11714565 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On day 3 of having the car brand new straight from the dealer about 25 miles on it the transmission went out. Spent a month for them to fix it. Still does not drive the same and I can tell does not excellerate the same.
NHTSA complaint #11697843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I purchased a brand-new 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross LE on [XXX], in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, selling price, $31, 500.00 Early July 2025, I started the vehicle, and unexpectedly, multiple lights emerged on the dashboard screen per below, Exhibit 1 - Check Engine - Visit your dealer Exhibit 2 -Drive Start Control Malfunction - Visit your dealer Exhibit 3 - Parking Brake Malfunction Exhibit 4 - Secondary Collision - Brake System Malfunction Exhibit 5- Parking System Malfunction The vehicle was taken to Island Toyota on July 5th. The codes were cleared by removing the battery terminal. Two days later, the warning lights reappeared. After the technician performed diagnostic testing, I received a phone call to pick up the vehicle. The total cost of the ordered parts exceeds $2,000, which includes a computer. This vehicle is under warranty, particular vehicle IS NOT TWO YEARS OLD. This vehicle is a LEMON. I spoke with Carlos Rivera, a Customer Service Agent at Toyota of Puerto Rico. I notified him of this matter via phone calls, and he responded. He stated that his department is the warranty department, solely responsible for ordering parts for vehicles with warranties. He advised me to speak Ms Charla Green, the General Manager for Toyota St. Croix. Not quite sure why she never returns calls and is virtually unfeasible to speak with customers is atrocious. The front desk agents seems to be programmed to let you know Ms Green is not available and the supervisor, Ms Francis, seems uninterested in the daily chronicles with ones vehicle. The Entire department running blind while upper management is collecting hefty salaries. When the poor man cries out in distress, it’s a deep yearning for help and reassurance from the workers getting paid to help. While traversing on the [XXX], with a passenger in the vehicle, approximately, on [XXX], the instrument cluster display went BLANK, the vehicle lost power, slowed down, INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552
NHTSA complaint #11688637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
under normal driving conditions on a state highway the Engine Malfunction error displayed on my Multi-Information Display. The error indicated that I find a dealership and have the car inspected. The error would go off then come back during acceleration. after two days at the local Toyota Dealership I was told the Coolant Bypass Valve was stuck in the closed position and it would have caused stalling during acceleration and engine overheating at normal speeds. the dealership replaced the valve and flushed the 100K coolant at my expense of over $800. The issue reappeared moments after I took delivery of the repaired vehicle as I was accelerating onto the highway from their parking lot. this is a well known issue that affects 2019-2023 Camry and RAv4 models and I believe the 2022 Corolla Cross has the same defective part in its engine (all engines come from Japan) no matter where the vehicle is assembled.
NHTSA complaint #11680699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY THE PROBLEM PART, BUT IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I ONLY GOT IT FOR ONE WEEK. I DID LET THEM KNOW SINCE THE SECOND DAY I HAD THE CAR, IT WAS KEEPING BREAKING DOWN ON THE STREET. THEY TOLD ME TO KEEP DRIVING IT TO GET COMFORTABLE WITH THE TECHNOLOGY IT HAD. THINKING IS WAS TECHNOLOGY LIKE THEY SAID I KEEP DRIVING IT AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED 3 OCCURRENCES OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. THE CAR JUST LOSES POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD and picks back up and continues like nothing happened. I could have been hit by another car. I bring the car back to them because I'm scared to keep driving it, my 3 kids have only me as family to support them, I do not want to die and leave them on the street. They have the car back the same week, and they have my $6700 down payment, as well as my trade Toyota CHR for another amount of $3700. The Sales manager told me I have to pay for the loan anyway, not to lose my credit. He said he had already spent his to get my credit okay, so I should pay for the car anyway because the loan is in my name. Or to sell him the car and pay the rest of the money after he values the car. It's unfair to me to lose my $6700 plus the $3700 from the trade plus my credit. I need a car, but not an unsafe one, which was the reason why I spent all this money and ended up with nothing. i need help to get another car or my money back to find another Brand, that's not my first time victim from Toyota.
