119 of the
14,546 complaints filed about the Toyota Corolla
are about the seats —
1% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2009.
The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while idling at a stop, the vehicle was rear-ended. During the crash, the driver's seat unexpectedly reclined backwards, and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact received an on-site assessment by the paramedics but declined to be transported from the scene. The contact later sought medical attention for whiplash, a concussion, and neck and back pain. The other driver involved in the crash had not been injured. No Police report was filed. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and provided a reference number. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 45,500.
NHTSA complaint #11752586 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While the vehicle was parked and powered off, a fire originated inside the driver seat area. There was no collision, no aftermarket electrical equipment installed, and no heated seat or accessory usage at the time of the incident. The vehicle was stationary when the fire began. The fire damage was concentrated within the driver seat assembly, consistent with a suspected electrical failure involving seat wiring, seat-mounted components, or associated harnesses. This is not consistent with owner misuse or external ignition sources. The insurer (Allstate Insurance Company) declared the vehicle a total loss but declined further fire-origin or electrical defect investigation. The vehicle is at risk of being sold or dismantled through a salvage auction, which would destroy critical evidence related to a potential manufacturer defect. The vehicle is currently listed on Copart (Lot# 99091095 highlighted as ‘Run and Drive’) I have completed a Power of Attorney (HSMV 82053) per Allstate requirement, along with a limited conditions notification for evidence preservation however Allstate is refusing to accept the conditions stating their intent to sell it as salvage. This incident presents a serious safety concern involving spontaneous ignition within the passenger compartment. Similar failures pose a risk of injury, death, or property damage, particularly if ignition occurs while occupied. I am requesting that NHTSA review this incident for potential electrical system or seat assembly defects and preserve this complaint as part of any pattern or trend analysis involving Toyota vehicles.
NHTSA complaint #11708439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On December 12, 2025, I was in a head on car accident in my 2021 Toyota Corolla nightshade. I was slammed into the steering wheel which caused injury. My car has over $14,000 worth of damage to the front yet my airbags did not deploy. I have taken my car to Toyota several times over the past few years and every time I’ve asked about a remedy for this recall I’ve been told there is no remedy as early as June or July 2025 I had to bring my car in for a manufacturer defect with the engine that Toyota fixed for free. I asked them about the recall on the airbags. They again told me there was no remedy.
NHTSA complaint #11707212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Corolla. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); 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 informed the contact that they were unable to unscrew the rear screws on the seat to remove the seat because the seat failed to move forward to access the rear screws. The dealer stated that the seat bracket had to be fractured and then replaced to be able to complete the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and was informed the contact that the dealer would charge more for the additional damage. The manufacturer opened a case. The failure mileage was 94,576. Parts distribution disconnect.
NHTSA complaint #11665823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On December 20, 2023, a safety recall was officially generated for my 2021 Toyota Corolla. It has been over a year, and there is currently no remedy for this recall. I was originally notified that there would be an option to fix this by the third quarter of 2024. However, that was not the case. On December 26, 2024, I contacted the service center at Sam Leman Toyota in Bloomington, Illinois by phone, and they confirmed that there is still no remedy for repair.
NHTSA complaint #11632814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I placed my laptop bag, which weighs less than 15 lbs., on the passenger seat. Despite this, the seatbelt warning system continues to alert me about the seatbelt not being worn. The passenger seat should be able to detect when a human passenger is present. Unfortunately, I have to buckle the seatbelt to turn off the warning light and chime, even though there is no human passenger or item weighing more than 15 lbs.
NHTSA complaint #11597351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving my car seat seat (driver side) starts to over heat. I do not have heated car seats.but within the past few weeks I have noticed that my car seat started to heat up. At first I thought it was because it has been sitting in the sun all day, but as the driving progressed in the fact this is happened three times I feel that there is a flaw In the interior.
NHTSA complaint #11538288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was rear ended. During the impact, which was enough to accelerate my vehicle from 9 mph to 36 mph, the steering wheel came completely off of the car and hit me in the head. The steering wheel was in the back seat immediately following the impact and my vehicle was traveling at 36 mph with no way to steer out control it and no airbags in front of me in case of a secondary collision. This happened on a busy interstate with dozens of drivers endangered by my out of control vehicle. Traffic had slowed for construction and it was a miracle I wasn't further injured or caused injury to anyone else. Toyota sent an inspector to look over the vehicle, and it may still be available on the wrecker lot.
