2020 Toyota Corolla

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Engine is the leading concern among 308 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 11th highest complaint count among 26 Corolla model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 308

Of the 2020 reports, 22 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 23 people were injured and 1 person died.

Primary concernEngine108 reports · 35% of complaints
Owner complaints308Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship3 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Engine108
  2. Other or unspecified79
  3. Power train39
  4. Electrical system31
  5. Service brakes23
  6. Air bags18
  7. Visibility/wiper17
  8. Fuel/propulsion system14

Recalls and investigations

  1. Air bags, sensor, occupant classificationDec 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.

    An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.

    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.

    Campaign 23V865000 on NHTSA.gov

  2. Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpNov 4, 2020

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017 Lexus GS200t, 2017-2019 Lexus GS350, 2019 Lexus GS300, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h, 2019-2020 Lexus LS500, 2018-2019 Lexus GX460, 2017 Lexus IS200t, 2019 Lexus IS300, 2019 Lexus IS350, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500, 2018 Lexus LS500, 2019 Lexus LS500h, 2018-2019 Lexus LX570, 2017 Lexus RC200t, 2019 Lexus RC300, RC350, 2017 and 2019-2020 Lexus RX350, 2018-2020 RX350L, 2019 Lexus UX200, 2018-2019 Lexus NX300 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 assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.

    Campaign 20V682000 on NHTSA.gov

  3. Seat belts, rear/other, buckle assemblyDec 11, 2019

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019-2020 C-HR and 2020 Corolla and Corolla Hybrid vehicles equipped with rear seat belt assemblies with a dual-mode locking mechanism. The seat belt webbing sensor locking mechanism may not lock as intended.

    In the event of a crash involving multiple impacts, the seat belt may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing the risk of injury.

    Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear seat belt assembly production dates, and replace the assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 7, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 19TB22 and 19TA22.

    Campaign 19V877000 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints: other or unspecified

79 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Other or unspecified, Feb 5, 2020

    IN AN EMPTY PARKING LOT AROUND NOONTIME ON A SUNNY DAY, I WAS TRYING TO PARK MY CAR. THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE FORWARD MODE. I FULLY STOPPED FOR PARKING THE CAR; I HAD TO BACKUP A LITTLE BIT. AFTER FULL STOP (TO PROTECT MY TRANSMISSION), I MOVED THE GEAR STICK FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE AND DRIVE STICK WAS SHOWING ME, I AM IN REVERSE, BUT THE CAR INSTEAD OF GOING BACK, STARTED MOVING FORWARD. FORTUNATELY, THE PARKING LOT WAS EMPTY AND NOBODY GOT HURT, OTHERWISE THIS WOULD HAVE SERIOUSLY INJURED SOMEBODY IN FRONT OF THE CAR. HOWEVER, WHEN I MOVED THE DRIVE STICK FROM DRIVE TO PARK AND THEN COME BACK TO REVERSE THIS DID NOT HAPPEN. I STARTED SEARCHING IN INTERNET WHETHER ANYBODY ELSE HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. I FOUND OUT THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AND FOR FIXING THE PROBLEM WHAT THEY HAD TO DO HAD TO UPDATE THE CAR'S COMPUTER SOFTWARE, OTHERWISE IF ONE AFTER FULL STOP GOES FROM DRIVE DIRECTLY TO REVERSE, THE CAR MIGHT START GOING FORWARD. THIS PROBLEM, WITHOUT SOFTWARE UPDATE CAN HAPPEN ONLY IN CERTAIN BATCH OF THE CARS. SO MAKE SURE YOU TEST YOUR CAR AND IF YOU HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR AND TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR SOFTWARE UPDATE. *BF CONSUMER STATED IT RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES.*JB

  2. Power train, Other or unspecified, Oct 23, 2019

    VEHICLE HAS A VERY HARD SHIFT OUT OF LAUNCH "FIRST GEAR" WHEN LOW ON FUEL OR THE ENGINE IS COLD. DEALERSHIP (SHEEHY TOYOTA IN FREDERICKSBURG VA) AND COULD EXPERIENCE THE SAME FEELING ON LIGHT TO MODERATE ACCELERATION. I INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE FEELING THEY WERE EXPERIENCING IS MINOR COMPARED TO WHAT IT USUALLY FEELS LIKE WHEN DRIVING. THEY EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING WHEN DRIVING ANOTHER 2020 COROLLA OFF THE LOT WITH LIGHT TO MODERATE ACCELERATION. THEN A DAY LATER THEY DROVE ANOTHER 20202 COROLLA SUPPOSEDLY FOR ANOTHER 30 MINUTES AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE HARD SHIFT AND NOTED THAT WHEN DRIVING BOTH THE CUSTOMERS CAR AND A NEW CAR THE SHIFT FEELING VARIED FROM TIME TO TIME SO THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO. THEY ALSO SAID THEY CONTACTED THE ENGINEERS AT TOYOTA WHO SAID THAT THIS HARD SHIFT FEELING WAS NORMAL. LOOKS LIKE TOYOTA IS BACK AT IT WITH JUST DENY EVERYTHING AND HOPE THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY. VERY UNHAPPY WITH MY EXPERIENCE ESPECIALLY WITH HOW TOYOTA HAS HANDLED THIS SO FAR. I WILL NOT GO AWAY UNTIL THEY FIX THIS PROBLEM.

  3. Power train, Other or unspecified, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 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 STALLING OUT. SEPARATE OCCASION WITHOUT THE AIR CONDITIONER BEING ON, A ROUGH IDOL TOOK PLACE. AT TIMES IF PUT IN SPORTS MODE SHIFTING IS SMOOTH WITHOUT TOO MUCH TROUBLE; WITH EXCEPTION OF AT HIGHER SPEED OPEN ROAD REMOVING OFF THE GAS PEDAL WILL MAKE A WHINING HIGH REV NOISE LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND DID NOT DOWN SHIFT EVEN WITH PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE. WILL THEN DOWN SHIFT AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15-20 SECONDS. LANE DEPARTURE INDICATORS HAVE GONE OFF WITHOUT THERE BEING A CORRECT RESPONSE FOR THAT ACTION TAKING PLACE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN OWNED FOR LESS THAN NINETY DAYS AND APPEARS TO CONTINUALLY FURTHER IN ITS DEFECTS.

  4. Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Aug 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 TO THE DEALER TWICE AND THEY ARE STILL WORKING ON IT. THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID THE CAR NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED AND THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THE SECOND TIME THE SERVICE MANAGER IS CLAIMING IT IS A WIRE WHICH I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE SINCE THERE ARE MULTIPLE CODES AND I DON'T THINK THEY ALL GO THROUGH ONE WIRE. OUR FAMILY DOES NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING THE CAR WHEN ALL OF THESE LIGHTS ARE FLASHING AND NOT KNOWING IF THE CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE AND IF THE SAFETY FEATURES IN THE CAR WILL OPERATE PROPERLY. I HAVE VIDEO AND PICTURES OF THE CODES THAT WERE FLASHING IF NEEDED. I COULD NOT UPLOAD THEM DUE TO THE SIZE OF THE FILES.