2021 Toyota Corolla Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 19about this part
- Share
- 10%of 188 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 61,500miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 19 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2021 Toyota Corolla, 10% of the 188 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 61,500 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I just had to replace my transmission. 2 days later I have my check engine light, secondary collision, pre collision and parking brake malfunction lights came on. There is a osc recall that could cause these issues, but they’re saying stated my specific vehicle isn’t under a recall”
NHTSA complaint #11656802, filed 2025-04“NOTE: This has not happened to me yet, but it appears that most Corollas manufactured before 2022 or 2023 have this issue. However I did recently flush the fluid from my clutch system and it was very clearly contaminated, possibly indicating early evidence of a failure. Clutch system, specifically the slave cylinder is faulty on these vehicles. It is a known issue on these cars that the clutch slave cylinder (inside the transmission) is made out of resin and fails. …”
NHTSA complaint #11709131, filed 2026-01“One night shortly after starting the car, I went to put the car in first gear amd as I let out the clutch, but pedal stayed flat to the floor. I was able to lift the pedal with my foot and drive the car back to safety. The next day, I drove the car to the nearest shop before anything catastrophic happens. This time, right in the shop parking lot, I lost all hydraulic pressure in the clutch and I could not take the car out of gear. I had to turn off the car to prevent it from stalling as the clutch slowly engaged without my doing. …”
NHTSA complaint #11720596, filed 2026-02“I was driving home from school, and while trying to change lanes on fairly busy road on a hill and my car with a CVT transmission stalled out and a check engine light appeared on my dash with a message reading “drive-start control malfunction”. While trying to limp the car home, the engine killed power three or four times within like a five minute drive up some hilly roads and I constantly had to pull to the side and turn the car off and on just to make it up the next hill. …”
NHTSA complaint #11473590, filed 2022-07“Car was in dealership twice in one week for jerking while driving dealership said it was abc and was so called “fixed” both times only had my car for a little bit back before I had to take it back . 3rd time in the same week my transmission went out on me while on the highway with young kids in the car and almost caused a wreck. Car got towed in was confirmed it was my transmission and a dozen other codes going off . Toyota is lucky that the semi that was behind me when this happened did not plow into me”
NHTSA complaint #11445388, filed 2021-12Transmission 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 2021 Toyota Corolla
53 complaintsEngine
41 complaintsOther or unknown
33 complaintsElectrical system
23 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
15 complaintsBrakes
9 complaintsExterior lighting
8 complaintsForward collision avoidance
8 complaintsSeat belts
8 complaintsVehicle speed control
7 complaintsSteering
5 complaintsBody and structure
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2021 Toyota Corolla
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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