Toyota · Corolla · 2020
2020 Toyota Corolla: problems & reliability
NHTSA has logged 313 owner complaints and 3 safety recalls for the 2020 Toyota Corolla. The most-reported problem area is the engine (35% of complaints), followed by transmission & powertrain and electrical system. Make sure every open recall has been fixed by a dealer before you buy.
Common 2020 Toyota Corolla problems
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Engine problems
111 owner complaints to NHTSA (35% of all complaints for this model year) involve the engine, including 1 crash, 1 fire, 2 injuries. One owner reported: “We rented a 2020 Toyota Corolla from Hertz at the McCarran Airport Las Vegas NV and almost past out while driving due to Carbon Monoxide poisonings. My wife was sick 3 out of the 4 days while this auto was being driven in our possession…”
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Transmission & powertrain problems
40 owner complaints to NHTSA (13% of all complaints for this model year) involve the transmission & powertrain, including 1 crash, 3 injuries. One owner reported: “I am not sure what the component is but I am driving and as I accelerate the gas my car will lose power to increase speed. 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…”
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Electrical system problems
35 owner complaints to NHTSA (11% of all complaints for this model year) involve the electrical system, including 1 fire. One owner reported: “The contact stated was employed by hertz rental cars. The contact stated that a 2020 toyota corolla caught on fire. Fire noticed 3-4 hours after vehicle was parked and driving out a parking lot. The fire department was contacted and…”
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Brakes problems
24 owner complaints to NHTSA (8% of all complaints for this model year) involve the brakes, including 6 crashes, 3 injuries. One owner reported: “I was driving down a hill approaching a stop sign when my brakes gave out and stopped working the road was damp and it was slight rain. I pressed down on my brakes 5 times and nothing happened to make the car stop so my car kept driving…”
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Airbags problems
19 owner complaints to NHTSA (6% of all complaints for this model year) involve the airbags, including 9 crashes, 12 injuries. One owner reported: “Car hydroplaned and spun out. It collided with a cement barrier on the front, back, and drivers side. Car was deemed a total loss. No airbags deployed at any point. Drivers safety put at risk as she hit her head on the driver's side door…”
Owner complaints by area
| Area | Complaints | Share | Chart |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 111 | 35% | |
| Transmission & powertrain | 40 | 13% | |
| Electrical system | 35 | 11% | |
| Brakes | 24 | 8% | |
| Airbags | 19 | 6% | |
| Fuel system | 17 | 5% | |
| Visibility & wipers | 17 | 5% | |
| Body & structure | 13 | 4% |
313 complaints filed with NHTSA in total, reporting 22 crashes, 1 fire, 23 injuries, 1 death. A complaint can involve more than one area.
2020 Toyota Corolla recalls
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Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification
Risk: 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.
Full recall summary
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.
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Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.
Full recall summary
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017 Lexus GS200t, 2017-2019 Lexus GS350, 2019 Lexus GS300, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h, 2019-2020 Lexus LS500, 2018-2019 Lexus GX460, 2017 Lexus IS200t, 2019 Lexus IS300, 2019 Lexus IS350, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500, 2018 Lexus LS500, 2019 Lexus LS500h, 2018-2019 Lexus LX570, 2017 Lexus RC200t, 2019 Lexus RC300, RC350, 2017 and 2019-2020 Lexus RX350, 2018-2020 RX350L, 2019 Lexus UX200, 2018-2019 Lexus NX300 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
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Seat belts › Rear/other › Buckle assembly
Risk: In the event of a crash involving multiple impacts, the seat belt may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear seat belt assembly production dates, and replace the assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 7, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 19TB22 and 19TA22.
Full recall summary
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019-2020 C-HR and 2020 Corolla and Corolla Hybrid vehicles equipped with rear seat belt assemblies with a dual-mode locking mechanism. The seat belt webbing sensor locking mechanism may not lock as intended.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. To check whether a specific car’s recalls have been repaired, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
2020 Toyota Corolla crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2020 Toyota Corolla 5 HB FWD. Ratings can differ between body styles and drivetrains (2 versions tested or listed).
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Specifications
- Drivetrains
- FWD
- Body styles
- Hatchback, 4-door
Other Toyota Corolla years
About this data
Problems, complaint counts, recalls and crash-test ratings come from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public databases, last checked 2026-11-03. Complaints are reports from owners and have not all been verified by NHTSA.
How we score reliability: every model year starts at 100. Points come off for the number of owner complaints (on a log scale, up to 40 points), for each safety recall (2 points each, up to 15) and for complaints involving crashes, fires, injuries or deaths (up to 15). Popular vehicles get more complaints simply because more are on the road, so compare scores between similar vehicles. More about our method.
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