Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Toyota Corolla owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota. The contact stated that while driving forward into a parking space, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration and crashed into a building wall. During the incident, the front end of the vehicle was severely damaged but the air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained a neck injury and the front passenger sustained a bruised rib, both required medical treatment. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 74,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal upon approaching a stop sign; the vehicle began to accelerate independently without warning. The contact swerved the vehicle to the right to avoid hitting another vehicle and hit a pole. Despite hitting the pole, the vehicle continued to accelerate and hit another pole, which finally caused the vehicle to halt. The driver's frontal air bag as well as the knee air bag deployed upon impact with the first pole. The contact suffered soreness throughout her body and had a minor cut on her lip, left index finger, and right knee cap. The contact did not seek medical attention for her injuries. The police were called and a police report was filed. The contact stated that she believes the vehicle shall be deemed total loss however, was awaiting inspection by the insurance company. …
We own a 2016 Toyota Corolla Sport model. 4 door sedan. We first started to notice a loud sound that was seemingly coming from the front of the car. It was a whining, rattling sound. The car's mileage is 87k. We took it into the shop, we were first told that it sounded like a bearing going out in the wheel. Then we took it to a licensed Toyota dealership. The dealership then tells us that it is actually due to the transmission chain, and our transmission will need to be replaced for $8900!! So I begin to dig online, and find that our model is the same years of other Toyota models that Toyota has a KNOWN problem with. This is a major issue, and puts our safety at risk if the transmission just suddenly goes out. …
I had eased in my parking space and all of a sudden my car started to excelerate and lunged forward and hit the parked car in front of me. There was nothing I could do but watch helplessly. It's was like the car had a mind of its own. I couldn't understand what happened. I did put my foot on brake it didint help.it was 10: 15 am. I was praking to pick up my dog from groomer. It was on 10/24/17. It was a clear mild morning.I notified our insurance to report damage to my bumper and the other cars bumper. Then called Toyota dealer and took our car in to toyoga. They gave me a number to call to report this and make a claim. Now we are waiting for someone to go and inspect our car. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while reversing out of a parking lot, the vehicle accelerated. The contact depressed the brake pedal but was not able to stop. The contact placed the vehicle in neutral which failed to engage causing the contact to crash into a post. No airbag deployed. No medical attention was contacted. No police report was made and no injuries were sustained. The vehicle was taken to the dealer Infiniti of las vegas (5555 w sahara ave, las vegas, nv 89146 [phone]) where it was unable to duplicate a failure. The vehicle was test drove and still unable to duplicate the issue. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and an investigation was started. The failure mileage was approximation 600.
When I drove my car into my garage, the car accelerated and smashed into my back garage wall (a load bearing wall), completely detaching it from the top and bottom. I decided to back up the car a foot for clearance for me into my house, but the car then accelerated backwards into the street ramming into my neighbor's vehicle. While my car was now smashed front and back, none of the air bags deployed. I put the car back in drive to remove it from my neighbor's car and again, it accelerated, racing down the street and, across a busy intersection. I had my foot on the brake and was pulling on the emergency (or parking) brake and it finally came to a stop. The police were called and came but said since it was only property damage there would be no report. I shut off the ignition.
I was pulling in to parking space at a very low speed. My car started to accelerate and lunged into pared car in front of me. Causing damage to other car and mine. I had my foot on the brake but it didint stop the car. A couple if days before the same thing happened to my husband when he was pulling into parking place and car started to accelerate and lunged forward. We got back the results from Toyota and the said their was nothing wrong with the car. They won't take responsibility for the car. We are left with a car that we are to afraid to drive. We know that it will happen again but just don't know when.
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Toyota Corolla. While driving at a low speed, the vehicle independently accelerated without warning. The contact crashed into another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was driven away by the contact. There were one injury that required medical attention. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 11,800.
About a year after having my new car. It starting shifting hard out of gear when I took it to get maintance they said nothing was wrong with it. When the maintance light came on again. Took it to a local mechanic shop. And they said it might be a computer related. They told me they could doba transmission fluid change so I took it to Toyota to have the fluid change to see if that would fix the problem but it didnt here recently like 5 months ago it started to shift really bad. And would kick back like if it was going to speed but it doesnt move any faster wont let me go pass the speed limit of 40 when in regular drive it rpms will go upp really high every time it kicks back. Its gotten so bad I cant drive it far places cause it only drives smooth in 3rd. Gear I cant drive it on highways cause it wont go up to the speed limit in the city it rpms to high and the car has a jerky feeling. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2016 Toyota Corolla. On several occasions, while driving various speeds with the acclerator pedal dedepressed, the engine revved but the vehicle failed to accelerate in a timely manner. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Toyota of york (1885 whiteford rd, york, pa 17402, [phone]) where no diagnostic failure codes were found and the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was determined that an acceleration delay was experienced and the transmission was designed to operate in that manner. The manufacturer was notified via email and provided case number: 1712081065. The approximate failure mileage was 5,000.
Acceleration complaints in other Corolla years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2016 Toyota Corolla?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2016 Toyota Corolla, 10% of the model year's 215 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2016 Toyota Corolla acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2016 Toyota Corolla, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2016 Toyota Corolla acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 13,000 miles, and 65% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 9 crashes, 0 fires and 4 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.