2018 Toyota Corolla Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2018 Corolla most often describe the engine shutting off or running roughly, and in the same complaints they frequently point to the low-pressure fuel pump recall or say the replacement part was unavailable. A second large cluster concerns air bags that did not deploy in crashes. Most reports arrive at low mileage, under about 30,000 miles, and while many owners link their symptoms to the fuel pump campaign, others describe the same stalling on vehicles not covered by it.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Air bags did not deploy in a crash

   • 37 complaints (27%)
   • median 17,000 mi at 2.4 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • 25 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe collisions at moderate speeds, often 20-40 mph, where front or side air bags did not inflate despite substantial front-end damage. Some also report the air bag and seat belt warning lights coming on while driving, and one mentions the recall repair for the air bag control unit had already been performed. Complaints generally say the dealer could not duplicate the warning-light condition or did not respond with a diagnosis. Reported across a wide mileage range, most often under about 30,000 miles.

   Recall 20V0240001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Confirm whether recall 20V024000 (air bag control unit) was completed; it concerns possible non-deployment in certain crashes. Ask whether the air bag warning light has ever come on, and check that it self-tests at startup.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was involved in an accident where the other driver hit my car on the front left side, close to my door and the airbags did not go off. I don't know if there's any other sensors in the back but I was bit in the back after as well and the airbags still did not go off. I was driving 30mph on a city street.”

   NHTSA complaint #11309297, filed 2020-02, 34,011 miles

   “My son and I were in a head on collision. The other car was at fault. Speed for both vehicles was around 35 MPH. My 11 year old son was in the rear passenger seat buckled. I was driving. I have a few bruises but am ok. My son is not. He has multiple fractures to his head (right side), right eye socket, spine (upper neck and back). As you can see from the pictures he should not have these injuries. The insurance adjuster said I need to contact an investigator to see what was wrong with the airbag to cause these injuries.. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11315662, filed 2020-03, 55,000 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Engine stalls or shuts off while driving

   • 41 complaints (30%)
   • median 24,000 mi at 2.5 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Complaints describe the engine cutting out at speed, while slowing to a stop, or right after refueling, sometimes with a rough, vibrating idle beforehand. Several owners say the check engine light came on and a dealer identified the fuel pump as the cause, while others report no fault code could be found. Many mention receiving notice of the low-pressure fuel pump recall but being told the part was not yet available, and some say the vehicle stalled again even after the recall repair was done. Mostly reported under about 25,000 miles, with a few at higher mileage.

   Recall 20V0120001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask the seller for proof that recall 20V012000 (fuel pump) was completed, and check the service history for fuel pump replacement. During a test drive, note any hesitation on acceleration or rough running after a fill-up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Air bag was replaced but the fuel pump which caused the car to flood out and stall has not been fixed because the part is still not available for repairing the problem. I reported problems to Toyota and I was told that the part for the fuel pump was still not available. The car stalled at a red light and I took the car to the dealer and I was told to take the car home, park it and do not drive it because of the issue. The dealer gave me a car to use and it also stalled .. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11328977, filed 2020-06, 11,000 miles

   “Takata recall. The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that the fuel warning light displayed on three different occasions. The contact reset the fuel cap and the fuel warning light re-illuminates after 40 ' 50 miles of being driven. In addition, there was a fuel odor inside the vehicle. The contact later received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 20v120000 (fuel system,gasoline) and 20v024000 (air bags) however, the parts to do the repairs were unavailable. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11319171, filed 2020-03, 8,000 miles
3. 3
   Seat belts

   Seat belts frayed, or fail to latch or retract

   • 9 complaints (7%)
   • median 4,300 mi at 2.1 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2023

   Owners describe a rear seat belt strap that separated or frayed along its length, and front belts that were very hard to unbuckle or would not retract or lock when braking. In the rear-belt cases, owners say the dealer attributed the damage to the belt being caught in the door, and one reports being quoted a repair cost that was not covered. Other complaints note that a dealer could not reproduce a belt that failed to lock. Reported from near-new mileage (under a few hundred miles) up to about 60,000 miles.

