2021 Toyota COROLLA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
185 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
39,200 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2021 model year. Data snapshot: . 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 52 of 185 complaints (28.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 25 | 13.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 14 | 7.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 7.0% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 3.8% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 3.2% |
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 | 52 |
| Engine | 40 |
| Unknown Or Other | 32 |
| Electrical System | 21 |
| Power Train | 17 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 15 |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 |
| Seat Belts | 7 |
Air Bags: 52; Engine: 40; Unknown Or Other: 32; Electrical System: 21; Power Train: 17; Visibility/Wiper: 15; Exterior Lighting: 7; Seat Belts: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 160 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 |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 19 |
| 2022 | 17 |
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2024 | 52 |
| 2025 | 55 |
| 2026 | 29 |
2020: 1; 2021: 19; 2022: 17; 2023: 12; 2024: 52; 2025: 55; 2026: 29
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 14 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 13 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 11360341 · 2020-09-21 (September 21, 2020)
I-20 0400. TRAVELING IN THE RIGHT LANE. 18 WHEELER AHEAD WAS PULLED TO THE SHOULDER. I MOVED OVER TO THE LEFT LANE. WHILE MOVING OVER THERE WAS METAL IN THE ROAD(LEARNED FROM STATE POLICE LATER FROM THE 18 WHEELER). UNABLE TO AVOID THE OBJECT THE RESULT WAS A BLOWN TIRE. THE DESIGN OF THE LEFT HEADLIGHT IS MADE SO ON A TWO LANE ROAD THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC WONT BE BLINDED. HOWEVER, WITH AN INTERSTATE IF IN THE RIGHT LANE THE LEFT LANE HAS A BLIND SPOT. THE HEADLIGHT IS 1/2 THE LENGTH OF THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT. PLEASE PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. I WAS LUCK…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11360341 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11394569 · 2021-02-03 (February 3, 2021)
ON 4 OCCASIONS, AFTER ENGAGING CRUISE CONTROL (65MPH) THE STEERING WHEEL WENT HARD AND IT APPEARED THAT THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS OFF AND THE VEHICLE VEERED LEFT AND IT WOULD CREATE TO SMALL AMOUNT OF TORQUE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. AGAIN, ONLY WHEN I ENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL. VIN: [XXX] (THERE IS NO "Y") (CHANGE "Y" TO "T". SORRY :-( INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11394569 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11396391 · 2021-02-16 (February 16, 2021)
1.EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM AT A SIGNAL LIGHT 2.TO CONTROL SUDDEN ACCELERATION, NEED TO PUSH BRAKES HARDER THAN A NON HYBRID CAR 3.IN THE REVERSE DIRECTION, IT GOES TOO FAST WITHOUT PUSHING THE GAS, THIS MAY CAUSE A CRASH MISSING EXTRA TIRE AND THE ACCESSORIES (JACK, LUG WRENCH, OTHER TOOLS ETC) EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A SLOTTED PLACE HOLDER THERE. (SHAME ON TOYOTA FOR DOING THIS, TO ORDER A NEW KIT THIS WILL COST APPROX $1,500 PER MISSING KIT, IF YOU WERE TO ORDER INDIVIDUALLY, THIS CAN POTENTIALLY BE A SERIOUS PERSONAL SAFETY …
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11396391 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11398566 · 2021-03-01 (March 1, 2021)
REAR SUSPENSION SPRING WAS NOT IN THE RIGHT SPOT. IT WAS LEANING ON MY FRAME. MY VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11398566 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11399776 · 2021-03-08 (March 8, 2021)
AFTER PURCHASING MY COROLLA MY CAR POWERED DOWN. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CHECKED IT AND STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THIS WAS IN NOVEMBER 2020. ON 1/16/2021 I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED, EVERYTHING JUST POWERED DOWN. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. THIS WAS AROUND 6:00PM. I THEN CALLED MY FAMILY AND TOLD THEM WHERE I WAS AND WHAT HAPPENED. A PASSERBY STOPPED TO ASSIST ME AND GOT MY CAR RUNNING BY JUMPING IT OFF. AN HOUR LATER I WAS S…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11399776 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11405132 · 2021-03-27 (March 27, 2021)
WHEN I PARKED MY CAR THE MORNING ON MARCH 22, THE TEMPERATURE WAS AROUND 50F. THERE WAS NO WINDSHIELD CRACK AT THIS TIME. WHEN I WENT TO GET MY CAR IN THE AFTERNOON ON MARCH 22, A FOOT LONG CRACK HAD FORMED ON MY WINDSHIELD. THE TEMPERATURE AT THIS TIME WAS AROUND 70F. HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE I DROVE, IT WOULD HAD BEEN A SAFETY HAZARD. A WINDSHIELD SHOULD NOT CRACK THIS FAST. A FOOT LONG ON THE FIRST DAY? THE CAR WASN'T EVEN MOVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED. IMAGINE HOW FAST THE CRACK WOULD CRACK IF THE CAR WAS MOVING. THE CAR HAD L…
Owner-reported narrative. 490 miles reported. Look up ODI 11405132 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11418732 · 2021-05-27 (May 27, 2021)
2021 Toyota Corolla. Consumer writes in regards to emergency brake system. THE CONSUMER STATED THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM ACTIVATES EACH TIME THE VEHICLE IS PARKED. THE CONSUMER STATED THIS WAS UNNATURAL.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11418732 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11420257 · 2021-06-09 (June 9, 2021)
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while driving down a dark road he was unable to see the roadway due to poor visibility from the headlights. The contact stated that the failure was evident while using the low-beam or hi-beam headlights. The contact stated that the electronic braking system was inoperable. The contact was concerned for his safety while driving the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 380.
Owner-reported narrative. 380 miles reported. Look up ODI 11420257 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.
23V865000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification
Reported: 2023-12-20 (December 20, 2023)
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.
Consequence: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Lexus 23LB03/23LA03.
NHTSA campaign record ↗