2016 Toyota Corolla problems and recalls

Owners have filed 215 complaints on the 2016 Toyota Corolla, and NHTSA has issued 1 recall. The most cited component is the Air Bags (65 complaints).

215
Complaints
1
Recalls
66
Crash reports
2
Fire reports
57
Injuries
251.7
Severity index

Severity index 251.7 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 251.7p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 1 of 142 by severity index among 2016 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 99% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2016 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Air BagsAir Bags: 65 complaints (30.2%)65 30%Service BrakesService Brakes: 30 complaints (14.0%)30 14%Seat BeltsSeat Belts: 26 complaints (12.1%)26 12%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 24 complaints (11.2%)24 11%Power TrainPower Train: 22 complaints (10.2%)22 10%SteeringSteering: 22 complaints (10.2%)22 10%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 22 complaints (10.2%)22 10%StructureStructure: 15 complaints (7.0%)15 7%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
AIR BAGS6530.2%
SERVICE BRAKES3014.0%
SEAT BELTS2612.1%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2411.2%
POWER TRAIN2210.2%
STEERING2210.2%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2210.2%
STRUCTURE157.0%

Complaints filed per year

024482015: 12016: 262017: 342018: 272019: 322020: 482021: 122022: 52023: 62024: 102025: 72026: 7 (partial year)15161718192048212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20151
201626
201734
201827
201932
202048
202112
20225
20236
202410
20257
2026 (year to date)7
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.4x those in 2020 to 2022 (23 against 65).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
20V02400017/01/2020AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULEToyota 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 deployme

Other Toyota Corolla model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 15 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-10-21. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.