2016 Toyota Corolla Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 35,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

In 2024, my 2016 Toyota Corolla was involved in a collision. The airbags did not deploy. I went to the emergency room following the crash and later required additional medical treatment, including rehabilitation.Owner complaint, filed 2025

The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was rear-ended. The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that the other driver was driving at about 45 MPH when the contact's vehicle was rear-ended. A police report was filed. The contact did…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 60,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 22,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

While operating a vehicle through the peer-to-peer car-sharing platform Turo in Alaska (Reservation: 61060048), the vehicle experienced a sudden, catastrophic brake failure of the braking system while driving. The brakes completely failed to respond, creating an immediate loss of vehicle control. Immediately following the braking…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Dolan toyota scion informed me that my brake caliper was leaking--I would have to replace the assembly cylinder-- it could not be repaired. I needed new pads and the rotors to be resurfaced. The car was unsafe to drive I had to have them repair it. Total bill: $794.01. The issue is why did this happen? Several mechanics and even the…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 35,651 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 30,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

My seat belt has to be messed around with a lot in order to release my seat belt. I have to press at least 3 to 4 times super hard before my seat belt releases.Owner complaint, filed 2021

Every time I go to unbuckle my seat belt it doesn't come undone when you push the button. I have to push the seat belt further into the buckle before it will become unbuckled.Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 36,267 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 54,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

The CVT transmission on my 2016 Toyota Corolla initially suffered a complete mechanical failure and was repaired on 01/08/2024, forcing me to pay $3,696 out of pocket for a replacement at an independent shop. Last week, the transmission experienced issues again, and this time a certified Toyota dealership serviced it for free under an…Owner complaint, filed 2026

I was driving on the highway and the transmission gave completely out!! with no warning! No check engine light no error message. Car only has 160000 miles on it, if i wasn't calm as I was that could've been lethal!!!!Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 25,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

The power steering light came on and when I tried to drive it it was like driving a manual steering. When on the highway it was like driving a tractor. Then when I got to where I was going it made a clicking noise when I tried to start it again. Then everything went dead. This is my only car and I am a retired teacher who spent her…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 20 miles

When it's a little cold out and I start up my car,my steering wheel will not turn, it's like it is locked. Until it warms up a bit I can't and will not move it until it becomes normal again. This has been an ongoing issue since the beginning of oct. 2019.I understand it has everything to do with the electronic steering component. I am…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 31,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 13,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2016 toyota corolla. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal upon approaching a stop sign; the vehicle began to accelerate independently without warning. The contact swerved the vehicle to the right to avoid hitting another vehicle and hit a pole. Despite hitting the pole, the vehicle continued to…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 54,000 miles

The contact owns a 2016 toyota corolla. The contact stated that while reversing out of a parking lot, the vehicle [VIN]. The contact depressed the brake pedal but was not able to stop. The contact placed the vehicle in neutral which failed to engage causing the contact to crash into a post. No airbag deployed. No medical attention was…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 600 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 1,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

The windshield suddenly darkened from the top to about halfway down ( right in your line of vision). This happened at night , including during a rainstorm. It feels like you are driving in a dark cave or a place where your visibility is hindered. It appears that the tinting of the windshield is too dark. This only happened when the…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 15,000 miles

During the daylight hours, the front windshield captures the glare off the dash. Every detail of the dash (vents, grooves, etc) is clearly reflected onto the glass because of the glass angle and the slightly reflective nature of the material used in the dash itself. The reflection makes it difficult to see anything ahead. For example, I…Owner complaint, filed 2017

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 5,000 miles. Parts named most: Body (15).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

I have super white (040) paint and it's flaking off due to original manufacturer paint defect. Paint is flaking off my passenger back door and a large piece/area of roof. flakes of paint will come off at highway speeds, creating a vision hazard for drivers behind me or a distraction when flakes hit the windshield.Owner complaint, filed 2026

The roof of my car started peeling. It’s been progressing quickly. Also starting a small little part in the back as well.Owner complaint, filed 2024

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 21,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

Radio will constantly reset as well as the in-dash clock, and the Tire Pressure light will illuminate and flash. I found this appears to be a consistent issue with 2014, 2015, and 2016 Toyota Corolla's on YouTube.Owner complaint, filed 2025

The wiring inside of the front doors became corroded on two different cars. This resulted in the inability to operate the electric windows of one car. I view this as a safety hazard as the ability to exit the car from the window in an emergency is impaired. Other tasks such as paying tolls is made risky as the door must be opened.Owner complaint, filed 2022

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 60,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

Car began with issues switching gears. It would hesitate to go into gear and once it was finally in gear it began to buck. Currently stationed overseas And brought my car to Toyota multiple times and was told they wouldn’t look at it since it’s an American spec Toyota and not a European. After a week of trying to get it fixed with no…Owner complaint, filed 2021

My car only has 3,200 miles and today when I was in a traffic jam my car [VIN] blow up and I had to stop the car. It's practically a new car with a very low miles a usage. What happening???Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 3,180 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 19,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

Purchased set of 4 Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring 195/65R1591H tires on 26 Jun 2026 @ 48,847 miles on the odometer. Three of the tires had the same serial number of [VIN], with the 4th of [VIN]. Brought car in for service on 20 Oct 2025 @ 65,340 due to a slow leak on the rear passenger and was informed the rear passenger and front driver tires…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The tire had a blowout on the inside of the tire close to the inner rim. No road debris has been experienced on the trip on 71 N from Columbus to Cleveland. The blowout occured at around 10 PM Saturday (5/13/2023) A tire should not have an inner wall rupture unless the tire has a defect. This tire only has about 9,000 mille of use prior…Owner complaint, filed 2023

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

I own a 2016 Toyota Corolla with 35000 miles. My extended warranty expired in January 2024. In the the last few months my Toyota developed a “rattle” or noise, primarily on the right side at slow speeds and slow turns. I took the car to a well respected and nearby repair facility for an oil change and had them look at the noise. They…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Both the left and right front suspension control arms makes a squeak noise. This condition occurs when driving over speed bumps and uneven surfaces.Owner complaint, filed 2021

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 20,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

I have a 2016 toyota corolla with 50,525 miles on it. When I start my car, it doesn't wont to start-(the battery is ok). It has been stalling lately at a complete stop. It doesn't won't to go, even though I accelerate. I started to notice this in nov 2019. I first thought it was the weather or I needed a battery. But neither is the case.…Owner complaint, filed 2020

Toyota corolla stalled a couple of times after the initial start in the parking lot. On 2 ocassions it would not start and I had to leave it at a restaurant parking lot and a grocery store. When I returned it would start. The last time, it would not start so I took it to a toyota dealership for repair and was told it was the fuel pump.Owner complaint, filed 2020