   What to check: Pull each belt out fully and look for fraying or separation, then check that it locks when pulled sharply and retracts on its own. Ask whether any belt has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “In past Toyota had a recall of rear passenger seat belts of 2.9 million Toyota's. I just noticed on my brand new Toyota Corolla that my 7 year old special needs daughter , is torn and ripped. Sun Toyota said it was becasue the belt got caught in the door. I have a bumper to bumper warranty and never had this issue with my past 4 Toyota. This is a defect in the belt and were the door can close in the belt. A child cannot do this damage. I am requesting they fix it free of charge . …”

   NHTSA complaint #11181645, filed 2019-02, 4,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that the front driver's side and passenger's side seat belts malfunctioned and failed to retract or secure the vehicle occupants. The cause of the failure was not determined. Neither the local dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100. Invalid VIN.”

   NHTSA complaint #11353698, filed 2020-09, 100 miles
4. 4
   Other or unknown

   Cruise control speeds up or downshifts on grades

   • 10 complaints (7%)
   • median 5,250 mi at 1.0 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2018–2022

   Owners report that with cruise control set, the vehicle speeds up roughly 5-15 mph going downhill, with the engine revving past 4,000 rpm, before the system brakes hard to return to the set speed. Some say the car holds a lower gear rather than simply coasting or engine braking. Complaints describe dealers adjusting the system without change, or telling the owner the behavior is normal and that any fix would be at the owner's cost. Reported from very low mileage onward, often under 5,000 miles and at highway speeds.

   What to check: If you use cruise control, try it on a downhill stretch during a test drive and see whether the speed holds. Ask the seller whether any adjustment or reflash was attempted for this.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “They asked me to come to Toyota of dallas to fill out an unintended acceleration ua report (see below). The technician became very angry about this issue and told me that the manufacturer created the car this way. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11187384, filed 2019-03, 31,800 miles

   “Tamara inflator. The cruise control in my 2018 Toyota Corolla has been messed up ever since I bought my car last year.I told the dealer ship about it they claimed they adjusted it but it still increases my speed going down hill and I've got a speeding ticket because of it.my daughter also called Toyota main head quarters but they said if I wanted it fix I would have to pay out of my pocket..I will set my cruise control at 60 on the hwy if I go down a small. Hill my RPM and speed go up.”

   NHTSA complaint #11234706, filed 2019-07, 50 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Brake noise and long pedal travel

   • 7 complaints (5%)
   • median 3,000 mi at 1.0 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2022

   Owners report grinding or abnormal noise when braking and when reversing, in some cases within a few hundred miles of new, along with vibration while driving. Complaints say dealers described the noise as normal for the design or pointed to clearance between the pads with no remedy offered. A few describe the pedal going to the floor or the vehicle taking unusually long to stop. Reported from under a few hundred miles up to about 19,000 miles.

   What to check: Drive slowly with the windows down and listen for grinding in forward and reverse, and check pedal feel for firmness and travel. Look at pad and rotor condition if service records are unavailable.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Grinding noise when braking and reversing in car under 25 miles on odometer. Have gone to several dealerships and have been tldthat I am braking too hard (seriously in a new car??) & window paeenger side front makes noise while going up and down they said they lubricated it but now its making more noise..”

   NHTSA complaint #11129286, filed 2018-09, 25 miles

   “The contact owned a 2018 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while driving into a parking space, the vehicle accelerated without any warning causing the vehicle to drive over the curb and crash into a 7 eleven store building. The air bags did not deploy, and no one was injured. The contact was unsure if there was a police report filed. The vehicle was towed, and it was deemed for total loss. The dealer was contacted and stated they were unsure of the cost of the repairs because the vehicle had an anti-lock brake feature. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11490000, filed 2022-10, 16,500 miles

Buying note. Ask for documentation that the air bag control unit and fuel pump recalls were completed, and treat any history of stalling or a fuel pump replacement as something to verify rather than assume. A slow-speed test drive in reverse and over a downhill stretch will also surface the brake noise and cruise control behavior owners describe.

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.