901 of the
14,570 complaints filed about the Toyota Corolla
are about the electrical system —
100% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2007.
The engine will lose power and shut off while driving. It will proceed to not start and strand the driver. Other models in the genera of my car had this issue with the engine control module, so Im not sure why my VIN does not have a recall. My mechanic isolated the problem to either a fuse or the ECM. I took the vehicle for a test drive and it failed again. By shutting off when driving out of nowhere this is a huge safety issue and could cause an accident. The ECM is a component that should never fail on a vehicle. Improper soldering caused this issue.
NHTSA complaint #11763262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My passengers airbag light is on and it causes a safety issue. I called Toyota and they washed their hands off. Telling me that my VIN number does not fall under the recall where I know for a fact that car is made around the same time have many recalls with this particular issue. I was not given any help at all.
NHTSA complaint #11762828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In a 2024 Corolla the spiral cable (clock spring) is defective. It controls the airbag, cruise control, horn and more, so it is an important safety mechanism electrical part. Toyota USA is on back order for this part for at least a month, maybe two. This suggests to me that there is a widespread problem with defective Toyota Corolla spiral cables (clock spring) inside the steering wheel. People are driving around with this defective part while waiting for the part to arrive in the US, and will need to pay upwards of $1000 to have the defective part replaced.
NHTSA complaint #11762381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am reporting a severe safety defect regarding a failed engine coolant bypass valve on my 2022 Toyota Corolla Apex SE (VIN: [XXX], Mileage: 54,700). An authorized Toyota dealership has scanned the vehicle and confirmed active Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P268115 ("Engine Coolant Bypass Valve Circuit Open"). This mechanical and electrical failure triggers an immediate dashboard warning and creates an imminent risk of sudden engine overheating, thermal engine damage, and catastrophic loss of motive power (stalling) while traveling at highway speeds, placing myself and other motorists at risk.Toyota is fully aware of this widespread defect and issued Customer Support Program (CSP) 24TE04 to extend the warranty on older models (2019–2021) for 10 years or 100,000 miles due to high part failure rates. However, my February 2022 vehicle was factory-equipped with the exact same defective, un-superseded valve part number, yet Toyota has arbitrarily excluded my vehicle from free repair based solely on its calendar production date.Furthermore, Toyota's corporate office has denied goodwill coverage because I am a secondhand owner without previous maintenance records, despite this being a sealed electrical actuator failure completely unrelated to routine maintenance. I am a [XXX] senior citizen living on a fixed Supplemental Security Income (SSI) budget. Toyota's denial forces an elderly, low-income consumer to either navigate a hazardous, stalling-prone vehicle on public roads or lose essential transportation because an arbitrary corporate policy places a $1,045 manufacturing defect repair entirely out of financial reach. I urge the NHTSA to audit Toyota's exclusion parameters for CSP 24TE04. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11761970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2014 Toyota Corolla. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 109,000, but upon contacting the dealer to trade the vehicle in, it was discovered via a Carfax report that the mileage was 260,000.
NHTSA complaint #11759805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I pulled into XXX drive way at 6:53pm XXX. By 7:12 pm we were on the phone with 911. My car alarm when off. I went over to my car. It was smoking had a bad smell it smelt like it was about to explode. It wouldn’t let me unlock the car. Finally after 5 minutes it finally unlocked there is literal flames on the driver side dash and floor board. We used a fire extinguisher it was still smoking so we put water on it. When the fire department finally showed up the dash was still 182 degrees. They used their high water power fire extinguisher. The battery was also unplugs before the fire was completely out. And state farm called a tow truck to take it to pohanka in Salisbury Md.
NHTSA complaint #11759279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2000 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and unoccupied for under an hour, a fire started inside the cabin of the vehicle. The fire was self-extinguished. Neither a Fire Department nor a Police report was filed. The vehicle was not destroyed; however, the middle interior of the center console was destroyed. The vehicle was towed to the residence, and an independent mechanic inspected the vehicle and informed the contact that the fire had originated in the power outlet. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 200,000.
