Too new to judge fully
It has been on the road 3 years, so complaints are still coming in. So far it has fewer than a typical older Corolla year, which is normal for a newer car. The area owners report most so far is the steering.
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 74 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Toyota Corolla. The most reported problem area is the steering (16, 22% of complaints), followed by the electrical system and the driver assist systems. That ranks 12th 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 2023 Toyota Corolla before you buy.
Steering
16 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 2023 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while attempting to adjust the steering wheel, the steering column failed to lock into place. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed and determined that the steering column was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 35,000 miles
The contact rented a 2023 Toyota Corolla from Avis Car Rental Company located at 6520 McNair Cir, Sacramento, CA 95837. The contact stated that while renting the vehicle, she became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V480000 (Steering). The contact had not experienced a failure. The contact stated that upon…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Electrical system
14 complaintsDead batteries, warning lights, failed screens and cameras, and electrical shorts.What to check before you buy
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
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while the vehicle was unoccupied and parked in the driveway, the vehicle caught fire. The fire originated from the engine bayapproximately five minutes after the vehicle was started. The fire department extinguished the flames and determined that the source of the fire was…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the infotainment screen unexpectedly turned on and off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the infotainment system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 70,000 miles
Driver assist systems
14 complaintsPhantom braking, false collision warnings, and lane keeping or backup sensors that act up.What to check before you buy
Parts named most: Warnings (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
There's an electrical problem going on with all Toyota vehicles coming out with the new navigation system where goes out and keeps rebooting. Multiple times on cars a year have reported this issue. Causes a distraction as screen goes on and off randomly as you drive and backing up. Also without it you can't see your GPS and find routes.…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Since purchasing this vehicle new, I've had several occasions (not on just the most recent date noted in this case) where the car will issue a false Pre-collision Alert and apply the brakes for about 1 second while using the Adaptive Cruise Control. However, this happens while me and the drivers around me are driving "normally" and there…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Lights, wipers and visibility
14 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 driving at night, there is a shadow in the headlight, that shines onto the road and makes driving at night difficult. This shadow looks like it comes from a tall screw or bolt in both headlights. The lights work correctly, but the shadow causes the driver to have a dark "spot" in the beam of light, which then makes it hard to see…Owner complaint, filed 2024
I would like to raise a concern regarding the headlight shadow issue in the 2023 Toyota Corolla. Specifically, there are noticeable dark spots or shadows when using the low beams, which significantly obscure portions of the road during night driving. I believe this is a design flaw in the vehicle’s lighting system. My parents, aged [XXX]…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Engine and cooling
13 complaintsStalling, misfires, oil consumption, leaks, overheating and engine failure.What to check before you buy
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 a message that the engine needs maintenance and I should go to the dealership and have the coolant bypass valve repaired. I see there's a lawsuit against Toyota for a manufacturing defect in that component on 2019-2023 Corollas. I'd like to know if I'll get a refund.Owner complaint, filed 2025
A message came out that I need to maintain the engine and take it to the concierge and they told me that it is the coolant by pass valveOwner complaint, filed 2025
Brakes and stability control
7 complaintsBrakes that feel soft or grab, grinding, ABS and stability control faults.What to check before you buy
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 have a Hybrid version of the 2023 Corolla in the SE trim. Everytime the car is cold (engine just started), and I'm pressing the brake, I can hear some clicking noises similar to a CV Axle noise when they are bad. That braking noise goes away as the car heat up. The noise is sensitive to speed, it changes frequency with it. I haven't…Owner complaint, filed 2026
On Monday, January 5, 2026 at approximately 3:15 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, in the middle of stopped traffic (leftmost lane, southbound on Van Nuys Boulevard near the Saticoy Street intersection in Los Angeles, California), the vehicle, a 2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE, suddenly started slowly moving backward. The driver pressed on the…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Transmission and drivetrain
6 complaintsHarsh or delayed shifts, slipping, shuddering, CVT whine, and drivetrain clunks.What to check before you buy
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
I purchased a 2023 Toyota Corolla LE as a Toyota Gold Certified Pre-Owned vehicle on March 8, 2026 at 61,387 miles. Within 30 days of purchase I began experiencing the following safety concerns: •Vehicle revs to 5,000-6,000 RPM unexpectedly •Violent jerking while driving •Vehicle stalls On April 7, 2026 I brought the vehicle to the…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Some times the car turns off by itself When put on reverse Or when getting to a complete stop No check engine light turns on Dealer will not take care of it if the check engine light does not turns on This could lead to an accident!Owner complaint, filed 2023
Air bags
