2016 Toyota Corolla
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 214 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 14th highest complaint count among 26 Corolla model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 66 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 56 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, air bag/restraint control moduleJan 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 20V024000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
214 reports, newest first.
Steering, Mar 8, 2020
THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE IT IT WAS LIKE DRIVING A MANUAL STEERING. WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY IT WAS LIKE DRIVING A TRACTOR. THEN WHEN I GOT TO WHERE I WAS GOING IT MADE A CLICKING NOISE WHEN I TRIED TO START IT AGAIN. THEN EVERYTHING WENT DEAD. THIS IS MY ONLY CAR AND I AM A RETIRED TEACHER WHO SPENT HER RETIREMENT MONEY ON THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE RELIABLE.
Air bags, Mar 7, 2020
MY VEHICLE IS AFFECTED BY THE TAKATA AIRBAG ISSUE BUT THE TOYOTA DEALER IN ORLAND PARK ILLINOIS SAYS IT IS NOT. HOW DO I GET THE AIRBAG ISSUE FIXED?
Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 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.
Air bags, Seat belts, Mar 6, 2020
I CHECKED MY VIN NUMBER FOR RECALLS. MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER 20TB03, NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 20V024, DATED: JAN 17, 2020 AND READ; 'THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) FROM A SPECIFIC SUPPLIER DESIGNED TO RECEIVE SIGNALS FROM CRASH SENSORS AND DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS AND SEAT BELT PRETENSIONERS. THE ECU MAY NOT HAVE ADEQUATE PROTECTION AGAINST CERTAIN ELECTRICAL NOISE THAT CAN OCCUR IN CERTAIN CRASHES, SUCH AS SEVERE UNDERRIDE CRASHES. THIS CAN LEAD TO INCOMPLETE OR NONDEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS AND/OR SEAT BELT PRETENSIONERS.'
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Feb 26, 2020
ABOUT A YEAR AFTER HAVING MY NEW CAR. IT STARTING SHIFTING HARD OUT OF GEAR WHEN I TOOK IT TO GET MAINTANCE THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. WHEN THE MAINTANCE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP. AND THEY SAID IT MIGHT BE A COMPUTER RELATED. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD DOBA TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGE SO I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA TO HAVE THE FLUID CHANGE TO SEE IF THAT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM BUT IT DIDNT HERE RECENTLY LIKE 5 MONTHS AGO IT STARTED TO SHIFT REALLY BAD. AND WOULD KICK BACK LIKE IF IT WAS GOING TO SPEED BUT IT DOESNT MOVE ANY FASTER WONT LET ME GO PASS THE SPEED LIMIT OF 40 WHEN IN REGULAR DRIVE IT RPMS WILL GO UPP REALLY HIGH EVERY TIME IT KICKS BACK. ITS GOTTEN SO BAD I CANT DRIVE IT FAR PLACES CAUSE IT ONLY DRIVES SMOOTH IN 3RD. GEAR I CANT DRIVE IT ON HIGHWAYS CAUSE IT WONT GO UP TO THE SPEED LIMIT IN THE CITY IT RPMS TO HIGH AND THE CAR HAS A JERKY FEELING. I WAS TOLD TOYOTAS LAST A LONG TIME THATS WHY I WENT WITH TOYOTA CAUSE I NEEDED A RELIABLE CAR. BUT EVERYONE I SPOKE WITH HAS TOLD ME IT DOESNT SOUND RIGHT FOR A TOYOTAS TRANSMISION TO GO OUT AT 130000 MIOES THAT THEY ALWAYS LAST AT LEAST 300000 TO 500000 MILES SO I FEEL LIKE IT SHOULD BE RECALLED
Air bags, Seat belts, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 25, 2020, crash
I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON 2/20/2020 MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. I FELT MY 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA LOSE TRACTION ON THE ROAD AND START TO SLIP. MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT NEVER CAME ON AND I NEVER FELT IT ENGAGE. I HYDROPLANED, MY CAR HIT A GUARDRAIL HEAD ON, MY SEAT BELT DID NOT TIGHTEN WHICH CAUSED ME TO HIT MY HEAD AND CHEST ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND DASH AS WELL AS INJURIES TO MY NECK FROM BEING SLUNG FORWARD. MY VEHICLE CONTINUED TO IMPACT THE GUARDRAIL. MY AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY WHICH ALSO CAUSED ME TO HIT MY HEAD AND SHOULDER HARD ON THE DRIVER WINDOW/DOOR. UPON THE MULTIPLE IMPACTS AND DESPITE SENSORS BEING STRUCK, MY AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY THROUGHOUT MY VEHICLE AND MY SEAT BELT FAILED TO TIGHTEN. CAUSING INJURY TO DIFFERENT AREAS OF MY BODY.
Air bags, Seat belts, Feb 24, 2020
OPEN RECALL SINCE 1/17/2020. NHTSA RECALL# 20V024 MANUFACTURER RECALL# 20TB03 THERE IS A HUGE SAFETY RISK WITH MY VEHICLE'S AIRBAGS/SEATBELTS, THAT TOYOTA STILL HASN'T FOUND A REMEDY FOR??!! HOW AM I TO FEEL ABOUT MY WIFE AND 2-YEAR OLD SON RIDING IN THAT CAR DAILY? I HAVE A VEHICLE I'M MAKING PAYMENTS ON, BUT AM VERY HESITANT ABOUT USING? HOW MANY RESOURCES/HOURS ARE BEING DEDICATED TO FIXING THIS ISSUE? I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IT CAN BE TAKING SO LONG, FOR SUCH AN ENORMOUS SAFETY RISK.
Air bags, Seat belts, Feb 19, 2020
I'VE A RECALL ON MY 2 TOYOTA COROLLA 2015 AND 2016, THAT CAME OUT ON JAN 17 2020 AND IT HAS BEING MORE THAN 30 DAYS AND THERE'S NO REMEDY TO THE DATE . I DO AND MY FAMILY NOT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVES THOSE VEHICLES . WHAT SHOULD I DO ON THIS CASE .? PLEASE ADVICE . A SENSOR FROM THE AIR BAGS IS NOT SENDING SIGNAL TO THE AIR BAGS IN CASE IT NEED TO DEPLOY, ALSO THE SEAT BELTS ACCORDING WITH THE INFORMATION DOES NOT WORKING PROPERLY .
Steering, Feb 16, 2020
WHEN IT'S A LITTLE COLD OUT AND I START UP MY CAR,MY STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT TURN, IT'S LIKE IT IS LOCKED. UNTIL IT WARMS UP A BIT I CAN'T AND WILL NOT MOVE IT UNTIL IT BECOMES NORMAL AGAIN. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF OCT. 2019.I UNDERSTAND IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COMPONENT. I AM VERY CONCERNED IT MAY LOCK UP ON ME WHILE I'M DRIVING AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT??
Air bags, Jan 27, 2020, crash
TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HER DAUGHTER WHO OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLOW, AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO SIX FENCES AND LANDED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED LEG AND NOSE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOW TO THE CONTACT RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V024000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 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.
Vehicle speed control, Jan 24, 2020, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL WHICH FAILED TO ENGAGE CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A POST. NO AIRBAG DEPLOYED. NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS CONTACTED. NO POLICE REPORT WAS MADE AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER INFINITI OF LAS VEGAS (5555 W SAHARA AVE, LAS VEGAS, NV 89146 (702) 829-5975) WHERE IT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TEST DROVE AND STILL UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND AN INVESTIGATION WAS STARTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATION 600.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jan 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 TAKE MY CAR THERE IN MESA, AZ ON SATURDAY TO BE CHECKED. IT SEEMED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM, BUT WITH TOYOTA TACOMAS. I AM REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY! I'M DRIVING, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR JUST STOPS RUNNING AND DIES. THE CAR SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING, AND THERE ARE NO LIGHTS OR MESSAGES INSIDE MY CAR, TO LET ME KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. MY CAR IS ONLY A 2016, WHICH I PURCHASED NEW. I ONLY HAVE A LITTLE OVER 60,000 MILES. THE PROBLEM IS UNKNOWN TO ME.
Air bags, Jan 23, 2020, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STRUCK A DEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NEITHER THE DRIVER NOR PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION A DAY LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE RESIDENCE AND THEN TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V024000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
Air bags, Jan 22, 2020, crash
WAS IN MAJOR ACCIDENT, FRONT FRAME BENT, RADIATOR CRUSH, WHOLE FRONT AND SIDE FENDERS SCHREDDED AND NEITHER DRIVER NOR PASSENGER AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. WAS STATIONERY AT 4 WAY INTERSECTION, DRIVER RAN LIGHT, GOT HIT BY A TRUCK FROM THE SIDE, TOOK OFF FRONT OF CAR.