NHTSA complaint #11755309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DESIGN FLAW & SAFETY RISK: Toyota critically mismatched the standard battery to the vehicle's electrical charging profile; an AGM battery should be specified from the factory. Engine programming drops alternator voltage during cruising, deeply discharging the battery, and forces high-voltage surges (15V+) into it during deceleration. Because standard batteries cannot handle these rapid recharge loads during deceleration, the internal thermal load routinely overheats and boils the liquid electrolyte, even when brand new. This continuous boiling vents volatile hydrogen gas and discharges corrosive battery acid inside the engine bay. This structural flaw culminated in an immediate safety hazard when the battery physically exploded under the hood, creating a severe risk of engine compartment fire, chemical acid burns, and complete vehicle electrical blackout in active traffic. COLLATERAL DAMAGE & HISTORY: The chronic discharge and boiling of highly corrosive battery electrolyte severely damaged and corroded surrounding critical vehicle components. The acid completely corroded the transmission mount, the metal battery holder restraint, and the body paint. Furthermore, the corrosive boil-over burned off and destroyed several electrical connectors, plastic shrouds, plumbing hoses, and sections of the primary engine wiring cable harness. Since owning this 2020 Toyota Corolla, the vehicle has suffered systematic electrical degradation, requiring a full battery replacement at least once every single year. The exploded battery could not be safely retained due to its hazardous, ruptured state. WARNINGS & INSPECTIONS: No dashboard warning lamps, battery alerts, or diagnostic codes were triggered on the display prior to the physical battery failure. The rupture and electrical blackout occurred instantaneously. The vehicle has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives as no crash resulted directly from the blast.
NHTSA complaint #11755366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2019 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 45,709, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage listed on the title was 46,091. Additionally, the contact later became aware that the vehicle was a salvaged vehicle. The seller was contacted several times but blocked all communications.
NHTSA complaint #11754726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving at highway speeds, the vehicle suffered a sudden, simultaneous failure of multiple electrical and safety systems. Without warning, the Check Engine light, VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) light, Traction Control light, and SRS Airbag light all illuminated simultaneously on the dashboard. Immediately upon illumination of these fault lights, the vehicle lost computer-assisted stability control, began swerving violently, spun out of control, and collided with another vehicle, suffering severe front and rear impact damage. The vehicle was declared a total loss. Despite severe impact forces to both the front and rear structure, the SRS airbags completely failed to deploy. Both occupants sustained injuries due to the impact and lack of airbag protection. The simultaneous illumination of the airbag and VSC lights prior to impact strongly points to a sudden failure of the steering column spiral cable (clock spring) assembly—a known safety defect under NHTSA Recall Campaign 14V-168 (Recall E0M). The illumination of the airbag fault light appears to have deactivated the SRS system prior to impact, leaving occupants unprotected during a major collision. The vehicle is currently held at IAA San Diego and contains unread Event Data Recorder (EDR) crash data proving the pre-impact system shutdown. I request that NHTSA review this safety system failure and airbag non-deployment. CHP Crash Report #[9645-2026-02967] and Insurance Total Loss Evaluation are available upon request.
NHTSA complaint #11752255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This Toyota Corolla hatchback is experiencing an issue where it is constantly giving an “ENGINE MAINTENANCE REQUIRED” light and when scanned, it says “coolant bypass valve malfunction”. There is already a recall for many Toyota Corolla Sedans experiencing this issue of this bypass valve being defective, but because this is a hatchback, it is not part of the recall when it should be. There is already a recall for vehicles affected with this issue: T-SB-0112-24
NHTSA complaint #11751893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I own a 2026 Toyota Corolla purchased in November 2025. The recurring problems began on December 8, 2025, when multiple warning lights appeared on the dashboard along with the message “System Malfunction – Visit Your Dealer.” The warning indicators involved several vehicle safety and driver-assistance systems. The vehicle was taken to an authorized Toyota dealership for inspection and repair. On June 16, 2026, the vehicle experienced another serious malfunction, including a “Transmission System Malfunction” warning. The electrical and operational problems continued despite dealership visits and repairs. The battery was also replaced, but this did not permanently resolve the recurring failures. During a later incident while the vehicle was being driven, multiple warning lights appeared and the vehicle lost power or shut off. There was no crash or injury, but the unexpected malfunction while driving created a serious risk to the driver, passengers, and other motorists. The dealership has also addressed an issue involving the shift lever position sensor and corrosion or water intrusion. I do not know the exact component responsible for all of these failures. However, the problems have occurred repeatedly since December 2025 despite multiple dealership visits. Toyota was notified and corporate Case No. 260630000224 was opened. I have not received a permanent explanation or resolution, and I am concerned that the vehicle could unexpectedly malfunction or shut off again while being driven.
