695 of the
14,570 complaints filed about the Toyota Corolla
are about the transmission —
100% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2003.
695
Complaints
100%
Share of all complaints
56
Crashes
2
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
I bought this Toyota second hand with a little over 29k I had it less than a month when the slave cylinder failed. While in this particular Corolla the slave cylinder and brake booster share fluids. So when I lost my clutch I also lost my brakes with my toddler In the car. Toyota is aware of the faulty slave cylinders and has decided to fix them as they come vrs doing a recall. We could have died. And to top it off Toyota refused to cover it under their power terrain warranty. The car still doesn’t drive correctly even after the dealership I bought it from agree to cover the cost. This is a 2022 Toyota Corolla se Manual transmission.
NHTSA complaint #11763799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Slave cylinder on clutch failed and leaked fluid in to clutch and flywheel. Clutch pedal would not rebound after being pressed in to shift gear, stuck in middle of road trying to get vehicle in first gear. Had vehicle towed to dealership, estimate of $5800 to repair. Apparently this is a known problem with this manual transmission, many others have experienced similar failure at around 60,000 miles.
NHTSA complaint #11763432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while shifting gears on several occasions, the clutch was sticking. Additionally, while shifting from 1st to 2nd gear, the clutch was almost stuck to the floorboard. The contact placed a foot behind the clutch pedal to raise the clutch pedal manually off the floorboard. The contact stated that the brake fluid reservoir had drained; however, after adding brake fluid to the brake reservoir, the brake fluid level was low two days later. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 89,000.
NHTSA complaint #11759527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at an independent mechanic for brake service, the contact was informed that the transmission chain had fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was towed to another independent mechanic for the transmission to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.
NHTSA complaint #11757407 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
A severe, pre-existing life-safety defect and unauthorized structural modification were discovered on my 2024 Toyota Corolla . Following a routine diagnostic check for vehicle pulling, certified Toyota technicians discovered that the vehicle's primary fuel line had been dangerously altered and was held together underneath the chassis by an unsecured wire clothes hanger. The vehicle was immediately grounded as an active fire and explosion hazard. A forensic vehicle inspection by a major insurance carrier (Traveler's) subsequently denied standard repair coverage, formally documenting that the wire-rigged fuel system was a pre-existing mechanical defect resulting from previous work done prior to my purchase of the vehicle from McCluskey Automotive. The selling dealership actively concealed an unroadworthy condition that exposed myself and my minor daughter to a catastrophic vehicle fire.
NHTSA complaint #11756720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FAILED COMPONENT & AVAILABILITY: The manual transmission Concentric Slave Cylinder (CSC) failed internally. Due to caustic hydraulic fluid contamination and severe system pressure loss, I had to replace the internal CSC unit, the clutch disc, the pressure plate, the flywheel, the master clutch cylinder, and the hydraulic clutch lines. The failed components have been retained and are available for inspection upon request. SAFETY RISK: The plastic housing of the OEM slave cylinder cracked internally, spraying caustic hydraulic brake fluid inside the transmission bell housing and completely coating the flywheel, pressure plate, and clutch friction disc. This caused an immediate, sudden loss of hydraulic pressure, forcing the clutch pedal to drop and stick flat to the floorboard. This put my safety and the safety of others at extreme risk, as it suddenly prevented me from disengaging the clutch, shifting gears, or safely dropping the vehicle into neutral while driving in active traffic.CONFIRMATION & REPAIR: A certified Toyota dealership diagnosed the issue and issued an unaffordable repair estimate of $4,800 to fix this recurring manufacturer defect. Because of this extreme cost, I was forced to drop the transmission and perform the entire rebuild myself. The total out-of-pocket cost just for replacement parts was $3,200. The vehicle has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives as no crash resulted. WARNINGS & MILEAGE SYMPTOMS: There were no prior dashboard warning lamps, error messages, or clear physical indicators before either failure occurred. The loss of clutch pedal pressure happened instantaneously. This vehicle has suffered this catastrophic internal failure twice: the original factory-installed unit (part number 31400-19025) failed prematurely at 59,000 miles. The updated replacement part (superseded part number 31400-19027), which suffers from the exact same defective plastic composition, failed again just 40,000 miles later.
