2021 Toyota Corolla
Common Problems
Ranked from 80 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
10 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Engine Coolant Bypass Valve Failure
32complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine coolant bypass valve has failed, leading to engine maintenance warnings and potential overheating.
- 2
Passenger Airbag Defect
26complaintsSafety riskElectricalThe passenger airbag may not deploy correctly or may deploy incorrectly, posing a risk to passenger safety during a collision.
- 3
Windshield Wiper Malfunction
12complaintsLow severityElectricalThe windshield wipers intermittently stop and restart during operation, affecting visibility in rainy or wet conditions.
- 4
Clutch Slave Cylinder Failure
8complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe clutch slave cylinder fails, causing the clutch pedal to stick or not return to normal position, leading to loss of gear shifting ability.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 5
Intermittent Wiper Malfunction
6complaintsMedium severityOtherWindshield wipers intermittently stop working, posing a safety hazard in adverse weather conditions.
$100–$250est. professional diagnosis · 1–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 6
Severe Electrical System Issues
6complaintsHigh severityElectricalThe electrical system malfunctions, leading to various warnings and potential hazards.
- 7
Engine Maintenance Alerts
4complaintsMedium severityEngineThe 'Engine Maintenance Required' alert frequently appears, indicating potential underlying engine issues.
- 8
Brake Fluid Contamination
3complaintsHigh severityOtherThe clutch slave cylinder leaks brake fluid, contaminating the clutch and flywheel, leading to loss of clutch function and potential brake failure.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 9
Check Engine Light and Power Loss
2complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine stalls and check engine light appears, causing power loss and difficulty driving.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 10
Unintended Acceleration
2complaintsSafety riskEngineThe car accelerates unexpectedly, leading to potential collisions and damage.
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.