2019 Toyota Corolla Problems

What owners reported to NHTSA about the 2019 Toyota Corolla, its recalls, and what to check before you buy one.

Toyota Corolla, 2014 to 2019 model years
Photo: Aneekr, CC BY-SA 3.0
How the 2019 compares

About average for the Corolla

Owners filed about as many complaints as a typical Corolla year. The main thing to watch is the transmission and drivetrain, which half of owners reported by about 9,000 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 205 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Toyota Corolla. The most reported problem area is the transmission and drivetrain (55, 27% of complaints), followed by the fuel system and the engine and cooling. That ranks 6th of 13 Corolla years from 2012 to 2024 for complaints. It has 5 recalls.

Complaints205filed with NHTSA
Recalls5for this model year
Crashes2416 injuries reported
Fires1reported in complaints

2 of these complaints came from Utah owners.

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Most 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 2019 Toyota Corolla before you buy.

Transmission and drivetrain

55 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 9,000 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 2019 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the clutch was depressed; however, the clutch system failed to operate as intended. The contact stated that the clutch was stuck to the floorboard. The contact stated that due to the failure, there was an excessive amount of clutch…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 104,000 miles
Component that failed was the CSC Concentric Slave Cylinder. I went to press the clutch and it stuck to the floor. I checked for leaks in the cabin beneath the clutch and it was dry. I then proceeded to check the reservoir and saw that it needed fluid. I managed to get it to a nearby convenience center to purchase and fill the reservoir…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Fuel system

43 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 12,000 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

My vehicle has a production date that falls within an existing safety recall J07 but Toyota is denying coverage. The cvt is making a grinding noise consistent with the torque converter issue described in the recall and my door has a stamp with being produced in 10/2018 when this recall was in effect. However they are denying coverage.Owner complaint, filed 2025
2 years ago, I took my vehicle to the dealership that I bought it from, because I was given notice that there was a recall to the fuel injector system, and my scheduled maintenance was due. The dealership performed the maintenance and fixed the recall, and I drove the car home. The very next day I started the car and noticed that it took…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Engine and cooling

39 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 10,000 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

I got an “engine maintenance requested” notification on my car. I took it to a mechanic and they said the coolant bypass valve is defectedOwner complaint, filed 2025
Engine Coolant Bypass Valve Issues/Faulty. No problems prior to “engine maintenance message”. Message only comes up when the A/C is turned on.Owner complaint, filed 2025

Air bags

33 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

The weekend of April 3rd, I was driving down a two lane road. There was a dip in the road that lead me to overcorrecting. I had then spun out 2 times, and flew me over a ditch, to smack down on to all 4 tires and slide into a duke energy pole. The airbags didn’t deploy at all. With the incident and the areas affected, the airbags should…Owner complaint, filed 2026
I was driving on a two lane state road. Two vehicles we traveling in front of me in the left lane. The further vehicle in left decide to make a sudden stop at a traffic light. The silver sedan behind that vehicle was traveling too close to react appropriately. The sedan avoid the vehicle in front of it and impeded into my lane and…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Brakes and stability control

16 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 8,000 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

I believe the break booster on my 2019 Toyota Corolla is defective. This caused my stopping distance to increase significantly, making it difficult to control my vehicle and putting myself and other drivers at risk. There were no warning lamps or messages or other symptoms prior to the start of the issue on October 10, 2025. I quickly…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Our 19 Corrolla failed to start after a long drive. After recall repairs for airbags and fuel pump diagnostics were completed at the J. Allen Toyota Dealership in Gulfport, MS, the technicians found the issue to be the Hydraulic Brake Booster Pump: Internal Module Circuit Failure. Codes P1585 and P1586 are for reference. That…Owner complaint, filed 2022

Electrical system

15 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 17,000 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 2019 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 45,709, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 46,091 miles
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2019 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while attempting to review the Carfax Report for the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 39,893, and at the time of reviewing the Carfax, it was…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 39,893 miles

Cruise control and acceleration

13 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 5,000 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

1. Cruise Control 2. Unknown 3. No 4. No 5. No I first reported this to the dealership shortly after I purchased the vehicle. While driving with the cruise control on the rpms begin to jump to 5000 all on it's own but the car isn't speeding up when it happens. I know it's wearing the engine down every time it happens. It happens when I'm…Owner complaint, filed 2022
I reached a hill using the cruise control at 65mph. The vehicle accelerated to account for the loss of speed due to the hill. The engine accelerated the vehicle to well over 70 mph and revved up to very high rpms. The engine remained at high rpms and higher than normal speeds until I manually disengaged the cruise control. The engine…Owner complaint, filed 2022

Seats and seat belts

10 complaintsBelts that will not latch or retract, seat adjusters and passenger occupancy sensors.What to check before you buy

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

Vehicle was involved in a fatal head-on collision. Upon inspection of the driver restraint system, the driver restraint webbing was torn. The airbags and pretensioners deployed in the collision. The maximum recorded longitudinal delta-v was -41.4 miles per hour (with recorded clipping).Owner complaint, filed 2025
MY DRIVER SEAT BELT WILL NOT FASTING IT STOP WORKING AND MY BACK SEAT, SEAT BELT STOP WORKING AS WELL. I had gotten in my car to leave and pull the seat belt and try to fasting it and it would not lock.Owner complaint, filed 2022

Steering

9 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 2019 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel became difficult to turn in either direction. The hazard, power steering, and LDA warning lights were illuminated. The message "Lane Departure Alert Malfunction - Visit your Dealer" was displayed. The contact stated that…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 1,488 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel was pulling to the left. The electric power steering failure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired.…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 31,000 miles

Driver assist systems

8 complaintsPhantom braking, false collision warnings, and lane keeping or backup sensors that act up.What to check before you buy

Parts named most: Automatic emergency braking (5).

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

On June 15, a message appeared on the multi-informational panel that the pre-collision system was unavailable. An orange warning symbol also appeared on the dash. Car was repaired a at Kendall, Toyota, 10943 S. Dixie Highway, Miami, FL 33156 in Kendall, Florida. The Millimeter Wave Radar Sensor was replaced. The unit itself cost $843 and…Owner complaint, filed 2024
The contact owns a 2019 toyota corolla. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the collision avoidance system activated causing the vehicle to abruptly slow down. During the failure, the rear brake lights failed to illuminate and the trailing vehicle was not alerted that the vehicle was slowing down. The vehicle was taken to…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 15,000 miles

Body, doors and structure

7 complaintsRust, doors and liftgates that will not latch, leaks, and frame or structure concerns.What to check before you buy

Parts named most: Body (6).

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 driver’s side door would not close because the latch on the body of the car to which the door attaches fell off. The dealer’s body shop stated that they have never seen this happen before and that the cost to repair including parts and labor would be $4894.52. The car was not safe to drive unless the door latch was replaced.Owner complaint, filed 2025
On or about August 12, 2020 the car was enroute from Corpus Christi, Texas to College Station, Texas. The bumper dislodged from the car and almost feel underneath causing a serious accident. This is a low clearance car with the bottom of the car having an extension causing more difficulty. The car was pulled over to the side of the road…Owner complaint, filed 2022

Lights, wipers and visibility

7 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

I have a 2019 Toyota Corolla hatchback and the headlight went out. Instead of replacing the bulb Toyota has made it so you had to purchase the entire unit which is called a headlight assembly unit and that’s in the thousands of dollars the LED lights are supposed to last the lifetime of the car so it makes it really unsafe to drive at…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Front Windshield wipers abruptly pause during operation causing extreme danger when driving during rain. Wipers do not resume motion unless manually prompted, only to get stuck again immediately after.Owner complaint, filed 2025

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

On August 28, 2023, I purchased two Yokohama Avid Ascend LX BW tires, size 205/55R16. I was charged $209.19 for each tire, plus another $129.95 for a 4-wheel alignment. The total for the two tires and alignment was $549.16. I had these tires for a little over one month before this incident. On October 4, 2023, after driving about eight…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Continental ContiProContact: P205/55 R16 89H Car wreck on 7/3/22 due to blown tire (drivers side: rear tire) on the interstate (6 lanes). Weather: 82 degrees/sunny/clear blue skies. Tires purchased with car in 2018. Regularly checked/maintained in same auto dealership since car was purchased. Last maintenance check: 2/19/22 and odometer…Owner complaint, filed 2022

Suspension

1 complaintClunks 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

Toyota Corolla complaints by year

Compare the 2019 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.

Compare with similar 2019 compact cars

Each car is rated against its own other years, since popular models always get more complaints than rare ones.

CarVs. its other yearsRecallsMost reported
2019 Toyota CorollaAbout average5Transmission and drivetrain
2019 Honda CivicAbout average4Fuel system
2019 Mazda Mazda3One of the better years6Brakes and stability control
2019 Hyundai ElantraAbout average1Engine and cooling
Compare side by side

2019 Toyota Corolla recalls

This is every recall issued for the 2019 Toyota Corolla, not what is still open on one car. A recall that was fixed does not show up any differently here. Check a VIN at NHTSA to see what is still open on the car you are looking at, and ask the seller for proof any recall work was done.

Air bags Air bag / restraint control module

Jan 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V024000
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

Jan 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V012000
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

Jun 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V503000
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."

Equipment Labels

Mar 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V244000
Risk
If the driver cannot read the label, they may unknowingly overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix
GST will notify owners, and dealers will provide corrected load carrying capacity modification labels, free of charge.
Full recall summary

Gulf States Toyota (GST) is recalling certain 2019 C-HR, 4Runner, Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Prius, RAV4, Sequoia, Tacoma, Sienna, Tundra and Yaris vehicles. The text on the load capacity label may become illegible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Transmission and drivetrain Torque converter

Dec 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V901000
Risk
A vehicle stall, especially when driving a high rate of speed, can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix
Toyota has notified owners, and dealers will replace the CVT and torque converter, free of charge.
Full recall summary

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019 Toyota Corolla hatchback vehicles equipped with Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVT). The pump impeller blades within the torque converter may detach, especially when driven under high load, potentially causing a vehicle stall.

2019 Toyota Corolla questions

What are the most common problems with the 2019 Toyota Corolla?

The most reported problem areas on the 2019 Toyota Corolla are the transmission and drivetrain (55 complaints), the fuel system (43 complaints) and the engine and cooling (39 complaints).

Is the 2019 Toyota Corolla a good year to buy?

About average for the Corolla. Owners filed about as many complaints as a typical Corolla year. The main thing to watch is the transmission and drivetrain, which half of owners reported by about 9,000 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 2019 Toyota Corolla have?

NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2019 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 2019 Toyota Corolla problems start?

Half of the owners who reported a problem with the transmission and drivetrain gave a mileage of about 9,000 miles or less. Half of the owners who reported a problem with the fuel system gave a mileage of about 12,000 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.

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Where these numbers come from. Complaints are reports that owners filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), counted from NHTSA’s complaint database as of November 5, 2026. Owners do not have to prove a problem to file one, so a complaint is a report, not a confirmed defect. Models that sell in big numbers get more complaints, and newer model years have had less time on the road, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Recalls come from NHTSA’s recall database and cover every vehicle of that model year, not one particular car. Quotes are trimmed, and anything that looks like a VIN is hidden.