2018 Toyota Corolla
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 134 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 22nd highest complaint count among 26 Corolla model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 26 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 17 people were injured and 1 person died.
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
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpJan 13, 2020
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200T and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. On March 19, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include 2015 Lexus GS350 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.
Campaign 20V012000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, other, labelsJun 28, 2019
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
SET will notify owners and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. SET's number for this recall is SET19A.
Campaign 19V503000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
134 reports, newest first.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 23, 2018
THIS WILL PROBABLY NOT MAKE THE CUT FOR BIG PROBLEMS, BUT I'M SENDING IT ANYWAY SINCE A GENERAL RUE OR ADVISORY ON DASH REFLECTIVITY MIGHT. THE 2018 COROLLA TACHOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER HAVE A BRIGHTLY CHROMED BEVEL WITH A PARABOLIC CURVE OF ABOUT 1/4 INCH ALL AROUND THE DIAL THAT CAPTURES THE SUN FROM ALMOST ANY ANGLE AND REFLECTS IT BACK INTO THE DRIVER'S EYE. LIKE ANY GOOD PARABOLA. DO YOUNG ENGINEERS NOT KNOW THIS KIND OF BASIC GEOMETRY? DO THEY NOT KNOW WE LOOKED AT THIS IN THE 50'S AND 60'S? AS I WAS DRIVING HOME THURSDAY AND THE SUN WAS MODERATELY LOW AT ABOUT 530 PM, I STARTED NOTICING ABOUT A HALF DOZEN OF THOSE PURPLE YELLOW SUNBLIND SPOTS IN MY VISION. THEY WERE IN VARIOUS STATES OF STRENGTH AND FADE. I DROVE WITH MY HAND BLOCKING THE SUN FOR THE NEXT 15 MINUTES. BECAUSE OF THE SHAPE OF THE CHROMED TRIM--PERFECT FOR THE COLLECTION OF LIGHT--I HAD TO HOLD MY HAND VERY CLOSE TO THE SPEEDOMETER TO BLOCK THE STRONG, FOCUSED REFLECTION OF THE SUN. WAY MORE THAN "GLARE." VERY PERSISTENT REGARDLESS OF SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN DIRECTION.
Wheels, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Sep 13, 2018
GRINDING NOISE WHEN BRAKING AND REVERSING IN CAR UNDER 25 MILES ON ODOMETER. HAVE GONE TO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS AND HAVE BEEN TLDTHAT I AM BRAKING TOO HARD (SERIOUSLY IN A NEW CAR??) & WINDOW PAEENGER SIDE FRONT MAKES NOISE WHILE GOING UP AND DOWN THEY SAID THEY LUBRICATED IT BUT NOW ITS MAKING MORE NOISE..
Service brakes, Aug 30, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD OR THE VEHICLE WOULD TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ADRIEL TOYOTA RO GRANDE (PR-3, RO GRANDE, 00745, PUERTO RICO, 1-(787) 627-2424), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
Service brakes, Aug 23, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE REVERSING AND DRIVING FORWARD, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS DETECTED COMING FROM THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE VIBRATED WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LIPTON TOYOTA (1700 W OAKLAND PARK BLVD, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33311, (954) 790-6137) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO MAKE THAT NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SAME DEALER A SECOND TIME AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS SPACE IN BETWEEN THE BRAKE PAD FOR WHICH THERE WAS NO REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200. **TR CONSUMER STATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE CONTINUOUS ABNORMAL NOISE. THERE'S ALSO NOISE AT TIMES WHEN I TURN ON THE AIR CONDITIONER WHICH I CAN'T IDENTIFY. MAYBE, AS IF THERE IS TOO MUCH STRESS ON THE ENGINE. THE CAR ALSO SOMETIMES VIBRATES WHILE DRIVING. IN ADDITION, WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR, THE FRONT TIRE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS ALSO ALMOST FLAT, THEREFORE, CAUSING THE CAR TO KEEP PULLING TO ONE SIDE WHILE DRIVING. FURTHER, THE FRONT WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS/IS SQUEAKING. 8/12/18 SENSOR LIGHT KEPT FLASHING. 8/16/18 BRAKE PAD NOISE WAS OBSERVED. CAR COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE CAR WAS NOT MAUALLY DESIGNED. UPDATED 10/30/18*JB
