2020 Toyota COROLLA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
304 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
10,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 68 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 108 of 304 complaints (35.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 33 | 10.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 25 | 8.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 21 | 6.9% |
| Engine operation | 18 | 5.9% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 3.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 2.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 108 |
| Unknown Or Other | 79 |
| Power Train | 36 |
| Electrical System | 29 |
| Service Brakes | 22 |
| Air Bags | 17 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 17 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 14 |
Engine: 108; Unknown Or Other: 79; Power Train: 36; Electrical System: 29; Service Brakes: 22; Air Bags: 17; Visibility/Wiper: 17; Fuel/Propulsion System: 14
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 45 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 45; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (45). 236 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 |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 13 |
| 2020 | 32 |
| 2021 | 17 |
| 2022 | 25 |
| 2023 | 26 |
| 2024 | 114 |
| 2025 | 56 |
| 2026 | 21 |
2019: 13; 2020: 32; 2021: 17; 2022: 25; 2023: 26; 2024: 114; 2025: 56; 2026: 21
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 33 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 11243453 · 2019-08-13 (August 13, 2019)
WE BOUGHT THE CAR ON 07-29-19 AND ON 08-04-19 WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM MARYLAND THE CAR SENSOR LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING AFTER ONLY 250 MILES ON THE CAR. THE FLASHING LIGHTS WERE FOR BRAKES AND PARKING BRAKE, LANE DEPARTURE AND ASSIST, BACK UP AND FRONT CAMERA, CHECK ENGINE, TIRE PRESSURE, HEAD LIGHTS, AND RSA MALFUNCTIONS. BASICALLY THE ENTIRE SAFETY SYSTEM OF THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING IT. 7-29-19, 8-2, 5, 9-19 AND THE CAR WAS IN MOTION EACH TIME WHILE ON A HIGHWAY. I HAD IT…
Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 11243453 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11252601 · 2019-08-31 (August 31, 2019)
07/09/19 - THREE DAYS AFTER TAKING DELIVERY OF A BRAND NEW 2020 COROLLA SEDAN, MY CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY CITY STREET. I WAS STATIONARY WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OF THE BRAKE AND ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, IT HAD A COMPLETE POWER FAILURE. RED WARNING LIGHT CAME ON SAYING ENGINE POWER LOW. I WAS UNABLE TO START THE CAR AGAIN FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. I WAS NEARLY HIT BY CARS GOING AROUND ME. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE AND THERE WERE NO ERROR CODES AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 199 miles reported. Look up ODI 11252601 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11300087 · 2020-01-17 (January 17, 2020)
THE BATTERY TRAY (PART NUMBER 74404-12560) WHICH HOLDS THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY CREATES AN UNSAFE CONDITION. I NOTICED THE BATTERY TRAY IS DESIGNED TO FIT ONLY THE PANASONIC BATTERY THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE. THUS, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLACE A DISCHARGED OR DEFECTIVE PANASONIC BATTERY WITH A STANDARD BCI GROUP NUMBER BATTERY WHICH ARE READILY AVAILABLE IN RETAIL STORES. THIS SITUATION WILL CAUSE MOTORISTS TO BECOME STRANDED AND IS ESPECIALLY UNSAFE IF THE PANASONIC BATTERY FAILS AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IN THE WINTER. TOYOTA SHOULD BE REQUIR…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11300087 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11383548 · 2020-12-15 (December 15, 2020)
WAS ON A HEAD ON COLLISION THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO OPEN NO BREAKS OR INDICATION THAT THE BREAKS WERE FAILING.ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP SHORTLY AFTER THE BATTERY EXPLODED SED .NOW THE CARE IS TOTALLY FOR ALL THE FROND END DAMAGE AND THE COST OF THE BATTER WOULD BE TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS.I WAS DRIVING INTERSTATE 15 IN RIVERSIDE CALIFORNIA REAR END THE CAR IN FRONT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11383548 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11269579 · 2019-10-20 (October 20, 2019)
2020 TOYOTA COROLLA SE -(VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW) (CVT TRANSMISSION) UPON MINIMAL TO NORMAL ACCELERATION VEHICLE MAKES A HARD SHIFT FEEL LIKE A BUMP KICK IN ACCELERATION OF SPEED BETWEEN 8-9 MPH. WILL FEEL MORE OF A HARD SHIFT AT TIMES IF COASTING WITH MINIMAL SPEED THEN TO THE NORMAL ACCELERATION (START AND STOP TRAFFIC TYPE OF CONDITIONS). PERIODICALLY ONCE REACHING TO SPEED OF 36 MPH SEEMS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO SLIP THEN CONTINUES WITH NORMAL OPERATION. WHILE SEDENTARY AT STOP LIGHT VEHICLE HAS HAD LOSS OF POWER IN AND OUT NEAR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11269579 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11297299 · 2020-01-06 (January 6, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING TURNS, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PETERSON TOYOTA OF SARASOTA (7435 S TAMIAMI TRAIL, SARASOTA, FL 34231, [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CABLE ASSEMBLY AND THE COLUMN SUB-ASSEMBLY, BOLTS, STEERING LOCK FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER, THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER A SECOND TIME WHERE IT WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11297299 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11338097 · 2020-07-08 (July 8, 2020)
A GLARE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN PREVENTS YOU FROM SEEING THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DURING THE DAY. HAZARDOUS AS YOU CAN'T SEE YOUR SPEED OR THE INFORMATION SCREENS ABOUT THE VEHICLE. CAR IS AFFECTED ANYTIME DURING THE DAY.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11338097 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11299663 · 2020-01-16 (January 16, 2020)
GAS TANK FILLER NECK MADE OF PARTIAL PLASTIC. WON'T SEAL WITH GAS PUMP NOZZLE. MUST USE TWO HANDS TO PUMP GAS. ONE HAND HOLDING HANDLE WHILE OTHER HAND MUST HOLD NOZZLE APPLYING PRESSURE TO CREATE A SEAL TO PUMP GAS. SOMETHING LUCKY ABLE TO SET HANDLE ON AUTO FILL, BUT VERY LOOSE SEAL AND WOULD POP OUT WITH THE LIGHTEST VIBRATION AND HANDLE FALL OUT OF FILL NECK SPILLING A LOT OF GASOLINE ON THE GROUND. HAPPEN AT 3 DIFFERENT GAS STATION. ONE TIME SPILLING GAS ON GROUND WAS WITH HEALY BRAND NOZZLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11299663 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11374690 · 2020-11-14 (November 14, 2020)
WITH ONLY ABOUT 630 MILES ON MY NEW 2020 TOYOTA COROLLA, THE VEHICLE STALLED SHORTLY AFTER I HAD JUST MADE A TURN IN CITY TRAFFIC; I BELIEVE I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT, AND IT WOULDN'T START UP AGAIN WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I'D BOUGHT IT FIVE MONTHS EARLIER; THEY GAVE IT A THOROUGH INSPECTION, ACKNOWLEDGED THE FACT OF THE STALL, BUT NEVER FOUND THE CAUSE OF IT (COULDN'T "DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM"). THEY HAD NO PROBLEM STARTING THE CAR ONCE IT WAS AT THEIR SERVICE. THIS WAS A ONE-TIME INCI…
Owner-reported narrative. 630 miles reported. Look up ODI 11374690 at NHTSA ↗