2021 Toyota Corolla Problems, Recalls & Reliability
253 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2021 Toyota Corolla, alongside 1 recall campaign and 0 defect investigations. It scores 13/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Airbags leads the reports, typically around 55,000 miles.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2021 Toyota Corolla has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2021 sits among all Corolla years
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Corolla. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2021 Corolla
“Engine coolant bypass valve short to battery. Throwing code - P2681-15 at 33,000 miles.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2021 Corolla
“Coolant bypass valve needs replaced. Car states 'engine maintenance required visit dealer.'”— owner report to NHTSA, 2021 Corolla
“Coolant bypass valve has shorted out. “Engine maintenance required” notification popped up on the gauge cluster”— owner report to NHTSA, 2021 Corolla
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 31 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 12,200 miles. Half of those reports fall between 5,000 and 65,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (1)
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry…
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were…
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2021 Toyota Corolla reliable?
The 2021 Toyota Corolla drew 253 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 13/100, scored against the model's worst year (2009).
What are the most common 2021 Toyota Corolla problems?
The top reported problems for the 2021 Toyota Corolla are airbags (52 complaints), engine (40), and other (31).
At what mileage do 2021 Toyota Corolla problems show up?
Owners most often report 2021 Toyota Corolla problems around 12,200 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 5,000 and 65,000 miles.
Does the 2021 Toyota Corolla have recalls?
1 recall campaign applies to the 2021 Toyota Corolla. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.