NHTSA complaint #11680167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I had this issue 2 times so far, and I thought I was crazy since it hasn't happened since, but I noticed another report of someone else having the exact same issue. This prompted me to include my own report, as this could be a fatal flaw that needs review immediately. While I was pulling out into traffic from a stop sign to cross multiple lanes, my engine on my 2022 Corolla Cross XLE shut off without any warning. I was stopped at the stop sign, which the engine shut off as it's designed to. Upon releasing the brake, the engine started and I accelerated to cross the lanes to get into the left turning lane. As I accelerated, the engine shut off without any intervention from my part. There were no warnings on the dash, beeps, or error messages. I pressed the accelerator multiple times without any propulsion as traffic to my left was approaching me. Thankfully they slowed down seeing me "stopped" in the middle of the road. After a few seconds of being dead in the water, the engine kicked back on and I was able to accelerate again. The same thing happened at another time that was nearly identical to this situation. I do not remember the exact date of the occurrence, but I believe it was in April of 2023 and the second occurrence was a about a month later. Since then, I have not had this exact issue happen. Although, I have pulled into traffic and had the accelerator not react quickly, which caused me to "crawl forward" at a slow speed, even if I floored the pedal. This issue has happen many times, around 8, since I purchases the car in January of 2023.
NHTSA complaint #11614474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AWD Transmission slips when trying to "shift" and sometimes feels like it loses power while gas is applied. Already brought to dealer for service, and they confirmed it will need a new CVT transmission. This is only after 6 months of ownership. There was no indication on the dashboard lights that the transmission was about to fail, nor was this brought up during regular service intervals. This [XXX] we were travelling up on [XXX] past Baker and the car lost forward momentum, even though I was pressing fully on the gas pedal. We had to coast to the side of the road while the trucks were whizzing by, and had to be towed to the closest Toyota dealership in Las Vegas. At first, there were no warning lights, but after turning the engine off and then on, warnings about the AWD system, Check Engine lights, and a "Drive-Start failure" message started showing. Engine itself had no issues, but it felt like the car was stuck on a high gear (or its CVT equivalent), and refused to move forward and actually rolled back as we were on an incline. Eventually it would move forward and then it seemed like it was no stuck on 1st/launch gear, which it kept up until we got dropped off by the tow truck to Autonation Toyota in Las Vegas, and the car handed off to them. Last update was that Toyota confirmed it was a transmission issue and the CVT will be replaced by them. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11602453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Transmission failed at 7,000 miles and had to be replaced. Car in repair facility 3/25-5/8/24. 5/18 - Engine slipped out of gear on hill/driveway, wouldn’t engage, unresponsive 5/20 - engine hesitation when taking off 5/21 - engine bogging down on acceleration 5/21 - engine unresponsive when accelerator pressed 5/21 15:40 - rolled over gentle bump at 40mph, screen went black and computer reset 5/21 16:03 - engine didn’t respond when accelerator pressed to floor 5/21 16:51 - car bogged down - issues climbing hill on driveway 5/22 12:48 - car engine jerked while coasting 5/23 20:15 - Start/Stop Unavailable - Battery Charging warning light for Stop Start system 5/23 20:19 - Start/Stop system battery charging message again 5/24 10:18 - engine jerked, car shuddered before engaging 5/25 10:26 - 31mph, engine jerked, car shuddered, lost power on slight incline 5/25 17:58 - proximity alarm alerted on rear passenger’s side - no obstruction present 5/25 18:01 - horn stopped working after depressed for three seconds 5/25 18:03 - car slipped out of gear on slight incline 5/26 - car alerted “For Start/Stop System, press brake harder” Car shuddered, acted as if it was going to stall, then restarted itself even though brake was not depressed fully and car had started rolling forward 5/29 10:18 - “Smart Key Malfunction” error message and car would not start 5/31 21:48 - Auto Start/Stop System Unavailable - Battery Charging warning light 6/01 20:18 - Engine slipped while accelerator pressed, lost power at 39 mph 6/01 20:20 - Engine kept slipping, resulting in pulsing motion of car each mph increase starting at 20 mph and ending at 40 mph 6/02 10:38 - 1:17 video clip taken of proximity alarm misfiring again 6/02 12:27 - pulling onto Central Pike, uphill, car lost power and began shuddering when accelerator pressed 6/2-6/18 - available on request 6/18 - car didn’t respond past 19 mph with accelerator fully pressed - repair shop foreman, customer service manager in car to witness
NHTSA complaint #11595093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
When driving in the rain and my start/stop function is turned on, my car will turn off and make a loud beep with a message stating “engine stopped steering power low”. The check engine light and the power steering light pop up on the dashboard and I have to restart the car. This happens in the middle of traffic and is scary to think that it can happen any time while I’m driving. My car has less than 15,000 miles on it. This has happened numerous times, but more and more frequently lately.
NHTSA complaint #11590490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.