One of the better Corolla years
Owners filed about 35% fewer complaints than a typical Corolla year. The area owners reported most is the fuel system, which half of owners reported by about 19,000 miles.
Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Corolla years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
Owners have filed 136 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Toyota Corolla. The most reported problem area is the fuel system (38, 28% of complaints), followed by the air bags and the engine and cooling. That ranks 10th of 13 Corolla years from 2012 to 2024 for complaints. It has 3 recalls.
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Start my car searchMost reported problems
Problem areas ranked by how many complaints mention them. One complaint can name more than one area. Open an area to see what to check on a 2018 Toyota Corolla before you buy.
Fuel system
38 complaintsHesitation, stalling, fuel smell, fuel pump and injector failures.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 19,000 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
Due to recent reports of fuel pump recalls, my daughter bought a 2018 Toyota Corolla almost a year ago. Right now that is problem and her car will not start. I need a free replacement of her fuel pump. Thank you.Owner complaint, filed 2026
My 2018 Toyota Corolla has ongoing fuel pump-related issues that mirror those in the official recall, yet my VIN is not included. Every time I refuel, my car shuts off and will not restart for 1, 2 hours. I’ve brought the vehicle to five different mechanics, including two full inspections with electronic diagnostics, none could find a…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Air bags
36 complaintsAir bag warning lights, air bags that did not deploy, and inflator recalls.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 13,000 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
I was driving home from church late Sunday night. A really rough storm hit and it knocked down a huge tree in the road covering the entire road. I did not see the tree until I got up on it and I went straight through it. I was running around 40 mph and total front end impact took the whole bumper off but my airbags did not deploy.Owner complaint, filed 2026
On October 17, 2025, a 2018 Toyota Corolla LE was delivered to an authorized Toyota dealership for an airbag recall repair. The recall involved the airbag electronic control unit (ECU), which, according to Toyota and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), may fail to deploy the airbags and/or seatbelt pretensioners…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Engine and cooling
17 complaintsStalling, misfires, oil consumption, leaks, overheating and engine failure.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 19,000 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
schedule a service appointment at AutoNation Toyota Hayward for October 14, 2026, at 8:40 AM. I arrived before 8:37. At that time, I was told it would only take three hours to complete. The car hadn't moved at 11:37. At that time I asked when it could be completed. I was told there's no estimated completion time. So I’ve decided to…Owner complaint, filed 2026
The car lost power completely and shut down. The first time this occurred was on the freeway 601 in traffic in September 2019. Took it to the dealer and nothing would show up as being defective. Dealer kept the vehicle for maybe a week and was about to return it back to us but a service manager decided to research the problem further…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Electrical system
13 complaintsDead batteries, warning lights, failed screens and cameras, and electrical shorts.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 29,000 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
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2018 Toyota Corolla. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was approximately 85,000. The contact later discovered that the mileage on the Title was 200,095.Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 200,095 miles
The contact owned a 2018 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle in the driveway, approximately 12 hours later while the contact was sleeping, a sound woke the contact and it was discovered that the vehicle caught on fire. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. During the…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 8,000 miles
Seats and seat belts
13 complaintsBelts that will not latch or retract, seat adjusters and passenger occupancy sensors.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 13,000 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
The driver and passenger seat belts by the holder the retracts them back into the car. Each time the seat belt is released or retracted it begins to cut more.Owner complaint, filed 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the front driver’s seat shifted independently with an abnormal clicking sound coming from the seat. The contact stated that the driver’s seat bracket was the cause of the failure and needed to be repaired. The dealer nor the manufacturer had…Owner complaint, filed 2022, at 39,000 miles
Transmission and drivetrain
12 complaintsHarsh or delayed shifts, slipping, shuddering, CVT whine, and drivetrain clunks.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 25,000 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 contact owns a 2018 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH, there was an abnormal whining sound coming from the vehicle, and the vehicle failed to accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the tachometer was raised to high levels while exiting the highway. While at a stoplight…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 76,099 miles
It has been multiple times where I am sitting at a red light and the car surges forward [VIN]. It feels as if someone just rear-ended me. Once this happens and you press on the accelerator it takes longer time for the car to come to speed. It's as if the engine just "bogs" up for a couple second.Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 15,000 miles
Brakes and stability control
11 complaintsBrakes that feel soft or grab, grinding, ABS and stability control faults.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 16,000 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
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.…Owner complaint, filed 2022, at 16,500 miles
Today at approximately 4pm nov 19, 2019, I parked my car in a parking lot and turned off the motor, put it in park and when I pulled the emergency brake into place the car lunged backward a little but stopped as soon as the emergency brake was engaged. I filed a report back on october 20, 2019, please refer to case #11271148. I am…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 19,450 miles
Cruise control and acceleration
11 complaintsHesitation, loss of power, sudden acceleration and cruise control problems.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 6,000 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 vehicle cruise control works fine on a flat surface, but when it encounters a downgrade it [VIN] 10mph over the set speed and the rpms increase to 4000. The vehicle then applies the brakes forcibly to slow to the set speed. It seems to downshift but doesn't let off throttle so it speeds up rather than engine brake.Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 500 miles
The contact owned a 2018 toyota corolla. When the contact placed her vehicle into park, the vehicle [VIN] without warning and the tachometer level increased. The contact attempted to depress the brake pedal with force using both feet, but the vehicle did not respond and crashed into the wall of a convenient store. The air bags did not…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 15,438 miles
Driver assist systems
9 complaintsPhantom braking, false collision warnings, and lane keeping or backup sensors that act up.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
- Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
- Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2018 toyota corolla. The contact stated that her view from the backup camera was obstructed. The contact stated that the view shows part of the bumper, the tag, and the roadway. The contact stated that the location of the camera was poorly designed and allowed the view to be obstructed. The [VIN] stated that there was…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 17,858 miles
The contact owns a 2018 toyota corolla. While driving more than 32 MPH, the contact was unable to hear the lane departure alert. Consumer also stated same warning sound is made if a door is ajar. The contact stated that the lane departure warning indicator was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to glen toyota (located at 23-07 maple ave…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 7,500 miles
Steering
5 complaintsLoss of power steering assist, wandering, play in the wheel and noises when turning.What to check before you buy
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 contact owns a 2018 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while driving over a speed bump, the contact heard a ratting sound coming from the steering wheel. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the steering column needed to be replaced.…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 35,000 miles
A car was going to hit my car, I went to hit the horn and the horn doesn't work a few days later a airbag light went on. Went to the dealership and they said it's a know malfunction in toyota corolla. They are not sure if the airbags will work or not. They recommend that I put a notice in for recall since there are still no recalls. This…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Suspension
5 complaintsClunks over bumps, broken springs, worn struts and uneven tire wear.What to check before you buy
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
Purchased this vehicle new. The vehicle has 58,000 miles and the suspension went out, upper & lower control arms, ball joints, struts and stabilizer. This controls the driving ability of the vehicle and could have caused me to loose control of the car. Confirmed by an independent service center and repaired. There were no warning lamps…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Noise cracking when I make right my car has 57,000 miles I took the car to the dealer they were charging me 90 dollars end the day they told me that parts it’s not corvette the warrantyOwner complaint, filed 2022
Body, doors and structure
4 complaintsRust, doors and liftgates that will not latch, leaks, and frame or structure concerns.What to check before you buy
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
The bumper on this car has been replaced two times and my husband noticed that it’s coming apart AGAIN. It’s brand new and was just replaced in July. It could come apart on the road or cause serious injury if hit. These bumpers are not stable at all.Owner complaint, filed 2024
My car is going to his second repair of paint first was paint bubling amd now paint peeling off 🙄. It's really discomfort have a car from brand new and is going to be paint 🙄Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 7,210 miles
Wheels and tires
3 complaintsTire failures, wheels and lug nuts, and tire pressure sensor faults.What to check before you buy
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
A whole new set of 4 tires were purchased and installed on the vehicle on 10/10/2024. While driving at highway speed 3 weeks later the rear driver side tire, in quick succession, went flat and almost instantaneously disintegrated causing the car to spin out and crash off the road. The car airbags deployed- saving the driver from injury…Owner complaint, filed 2024
I can't keep the ice buildup off my back tires due to a piece of plastic holding it up under the wheel wells. It's wearing my tires out faster. I have even pressure washed it and still can't get the ice to come out! This is going to cause my wheel wells to rust out faster by holding it under my wells. I have another corolla and it…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 9,000 miles
Lights, wipers and visibility
2 complaintsHeadlights that dim or fail, wiper and washer failures, and windshield cracks.What to check before you buy
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
When the vehicle is in motion when dark outside auto high beams do not function properly. When passing a oncoming car with brighter than normal headlights the auto high beams disengage and will not turn on for a varying amount of time. This happens both on city streets, highway, and country roads. This is a safety issue due to the fact…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 27,000 miles
This will probably not make the cut for big problems, but I'm sending it anyway since a general rue or advisory on dash reflectivity might. The 2018 corolla tachometer and speedometer have a brightly chromed bevel with a parabolic curve of about 1/4 inch all around the dial that captures the sun from almost any angle and reflects it back…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 1,100 miles
Toyota Corolla complaints by year
Compare the 2018 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2018 compact cars
Each car is rated against its own other years, since popular models always get more complaints than rare ones.
| Car | Vs. its other years | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 Toyota Corolla | One of the better years | 3 |
| 2018 Honda Civic | Worse than most years | 6 |
| 2018 Mazda Mazda3 | About average | 4 |
| 2018 Hyundai Elantra | About average | 0 |
2018 Toyota Corolla recalls
Air bags Air bag / restraint control module
- Risk
- In the event of a crash, air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners that do not deploy as intended may increase the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ECU and install a noise filter between the air bag control module and its wire harness, as necessary, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, and 2013-2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles. During certain crashes, the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may malfunction, possibly disabling the deployment of the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners.
Fuel system Fuel pump
- Risk
- If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200T and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. On March 19, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include 2015 Lexus GS350 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Equipment Labels
- Risk
- An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- SET will notify owners and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
2018 Toyota Corolla questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Toyota Corolla?
The most reported problem areas on the 2018 Toyota Corolla are the fuel system (38 complaints), the air bags (36 complaints) and the engine and cooling (17 complaints).
Is the 2018 Toyota Corolla a good year to buy?
One of the better Corolla years. Owners filed about 35% fewer complaints than a typical Corolla year. The area owners reported most is the fuel system, which half of owners reported by about 19,000 miles. Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Corolla years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
How many recalls does the 2018 Toyota Corolla have?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2018 Toyota Corolla. The most recent, from Jan 2020, covers the air bag / restraint control module. Recalls cover the whole model year, so check the VIN of the car you are looking at to see which are still open.
At what mileage do 2018 Toyota Corolla problems start?
Half of the owners who reported a problem with the fuel system gave a mileage of about 19,000 miles or less. Half of the owners who reported a problem with the air bags gave a mileage of about 13,000 miles or less. Plenty of cars have these problems later or never, so ask for service records.
Which Toyota Corolla years should I avoid?
The Corolla years with the most complaints compared with the rest are 2012. Years with clearly fewer complaints are 2018. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly yet.
Check the exact car
These problems are for the model year as a whole. Here is how to find out about the one you are looking at.
Looking at a 2018 Toyota Corolla?
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