6 complaintsAir bag warning lights, air bags that did not deploy, and inflator recalls.What to check before you buy
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 in a extremely bad accident, I was parked waiting for the light to turn green, when i felt a massive bang from the back and glided me to the next car, car was totaled and the car was saying the airbags deployed and none deployed at all. There was 4 passengers in total and at the very least one should have deployed.Owner complaint, filed 2024
My car has a recall from the driver airbag maynot deployed. I scheduled an appointment with the dealership for fixing my car, I dropped off my car. 20 minutes later they call me and said it’s not available to get fix. I asked them what should I do, they said they don’t know. I called to the Recall center, they asked me to call to Toyota…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Fuel system
2 complaintsHesitation, stalling, fuel smell, fuel pump and injector failures.What to check before you buy
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
after fueling strong fuel smell in vehicle within 100 miles check fuel cap light came on. next day check engine light came on. made appointment at dealership . dealership performed evap smoke test which found smoke coming from top of fuel cell. installed fuel pump ring and evap hose clip. performed evap test and smoke test -passed…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Fuel Injector failed, causing the engine to run extremely rich, misfire, and cause severe drivability issues. Issue occurred just outside vehicle base warranty. Problem was verified and confirmed by vehicle dealership. MIL was illuminated when drivability issue and malfunction started.Owner complaint, filed 2024
Body, doors and structure
2 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
My door actuators are going out on all my doors started with the driver door then the passenger rear door and now my driver rear door. This poses serious safety concerns, for example when Class Vehicles are involved in vehicular accidents because the occupants may become entrapped when the Door Actuator Defect prevents an occupant from…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Component: VISIBILITY / SUN VISOR Vehicle: 2023 Toyota Corolla Both the driver-side and passenger-side sun visors in my 2023 Toyota Corolla have failed within approximately two years of normal use. The visors no longer remain in their intended position and instead fall downward unexpectedly. When this occurs, the visor drops directly…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Cruise control and acceleration
1 complaintHesitation, loss of power, sudden acceleration and cruise control problems.What to check before you buy
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
Potential Safety Issue regarding the Cruise Control for ALL 2023 Toyota Corollas and possibly all Toyota's with the Safety Sense 3.0 System. On these vehicles the cruise control is turned on automatically when the vehicle is started. There is a white indicator icon illuminated on the drivers display to inform the driver. However the…Owner complaint, filed 2022
Seats and seat belts
1 complaintBelts 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
Coming home from work at 9:40pm a deer hit my car. I got no notification from my car about an object near my vehicle. I stopped my car lights were flashing and the operator on my car assist came on about detecting an accident. My cab filled with smoke and a funny smell. I thought the car was on fire. So I jumped out ambulance and cops…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Toyota Corolla complaints by year
Compare the 2023 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2023 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 Toyota Corolla | Too new to judge | 3 |
| 2023 Honda Civic | Too new to judge | 4 |
| 2023 Mazda Mazda3 | Too new to judge | 0 |
| 2023 Hyundai Elantra | Too new to judge | 2 |
2023 Toyota Corolla recalls
Steering Column
- Risk
- A deactivated driver's air bag will not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly as necessary, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, Lexus RX350, 2023-2024 NX250, and NX350 vehicles that may have been incorrectly repaired under previous NHTSA recall number 23V-480. An electrical connection inside the steering column's spiral cable assembly may be insufficiently welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver's air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Steering
- Risk
- A steering shaft that detaches can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the intermediate steering shaft, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Corolla and Corolla Hybrid vehicles. Due to cracks developed during the manufacturing process, the steering intermediate shaft assembly may fracture and possibly result in the shaft detaching from the steering column.
Steering Column
- Risk
- A deactivated driver's air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury during a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly, if necessary, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, 2023 Lexus RX350, RX350 Hybrid, RX500 Hybrid, 2023-2024 Lexus NX250, NX350, and NX350 Hybrid vehicles. An electrical connection inside the steering column's spiral cable assembly may be insufficiently welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver's air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
2023 Toyota Corolla questions
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Toyota Corolla?
The most reported problem areas on the 2023 Toyota Corolla are the steering (16 complaints), the electrical system (14 complaints) and the driver assist systems (14 complaints).
Is the 2023 Toyota Corolla a good year to buy?
Too new to judge fully. It has been on the road 3 years, so complaints are still coming in. So far it has fewer than a typical older Corolla year, which is normal for a newer car. The area owners report most so far is the steering. 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 2023 Toyota Corolla have?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2023 Toyota Corolla. The most recent, from Jan 2025, covers the column. Recalls cover the whole model year, so check the VIN of the car you are looking at to see which are still open.
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
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