2011 Toyota Corolla Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 18about this part
- Share
- 3%of 584 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 4,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 18 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2011 Toyota Corolla, 3% of the 584 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 4,000 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Transmission shift 1st to 2nd gear is hard, all other shifts are fine. Sometimes the transmission chokes and you get a hard bang in the drivetrain. Also, the driver's seat doesn't lock properly, sometimes I have to slam on the brakes really hard in order to get the seat front-to-rear adjuster to lock or click into place. The seat also squeaks while the car is in motion, and I weigh only 175 lbs. …”
NHTSA complaint #10441804, filed 2011-12, 1,500 miles“I started to hear a loud roaring/road noise from front of my vehicle while driving at approximately 65-70 MPH. Since my vehicle only has 49,000 miles on it, I assumed it was a tire problem and not a failed bearing. I took the vehicle to costco where I recently purchased tires. I informed the advisor there that the noise was coming from the front of the vehicle ( I did not specify a side). He then told me that there was nothing wrong with the tires and sounded like a failed/failing bearing. …”
NHTSA complaint #10706094, filed 2015-04, 49,400 miles“Intermittent deceleration issue: while driving and I take my foot off the gas to slow down, the car maintains the speed and does not decelerate until I put my foot on the brake, sometimes I have to pump brake to bring speed down. For lack of better description, it feels like the car is on cruise control. I have been back to the Toyota dealer three times and after test driving and running diagnostic testing, was told this is 'normal'?”
NHTSA complaint #10408049, filed 2011-06, 56 miles“Since leasing this brand new 2011 Corolla, I noticed that at speeds between 40mph and 60mph the car would feel as if it was decelerating, akin to being buffeted by strong headwinds, although the speed did not reflect it. I drive mostly around a city that has many zones where the speed limit is 40mph, so I was experiencing this phenomenon a lot. By the time I had 250 miles on the car, I knew that it was not just a quirk, and I made an appointment to take the car to the service department at the dealership. …”
NHTSA complaint #10435627, filed 2011-11, 15 miles“My new 2011 Corolla le might have a safety defect in the transmission or fuel system. Whether at freeway or local, I can feel the pull-back while driving. Accordingly, the RPM was found to be fluctuated between 100-400rpm dropping instantly (1-2s). It happened a lot. Subsequently, the dealer service technicians duplicated my concern (sudden pull-back). They even found the pull-back (or RPM drops down suddenly) in cruise control at 60 miles. Then they opened the case and got the field technical specialists check this problem. …”
NHTSA complaint #10416035, filed 2011-07, 100 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10164330Jul 1, 2019TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 01, 2019 Rev2: ? Applicability has been updated to 2019 ? 2020 model year Toyota vehicles. ? The Techstream Preparation and Process Overview sections…
- 10134454Aug 24, 2015TechTip: Condition - The vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the battery has been disconnected or power to the Engine ECM has been…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 6% |
| 2025 | 2 | 6% |
| 2024 | 8 | 12% |
| 2023 | 6 | 8% |
| 2022 | 17 | 17% |
| 2021 | 19 | 10% |
| 2020 | 40 | 13% |
| 2019 | 55 | 27% |
| 2018 | 12 | 9% |
| 2017 | 15 | 8% |
| 2016 | 22 | 10% |
| 2015 | 30 | 14% |
| 2014 | 27 | 10% |
| 2013 | 9 | 4% |
| 2012 | 8 | 2% |
| 2011 | 18 | 3% |
| 2010 | 49 | 4% |
| 2009 | 45 | 3% |
| 2008 | 13 | 4% |
| 2007 | 26 | 3% |
| 2006 | 43 | 5% |
| 2005 | 37 | 4% |
| 2004 | 16 | 3% |
| 2003 | 61 | 8% |
| 2002 | 5 | 4% |
| 2001 | 9 | 7% |
| 2000 | 7 | 5% |
| 1999 | 6 | 4% |
| 1998 | 9 | 4% |
| 1997 | 6 | 4% |
| 1996 | 4 | 3% |
| 1995 | 13 | 7% |
| 1994 | 6 | 3% |
| 1993 | 3 | 2% |
| 1992 | 8 | 13% |
| 1991 | 8 | 11% |
| 1990 | 5 | 19% |
| 1989 | 4 | 17% |
| 1988 | 2 | 8% |
| 1987 | 1 | 7% |
| 1984 | 1 | 17% |
Other parts of the 2011 Toyota Corolla
418 complaintsVehicle speed control
46 complaintsSteering
43 complaintsBody and structure
22 complaintsBrakes
21 complaintsEngine
19 complaintsOther or unknown
19 complaintsElectrical system
18 complaintsFuel system
11 complaintsSeats
8 complaintsSuspension
8 complaintsEngine cooling
7 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2011 Toyota Corolla
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology