Most common 2018 Toyota Corolla problems
Share of the 135 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Toyota Corolla complaints by model year
Best Corolla years: 2018, 2025, 2023. Years to avoid: 2011, 2012, 2020, 2009, 2010. Compare all years →
2018 Toyota Corolla recalls (3)
Air bags › Air bag/restraint control module
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.
Remedy: 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.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
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…
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987.
Equipment › Other › Labels
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.
Remedy: SET will notify owners and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2018 Toyota Corolla:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Electrical overstress
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events.
What 2018 Toyota Corolla owners say
Fuel & propulsion system all 38 →
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake warning and the master warning lights illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where a diagnostic reader was used, however, the mechanic was unable to locate a failure code. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that after restarting and refueling, the vehicle was stalling and although she depressed the accelerator pedal, the vehicle delayed accelerating. The contact referenced failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V012000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, VIN was not included in the recall. The contact then stated that after the vehicle was refueled and she came to a left turn to make a U-turn, the vehicle was stalling and then jerked forward independently, causing her to crash into the back of an attached trailer. …
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while driving 40-60 MPH, the vehicle started jerking. The warning messages "Charge System Malfunction - See Owner's Manual", "Oil Pressure Low Stop in A Safe Place. See Owner's Manual" and "Traction Control Turned Off" were displayed and the vehicle stalled. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was pushed to the side of the road. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after 30 minutes. The contact then drove to her residence. The failure reoccurred while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where unknown codes were cleared. The dealer test drove the vehicle and diagnosed that no issues were found; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump had failed and needed to be replaced. …
Air bags all 36 →
The contact owned a 2018 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH in inclement weather, the brakes failed to stop the vehicle and she lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle crashed into the median and was spinning before another vehicle crashed into the contact's front end. The air bags were not deployed upon impact. The contact suffered soreness in her arms, legs, and back; however, no medical attention was received. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to an auto collision center and deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 100,555.
My brother was driving his car and it was involved in a hard right front impact yesterday after a young girl pulled out in front of him. None of the airbags went off, severe front end damage on the right side to the fender, wheel, axle, radiator, hood, oil pan, and other front end components.The right front wheel is completely bent and the right front tire blew out. Front right headlight completely missing. Incident happened going approximately 30-40 MPH. Thankfully he's okay, but the car is most likely totaled. The steering wheel airbag did NOT deploy and the right curtain airbag did NOT deploy. My brother could have gotten killed. Thankfully he's only complaining about leg pain and chest pain, but the steering wheel airbag would've mitigated his injuries. A few years ago, he got sideswiped very hard on the left side and the vehicle needed 2 new doors and a rear bumper. …
Engine & cooling
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle shut off unexpectedly on several occasions. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V012000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the failure was due to the loss of power and a failing fuel pump. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
The car lost power completely and shut down. The first time this occurred was on the freeway 601 in traffic in September 2019. Took it to the dealer and nothing would show up as being defective. Dealer kept the vehicle for maybe a week and was about to return it back to us but a service manager decided to research the problem further because we told him that we did not feel safe as this could happen again in traffic. Service manager advised that the fuel pump would be replaced. A year later we read that a recall has been issued for a fuel pump issue, we called and were told that our VIN was not part of the recall. We were still concerned because we wanted to insure that the replacement fuel pump was not one being recalled. We contacted Toyota and a case # was issued. Nothing else could be done. …
2018 Toyota Corolla engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | 30 / 40 / 34 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 27 / 35 / 30 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2018 Toyota Corolla a good car?
Based on 135 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2018 Corolla rates average: 32% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Corolla at the same age. It is one of the best Corolla years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Toyota Corolla?
The fuel & propulsion system — 38 complaints, 28% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the air bags (36) and engine & cooling (16).
How many recalls does the 2018 Toyota Corolla have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2018 Toyota Corolla, the most recent from January 17, 2020 (air bag/restraint control module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Toyota Corolla?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2018, 2025 and 2023. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2011, 2012, 2020, 2009 and 2010. See the full Toyota Corolla years comparison.
At what mileage do 2018 Toyota Corolla problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 17,000 miles; 85% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.