2016 Toyota Corolla problems, complaints & recalls

Updated Oct 10, 2026 from NHTSA data · How we count

Owners have filed 94 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Toyota Corolla, most often about airbags. There is 1 recall for this model year.

Complaints: 94
Recalls: 1
Crashes: 31
Fires: 1
Injuries: 29
Median mileage: 47,590 mi

Key facts

Airbags is the most-reported problem area, named in 39 of 94 complaints (41%).
Seats & Seat Belts (14) and transmission & drivetrain (11) follow.
Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 47,590 mi.
Owners reported 31 crashes, 1 fire and 29 injuries.
The 2016 Toyota Corolla has 1 recall on file.
NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations covering this vehicle.
It ranks 3rd of 22 Toyota Corolla model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).
That is 15% more complaints than the 2015 model year (82).

A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.

Most-reported components

Component (as filed with NHTSA)	Complaints
Air bags	39
Seat belts	14
Power train	11
Electrical system	9
Unknown or other	9
Steering	9
Engine	8
Structure:body	7

When problems happen (mileage)

Mileage at the time of the problem, for 2016 Toyota Corolla complaints that list mileage.

2016 Toyota Corolla recalls (1)

Recall 20V024000Jan 17, 20202,891,976 vehicles
AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, and 2013-2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles. During certain crashes, the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may malfunction, possibly disabling the deployment of the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners.
Risk: In the event of a crash, air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners that do not deploy as intended may increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ECU and install a noise filter between the air bag control module and its wire harness, as necessary, free of charge. Owners were notified of the safety risk beginning March 2, 2020. A second letter notifying owners of the remedy repair will be mailed between March 16, 2020 and June 27, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB03, 20TA03 and 20TA05.

NHTSA defect investigations

EA21002Opened Sep 17, 2021Open
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.C…
EA19001Opened Apr 19, 2019Closed Sep 19, 2024led to recall 20V024
Electrical overstress
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW. The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mount…

Recent 2016 Toyota Corolla complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Filed Sep 11, 2026MAOther / UnknownVisibility & Wipers
The defrost no longer works. When I put on defrost it doesn't blow out of the defrost causing me not to be able to see out of my windshield. I have found other people online with this same issue. My heat and air conditioner work fine.
NHTSA complaint #11763664 · source
Filed Aug 26, 2026FLWheels & Tires
Purchased set of 4 Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring 195/65R1591H tires on 26 Jun 2026 @ 48,847 miles on the odometer. Three of the tires had the same serial number of U9AE1CR2622, with the 4th of U9AE1CR4822. Brought car in for service on 20 Oct 2025 @ 65,340 due to a slow leak on the rear passenger and was informed the rear passenger and front driver tires had tread separation and needed replacing. The tires both had a serial number of U9AE1CR2622. Tires were replaced. 15 Aug 2026,…
NHTSA complaint #11759762 · source
Filed Jul 14, 2026NJTransmission & Drivetrain
The CVT transmission on my 2016 Toyota Corolla initially suffered a complete mechanical failure and was repaired on 01/08/2024, forcing me to pay $3,696 out of pocket for a replacement at an independent shop. Last week, the transmission experienced issues again, and this time a certified Toyota dealership serviced it for free under an active factory recall. This proves the vehicle has a documented factory defect. However, Toyota is currently refusing to reimburse me for the…
NHTSA complaint #11750209 · source
Filed Jun 26, 2026UTOther / Unknown
The factory-applied Super White (paint code 040) paint on my vehicle has peeled down to bare metal on multiple exterior body panels. The peeling is not the result of any collision damage, scratches, or external trauma — it is consistent with the known factory paint adhesion defect that Toyota itself acknowledged through Customer Support Program ZKG, which covered this exact vehicle model, year, and paint color. Toyota's own program documentation states the defect occurs when…
NHTSA complaint #11746704 · source
Filed May 20, 2026CATransmission & Drivetrain
I was driving on the highway and the transmission gave completely out!! with no warning! No check engine light no error message. Car only has 160000 miles on it, if i wasn't calm as I was that could've been lethal!!!!
NHTSA complaint #11739070 · source
Filed Apr 20, 2026WVBody & Structure
I have super white (040) paint and it's flaking off due to original manufacturer paint defect. Paint is flaking off my passenger back door and a large piece/area of roof. flakes of paint will come off at highway speeds, creating a vision hazard for drivers behind me or a distraction when flakes hit the windshield.
NHTSA complaint #11732564 · source
Filed Dec 28, 2025TXCrash1 injuredAirbags
In 2024, my 2016 Toyota Corolla was involved in a collision. The airbags did not deploy. I went to the emergency room following the crash and later required additional medical treatment, including rehabilitation.
NHTSA complaint #11707349 · source
Filed Dec 2, 2025CATransmission & Drivetrain
My 2016 Toyota Corolla suddenly showed a Check Engine light, and the dealer diagnosed a CVT transmission failure with code P2757. This code is linked directly to Toyota’s own TSB T-SB-0150-16 for torque converter clutch/valve-body failure. The dealer confirmed the issue and quoted me $11K to fix it. This is frightening because a failing transmission can slip, hesitate, or lose power at any moment, which puts me and others at risk. There were no early warning signs, just the…
NHTSA complaint #11702599 · source

Compare the 2016 Toyota Corolla with another vehicle →

Other 2016 Toyota models

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 10, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology