2012 Toyota Corolla Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 8about this part
- Share
- 2%of 446 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 18,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2012 Toyota Corolla, 2% of the 446 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 18,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Power control valve gets stuck closed check engine light and track light comes on this has been a problem when I got the call new it has 30 times t cant use my cruz control after 50 miles it is reset itself all goes back to normal or I put a scan tool on and reset it”
NHTSA complaint #11220240, filed 2019-06, 48,000 miles“While waiting for the traffic light to change and my foot on the brakes, the car suddenly accelerated and despite shifting to park and pulling on the emergency brake the car continued to rev very high for several minutes. Just prior to acceleration, the car's brakes became very soft and sunk all the way to the floor of the car as if someone had depressed the power in the brake line. I turned off the engine and waited for about 2 minutes and restarted the car. The engine raced again at very high speeds with the emergency brake on and the car set at park. …”
NHTSA complaint #10584534, filed 2014-04, 18,000 miles“Corrosion to the automatic transmission oil cooler hose occurred in the metal pipe portion of the cooler line, specifically the top line, (not sure if that's 'in' or 'out') causing a leak in atf. Not only that, but corrosion to both bolts that hold this line in place and caused the bolts to snap when trying to replace this line.”
NHTSA complaint #11375163, filed 2020-11, 130,000 miles“Sudden unintended acceleration from stop. Put car in drive after backing out and it shot forward about 25' into a tree. Major damage to car. No injuries.”
NHTSA complaint #10651942, filed 2014-11, 17,000 miles“The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated when she tried to drive in reverse, the parking gear failed. The vehicle was not taken to an dealer for diagnostic testing because she was unable drive the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 37,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10558785, filed 2014-01, 37,000 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 2012 Toyota Corolla
370 complaintsSteering
18 complaintsVehicle speed control
16 complaintsBody and structure
14 complaintsElectrical system
13 complaintsBrakes
11 complaintsOther or unknown
11 complaintsSeat belts
7 complaintsSeats
5 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
5 complaintsEngine
4 complaintsSuspension
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 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