2020 Toyota COROLLA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2020 Toyota COROLLA has 390 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (28% of all complaints), specifically: engine abnormal shift downward while driving regularly. i feel the shift is not smooth even feels like a defect in the engine shift system 17,000 miles mostly happens regularly driving on city streets and a bit less happens on the parkway but does happen. the shifts are hard to ignore i remembe. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 21 crash reports 26 injuries

390

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

108 complaints

28%

• ENGINE ABNORMAL SHIFT DOWNWARD WHILE DRIVING REGULARLY. I FEEL THE SHIFT IS NOT SMOOTH EVEN FEELS LIKE A DEFECT IN THE ENGINE SHIFT SYSTEM 17,000 MILES MOSTLY HAPPENS REGULARLY DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AND A BIT LESS HAPPENS ON THE PARKWAY BUT DOES HAPPEN. THE SHIFTS ARE HARD TO IGNORE I REMEMBE
• WILL DRIVING THE CAR DECELERATED AND WOULD NOT GO PASS 20MPH. BREAK,ENGINE,ECT. LIGHTS TURNED ON. THE CAR HAS ONLY 1345 MILES. SO FAR IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE. SECOND TIME GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP.
• ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION I WAS GOING BETWEEN 5-10 MILES AN HOUR AND THE CAR SPUTTERED AND FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO SHUT OFF. I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REGULAR SERVICE AND THE TOLD ME THE COMPUTER DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM WHEN DRIVI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“ENGINE ABNORMAL SHIFT DOWNWARD WHILE DRIVING REGULARLY. I FEEL THE SHIFT IS NOT SMOOTH EVEN FEELS LIKE A DEFECT IN THE ENGINE SHIFT SYSTEM 17,000 MILES MOSTLY HAPPENS REGULARLY DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AND A BIT LESS HAPPENS ON THE PARKWAY BUT DOES HAPPEN. THE SHIFTS ARE HARD TO IGNORE I REMEMBE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

81 complaints

21%

• 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,
• 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 (ST
• 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 COMPARE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“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,”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

34 complaints

• 07/09/19 - THREE DAYS AFTER TAKING DELIVERY OF A BRAND NEW 2020 COROLLA SEDAN, MY CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY CITY STREET. I WAS STATIONARY WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OF THE BRAKE AND ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, IT HAD A COMPLETE POWER FAILURE. RE
• 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 (ST
• 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 COMPARE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“07/09/19 - THREE DAYS AFTER TAKING DELIVERY OF A BRAND NEW 2020 COROLLA SEDAN, MY CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY CITY STREET. I WAS STATIONARY WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OF THE BRAKE AND ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, IT HAD A COMPLETE POWER FAILURE. RE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

29 complaints

• THE BATTERY TRAY (PART NUMBER 74404-12560) WHICH HOLDS THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY CREATES AN UNSAFE CONDITION. I NOTICED THE BATTERY TRAY IS DESIGNED TO FIT ONLY THE PANASONIC BATTERY THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE. THUS, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLACE A DISCHARGED OR DEFECTIVE PANASONIC BATTERY WITH A STANDA
• TL* THE CONTACT STATED WAS EMPLOYED BY HERTZ RENTAL CARS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A 2020 TOYOTA COROLLA CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE NOTICED 3-4 HOURS AFTER VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND DRIVING OUT A PARKING LOT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGHISED THE VEHICLE. A FIRE DEPRTMENT REPORT WAS TAK
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF FORT WALTON BEACH LOCATED AT 777 BEAL PKWY NW, FORT WALTON BEACH, FL 32547, TO BE DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“THE BATTERY TRAY (PART NUMBER 74404-12560) WHICH HOLDS THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY CREATES AN UNSAFE CONDITION. I NOTICED THE BATTERY TRAY IS DESIGNED TO FIT ONLY THE PANASONIC BATTERY THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE. THUS, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLACE A DISCHARGED OR DEFECTIVE PANASONIC BATTERY WITH A STANDA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

22 complaints

• 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,
• EXITING FREEWAY. MADE A LEFT. SLOWED DOWN AT RED LIGHT. REALIZED THE CAR WASN'T STOPPING. SLAMMED BRAKE PEDAL TO FLOOR. CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE AND HIT ANOTHER CAR. POLICE REPORT MADE. COLLISION LOCATION AT 3520 MASSACHUSETTS AVE, LEMON GROVE, CA 91945. THIS IS A NEW CAR AND NO REASON FOR BRAKES TO NO
• WILL DRIVING THE CAR DECELERATED AND WOULD NOT GO PASS 20MPH. BREAK,ENGINE,ECT. LIGHTS TURNED ON. THE CAR HAS ONLY 1345 MILES. SO FAR IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE. SECOND TIME GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 6 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 390 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: ENGINE ABNORMAL SHIFT DOWNWARD WHILE DRIVING REGULARLY. I FEEL THE SHIFT IS NOT SMOOTH EVEN FEELS LIKE A DEFECT IN THE ENGINE SHIFT SYSTEM 17,000 MILES MOSTLY HAPPENS REGULARLY DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AND A BIT LESS HAPPENS ON THE PARKWAY BUT DOES HAPPEN. THE SHIFTS ARE HARD TO IGNORE I REMEMBE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 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,
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: 07/09/19 - THREE DAYS AFTER TAKING DELIVERY OF A BRAND NEW 2020 COROLLA SEDAN, MY CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY CITY STREET. I WAS STATIONARY WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OF THE BRAKE AND ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, IT HAD A COMPLETE POWER FAILURE. RE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: THE BATTERY TRAY (PART NUMBER 74404-12560) WHICH HOLDS THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY CREATES AN UNSAFE CONDITION. I NOTICED THE BATTERY TRAY IS DESIGNED TO FIT ONLY THE PANASONIC BATTERY THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE. THUS, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLACE A DISCHARGED OR DEFECTIVE PANASONIC BATTERY WITH A STANDA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)