2021 Toyota Corolla Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Corolla years
- About as many complaints as other years 18th of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 186 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Toyota Corolla. That ranks 18th out of 32 Corolla model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (52 complaints, 28%), typically at around 55,000 miles. Complaints mention 18 crashes, 2 fires, 13 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
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- 186owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 18complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2021 Toyota Corolla problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags problems | 52 | 28% | 55,000 | “air bags contacted” (21%) | — |
| Engine | 41 | 22% | 17,900 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 32 | 17% | 645 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 23 | 12% | 57,900 | — | — |
| Power Train | 19 | 10% | 61,500 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 15 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 8 | 4% | 1,590 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 8 | 4% | 5,800 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 8 | 4% | 5,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 4% | 4,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 6 | 3% | 10,800 | — | — |
| Steering | 5 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 5 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 5 | 3% | 53,253 | — | — |
| Seats | 4 | 2% | 94,576 | — | — |
| Wheels | 4 | 2% | 800 | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 3 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 3 | 2% | 6,290 | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 2% | 6,100 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 1% | 89,900 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2021 Toyota Corolla recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification
Problem: 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.
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
"Engine maintenance required" light is coming up constantly, only when i turn on the AC and doesn't let me view my dash at all. Ive determined it's the Engine coolant bypass valve. Many models have had this same exact issue and there needs to be a recall/repair at no cost to the owners.
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…
This Toyota Corolla hatchback is experiencing an issue where it is constantly giving an âENGINE MAINTENANCE REQUIREDâ light and when scanned, it says âcoolant bypass valve malfunctionâ. There is already a recall for many Toyota Corolla Sedans experiencing this issue of this bypass valve…
Notification spontaneously received as Engine Maintenance Required; Visit Your Dealer. Service appointment immediately scheduled for Toyota of Plano for the following day. My service advisor recommended replacing the coolant bypass valve, which amounted to a total bill of $745. My agent informed me…
The coolant bypass valve issue
Other Toyota Corolla years
← 2020 Corolla · 2022 Corolla →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Corolla | 17 | 1 |
| 2025 Corolla | 31 | 0 |
| 2024 Corolla | 65 | 2 |
| 2023 Corolla | 73 | 3 |
| 2022 Corolla | 101 | 0 |
| 2021 | 186 | 1 |
| 2020 Corolla | 310 | 3 |
| 2019 Corolla | 204 | 5 |
| 2018 Corolla | 135 | 3 |
| 2017 Corolla | 178 | 3 |
| 2016 Corolla | 215 | 1 |
| 2015 Corolla | 220 | 1 |
| 2014 Corolla | 269 | 2 |
| 2013 Corolla | 201 | 5 |
| 2012 Corolla | 446 | 5 |
| 2011 Corolla | 584 | 9 |
| 2010 Corolla | 1,244 | 17 |
| 2009 Corolla | 1,459 | 13 |
| 2008 Corolla | 314 | 6 |
| 2007 Corolla | 836 | 6 |
| 2006 Corolla | 840 | 7 |
| 2005 Corolla | 854 | 6 |
| 2004 Corolla | 477 | 9 |
| 2003 Corolla | 720 | 9 |
| 2002 Corolla | 117 | 0 |
| 2001 Corolla | 133 | 0 |
| 2000 Corolla | 145 | 0 |
| 1999 Corolla | 155 | 0 |
| 1998 Corolla | 225 | 0 |
| 1997 Corolla | 135 | 1 |
| 1996 Corolla | 129 | 0 |
| 1995 Corolla | 176 | 2 |
See all Toyota Corolla problems by year, every Toyota model, or the Toyota VIN decoder.
Similar Toyota models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Toyota Corolla?
Owners most often report air bags, engine, unknown or other problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 52 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2021 Toyota Corolla?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2021 Toyota Corolla a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Corolla model years, the 2021 has about as many complaints as a typical year, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.