AI Damage2020 Toyota Corolla: common problems
Owners of the 2020 Toyota Corolla filed 313 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and powertrain. The maker issued 195 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 313
- involving a crash
- 22
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 195
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 35% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 13% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
- 5 Air bags 6% of all complaints
- 6 Visibility 5% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel/propulsion system 4% of all complaints
- 8 Structure 4% of all complaints
- Engine: 111 complaints (35% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 35.
- Powertrain: 40 complaints (13% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
- Electrical system: 35 complaints (11% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 43.
- Service brakes: 24 complaints (8% of all), 6 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 10.
- Air bags: 19 complaints (6% of all), 9 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 7.
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
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 1.8 L · hybrid · 4 cyl
- CVTnamed in 3 complaints
- manual, 6-speednamed in 9 complaints
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 313 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 111 | 1 | 35 |
| Powertrain | 40 | 1 | 3 |
| Electrical system | 35 | 0 | 43 |
| Service brakes | 24 | 6 | 10 |
| Air bags | 19 | 9 | 7 |
| Visibility | 17 | 0 | 4 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 13 | 2 | 33 |
| Seat belts | 9 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 8 | 1 | 5 |
| Wheels | 7 | 3 | 3 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Electronic stability control | 4 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The automatic emergency breaking and forward collision warning failed to alert and turn on and I wrecked into an object. My life was put at risk and I wrecked my car. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by the independent service center. The vehicle is currently being inspected by insurance estimator.
My brakes failed to hold on while I waited for my turn. There were at least 3-4 cars ahead of me. Therefore I did not want to hurt anyone or any other car ahead of me. Therefore I veered off to my right-hand side where there was some space and tried to stop the car but it did not do so.
If I am at the stop sign or stop light and I proceed to go the car will stall and not get going once I place my foot on the gas. I have reached out to the dealer by phone and when I have obtained service I am being advised that it's nothing.
The contact stated tmps warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer to be inspected. The manufacturer was informed of failure and is awaiting a response. The failure mileage was approximately 6,000.
My son was driving on the freeway when one tire came off the wheel. He lost control and hit by truck on the passenger side. There's only 8000 miles on the car.
The contact's vehicle slid upon impact and the contact hit his head on the roof of the vehicle then hit the front driver's door window. The contact's right side hip hit the center console. No air bags were deployed. A police report was filed.
I wore the seatbelt but the airbags didn't work. One day, after the accident my body felt hurt especially the shoulder and the back. I went to see a chiropractor to check then they said I needed to do treatment at least a few months.
The webbing which attaches the seatbelt buckle to the vehicle failed and torn causing the seatbelt to come free, unable to restrain the driver. The driver ultimately suffered fatal injuries in the collision. This is being submitted by ohio state highway patrol crash reconstruction.
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 202 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 10% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Corolla has 127 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 313, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Although the flow shut-off valve is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 36 months or…
Although the flow shut-off valve is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 36 months or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers’ ownership experience. Toyota is…
- OBSOLETE NOTICE February 27, 2026
This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
- OBSOLETE NOTICE January 30, 2026
This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0001-26.
- Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System…
Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System require a Special Service Tool (SST) USB flash drive to update the map, points of interest, and system software.
- 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…
- Owner Renotification Letter Due to certain programing in the engine ECU, under certain conditions, the…
Owner Renotification Letter Due to certain programing in the engine ECU, under certain conditions, the vehicle may stall at low speeds when accelerating from a stop. If this low-speed vehicle stall occurs, steering and…
- OBSOLETE NOTICE August 19, 2025
This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0059-25.
- Some 2020 – 2025 model year Corolla vehicles may exhibit a vibration or rattle noise from the right-hand…
Some 2020 – 2025 model year Corolla vehicles may exhibit a vibration or rattle noise from the right-hand engine mounting insulator sub-assembly. This condition will usually go away when the engine’s Revolutions Per…
- The specific condition covered by this program is for a small engine coolant leak that can occur from the…
The specific condition covered by this program is for a small engine coolant leak that can occur from the flow shut-off valve that can allow coolant to drip on other parts of the vehicle. This can cause "Engine…
- Some 2021 – 2022 model year Avalon, 2018 – 2024 Camry, 2019 – 2025 model year Corolla, 2022 – 2025 model…
Some 2021 – 2022 model year Avalon, 2018 – 2024 Camry, 2019 – 2025 model year Corolla, 2022 – 2025 model year Corolla Cross, and 2019 – 2025 model year RAV4 vehicles with A25A-FKS and M20A-FKS engines may have a MIL ON…
- Some 2018 – 2021 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with an A25A-FKS, A25A-FXS, or M20A-FKS engine may…
Some 2018 – 2021 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with an A25A-FKS, A25A-FXS, or M20A-FKS engine may exhibit a condition in which an “Engine Maintenance Required” message is displayed in the Multi-Information…
- 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…
NHTSA lists 195 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 2020 Toyota Corolla?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, powertrain, electrical system. Total complaints: 313. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (15%), overheating, coolant loss (6%), A/C or heater (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2020 Toyota Corolla?
NHTSA lists 195 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 2020 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 2020 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.