2020 Toyota Corolla
The Verdict
The 2020 Toyota Corolla has 301 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (122 complaints) and body (98 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 43/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Toyota Corolla, consider the 2025 model year which has 91% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2025 has 91% fewer complaints
View the 2025 Toyota Corolla dashboard →
Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution
About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
Recalls 1
Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.
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 m...
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. Owne...
Reported Nov 12, 2019
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
| Year | Body | Brakes | Electrical | Engine | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 57 | 10 | 22 | 58 | 7 |
| 2001 | 43 | 12 | 34 | 40 | 9 |
| 2002 | 64 | 15 | 29 | 32 | 8 |
| 2003 | 180 | 28 | 374 | 123 | 56 |
| 2004 | 133 | 14 | 264 | 79 | 14 |
| 2005 | 148 | 36 | 534 | 157 | 34 |
| 2006 | 131 | 30 | 509 | 155 | 42 |
| 2007 | 173 | 40 | 492 | 126 | 22 |
| 2008 | 72 | 27 | 165 | 65 | 11 |
| 2009 | 579 | 112 | 609 | 169 | 33 |
| 2010 | 530 | 166 | 432 | 64 | 39 |
| 2011 | 92 | 19 | 405 | 35 | 16 |
| 2012 | 43 | 10 | 360 | 5 | 6 |
| 2013 | 77 | 23 | 66 | 24 | 8 |
| 2014 | 90 | 14 | 113 | 28 | 22 |
| 2015 | 76 | 13 | 76 | 26 | 27 |
| 2016 | 71 | 28 | 74 | 20 | 18 |
| 2017 | 61 | 25 | 68 | 19 | 14 |
| 2018 | 37 | 10 | 29 | 50 | 7 |
| 2019 | 44 | 12 | 26 | 74 | 44 |
| 2020 | 98 | 16 | 36 | 122 | 29 |
| 2021 | 48 | 9 | 64 | 39 | 18 |
| 2022 | 27 | 12 | 27 | 13 | 15 |
| 2023 | 26 | 3 | 24 | 13 | 5 |
| 2024 | 24 | 10 | 12 | 7 | 6 |
| 2025 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Compare Against
See how the 2020 Toyota Corolla stacks up against rivals.
Complaints
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the clutch failed to operate as intended. The contact stated that the clutch seized, and the RPM increased. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,330.
A message came on the screen saying “engine maintenance required” and it’s not going away. Upon doing a google search, there is a common failure in the cooling system for these cars reported by a lot of owners.
The contact purchased a 2020 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that they discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale on Facebook market. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 52,000. It was later discovered that the vehicle’s title mileage was 132,000. The contact stated went the DMV, and he discovered the mileage 132,483.
Replace Heater Control Valve - Diagnostic code P2681 indicates an internal electrical failure within the heater control valve assembly, a condition commonly seen on Toyota vehicles. Testing showed the electrical portion of the valve is open and no longer maintaining proper circuit continuity, requiring replacement of the heater control valve assembly.
"On 04/09/26, I took my vehicle for regular maintenance and an oil change; no potential issues were reported. I operated the vehicle in good faith, trusting its safety. However, on Sunday, 05/03/2026, while driving at highway speeds, the clutch pedal failed and [stuck to the floor / slipped severely]. This caused an immediate loss of power to the wheels in high-speed traffic, creating a life-threatening situation and a high risk of a rear-end collision. No warning lights appeared prior to this failure."
Windshield Wiper Intermittent setting stopped working, and wipers no long return to their home position. This appears to be a common issue with Toyota. When driving in the rain, the wipers will freeze in the up setting, which is very dangerous for it to occur during heavy rain on the highway causing visibility issues. No warnings of any kind given, the wiper switch appears to just go bad, or wear out over time.
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while at a red light, the vehicle shut off with the check engine and several other unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle restarted after several attempts. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the failure was duplicated. The mechanic retrieved DTC: P1603; "Engine Stall History" (ECM recording an unexpected engine shutdown or a communication error with the Transmission Control Module (TCM). The mechanic associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V682000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. Several dealers were contacted, and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.
Coolant water control valve short circuit. Causes dealer message that won't clear and dealer wants $600 to replace a $30 part. Part is extremely difficult to get to and should not be a wear item.
Car shows the below message when A/C is turned on: Engine Maintenance Required Visit Your Dealer
Message on dashboard that says, "Engine Maintenance Required. Visit Dealer." This message came on at around 31,000 miles and I was told it was three different things all different prices at my dealer. So, I looked into it and found out it was the Coolant Bypass Valve, and asked the dealership about it and they said 700 dollars to replace. I did not want to pay that much especially since I saw online others were having the same problem. Message still pops up to this day when I turn on my A/C. Car now has around 205,000 miles on it and is six years old.
The wipers are turning on randomly by themselves, even when the control switch is set to the “off” position. This has occurred multiple times and happens without any input or activation from me. The issue appears to be intermittent but persistent, and it raises concerns about a potential electrical or control system malfunction.
