2015 Toyota Corolla Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about air bags that did not deploy in crashes, including some vehicles covered by an air bag control unit recall. A second theme is the continuously variable transmission, where complaints describe hesitation, lurching, or loss of power before a transmission replacement, and a third is unintended acceleration or brakes that felt unresponsive at low speeds. Many complaints were filed at moderate mileage, roughly 30,000 to 100,000 miles, and several owners mention the dealer could not reproduce the problem on a test drive.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Air bags did not deploy in a crash

   • 47 complaints (21%)
   • median 38,204 mi at 3.8 yrs old (38 state mileage)
   • 42 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe front, rear, side and rollover crashes in which the air bags did not deploy, and in some cases seat belts did not restrain occupants. Some say the dealer had already performed the air bag recall repair, while others received a recall notice but were told the parts were not yet available. Several mention injuries and that a police report or insurance inspection followed. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 12,000 to 125,000 miles, usually after a collision rather than at a predictable age.

   Recall 20V0240001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether recall 20V024000 has been completed and keep the work order; a service bulletin also describes an extended warranty on parts installed under that recall. Checking the air bag warning lamp and any open recall status by VIN before purchase is worthwhile.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was at a complete stop, when I was rear ended by a driver going approximately 40mph. The impact shoved me into the car in front of me as well. None of my airbags went off and the insurance adjusters believe the car is totaled. I had a previous accident where I was t-boned in drivers side and none of the airbags went off at that time either”

   NHTSA complaint #11405982, filed 2021-04, 107,316 miles

   “I was involved in a severe roll over accident late at night. I rolled 4 times and slid 300 feet upside down. Luckily im alive thanks to my seat belt and the reinforced frame. However, I have a sever concussion because my front air bags never went off. The side ones did but never the front. This caused me to have very bad bruising on my head and a concussion.”

   NHTSA complaint #11072449, filed 2018-02, 36,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   CVT transmission hesitation, lurching or failure

   • 33 complaints (15%)
   • median 30,900 mi at 3.8 yrs old (27 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners of the CVT describe the car failing to accelerate after a stop, lurching or downshifting harshly, high engine revs with little movement, and in some cases a complete loss of drive that required a tow. Several report the dealer could not duplicate the symptom, while others were told the transmission needed replacement or that a solenoid or valve body was involved. One owner references a special service campaign that included a software update and a solenoid inspection. Often reported between roughly 10,000 and 120,000 miles, both at low mileage and after 100,000 miles.

   What to check: Test drive from a stop and at highway speed, noting any hesitation, shudder, or delayed engagement, and ask for service records showing whether any transmission software update or solenoid inspection was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was diving down an interstate and after exiting to a stop, the car would barely go after turning left. After a few more miles, the car juat stopped. The engine would still run but no acceleration. After having the car towed and inspected, was told I needed a new transmission.”

   NHTSA complaint #11384009, filed 2020-12, 76,000 miles

   “Failed transmission at 10000 miles. I was getting off the freeway when I noticed the car was making a strange noise. When I stop at the light on the off-ramp, the brakes locked and the car slid. When I attempted to accelerate again, the car put itself in neutral and stop in the middle of the lane. The car wouldn't go back into drive and I needed to be towed to the dealership. The dealership informed me that my transmission had failed and was to be replaced.”

   NHTSA complaint #10765157, filed 2015-09, 10,000 miles
3. 3
   Vehicle speed control

   Unintended acceleration or unresponsive brakes at low speed

   • 45 complaints (20%)
   • median 23,500 mi at 3.2 yrs old (38 state mileage)
   • 17 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2026

   Complaints describe the car accelerating on its own, sometimes while parking or when the brake pedal was pressed, and in other cases a brake pedal that felt soft or went near the floor with little stopping response. Owners report hitting poles, barriers, and other vehicles, and several say the dealer could not reproduce the condition or found the brakes normal. Mostly reported under about 20,000 miles, often during parking-lot or low-speed maneuvers.