Service brakes, Aug 13, 2018, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT AN INVESTIGATOR WAS ASSIGNED TO THE CASE. THERE WAS ONE INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT SUFFERED FROM A BROKEN STERNUM, RIGHT HIP INJURY, AND SEVERE PAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 300. *TT CONSUMER STATED CAR IS STILL NOT DESTROY. TOYOTA AND SAFECO INSURANCE ARE SENDING INVESTIGATOR TO DETECT THE REASON FOR BRAKE FAILURE. MY WIFE WAS ALSO INJURED IN THIS WRECK WITH BACK INJURY. THE NEW CAR WHEN I BOUGHT ON JULY 6TH,2018 HAD, ALREADY MORE THAN 200 MILES ON IT, JUST 9 DAYS DRIVEN BARELY BEFORE THE BRAKE FAILURE ON JULY 15TH AROUND 10:45AM. UPDATED 10/22/18*JB
Lane departure, Jul 25, 2018
2018 TOYOTA COROLLA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO INAUDIBLE LANE DEPARTURE ASSIST. *LD *JS
Vehicle speed control, Jun 29, 2018
WHEN USING THE RADAR CONTROLLED CRUISE CONTROL, THE ENGINE WILL SOMETIMES REV TO OVER 4000 RPM. A TOYOTA FIELD ENGINEER TOLD ME THAT THIS IS ENGINE BRAKING, BUT THIS OCCURS WHEN THE CAR IS ON A LEVEL STRETCH OF HIGHWAY AT THE SET SPEED AND NO OTHER UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES. THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM OCCURS WITH MY WIFE'S 2017 COROLLA. I'VE READ A NUMBER OF COMMENTS ON THE TOYOTA OWNERS WEBSITE (HTTPS://WWW.TOYOTA.COM/OWNERS/COMMUNITY/ASK-AN-OWNER/QUESTION-DETAILS/ID/62752030). SOME HAVE EVEN SAID THEIR CARS SPEED UP WHEN THIS PHENOMENON HAPPENS. THIS HAS HAPPENED CONSISTENTLY EVERY TIME I'VE USED THE CRUISE CONTROL SINCE I TOOK DELIVERY OF THE CAR ON 12/1/2017, AND IT HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES PER TRIP. THE DATE I ENTERED BELOW IN THIS FORM WAS ONLY THE LATEST OCCURRENCE.
Other or unspecified, May 27, 2018
BLIND SPOT CAN NOT SEE ON COMING MOVING VEHICLES WHEN BACKING IN A PARKING SPACE AND BACKING OUT, HIGHLY POTENTIAL ACCIDENT DESIGN , OF THE REAR SEAT HEAD REST TOO TALL BLOCKING OVER HALF THE HEIGHT OF THE REAR GLASS, HUGE BLIND SPOT FEEL TO TENSE TO TRY TO PARK IT BY BACKING IN.,AND BACK OUT OF PARKING SPACE. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR ANOTHER GOOD DEFENSIVE DRIVER THE CAR WOULD HAVE HIT BE, ONLY OWNED THIS CAR LESS THAN A MONTH AND TRIED TO GET DEALER SHIP TO LET ME HAVE A DIFFERENT DESIGNED CAR AND THEY REFUSED , ,CALLING INSURANCE COMPANY AND TALK TO THEM AND SEE IF I SHOULD CONTINUE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE, IF THEY SAY NO THEN I'M TELLING TOYOTA TO COME AND GET IT.I'M NOT PAYING 30,000 FOR AN UNSAFE CAR.TO DRIVE.
Vehicle speed control, Apr 18, 2018
THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM IS DESIGNED SO THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTS WHEN THE SYSTEM IS ENGAGED AND GOING DOWN HILLS. THIS PUTS MUCH MORE WEAR AND TEAR ON BOTH THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. IN ADDITION TO THE DOWN SHIFT THE RPM GOES TO OVER 4000 IN AN ATTEMPT TO SLOW THE CAR. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY AND DRASTICALLY REDUCES GAS MILEAGE, WHICH IS EXACTLY OPPOSITE OF THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE CRUISE CONTROL WHICH WAS BETTER GAS MILEAGE AND PEACE OF MIND TO NOT SPEED. THE SPEED DOES GO UP 5 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THIS HAPPENS. BOTTOM LINE IS THE ENGINEERS AND THEIR BOSSES WHO APPROVED THIS SYSTEM ARE ALL IDIOTS AND SHOULD BE FIRED. YOU WOULD ASSUME YOU WOULD GET BETTER GAS MILEAGE WHEN GOING DOWN HILL WHEN THE ENGINE WOULD DISENGAGE BECAUSE YOU WOULD NEED LESS POWER AND NOT MORE TO MAINTAIN A CERTAIN SPEED. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THE CRUISE CONTROL IS DESIGNED TO OPERATE BY GEARING DOWN, I TOLD HIM NO MANUFACTURE IS THAT STUPID.HE THEN PROVED ME WRONG BY SHOWING ME THE MANUAL PROVING TOYOTA IS THAT STUPID.I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED THIS CAR HAD I KNOWN THIS FEATURE WAS DESIGNED IN THIS WAY. WHO KNOWS WHAT OTHER SYSTEMS IN THIS COROLLA ARE DESIGNED IN SUCH A STUPID MANNER. I WILL CERTAINLY NEVER BUY ANOTHER AUTO FROM THIS COMPANY.