AI Damage2016 Toyota Corolla: common problems
Owners of the 2016 Toyota Corolla filed 215 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and service brakes. The maker issued 160 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 215
- involving a crash
- 66
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 160
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 30% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 14% of all complaints
- 3 Seat belts 12% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 10% of all complaints
- 5 Steering 10% of all complaints
- 6 Vehicle speed control 10% of all complaints
- 7 Structure 7% of all complaints
- 8 Electrical system 7% of all complaints
- Air bags: 65 complaints (30% of all), 45 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
- Service brakes: 30 complaints (14% of all), 13 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 6.
- Seat belts: 26 complaints (12% of all), 11 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 22 complaints (10% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
- Steering: 22 complaints (10% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.8 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- CVTnamed in 7 complaints
- manual, 6-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 215 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 65 | 45 | 4 |
| Service brakes | 30 | 13 | 6 |
| Seat belts | 26 | 11 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 22 | 1 | 3 |
| Steering | 22 | 5 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 22 | 9 | 1 |
| Structure | 15 | 5 | 62 |
| Electrical system | 14 | 4 | 23 |
| Engine | 13 | 1 | 5 |
| Suspension | 11 | 4 | 1 |
| Exterior lighting | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Tires | 8 | 0 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| Visibility | 8 | 0 | 1 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The driver seat belt dont work and once in a great while it will work but even whenever it does latch it still shows the seat belt isn't on and that noise keeps going off but after a while the noise goes off but the symbol is still on the dash board.
The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that the other driver was driving at about 45 MPH when the contact's vehicle was rear-ended. A police report was filed.
Passenger windows goes up in and down a lot. Static in my speakers. Steering wheels lock. somethings draining my battery. though I have ensured nothings on or there isn't any short fuses. Doors unlock. Door beeps though someone has had access. Trunk pops open. I am reaching out to NHTSA because my safety is at risk.
The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed. The contact was unaware of any injuries. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot for the city. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was deemed to be a total loss by the Insurance Provider.
The contact stated that while attempting to make a left turn at 5 mph, the steering wheel locked as an unknown warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact immediately depressed her brake pedal, however, the vehicle proceeded to move forward independently down an incline.
The car seems to be making a whining noise when first started from the transmission or torque converter, while in park, neutral. Also a rattling noise in reverse and drive! Also on uphill roads from a stand still the transmission slips and makes a loud noise without accelerating occasionally.
Consumer writes in regards to unintended acceleration. The consumer stated upon depressing the brake to pull into a parking space, the vehcle lunged forward into a guard rail.
Our seat belt did not lock and caused my daughter to hit her head on the steering wheel. She was diagnosed with a concussion and is still suffering 3 weeks after treatments with injections and muscle relaxers given by a neurologist
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 308 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 15% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Corolla has 127 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 215, above average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a…
Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition…
- The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air…
The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and…
- The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix…
The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and…
- To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used…
To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from…
- Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical…
Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal…
- Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal…
Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow…
- Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad…
Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can…
- Some 2005 – 2024 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a…
Some 2005 – 2024 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition…
- Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal…
Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination.
- This Service Bulletin provides updated non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for…
This Service Bulletin provides updated non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 – 2025 model year Toyota vehicles.
- This is to advise of various price adjustments that will affect Toyota Genuine Motor Oil and Long Life…
This is to advise of various price adjustments that will affect Toyota Genuine Motor Oil and Long Life Coolant, effective March 1, 2024. These products are ordered through the Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC)…
- OBSOLETE NOTICE January 22, 2024
This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0057-18.
NHTSA lists 160 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Toyota Corolla?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, service brakes, seat belts. Total complaints: 215. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: airbags did not deploy (13%), seat belts (10%), warning lights, check engine (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2016 Toyota Corolla?
NHTSA lists 160 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2016 Toyota Corolla from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2016 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.