   What to check: During a test drive, check brake pedal feel at low speed and with the air conditioning on, and ask whether the throttle body or pedal sensor has been serviced; note any idle fluctuation.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On december 24th 2014 I was driving my vehicle (2014 Toyota Corolla s) in (d) and was trying to slow down, because the driver in front of me brake. When I depressed my brake pedal the vehicle accelerated. I shifted into neutral and continued to brake and it eventually slowed me down. I shifted back into (d) and continued on my way, although shaken up. The road conditions were good, there was no rain or ice on the road that day. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10680323, filed 2015-02, 6,500 miles

   “Dangerous unintended acceleration. I was driving 5-10 MPH in a parking lot when the car accelerated quickly for no reason. The floor mats were fine. My foot did not slip. The car just accelerated on its own to about 35 MPH.”

   NHTSA complaint #11020982, filed 2017-08, 20,000 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brake noise and inconsistent pedal feel

   • 22 complaints (10%)
   • median 13,000 mi at 1.6 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2021

   Owners describe creaking, crackling, or grinding noises when pressing the brake pedal, sometimes starting within the first few thousand miles. Dealers reportedly told owners the noise was normal for the brake materials or replaced front brake shims, while others report the pedal feel changing with temperature and the air conditioning, and one complaint describes brake fade after extended driving. Commonly noted under about 30,000 miles, sometimes within the first few thousand miles, and reported to vary with weather and temperature.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Listen for noise when braking at low speed and check pedal firmness on a cold start; ask for brake service records and whether shims or pads were replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased a 2015 Toyota Corolla from charles maund Toyota on june 15, 2015 and around a month after I bought it, I have been having problems with the breaks ever since. My service technician and other service men said a lot of people had been bringing these cars (2015 Toyota Corolla) back for the same noise and other brake issues as I described. There is a cracking noise when I put my foot on the brakes sometimes. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10790149, filed 2015-11, 1,200 miles

   “I bought a brand new 2015 Corolla s on march 2015, a month later I started to hear creeking noise while depressing the brakes pedal, went to the dealer they tested the car and said yes we heard the sound but your brake is totally perfect and is safe to drive . I continued to drive the car but the same sound like crackling still there when I brake. I went again to them, they kept the car for two or three days and they said we changed the front brake shims . And most importantly they said, your car now is totally safe. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11030181, filed 2017-09, 27,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   Fuel smell, fuel leaks and fuel pump failure

   • 9 complaints (4%)
   • median 43,500 mi at 5.2 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2016–2025

   Complaints describe a fuel smell or leak traced to the fuel system, including a cracked fuel tank canister that a dealer said required tank replacement, and a fuel line found leaking with bite marks. Other owners report the engine would not start because the fuel pump had failed, and note the vehicle was not covered by the related fuel pump recall. Reported from about 32,000 to 68,000 miles, with some failures occurring while the car was parked.

   What to check: Look and smell for fuel around the tank and under the car when parked, ask whether the fuel pump has been replaced, and check by VIN whether any fuel system campaign applies.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Toyota has a current recall for fuel pump failures but does not include my model and year. There are other Toyota vehicles included from 2015 and corollas included but not 2015. However on 12/27/2019 my fuel pump failed while my vehicle was parked in my garage. The car wouldn't start. On 12/28/2019 my fuel pump was replaced for $1,680.26. I am hoping that with your intervention, my vehicle could be included in the recall so I can be reimbursed the $1,680.26. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11320513, filed 2020-04, 55,000 miles

   “My car is not covered by the Toyota fuel pump recall but I recently had to have Toyota replace my inoperative fuel pump. The car was stationary, in my garage would not start or run.”

   NHTSA complaint #11317662, filed 2020-03, 55,000 miles

Buying note. Check recall completion status by VIN, especially the air bag control unit recall, and test the transmission thoroughly at low and highway speeds before buying. Service records showing transmission and brake work, plus a look for fuel smells, help distinguish a well-sorted car from one with unresolved symptoms.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.