NHTSA complaint #11755364 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On Monday, January 5, 2026 at approximately 3:15 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, in the middle of stopped traffic (leftmost lane, southbound on Van Nuys Boulevard near the Saticoy Street intersection in Los Angeles, California), the vehicle, a 2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE, suddenly started slowly moving backward. The driver pressed on the brake pedal, but the vehicle did not stop. In a panic, the driver removed the key from the ignition, which immobilized the vehicle. While in the middle of traffic, the driver contacted a family member for assistance and the vehicle was towed to the driver's residence. On the following day, January 6, 2026, the vehicle was towed to a service center for inspection. It is unknown if the warning messages observed January 6, 2026 were due to the vehicle being towed. At the service center, a tire was replaced and the brake system was flushed, at the owner's expense. Afterward, the driver continued to operate the vehicle. As of August 5, 2026, this incident had not recurred.
NHTSA complaint #11755140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Design issue: The 12th-generation (E210) Corolla manual transmission utilizes a CSC unit containing plastic/ABS components that owners and forum communities frequently cite as a weak point prone to premature leakage and mechanical failure. This occured to my corolla on a roadway and presented a severe safety hazard.
NHTSA complaint #11754045 — 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 CVT transmission on my 2016 Toyota Corolla initially suffered a complete mechanical failure and was repaired on 01/08/2024, forcing me to pay $3,696 out of pocket for a replacement at an independent shop. Last week, the transmission experienced issues again, and this time a certified Toyota dealership serviced it for free under an active factory recall. This proves the vehicle has a documented factory defect. However, Toyota is currently refusing to reimburse me for the original $3,696 repair expense incurred due to this exact defect.
NHTSA complaint #11750209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the clutch failed to operate as intended. The contact stated that the clutch seized, and the RPM increased. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,330.
NHTSA complaint #11747193 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Toyota South Atlanta in Morrow, Georgia, released my vehicle after a factory warranty repair for transmission failure. However, they failed to properly complete or verify the repair. The dashboard is now throwing critical error codes stating 'A malfunction in the electronic control of the engine, throttle, or automatic transmission has been detected' and 'A malfunction in the VSC, TRAC, or hill-start assist control system has been detected.' Additionally, their own technician documented that my front brakes FAILED. They forced me to drive away without a safety waiver, and a front brake pad has since completely fallen out in front of my home . The vehicle suffers from total mechanical transmission and brake failure.
NHTSA complaint #11745462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clutch slave cylinder likely blew a seal, clutch pedal sudden loss of pressure while driving, unable to shift gears. Safety issue due to inability to move car after sudden hydraulic failure in clutch system, leaving vehicle inoperable while driving.
NHTSA complaint #11744099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving in third gear, the vehicle failed to shift into a lower gear and became stuck in Neutral. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a defective slave cylinder, which was replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 89,023.
NHTSA complaint #11742375 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond and remained in first gear. The contact shifted into Neutral, manually pulled the clutch, and attempted to reverse, but the vehicle failed to respond as intended. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the slave cylinder and the clutch cylinder assembly had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 56,000
NHTSA complaint #11742377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The car that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replace Ac don’t blow any cool air To be driving with a minor child it put he’s health in a bad risky situation
NHTSA complaint #11741585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clutch pedal kept sticking to floor. Eventually the pedal did not return at all. Concentric slave cylinder failed and brake fluid leaking in bell housing. Dealer stated: found slave cylinder inside the bell housing failed which caused brake fluid to contaminate bell housing components. recommend replace slave cylinder assembly, clutch kit with flywheel, and throw out bearing assembly.
NHTSA complaint #11740187 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving on the highway and the transmission gave completely out!! with no warning! No check engine light no error message. Car only has 160000 miles on it, if i wasn't calm as I was that could've been lethal!!!!
NHTSA complaint #11739070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.