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Toyota · NHTSA safety record

2019 Toyota Corolla

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 203 safety complaints about the 2019 Toyota Corolla with the US government. Of those, 23 describe a crash, 1 mentions a fire, 15 people were injured and 1 death is recorded. 5 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the power train, named in 55 complaints, 27% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 12,400 miles, the median across the 56 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers January 2019 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

203 complaints on file

203

Complaints

23

Describe a crash

1

Mention fire

15

People injured

1

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
POWER TRAIN 55 · 27%
ENGINE 39 · 19%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 32 · 16%
AIR BAGS 31 · 15%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 31 · 15%
SERVICE BRAKES 16 · 8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15 · 7%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 13 · 6%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 12 · 6%
SEAT BELTS 9 · 4%
STEERING 8 · 4%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 7 · 3%
0 23 46

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 203.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2020 at 40.

44 33 22 11
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2019 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2019 Toyota COROLLA, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test 4 DR FWD 5 HB FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 11.8% 10.4%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

5 on file

AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE

20V024000 · January 17, 2020

The defect
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.
The risk
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.
The remedy
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.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 2,891,976 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

20V012000 · January 13, 2020

The defect
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.
The risk
If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
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.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 1,830,752 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

19V503000 · June 28, 2019

The defect
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."
The risk
An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
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.

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC · up to 1,325 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

19V244000 · March 27, 2019

The defect
Gulf States Toyota (GST) is recalling certain 2019 C-HR, 4Runner, Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Prius, RAV4, Sequoia, Tacoma, Sienna, Tundra and Yaris vehicles. The text on the load capacity label may become illegible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
The risk
If the driver cannot read the label, they may unknowingly overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
GST will notify owners, and dealers will provide corrected load carrying capacity modification labels, free of charge. The recall began May 24, 2019. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 19R1.

Gulf States Toyota, Inc. · up to 3,634 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

18V901000 · December 19, 2018

The defect
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019 Toyota Corolla hatchback vehicles equipped with Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVT). The pump impeller blades within the torque converter may detach, especially when driven under high load, potentially causing a vehicle stall.
The risk
A vehicle stall, especially when driving a high rate of speed, can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Toyota has notified owners, and dealers will replace the CVT and torque converter, free of charge. The recall began April 22, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J17/J07.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 3,424 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations

1 on file

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Electrical overstress

EA19001

Closed engineering analysis · opened April 19, 2019 · closed September 19, 2024 · led to recall 20V024

the air bags

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.  During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications.  The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU.  In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment.  FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle.  Other FCA vehicles that also used the subject ACU, but were not equipped with cross-car harnessing, had not experienced EOS failures, despite similar time in service. During the course of this investigation, ODI sent two separate Information Request (IR) letters to six vehicle manufactures (including FCA, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota) and one IR letter to ZF-TRW.  These IR letters resulted in ODI receiving comprehensive data from these manufacturers and suppliers. Studies of this data found that the DS84 ASIC does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients or electrical overstress (“EOS”) that can be generated in certain severe crashes.  An electrical transient occurs when the electrical power supplied to a circuit changes momentarily over a short duration of time.   In these severe crash cases, the crash sensors and other powered wiring can be damaged and short circuited so as to create a negative electrical transient of sufficient intensity and duration (that are outside the vehicle manufacturer's specification) to damage the ASIC before the restraint device deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU.  This damaged signal can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners.  Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.A total of 8 fatalities and 14 injuries were associated with known EOS events. The common element in all investigated manufacturers vehicles is the SRS ECU containing a DS84 ASIC manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The risk associated with the ASIC is equally shared among all OEMS involved in the investigation.  The actual real-world risk can be mitigated by other factors which were assessed by ODI during this investigation. The first mitigating factor involves protections built into the ACU design which protect the DS84 ASIC from damage.  There are multiple strategies and levels of protection employed by different OEMs that provide effective EOS mitigation.  The two most common strategies at the ACU level are circuit protection diodes on the remote senor signal lines, and current limiting resistors that protect critical components. The second mitigating factor is found at the vehicle level and involves the location and routing of the wires leading from the crash sensors to the SRS ECU.  If the wires are well protected in a crash and are not routed with other power wires carrying large currents, the risk for an EOS event is significantly reduced or eliminated. These design specific factors combine to produce a spectrum of risk for the vehicles equipped with ACUs using the DS84 ASIC.  Given the many of years of field exposure, it is possible to divide the subject population into two groups; vehicles which have experienced EOS events, and vehicles which have not experienced EOS field events. Four of the six OEMs involved in this investigation have experienced EOS field events on at least one of their models equipped with a DS84 ASIC.  All vehicle models (including the Toyota models identified in the Failure Report Summary of the opening resume for this investigation) with field events have been recalled.  In an abundance of caution, ODI kept this investigation open five years to monitor field performance and did not identify any field events on vehicles not included in existing safety recalls. Given the spectrum of risk identified in this investigation and that all vehicles with a demonstrated unreasonable risk have been recalled, ODI is closing this investigation. ODI is closing this investigation with the following manufacturer safety recalls: 16V-668, 18E-043, 18V-137, 18V-363, and 20V-024.  With the recall actions taken by the subject vehicle and equipment manufacturers, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on other model or model year vehicles outside of the recall scopes. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

