Most common 2020 Toyota Corolla problems
Share of the 313 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 →
2020 Toyota Corolla recalls (5)
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification
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 Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles.
Remedy: 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 mailed October 31, 2024.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017…
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021.
Exterior lighting › Back up lights
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020 Corolla Hatchback vehicles. A rear hatch wire harness connector may have been damaged during assembly, which may cause the back-up lights to fail.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear hatch wire harness, free of charge. The recall began June 30, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.
Seat belts › Rear/other › Buckle assembly
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019-2020 C-HR and 2020 Corolla and Corolla Hybrid vehicles equipped with rear seat belt assemblies with a dual-mode locking mechanism. The seat belt webbing sensor locking mechanism may not lock as intended.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear seat belt assembly production dates, and replace the assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 7, 2020.
Equipment › Other › Labels
Gulf States Toyota (GST) is recalling certain 2019 C-HR, 4Runner, Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Prius, RAV4, Sequoia, Tacoma, Sienna, Tundra and Yaris vehicles. The text on the load capacity label may become illegible.
Remedy: GST will notify owners, and dealers will provide corrected load carrying capacity modification labels, free of charge. The recall began May 24, 2019. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074.
What 2020 Toyota Corolla owners say
Engine & cooling all 112 →
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while at a red light, the vehicle shut off with the check engine and several other unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle restarted after several attempts. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the failure was duplicated. The mechanic retrieved DTC: P1603; "Engine Stall History" (ECM recording an unexpected engine shutdown or a communication error with the Transmission Control Module (TCM). The mechanic associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V682000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. Several dealers were contacted, and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while driving, at any speed, as the contact depressed the brake pedal to stop the vehicle would stop, however when the contact depressed the accelerator pedal the vehicle would move backwards with a jolt before moving forward. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but had become recurring failure. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that an abnormal buzzing sound was coming from the engine compartment. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed and was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 131,000.
Transmission & drivetrain all 40 →
I am not sure what the component is but I am driving and as I accelerate the gas my car will lose power to increase speed. If I am at the stop sign or stop light and I proceed to go the car will stall and not get going once I place my foot on the gas. I have reached out to the dealer by phone and when I have obtained service I am being advised that it's nothing. But I have experienced it on multiple occasions and even had an accident and nothing is being done to resolve the issue. I know that it can't be normal for the vehicle to do that and I am tired of getting the run around in regards to it. I was able to see that there has been a recall but do not see that it is in regard to me vin number. Can you please assist me with this matter. I should not be in the middle of driving or at a stop light and not able to accelerate my vehicle to a regular speed. …
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact became aware of an abnormal clunking sound, and that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated the failure had occurred while driving on a busy road. The contact attempted to shift the gear shifter into different driving modes; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that several good Samaritans pushed the vehicle into a nearby driveway. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.
Electrical system all 35 →
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle emitted an abnormal slushing sound. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that upon parking and inspecting the vehicle, he noticed that the abnormal sound was coming from the front driver's side door. The contact then moved each door of the vehicle from side to side and noticed that the failure occurred on the front passenger's side door and the front and rear driver's side doors. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions and the water was drained from the doors; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they would cover the repair of the vehicle. The contact stated that it had been two months and the vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. …
The contact's mother owns a 2020 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while looking in the list of features on the infotainment center, the Forward Collision, Brakes, Accelerator, Lane Assist, On-Board Collision, and other safety features were flagged as malfunctioning. The contact stated that the list of malfunctioning systems seemed to have increased over time. The vehicle failed to turn off intermittently, causing the driver to make several attempts to turn off the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.
2020 Toyota Corolla engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl hybrid | CVT | FWD | 53 / 52 / 52 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | 32 / 41 / 35 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | 30 / 38 / 33 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 29 / 39 / 33 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 29 / 36 / 32 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2020 Toyota Corolla a good car?
Based on 313 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2020 Corolla rates use caution: 1.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the Corolla at the same age. It is one of the Corolla years we suggest avoiding. 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 2020 Toyota Corolla?
The engine & cooling — 112 complaints, 36% of all complaints for this model year, most often about exhaust system. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (40) and electrical system (35).
How many recalls does the 2020 Toyota Corolla have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2020 Toyota Corolla, the most recent from December 20, 2023 (occupant classification). 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 2020 Toyota Corolla problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 10,000 miles; 79% 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.