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2021 Toyota Corolla

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2021 Toyota Corolla do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 129.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 25 of 185 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

18 crash reports2 fire reports10 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

32 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2026
Unknown Or Other

The Coolant Bypass Valve needs replacement and my car only has 94,000 miles on it I called Toyota to see if the part and labor were cover under their 100,000 miles/ 10 years warranty and they are saying that it is not,yet on Google and all over online forums it says that Toyotas corolla from 2019 to 2021 tend to eventually have …

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The Coolant Bypass Valve needs replacement and my car only has 94,000 miles on it I called Toyota to see if the part and labor were cover under their 100,000 miles/ 10 years warranty and they are saying that it is not,yet on Google and all over online forums it says that Toyotas corolla from 2019 to 2021 tend to eventually have this issue.

NHTSA ODI #11760516

Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 2026
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

Today I noticed that both of my door front locks passenger and driver side do not even actuate to have the door locked and unlocked by key of by the alarm. They completely stopped working. Even I contacted Toyota Corporate several times about this issue (800) 331-4331 and got ignored. This is a safety issue that needs to be …

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Today I noticed that both of my door front locks passenger and driver side do not even actuate to have the door locked and unlocked by key of by the alarm. They completely stopped working. Even I contacted Toyota Corporate several times about this issue (800) 331-4331 and got ignored. This is a safety issue that needs to be addressed immediately. This is a safety concern for me and family.

NHTSA ODI #11720322

Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2026
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other

I smell gas whenever I drive my car. My car has less than 33,000 miles on it.

NHTSA ODI #11716135

Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 2026
EngineUnknown Or Other

“Engine Maintenance Required, See your dealer” light comes on the dashboard with a warning bell. Did a diagnostic test, and the code is the coolant bypass valve malfunction. This seems to be a common issue among 2020-2021 models. This has been inspected by professional mechanics.

NHTSA ODI #11712005

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2025
Air BagsUnknown Or Other

I am filing this complaint regarding an unresolved safety recall affecting my 2021 Toyota Corolla. The recall involves the airbag ECU and has rendered the vehicle ineligible for rental on platforms like Turo. I purchased this vehicle specifically for rental income, and the recall has prevented me from listing it for over 14 mont…

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I am filing this complaint regarding an unresolved safety recall affecting my 2021 Toyota Corolla. The recall involves the airbag ECU and has rendered the vehicle ineligible for rental on platforms like Turo. I purchased this vehicle specifically for rental income, and the recall has prevented me from listing it for over 14 months. Toyota has acknowledged the recall but has not provided a remedy or timeline for resolution. Their response offered no compensation or alternative solution. Based on comparable Turo listings in Frisco, Texas, I estimate monthly rental income of $810–$1,050, resulting in total lost income of approximately $11,340 to $14,700. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate the delay in remedy and consider enforcement action to ensure timely resolution and accountability.

NHTSA ODI #11690829

Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2025
Unknown Or Other

Fallo de la pieza Válvula de control de refrigerante del motor la cual es defecto de fabricación del vehiculo

NHTSA ODI #11680012

Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2025
Air BagsElectrical SystemUnknown Or OtherCrash

My vehicle was backed into while ì was inside of it in a parking lot. Due to my horn failing., I was unable to alert the other driver to see me. The clock spring is what failed the first time at 95k they replaced it. I'm now at 147k and it failed again . Now I'm discovering that if it does not work, there's an electrical circ…

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My vehicle was backed into while ì was inside of it in a parking lot. Due to my horn failing., I was unable to alert the other driver to see me. The clock spring is what failed the first time at 95k they replaced it. I'm now at 147k and it failed again . Now I'm discovering that if it does not work, there's an electrical circuit failure and that the airbag will not deploy if I get in an accident. This is a serious safety issue and I feel Toyota should be responsible for it for the life of the vehicle . A horn should never go out. Especially if it not working will keep my air bag from functioning properly . 850 out of my pocket is way steep. The replacement part lasted half as long as the original part did when I bought the car that to me seems like a faulty part this should be obvious and they should just fix the problem cuz I might have to just consult an attorney should they choose not to. The attached photo shows what happens when you can't beep your horn at somebody who's about to back into your car !!! my car still has not turned on any kind of warning lamp for the airbag or any kind of malfunction light, no warnings on my radio. I have noticed that my Lane departure warning seems to work intermittently along with the automatic high beams that like to flash my high beams in people's face for some unapparent reason which also seems like a safety issue. If I had to take my car to an inspection station it would not pass an inspection due to the horn not working ! You cannot take your child to the Department of Motor Vehicles and let them take their drive test if your horn does not work ! which happened to be my case !! Very disappointing to say the least especially when you've paid $30,000 for a car.

NHTSA ODI #11678966

Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 2025
Unknown Or Other

-coolant bypass valve -it risked my safety by possibly destroying my perfectly good car -yes my toyota dealership confirmed the faulty coolant bypass (which many people have had this exact issue with these toyota models) -no -yes about a week before it was serviced

NHTSA ODI #11678370

Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 2025
Unknown Or Other

Data communication module activation failed message at start of car. It's loud and my baby gets woken up by this..

NHTSA ODI #11674675

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 2025
Unknown Or Other

I was coming to a stop and the clutch slave master cylinder just sank to the floor and wouldn’t activate the clutch. There were no symptoms of the clutch failing or having trouble changing gears prior to its failure. It was inspected by the Toyota tech and he couldn’t give me a reason for its premature failure.

NHTSA ODI #11669291

Official recalls

1

23V865000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

Dec 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.

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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