2016 Toyota COROLLA: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10782262 · 2015-10-14 (October 14, 2015)
HEAD RESTRAINT/HEADREST IS SO EXTREMELY PAINFUL THAT IT HAS TO BE REMOVED OR REVERSED TO SAFELY DRIVE THE CAR.
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10782262 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10825054 · 2016-02-09 (February 9, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE'S SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO INDICATE THE ACCURATE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10825054 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10836358 · 2016-02-16 (February 16, 2016)
SUNROOF GLASS EXPLODED WITH A LOUD NOISE LIKE A GUNSHOT WHILE DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE AT 75MPH. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THERE IS A FLAW IN THE GLASS AND THAT THIS DID NOT RESULT FROM TRAFFIC DEBRIS (NO OVERPASS NEAR)
Owner-reported narrative. 1,876 miles reported. Look up ODI 10836358 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10840452 · 2016-03-08 (March 8, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE LED HEADLIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED BUT THE LOW BEAMS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE ADEQUATE LIGHTING ON THE ROAD AHEAD, WHICH DISTORTED THE VISIBILITY. THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE ENGAGED IN ORDER TO VIEW THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10840452 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10852703 · 2016-03-31 (March 31, 2016)
IN THE LAST 5 DAYS, I HAVE SEEN AT LEAST 4 TOYOTA COROLLA'S WITH LED HEADLIGHTS ON THE ROAD AT NIGHT WITHOUT THEIR TAILLIGHTS ON. I BELIEVE THE REASON FOR THIS IS THAT THE LED HEADLIGHT OPTION RUNS ALL DAY LONG, SO PEOPLE ASSUME THEIR LIGHTS ARE AUTOMATIC? THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AS SOMEONE ON THE ROAD AT NIGHT CANNOT SEE THESE TOYOTA COROLLA'S IN FRONT OF THEM WHEN THE TAILLIGHTS ARE OFF. IN TOTAL, I HAVE PROBABLY SEEN AT LEAST 40+ COROLLA'S WITHOUT THEIR LIGHTS ACTUALLY TURNED ON, BUT THE HEADLIGHTS ALWAYS SHINE. I TRY TO FLASH MY LIGHT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10852703 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10865853 · 2016-05-19 (May 19, 2016)
I AM REPORTING AN ISSUE ON SPORADIC "SQUEAKING" NOISE THAT COMES FROM BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS SINCE PURCHASE OCT 2015. THE EVENT OCCURS WHEN DRIVER ACCELERATES OR DECELERATES OR GOES OVER SPEED BUMPS OR UNEVEN ROADS. THE ISSUE DOES NOT GO AWAY DESPITE MOVING THE SEATS BACK AND FORTH TO ENSURE PROPER ENGAGEMENT. (SEAT ADJUSTMENT IS MANUAL). THE ISSUE IS MORE PRONOUNCED IN COLD WEATHERS. THE "SQUEAK" EVENT STOPS WHEN THE SEAT BELT IS UNBUCKLED. THE ISSUE OCCURS WHEN THE BELT IS BRACED AGAINST DRIVER WHEN HAPPENS DURING ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10865853 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10870083 · 2016-05-20 (May 20, 2016)
REFERENCE: NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10865853. ADDITIONAL INFO - SNAPSHOT ATTACHED. UNABLE TO UPLOAD AUDIO FILE (AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST) THIS IS ABOUT "SQUEAKING/CREAKING" NOISE THAT EMANATES FROM BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS SINCE PURCHASE OCT 2015. THE EVENT OCCURS WHEN DRIVER ACCELERATES, DECELERATES, GOES OVER SPEED BUMPS OR UNEVEN ROADS. THE ISSUE DID NOT GO AWAY AFTER DRIVER SEAT WAS MOVED BACK AND FORTH TO ENSURE PROPER ENGAGEMENT IN SEAT TRACK.(NOTE - THIS VEHICLE TRIM HAS MANUAL SEAT ADJUSTMENT). THE CREAKING SOUNDS IS AS IF A BOLTED JOINT HAS COME …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10870083 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10872195 · 2016-06-02 (June 2, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE WINDSHIELD CHIPPED AND CRACKED 20 INCHES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD FROM THE DRIVER TO THE PASSENGER SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE EDGES OF THE WINDSHIELD WERE NOT LAMINATED WITH EDGE PROTECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,397.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,397 miles reported. Look up ODI 10872195 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
20V024000 · Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module
Reported: 2020-01-17 (January 17, 2020)
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, and 2013-2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles. During certain crashes, the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may malfunction, possibly disabling the deployment of the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners.
Consequence: In the event of a crash, air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners that do not deploy as intended may increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ECU and install a noise filter between the air bag control module and its wire harness, as necessary, free of charge. Owners were notified of the safety risk beginning March 2, 2020. A second letter notifying owners of the remedy repair will be mailed between March 16, 2020 and June 27, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB03, 20TA03 and 20TA05.
NHTSA campaign record ↗