Toyota Corolla Complaints, Problems and TSBs

The Toyota Corolla is one of the best selling vehicles in the world because it’s both reliable and affordable. The Corolla is designed to perform optimally, but once in a while it runs into some issues. Here’s a rundown of what tends to go wrong with Toyota Corollas.

Note: The list of problems below is organized by vehicle generation. Scroll down to find your model range.

2018-Present Corolla - Common Problems

The 2020 Toyota Corolla

The 2018 Corolla was the initial year of the 12th generation of the Corolla. Yes, 12th. Now in production for more than 50 years, the Corolla has been very popular because it's been very reliable for a long time.

Cruise Control: The most commonly noted problem with the 2018 & 2019 Corolla is due to its cruise control. When coasting down a hill on a highway, the transmission downshifts to create engine braking. However, it appears that the throttle is not restricted enough at the same time, so the car accelerates slightly rather than remain at a constant speed. At the time of this writing, there is no word on a resolution. 

2016-2017 Corolla - Common Problems

A 2013 Toyota Corolla S Special Edition

Good news: there's nothing to report so far! Be sure to check back once in a while because we update the information on this page regularly.

2012-2015 Corolla - Common Problems

A 2013 Toyota Corolla S Special Edition

Overly Sensitive Electric Power Steering System (possible): Many Corollas in this generation come with a sensitive electric power steering system that some people have reported issues with. Specifically, some people say that the steering wheel will "drift" to the side without driver input, essentially causing the car to steer itself. According to reports this happens at speeds over 60 mph.

While it's possible that the electric steering system is overly sensitive, these exact same symptoms would describe a wheel alignment issue. So, this may or may not be a problem.

2006-2011 Corolla - Common Problems

A 2008 Toyota Corolla LE

Premature Passenger Airbag Propellant Failure: When the passenger airbag deploys, there’s a chance it’ll rupture and allow metal fragments to fly through. This happens because the propellant rapidly degrades over time due to unstable temperatures and excessive humidity. In early 2017, Toyota issued a nationwide recall on 2003-2013 Corollas to replace the passenger airbag inflator for free.

Cracked Engine Control Module (ECM): The circuit board inside the ECM on some of the Corollas in this generation is prone to cracks. This may lead to harsh transmission shifting, the engine stalling, or the engine failing to start. To address this, Toyota issued a safety recall in late 2010 to replace the ECM at no cost to the owner.

Overly Sensitive Electric Power Steering System (possible): See 2012-2015 Corolla – Common Problems.

2000-2005 Corolla - Common Problems

A 2005 Toyota Corolla S

Worn Piston Rings: This leads to excessive oil consumption and, if not caught in time, engine failure. Symptoms include oil sludge buildup and low oil levels between oil changes. Replacing your piston rings should fix it.

Airbag Control Module Failure (2003-2004 Models Only): Many 2003-2004 Corolla owners have had their front and/or side airbags deploy unexpectedly. This is because the integrated circuits in their Corollas short circuited from excessive noise, causing the airbag control module to fail and the airbags to deploy randomly. In January 2015, Toyota recalled thousands of 2003-2004 Corollas to resolve this issue.

Premature Passenger Airbag Propellant Failure: See 2006-2011 Corolla – Common Problems.

2001-2017 Toyota Corolla TSBs

To find these TSBs, you can try Googling the TSB ID #, the name of the TSB, or some combination. You can also go to NHTSA.gov and search for the TSB by entering your VIN.