2016 Toyota COROLLA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
213 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
25,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 139 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 65 of 213 complaints (30.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 36 | 16.9% |
| Steering behavior | 25 | 11.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 21 | 9.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 6.1% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 1.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 65 |
| Service Brakes | 29 |
| Seat Belts | 26 |
| Unknown Or Other | 23 |
| Power Train | 22 |
| Steering | 22 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 21 |
| Structure:Body | 15 |
Air Bags: 65; Service Brakes: 29; Seat Belts: 26; Unknown Or Other: 23; Power Train: 22; Steering: 22; Vehicle Speed Control: 21; Structure:Body: 15
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 68 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 36 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 20 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 68; 25,000 to 49,999: 36; 50,000 to 74,999: 20; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (68). 74 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 26 |
| 2017 | 34 |
| 2018 | 27 |
| 2019 | 32 |
| 2020 | 48 |
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 5 |
2015: 1; 2016: 26; 2017: 34; 2018: 27; 2019: 32; 2020: 48; 2021: 12; 2022: 5; 2023: 6; 2024: 10; 2025: 7; 2026: 5
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 36 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 21 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10893690 · 2016-08-06 (August 6, 2016)
STEERING WHEEL RECALL. I WAS COMING OUT FROM AN ALLEY TO GET INTO THE MAIN ROAD, THE STEERING WHEEL FROZE, LOCKED UP, OR JAMMED TO THE RIGHT. QUICKLY STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TO AVOID INJURY AND DAMAGE TO THE CAR. HAD TO RESTART ENGINE TO GAIN CONTROL OF CAR. COULD BE FATAL IF THERE WAS ONCOMING CAR OR MERGING ON INTERSTATE.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10893690 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10915963 · 2016-10-13 (October 13, 2016)
PULLED INTO PARKING LOT AND PREPARED TO PARK. STEPPED ON BRAKES, CAR DIDN'T STOP HIT BUILDING. I PUT IN REVERSE AND THEN DRIVE, SWERVING AWAY FROM BUILDING, BUT CAR KEPT GOING ALL WHILE FOOT WAS ON BRAKE. PULLED KEYS FROM THE IGNITION TO STOP THE CAR.
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10915963 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11019003 · 2017-08-22 (August 22, 2017)
ACCIDENT DUE TO BREAKS LOCKING AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ROLL. BACK SEAT PASSENGER SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK CAUSING PASSENGER TO FLY FORWARD AND BACK; INJURED BREAST BONE DRIVER AIR BAG FROM STEERING WHEEL DID NOT INFLATE FULLY.
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11019003 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10920597 · 2016-11-01 (November 1, 2016)
THIS IS A REPORT OF BRAKE FAILURE THAT CAUSED A VEHICLE COLLISION WITH INJURIES. ON OCTOBER 29, 2016, I RENTED A 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA FROM A BETTERWAY RENT-ACAR, INC. D/BA BUDGET RENT A CAR OF ATLANTA, AT 6509 ROSWELL RD, ATLANTA, GA 30328. THE TOYOTA HAD 21,619 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE RENTAL. AT APPROXIMATELY 12:30PM I WAS DRIVING SOUTHEAST ON JIMMY CARTER BLVD IN NORCROSS GEORGIA. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND SUNNY AND THE ROAD WAS DRY. UPON DEPARTING A TRAFFIC LIGHT, I ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH IN MODERATE TRAFFIC TOWARDS VE…
Owner-reported narrative. 21,619 miles reported. Look up ODI 10920597 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11047647 · 2017-11-20 (November 20, 2017)
THE CAR START UP TO BEHAVE DIFFERENT BEFORE 5.000 MILES.WHEN ACCELERATING THE CAR WAS GETTING FIRST VERY HIGH RPM,BEFORE STARTING TO PICK UP SPEED,EXPERIENCING SOME IMPORTANT DELAYS IN RESPONSE.I WAS TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS WITH TOYOTA OF YORK AND THE SPECIALISTS EXPLAINED TO ME ABOUT PRINCIPLES OF CVT TRANSMISSION AND I WAS PUSHED BACK.AT 10.000 AND 15.000 MILES THE CAR BECAME QUITE LAZY AND I JUST HAD TO GO BACK TO THE SERVICES AS THE RPM'S WERE NOT NORMAL. FINALLY THE COMPUTER WAS RESET AND I START UP TO RECOGNIZE THE CAR. IN ABOUT 3 WEEKS T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11047647 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11019127 · 2017-08-23 (August 23, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SHEEHY TOYOTA OF FREDERICKSBURG (3507 JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY, FREDERICKSBURG, VA 22408 [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND RELAY WIRING HAD BEEN CHEWED. THE WIRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THE WIRING WAS MADE OF A SOY BASED MATERIAL VERSUS A PETROLEUM BASED MATER…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11019127 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11129299 · 2018-09-13 (September 13, 2018)
TRAC OFF, CHECK ENGINE, AND MAINTENANCE REQUIRED LIGHTS SUDDENLY APPEARED WHILE THE COROLLA WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A STATE ROAD. THE CAR HAD JUST PASSED ITS 20,000 WARRANTY CHECK WITH NO PROBLEMS. I WAS ON THE WAY TO A REGULARLY SCHEDULED ONCOLOGY APPOINTMENT. I HAD TO CANCEL THE APPOINTMENT AND DRIVE THE CAR TO THE DEALER. TECHNICIANS DETERMINED A RODENT HAD CHEWED THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL HARNESS. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED BY ANY TOYOTA WARRANTY. SO FAR, I'VE BEEN FORCED TO SPEND NEARLY $1,000 ON RODENT-RELATED REPAIRS. I HAVE STAGE IV…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,988 miles reported. Look up ODI 11129299 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11301493 · 2020-01-23 (January 23, 2020)
WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A STREET, MY CAR STARTED TO STALL, AND DIE, THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. IT JUST HAPPENED TODAY, I WAS DRIVING ON THE STREET, AND THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED, AND CAR STOPPED RUNNING, I HAD TO PULL OVER AND MAKE SURE IT WAS IN DRIVE, AND START IT UP AGAIN. I ALMOST GOT HIT BY ANOTHER CAR, BECAUSE THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. ANOTHER TIME I WAS DRIVING ON THE STREET ABOUT TO GET ON THE FREEWAY, AND THE CAR STALLED, DIED. I CHECKED TO MAKE SURE IT WAS IN DRIVE, ADJUSTED IT AND THEN KEPT GOING. I CALLED THE DEALER TODAY, AND WILL…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11301493 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11316558 · 2020-03-06 (March 6, 2020)
TOYOTA COROLLA STALLED A COUPLE OF TIMES AFTER THE INITIAL START IN THE PARKING LOT. ON 2 OCASSIONS IT WOULD NOT START AND I HAD TO LEAVE IT AT A RESTAURANT PARKING LOT AND A GROCERY STORE. WHEN I RETURNED IT WOULD START. THE LAST TIME, IT WOULD NOT START SO I TOOK IT TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11316558 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11301764 · 2020-01-25 (January 25, 2020)
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LIT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TOYOTA DEALER FOR SERVICE. DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL FILLER PIPE LEADING TO THE FUEL TANK HAD MULTIPLE HOLES AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL TANK SUB-ASSY. DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE FOR COROLLAS (VEHICLE IS THREE YEARS OLD). DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL SUCTION GASKET HAD DETERIORATED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT.
Owner-reported narrative. 41,215 miles reported. Look up ODI 11301764 at NHTSA ↗