The clutch slave cylinder failed at 48,000 miles. On the freeway, I had difficulty shifting into gear and I had cars passing me at high speeds, putting my life and others' lives at risk. This part defect is due to the plastic clutch slave cylinder failing. This common issue is well-documented by numerous other owners, with the part failing before the routine clutch maintenance cycle. My car was inspected by an independent mechanic, who said the lack of clutch pressure is due to the clutch slave cylinder failing. The worst part is that there were no warning lamps or messages before this happened. Toyota is claiming there is no recalls for this part, whic his astounding because the clutch is essential for the 6speed transmission.
I am having a problem with my 2020 Toyota Corolla's brakes. I live in [XXX] . In the winter when the car is cold the brakes work normally. When the car has been driven for a while, the car has warmed up, and the brake fluid has thinned, the brakes behave abnormally. When I stop at a red light, after 20 to 40 seconds, the brake pedal slowly drops towards the floor. My understanding is that this could indicate a problem with the master brake cylinder. My fear is that there could be a sudden failure of the cylinder causing an accident. I brought the car to Rudy Luther Toyota in Golden Valley. When I brought the car in, it was warm and the brakes were malfunctioning. Unfortunately, they let the car sit for several hours, the brake fluid cooled, and the mechanic was unable to duplicate the problem. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
when I use blinker windshield wipers turn on and sometimes when I call or somebody calls my cell phone I can hear them, but they cannot hear me. does not happen all the time, but I was concerned since there was a recall on certain toyota corolla that says a short circuit may develop in the OCS sensor, preventing front passenger air bag from deploying and my son who is a mechanic said both of these could be a problem with the wiring in the column and I thought it may be connected to the same recall as the air bags? the wipers coming on is happening more often these days and that is why I mentioned it to my son who is a mechanic. he will not touch it since it is still under my extended protection but he is concerned about it getting worse since the blinker is attached to the column. as far as using not being heard by callers or when I call I am concerned if I need to call in an emergency the ones I call cannot hear me. as far as when this started I do not remember but I know it's been at least 6 months if not longer, it just seems to be doing it more often lately
The windshield wiper switch assembly (column stalk/switch) malfunctions intermittently, sending unintended signals that activate the wipers despite the stalk being firmly in the OFF position. The component is still installed in the vehicle and is available for inspection upon request. Suspected part numbers include 84652-06400 or similar variants. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Sudden, unexpected wiper activation (typically 1-2 wipes, occasionally more) while driving creates a serious distraction and safety hazard. It can startle the driver, cause momentary loss of vehicle control or focus (especially at highway speeds or in traffic), and briefly obstruct vision. This risk is heightened during rain, when wipers are needed but behave erratically, or during acceleration/turns where vibration triggers it—potentially leading to accidents. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No, the Toyota dealership has not reproduced or confirmed it during short test drives, as the issue is highly intermittent and occurs mainly after warmup from extended driving (20+ minutes), on hot days or after parking off for ~1 hour in heat/vibration. Similar cases reported by other 2020 Corolla owners on Reddit (r/COROLLA) and Toyota Nation forums were eventually diagnosed and fixed by replacing the wiper switch due to worn internal contacts/PCB from heat/vibration. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The vehicle was brought to a Toyota dealership, but no detailed inspection or repair occurred due to lack of replication. No inspections by police, insurance, Toyota corporate (manufacturer), or others have taken place. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No warning lamps, messages, dashboard indicators, or prior symptoms
On the morning of January 7, 2026, while I was on my way to work, I experienced a dangerous incident involving my vehicle. As I arrived at the first stop on the street, I suddenly heard a loud explosion. Immediately afterward, pieces of glass began falling onto my windshield. I pulled over and exited the vehicle to assess the situation. Upon inspection, I discovered that the sunroof of my car had completely shattered. Glass was scattered across the roof, windshield, and interior of the vehicle. Prior to the explosion, there were no visible signs of damage to the sunroof. The incident occurred without warning and posed a serious safety risk. I am submitting this complaint to formally document what happened and to request that the matter be investigated and addressed appropriately.
Clutch slave cylinder started leaking leading to a sticking clutch pedal, making it difficult to engage the transmission with the engine, and a lower brake/clutch fluid level which could have caused braking issues if the fluid got too low.
Engine coolant bypass valve
Clutch Slave Cylinder at 51,000 miles failed causing vehicle clutch to not return and loss of fluid. Brake fluid and clutch fluid are used in the same reservoir and could cause issues causing vehicle to not be able to stop. Vehicle has been inspected by shop and has been replicated. The part exploded and leaks fluid inside of transmission housing. This also causes the clutch to fail as-well. Vehicle has always been serviced and maintained and this is a common issue with all vehicles that have 6 speed manual transmission with varying mileage. It is not a matter of if, it’s when and due to this being something that happens with generally no warning signs can be dangerous. There needs to be an updated part that can handle the design Toyota chose for this transmission.
FAULTY HYDRAULICS IN THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. FAULTY SLAVE CYLINDER LEAKING FLUID AND POTENTIALLY CAUSING VEHICLE TO BECOME "STUCK" IN GEAR WHILE DRIVING OR UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR WHILE PARKED. NOT AN UNCOMMON ISSUE WITH THESE MODELS.
301 total