Service brakes, Jan 20, 2020
CONTINUING PROBLEM WHEN FOOT IS ON BRAKE PEDAL AND HIT A BUMP IN ROAD, GRINDING NOISE AND VIBRATION SENSATION IN PEDAL. TOYOTA DEALER SAYS BRAKES ARE OK. TODAY THIS HAPPENED BUT THIS TIME THE GRINDING NOISE WAS PRONOUNCED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT BRAKE - FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND BARELY STOPPED IN TIME BEFORE ALMOST REAR ENDING CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON LINE OF THE SAME PROBLEM.
Structure, Vehicle speed control, Jan 10, 2020
THE DASH INSIDE THE CAR IS MAKING A RATTLE NOISE AND SUDDENLY THE CAR LOOSES POWER.
Power train, Jan 4, 2020, crash
THE CAR SEEMS TO BE MAKING A WHINING NOISE WHEN FIRST STARTED FROM THE TRANSMISSION OR TORQUE CONVERTER, WHILE IN PARK, NEUTRAL. ALSO A RATTLING NOISE IN REVERSE AND DRIVE! ALSO ON UPHILL ROADS FROM A STAND STILL THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND MAKES A LOUD NOISE WITHOUT ACCELERATING OCCASIONALLY. ALSO THERE SEEMS TO BE A VIBRATION COMING FROM THE CAR IN HIGHER SPEEDS OF 40+ AND RUBBER BANDING WHEN IN SLOW LESS THAN 15 MPH.
Service brakes, Jan 1, 2020
ON 1/1/2020 WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE CITY STREET; AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE BRAKES STARTED TO GRIND AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THIS SAME BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRENCE WITH THE VEHICLE, REOCCURRED TWO MORE TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO OTHER VEHICLES NEARBY THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH
Power train, Dec 23, 2019
RECEIVED A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT THE CVT NEEDED A SOFTWARE UPDATE. WE HAD THIS DONE AT INVER GROVE TOYOTA. HOWEVER, THE RPM'S CONTINUED TO FLUCTUATE WHILE DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEN TOLD THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $6000. CAR HAS JUST OVER 62000 MILES AND TOYOTA WOULD NOT GRANT AN EXCEPTION TO THE WARRANTY TO COVER THE NEW TRANSMISSION. WE NOW HAVE THR VEHICLE AT AN INDEPENDENT SHOP WHO IS DOING A DIAGNOSIS. IF THEY FIND THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED, THEY WILL BE REPLACING IT WITH A USED TRANSMISSION FROM A SALVAGE YARD.
Engine, Nov 18, 2019
MY CAR ONLY HAS 3,200 MILES AND TODAY WHEN I WAS IN A TRAFFIC JAM MY CAR TEMPERATURE BLOW UP AND I HAD TO STOP THE CAR. IT'S PRACTICALLY A NEW CAR WITH A VERY LOW MILES A USAGE. WHAT HAPPENING???
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Nov 13, 2019
2016 TOYOTA COROLLA, 80,000 MILES. I'M DRIVING UP A HILL TOWARDS THE FREEWAY AND MY CAR SLOWS AND COMES TO A STOP. I TRY TO TURN THE CAR ON AND IT WON'T TURN ON. GET IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND THEY SAY THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND IT'LL BE $8,000 TO REPAIR. THIS TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAME OUT OF THE BLUE AND MY CAR ISN'T EVEN COVERED FOR IT BECAUSE MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 75,000 MILES. CONTACTED TOYOTA USA AND THEY SAID MY CAR ISN'T COVERED UNDER THE CVT RECALL OF CERTAIN 2014-2017 COROLLAS SO I'M LEFT WITH THIS MYSTERIOUS TRANSMISSION DEFECT WHICH PUT ME IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION AS I WAS TRYING TO HEAD ONTO THE FREEWAY!
Air bags, Oct 9, 2019, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE DROVE OFF THE HIGHWAY INTO AND EMBANKMENT AND ROLLED OVER FOUR TIMES. NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND PULLED THE CONTACT FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT AND WAS LATER RETRIEVED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Steering, Engine, Oct 4, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OF THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. ALSO, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,500.
Electrical system, Sep 23, 2019
AFTER PURCHASING THIS CAR, WE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT SPEAKERS WERE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. IT WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THEY WERE NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY AT THE FACTORY. THE ELECTRICAL SPEAKER CONTACTS WERE POINTED UPWARDS WHICH EFFECTIVELY DAMAGED THEM OVER TIME FROM THE MOISTURE ACCUMULATING WITHIN THE FRONT DOORS. BOTH SPEAKERS, PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDES, INDICATING THE WIRING ERROR. BOTH WERE REPLACED BY THE SHOP AND AT THEIR SUGGESTION, I AM ALERTING YOU TO THE PROBLEM.