2018 Toyota Corolla problems, complaints & recalls
Far fewerToo few recent reports to judge
NHTSA has received 141 owner complaints about the 2018 Toyota Corolla, or 16.3 per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.39, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 73 model-year 2018 vehicles we track, it ranks #26 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Toyota models its rate is 52% lower; against other Compact cars it is 29% lower.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Complaints filed between 2018-04-18 and 2026-06-01. Median delay from incident to filing: 15 days.
141Complaints
16.3Complaints per year on the road
0.39Complaint index vs. all tracked vehicles
3Recalls
22.7%Share involving a crash or fire
7Last 12 months
Analysis
The following model year (2019) drew 26.2 per year, more than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2018 model collected 40 complaints, 55% lower than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Fuel system (22.7% of complaints), followed by Airbags & seat belts (20.6%) and Engine (10.6%). Fuel system complaints are 5.3 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Within Fuel system reports, owners most often mention “fuel”, “system gasoline”, “notification”, “received” and “confirms available”. 32 reports (22.7%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 20 injuries and 1 death.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 26 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was the third year (26% of incidents). 7 complaints were filed in the last 12 months.
NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls for this model year. 49% of the complaints fall in component areas that a recall addresses. 2 NHTSA defect investigations cover this model year; the most recent is “Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture” (opened 2021-09-17, still open).
Complaint index
vs. all tracked vehicles0.39
vs. other Toyota models0.48
vs. other 2018 models0.33
vs. other Compact cars0.71
Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (40)0.45
A whole new set of 4 tires were purchased and installed on the vehicle on 10/10/2024. While driving at highway speed 3 weeks later the rear driver side tire, in quick succession, went flat and almost instantaneously disintegrated causing the car to spin out…
CV axle making clicking noise when turning with all CV axle boots in good condition.
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-06-01 · ODI 11741358
Each travel driver seat belt become tight I try pull down for loose and I have notice the driver seat become level low.
Airbags & seat belts · 2026-04-30 · ODI 11734961
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH, there was an abnormal whining sound coming from the vehicle, and the vehicle failed to accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal.
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-03-10 · ODI 11723306
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE Campaign 20V024000 · 2020-01-17
Summary: 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.
Summary: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020.
On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200T and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. On March 19, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include 2015 Lexus GS350 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
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, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.
Summary: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Risk: An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. SET's number for this recall is SET19A.
EA21002 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · Opened 2021-09-17 · Model years: 2018
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 rupt…
Electrical overstressClosed
EA19001 · AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE · Opened 2019-04-19 · Closed 2024-09-19 · Campaign 20V024 · Model years: 2018, 2019
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 vehicl…
Frequently asked questions
How many complaints were filed for the 2018 Toyota Corolla?
141 complaints were filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Toyota Corolla, or about 16.3 per year on the road.
What is the most common problem reported for the 2018 Toyota Corolla?
The most common category is Fuel system, accounting for 22.7% of complaints.
Does the 2018 Toyota Corolla have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 safety recall(s) for this model year. 2 NHTSA defect investigations cover this model year; the most recent is “Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture” (opened 2021-09-17, still open).
Is the 2018 Toyota Corolla still generating complaints?
7 complaints were filed in the last 12 months.
How does the 2018 Toyota Corolla compare with similar vehicles?
NHTSA has received 141 owner complaints about the 2018 Toyota Corolla, or 16.3 per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.39, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 73 model-year 2018 vehicles we track, it ranks #26 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Toyota models its rate is 52% lower; against other Compact cars it is 29% lower.