SEAT BELTS

1 death · crash · towed

Vehicle was involved in a fatal head-on collision. Upon inspection of the driver restraint system, the driver restraint webbing was torn. The airbags and pretensioners deployed in the collision. The maximum recorded longitudinal delta-v was -41.4 miles per hour (with recorded clipping).

NHTSA complaint 11693190. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

3 injured · crash · towed · 13,000 miles

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while driving at 60-65 MPH, the vehicle shut off and lost electrical power. All the instrument panel warning lights including the lane departure assistance warning light illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart. The contact then refilled gas in the vehicle with assistance and was able to restart the vehicle. However, the failure reoccurred while driving and the vehicle failed to restart after several attempts. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and drove to his residence. The contact

NHTSA complaint 11464041, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

3 injured · crash · towed

On February 17, 2024 I was involved in a hit and run. I was T-boned on the passenger side and the front passenger door wouldn't open and no airbags deployed. Later on in February I received a Toyota Airbag Contol Unit Settlement. I haven't ever received an recall information on any recalls for my vehicle.

NHTSA complaint 11580926. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed · 37,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, AT HIGH SPEED ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND PUSHED THE VEHICLE TO THE POINT WHERE HE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN HIM. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LOW BACK AND NECK INJURIES, THE FRONT PASSENGER HIT HER FACE AGAINST THE DASHBOARD AND SUSTAINED A FRACTURED NOSE, BRUISED LEGS AND ARMS INJURIES BOTH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OTHER DRIVER DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR TOW SHOP.

NHTSA complaint 11389760, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

104,000 miles

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the clutch was depressed; however, the clutch system failed to operate as intended. The contact stated that the clutch was stuck to the floorboard. The contact stated that due to the failure, there was an excessive amount of clutch fluid leaking onto the ground. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated that the failure was a known failure. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.

NHTSA complaint 11766729. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
Component that failed was the CSC Concentric Slave Cylinder. I went to press the clutch and it stuck to the floor. I checked for leaks in the cabin beneath the clutch and it was dry. I then proceeded to check the reservoir and saw that it needed fluid. I managed to get it to a nearby convenience center to purchase and fill the reservoir when that did not work I called a tow truck to move it to an auto repair shop. This put others at risk, should the clutch have remained in neutral I would have, and or all the break fluid would have leaked and i would have been without brakes since the clutch and break share a reservoir. This issue could have caused serious life threatening injuries not only

NHTSA complaint 11764719, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
Slave cylinder on clutch failed and leaked fluid in to clutch and flywheel. Clutch pedal would not rebound after being pressed in to shift gear, stuck in middle of road trying to get vehicle in first gear. Had vehicle towed to dealership, estimate of $5800 to repair. Apparently this is a known problem with this manual transmission, many others have experienced similar failure at around 60,000 miles.

NHTSA complaint 11763432. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER

46,091 miles

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2019 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 45,709, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage listed on the title was 46,091. Additionally, the contact later became aware that the vehicle was a salvaged vehicle. The seller was contacted several times but blocked all communications.

NHTSA complaint 11754726. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

75,000 miles

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low tire pressure warning light illuminated, with several other unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. However, the independent mechanic stated that the tire pressures were not low, and that the cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

NHTSA complaint 11744710. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

crash · towed

I was driving on a two lane state road. Two vehicles we traveling in front of me in the left lane. The further vehicle in left decide to make a sudden stop at a traffic light. The silver sedan behind that vehicle was traveling too close to react appropriately. The sedan avoid the vehicle in front of it and impeded into my lane and collide with my vehicle. My airbags in my 2019 Corolla failed to deploy.

NHTSA complaint 11735650. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Toyota Corolla

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 17 1 —
2025 31 0 —
2024 63 2 1
2023 73 3 —
2022 101 0 —
2021 185 1 —
2020 306 3 1
2018 134 3 1
2017 178 3 —
2016 214 1 —
2015 220 1 —
2014 269 2 1
2013 201 5 —
2012 446 5 —
2011 584 9 —
2010 1,244 17 —

Other 2019 Toyota models

Every Toyota on this site — 281 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst