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Toyota · NHTSA safety record

2026 Toyota Corolla

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

15

Complaints

6

Crashes

0

Fires

4

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2026 Toyota Corolla have filed 15 safety complaints with NHTSA between November 2025 and July 2026. The most complained-about system is the brakes, named in 3 of them (20%). The typical failure was reported at 825 miles, the median across the 2 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 1 recall covering this vehicle.

Recalls (1)

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

26V110000 · February 25, 2026

The defect
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2026 Corolla vehicles. The front headlights may have missing headlight aim markings, which can result in improperly aimed headlights during service. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
The risk
Incorrectly aimed headlights can reduce driver visibility or create a glare for oncoming traffic, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace both front headlight assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 20, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 26TA05.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 86 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 15.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER 6 40%
SERVICE BRAKES 3 20%
AIR BAGS 2 13%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2 13%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 2 13%
STEERING 2 13%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2 13%
ENGINE 1 7%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1 7%
LANE DEPARTURE 1 7%
POWER TRAIN 1 7%
SEAT BELTS 1 7%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2026 at 14.

2025 2026
2025 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

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

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 883 miles

The contact owns a 2026 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to avoid striking a deer the vehicle crashed into a tree. The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that the SOS system detected the impact to the vehicle and alerted First Responders. The vehicle was towed to the local tow yard and later towed to a Collision Center. The contact stated that the vehicle had not been accessed by the adjuster. The contact stated that there were damages to the front of the vehicle, the windshield was shattered, and damages to the hood of the vehicle and the front passenger's door failed to open. No Police report was filed because the crash

NHTSA complaint 11698108, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

1 injured · crash · towed

This was a rental car. In the rain, the lane assistance would try to correct the vehicle even when the vehicle was in its lane. It was like it didn’t see the lane markings in the rain. The car was wrecked in the rain but had other incidents previously while driving in the rain. The adaptive cruise control also seemed to malfunction when I set it, it started going faster than what I had set it.

NHTSA complaint 11745459. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 injured

My brand-new 2026 Toyota Corolla LE is venting toxic chemical, burning plastic, and acetone-like fumes directly through the dashboard HVAC vents and interior materials. Exposure to the cabin air causes immediate, severe systemic injury, including acute respiratory distress, throat and vocal cord inflammation resulting in a lost voice, uncontrollable sweating, and severe neurological muscle weakness. I have a critical pre-existing medical condition consisting of two lung nodules, making this chemical inhalation an immediate, life-threatening hazard to my health. This exposure has previously left me physically incapacitated for five days. The manufacturer (Toyota Motor North America) has been

NHTSA complaint 11745779, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 injured

I also wanted to add the mold.. from the hour test was performed on this car. Ac in high flow. Within 12 hrs growth appears

NHTSA complaint 11751132. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I own a 2026 Toyota Corolla purchased in November 2025. The recurring problems began on December 8, 2025, when multiple warning lights appeared on the dashboard along with the message “System Malfunction – Visit Your Dealer.” The warning indicators involved several vehicle safety and driver-assistance systems. The vehicle was taken to an authorized Toyota dealership for inspection and repair. On June 16, 2026, the vehicle experienced another serious malfunction, including a “Transmission System Malfunction” warning. The electrical and operational problems continued despite dealership visits and repairs. The battery was also replaced, but this did not permanently resolve the recurring

NHTSA complaint 11751940, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Vehicle emissions out of the dashboard defroster vents deposit a sticky, chemical film onto the inside front windshield, causing severe driver vision impairment. The chemical vapor triggers immediate respiratory irritation and dizziness, presenting an imminent risk of a motor vehicle crash.Defect / Nonconformity: The vehicle suffers from a severe HVAC or interior component material failure causing toxic off-gassing. An official Toyota FTS report (RO #116504) documented dangerous TVOC levels of 9.455 mg inside the vehicle. The manufacturing defect substantially impairs the safety, use, and commercial value of the vehicle. I did not have car seats in trunk, the time completed on report is

NHTSA complaint 11751412, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
System or component that failed: Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) / Climate Control System.Description of Incident: The vehicle's HVAC system emits a severe, persistent chemical odor / Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) smell directly into the passenger cabin.Nail polish remover, burning plastic after DRIVING FORTH 20 MIN, was not addressed. This toxic-smelling odor causes immediate physical discomfort, chest pain, neck stiffness, including headaches and respiratory irritation while driving, creating a driver distraction and safety hazard. Dealer status: The vehicle was taken to a Toyota dealership on june 13, july 29th, refused ANY FURTHER INVESTIGATION. UNDER WARRANTYbut the

NHTSA complaint 11751113, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I have mcas/ CIRS this new car triggered chest pain, muscle weakness, swelling, etc FTS REPORT CONFIRMED high off gassing. I'm in 3 mast cell stabalizers a day. I'm w out a car i put down 3500 a month ago. They left me, knowing all this. I'm 9 miles from a bus stop, from shopping, can't make money w out a car. 40 min from drs. I Already have lung nodules. Single mom, just want a safe reliable car odi XXX, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint 11748157. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING
There is a shadow or "dark spot" observed in the LED low headlight beam. It is distracting while driving. The dark spot is distracting, sometimes you think an animal is coming into view, causing confusion. It is especially noticeable on totally dark roads in remote places.

NHTSA complaint 11747698. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Toyota Corolla

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2024 62 2 1
2023 72 3 —
2022 95 0 —
2021 184 1 —
2020 304 3 1
2019 200 5 1
2018 133 3 1
2017 177 3 —
2016 212 1 —
2015 219 1 —
2014 268 2 1
2013 201 5 —
2012 445 5 —
2011 584 9 —
2010 1,244 17 —

Other 2026 Toyota models

Camry Hybrid 116 Tundra 22 Grand Highlander 19 BZ 15

Every Toyota on this site — 272 vehicles, 370 recall campaigns and 3 open investigation s.

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. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

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