repaired · 2026 Q3
Sensor: occupant classification
Risk. An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
2020 Toyota CorollaProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 313 owner complaints about the 2020 Toyota Corolla, most often about the engine. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 23V-865 the manufacturer reports only 59% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 5, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2020 Toyota Corolla has problems
313 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
111Engine3 crash/fire/injury
41Power train1 crash/fire/injury
34Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
24Service brakes6 crash/fire/injury
18Air bags
18Visibility/wiper
14Fuel/propulsion system
12Structure
8Seat belts
5016 other systems9 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 111 | 3 |
| Power train | 41 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 34 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 24 | 6 |
| Air bags | 18 | 9 |
| Visibility/wiper | 18 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 14 | 1 |
| Structure | 12 | 2 |
| Seat belts | 8 | 2 |
| 16 other systems | 50 | 9 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2020 Toyota Corolla recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2022 Q4
Delivery: fuel pump
Risk. If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2021 Q2
Seat belts: rear/other
Risk. In the event of a crash involving multiple impacts, the seat belt may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Toyota.
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
17 owners mentioned a cost$800median
Middle half: $700 – $932
Unknown or other
8 owners mentioned a cost$732median
Middle half: $600 – $925
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2020 vs. every other Corolla year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Corolla median. How we score
0001110223516331426232771631301721761291352251551451331177214778548408363141,4591,244585446201271220216178136205313188103746632181
'69'70'71'73'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26'27
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2020 Toyota Corolla safety ratings
2020 Toyota Corolla 5 HB FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (10.4% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Standard
- Lane departure warning: Standard
In owners' words
What Corolla owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
I am reporting a severe, recurring safety hazard on my 2020 Toyota Corolla. The vehicle suddenly displays 'Drive-Start Control Malfunction' and completely cuts off engine power in motion, leaving the car stranded in active traffic. This happened after accelerating from a STOP sign on a main avenue.…
What component or system failed or malfunctioned: complete slave cylinder failure resulting in loss of braking and ability to shift. Luckily I was traveling at a low rate of speed when this happened, but if this happens to anyone on the freeway or while turning against traffic for example they…
My Engine Maintenance light came on around 59,400 miles for my Coolest Control valve !! Needed it to be replaced! Light won’t go off just had it serviced for an oil change before this started!!
Own a 2020 Corolla?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.