NHTSA complaint #11502288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the front driver’s seat shifted independently with an abnormal clicking sound coming from the seat. The contact stated that the driver’s seat bracket was the cause of the failure and needed to be repaired. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 39,000.
NHTSA complaint #11471202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2018 Toyota Corolla - Front drivers seat is making clicking noises while driving. I believe seat is not properly secured and may be unsafe to drive. Car was under the Manufactures warranty when taken into Bill Kidds Toyota for service. Service manager was able to duplicate clicking noise while test driving car. Bill Kidds Toyota refuse to investigate any further. I went on-line and found similar complaints to my vehicles problem. One person stated the problem is with the seat track not being secured properly. I reached out to Toyota Motors to file a formal complaint, and they referred me back to the dealership. Dealership is refusing service. I think this may not be an isolated issue with the 2018 Corolla. I would like Toyota to further investigate and force dealership to properly inspect my seat which was under warranty at time of original complaint. Thank You.
NHTSA complaint #11423130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE SEATBELT IN THE REAR PASSENGER DOESN'T FUNCTION PROPERLY, IT EITHER GETS STUCK IN TRYING TO FASTEN IT OR ONCE IT'S ON IT DOESN'T FLUCTUATE AND GETS STUCK IN A TIGHT POSITION WHERE IT HAS TO BE RELEASED IN ORDER NOT TO OVERLY CONSTRAINT THE PASSENGER. THE KIDS ARE THE ONES SITTING IN THIS SEAT AND USING SEAT BELT SO IT'S CONCERNING FOR THEM NOT TO BE ABLE TO ABIDE BY STATE LAWS OF WEARING SEAT BELTS AND KEEPING THEM SAFE BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO RETRACT THE SEAT BELT.
NHTSA complaint #11413085 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V014000 (AIR BAGS, SEATS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTO NATION DEALER LOCATED AT 4050 VESTON RD, DAVIE, FL 33331, (954)659-1873, WHERE THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE HIS SON DROVE THE VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT BACK TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
NHTSA complaint #11360424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY DRIVER CAR SEAT STARTED RANDOMLY SMOKING. IT SMELL LIKE SOMETHING WAS ABOUT TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE CAR SEAT GOT EXTREMELY HOT. NO, I DO NOT HAVE HEATED SEATS NOR DO I HAVE ELECTRIC SEATS .
NHTSA complaint #11149791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PASSENGERS FROMT DOOR HAS WIGGLED A JAR WHILE DRIVING, HIGH PITCHED HUMMING NOISE FROM UNDER PASSENGERS SIDE OF THE HOOD EVEN WHEN CAR HAS BEEN TURNED OFF FOR HOURS. HUMS WHILE DRIVING AND IT'S SPARATIC.NOISE APPEARS TO BE NEAR THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. HAD A REAR MAIN SEAL LEAK ALSO.
NHTSA complaint #11131966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT FAILED TO LATCH CORRECTLY TO THE FLOORBOARD AND BECAME LOOSE. IN ADDITION, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT ADJUSTMENT LATCH FRACTURED. HENDRICK TOYOTA SCION WILMINGTON (5640 MARKET ST, WILMINGTON, NC) WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. FURTHERMORE, THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE BATTERY SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. KENDALL TOYOTA (10943 S DIXIE HWY, MIAMI, FL) WAS ALSO MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000.
NHTSA complaint #11103852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER HEAD REST WAS UNABLE TO BE REPOSITIONED AND WAS TILTED FORWARD. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT BOTH FRONT SEATS WERE UNABLE TO RECLINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE CAUSED THE OCCUPANTS TO HAVE BACK PAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ACKERMAN TOYOTA (3636 S. KINGS HIGHWAY, ST. LOUIS, MO 63109), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11099829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER HEAD REST WAS UNABLE TO BE REPOSITIONED AND WAS TILTED FORWARD. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT BOTH FRONT SEATS WERE UNABLE TO RECLINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE CAUSED THE OCCUPANTS TO HAVE BACK PAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ACKERMAN TOYOTA (3636 S. KINGS HIGHWAY, ST. LOUIS, MO 63109), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11099829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.