NHTSA complaint #11751940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low tire pressure warning light illuminated, with several other unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. However, the independent mechanic stated that the tire pressures were not low, and that the cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
NHTSA complaint #11744710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving, the odometer failed to exceed 299,999. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 299,999.
NHTSA complaint #11744134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle's infotainment system, specifically when utilizing Android Auto, is subject to recurrent, unprompted UI freezes and interface crashes while the vehicle is in motion. These malfunctions are induced by a persistent server-side enterprise management policy ('DISABLED_BY_ADMIN_POLICY') applied to the connected mobile device. The resulting software-induced failures cause the vehicle's display to freeze or become unresponsive, creating a severe and unpredictable distraction to the driver while operating the vehicle. Despite documenting these incidents, the manufacturer’s support team has refused to remediate the software conflict, instead instructing the user to power down the device during operation. The interface failure persists across multiple driving sessions, presenting a continuous risk of operator distraction and loss of critical navigation/safety data.
NHTSA complaint #11741399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am filing a safety complaint for my 2024 Toyota Corolla because the infotainment screen intermittently goes black while driving. This is most dangerous when I am using GPS/navigation while driving. The screen has gone black while driving on busy highways at 60+ mph, leaving me without functional navigation. This creates a distraction and safety concern because I suddenly lose directions and may need to look at my phone or troubleshoot the screen while driving. The car has also had recurring phone connectivity issues. Sometimes my phone does not connect through Bluetooth or even when plugged in directly. However, the black screen while driving is the bigger safety issue. I contacted Toyota multiple times. Toyota reference number: #[XXX]. Toyota told me to take the car to the dealership, which I did many times while the vehicle was still under warranty. I took it to two different Toyota dealerships multiple times. They repeatedly said there was no issue because they could not duplicate it. They also blamed Fitbit devices connected to my phone, which did not explain the screen going black while driving. I sent Toyota and the dealerships videos of the issue. However, it is difficult and unsafe to record the screen failure while actively driving. I also contacted Toyota about lemon law concerns, case [XXX]. Toyota denied the claim. The vehicle is now out of warranty, but the screen still occasionally goes black while driving. This issue was reported multiple times during the warranty period and was never resolved. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11741025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact purchased a 2020 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that they discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale on Facebook market. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 52,000. It was later discovered that the vehicle’s title mileage was 132,000. The contact stated went the DMV, and he discovered the mileage 132,483.
NHTSA complaint #11739330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle displays an “Engine Maintenance Required” warning message shortly after the air conditioning is turned on. The warning does not usually appear immediately at startup but consistently appears when the A/C system is activated. The vehicle currently remains drivable, but the issue appears related to the engine cooling system and may involve the coolant bypass valve/flow control valve, which has been widely reported by other owners of similar model vehicles. The problem raises safety concerns because a cooling system malfunction could potentially lead to overheating while driving. The issue has been reproduced multiple times. A generic code scan at an auto parts store did not show stored engine codes. The vehicle was taken to a Toyota dealership and Toyota customer service was contacted regarding known coverage programs related to this issue, but the VIN was reportedly not included. Warning symptoms first appeared during normal driving and continue intermittently whenever the air conditioning system is used.
NHTSA complaint #11738354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2014 Toyota Corolla. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 91,000 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 254,000.
NHTSA complaint #11736547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11733654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.