2020 Toyota Corolla Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 111about this part
- Share
- 36%of 311 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 10,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 111 complaints about the engine of the 2020 Toyota Corolla, 36% of the 311 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 10,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“On more than one occasion I was going between 5-10 miles an hour and the car sputtered and felt like it was going to shut off. I told the dealership when I took the car in for regular service and the told me the computer did not find anything wrong and they could not replicate the problem when driving it. Also when accelerating the car will make a clunking sound. Again the dealership denied a problem. These issues have happened multiple times”
NHTSA complaint #11301854, filed 2020-01, 10,000 miles“Engine abnormal shift downward while driving regularly. I feel the shift is not smooth even feels like a defect in the engine shift system 17,000 miles mostly happens regularly driving on city streets and a bit less happens on the parkway but does happen. The shifts are hard to ignore I remember the very time I felt it on 10,000 miles and it would able occasionally and now it's happening even more frequently than I can possibly say this is an ongoing defect and growing to be a problem even more so.”
NHTSA complaint #11286490, filed 2019-12, 10,000 miles“I was waiting at a stoplight with my foot on the break waiting for it to turn green. I turn the wheel to make a left turn and put my foot on the gas and the car diedall the buzzers whistles and lights were flashing on the dashboard.. I was able to shift the car to park and back to drive but nothing happened I was in the middle of traffic on a busy street and was just getting ready to call the tow truck when I decided to turn the car off. When I turned it back on it was fine and I was able to turn left. That happened to me twice on different occasions. …”
NHTSA complaint #11363735, filed 2020-10, 2,296 miles“Will driving the car decelerated and would not go pass 20mph. Break,engine,ect. Lights turned on. The car has only 1345 miles. So far it has happened twice. Second time going to the dealership.”
NHTSA complaint #11288777, filed 2019-12, 1,345 miles“I had called Toyota colonial dealership in Milford CT. After briefly speaking with the service representative, he advised that it’s most likely the engine coolant bypass valve. He said that it is common with my car models. I did some extra research and found out that many others were having the same issue from only having the car for a few years.”
NHTSA complaint #11605712, filed 2024-07Related service bulletins
- 11037186Aug 11, 2026Although the flow shut-off valve is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 36 months or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers’…
- 11029896Feb 27, 2026OBSOLETE NOTICE February 27, 2026: This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
- 11026313Nov 17, 2025Owner Renotification Letter Due to certain programing in the engine ECU, under certain conditions, the vehicle may stall at low speeds when accelerating from a stop. If this…
- 11026312Nov 17, 2025Owner Renotification Letter Due to certain programing in the engine ECU, under certain conditions, the vehicle may stall at low speeds when accelerating from a stop. If this…
- 11022961Aug 19, 2025OBSOLETE NOTICE August 19, 2025: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0059-25.
- 11022958Aug 15, 2025Some 2020 – 2025 model year Corolla vehicles may exhibit a vibration or rattle noise from the right-hand engine mounting insulator sub-assembly. This condition will usually go…
- 11022949Aug 7, 2025The specific condition covered by this program is for a small engine coolant leak that can occur from the flow shut-off valve that can allow coolant to drip on other parts of the…
- 11020668Jun 19, 2025Some 2018 – 2021 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with an A25A-FKS, A25A-FXS, or M20A-FKS engine may exhibit a condition in which an “Engine Maintenance Required” message is…
- 11016794Feb 20, 2025Although the flow shut-off valve is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 36 months or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers’…
- 11015508Feb 20, 2025Although the flow shut-off valve is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 36 months or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers’…
Engine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 6% |
| 2025 | 2 | 6% |
| 2024 | 6 | 9% |
| 2023 | 13 | 18% |
| 2022 | 14 | 14% |
| 2021 | 41 | 22% |
| 2020 | 111 | 36% |
| 2019 | 39 | 19% |
| 2018 | 16 | 12% |
| 2017 | 10 | 6% |
| 2016 | 13 | 6% |
| 2015 | 17 | 8% |
| 2014 | 18 | 7% |
| 2013 | 16 | 8% |
| 2012 | 4 | 1% |
| 2011 | 19 | 3% |
| 2010 | 33 | 3% |
| 2009 | 91 | 6% |
| 2008 | 21 | 7% |
| 2007 | 33 | 4% |
| 2006 | 24 | 3% |
| 2005 | 29 | 3% |
| 2004 | 9 | 2% |
| 2003 | 16 | 2% |
| 2002 | 5 | 4% |
| 2001 | 2 | 2% |
| 2000 | 3 | 2% |
| 1999 | 1 | 1% |
| 1998 | 2 | 1% |
| 1988 | 1 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2020 Toyota Corolla
80 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
40 complaintsElectrical system
34 complaintsBrakes
24 complaintsAir bags
18 complaintsFuel system
17 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
17 complaintsBody and structure
12 complaintsSeat belts
8 complaintsSteering
8 complaintsForward collision avoidance
7 complaintsWheels
7 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2020 Toyota Corolla
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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