Body complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2023 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2022 | 7 | 7% | 47,000 miles |
| 2021 | 5 | 3% | — |
| 2020 | 13 | 4% | 30,000 miles |
| 2019 | 6 | 3% | — |
| 2018 | 4 | 3% | 47,000 miles |
| 2017 | 9 | 5% | 10,000 miles |
| 2016 | 15 | 7% | 9,000 miles |
| 2015 | 33 | 15% | 30,000 miles |
| 2014 | 32 | 12% | 16,000 miles |
| 2013 | 10 | 5% | 16,000 miles |
| 2012 | 14 | 3% | 38,000 miles |
| 2011 | 22 | 4% | 31,000 miles |
| 2010 | 28 | 2% | 30,000 miles |
| 2009 | 42 | 3% | 58,000 miles |
| 2008 | 6 | 2% | 48,000 miles |
| 2007 | 18 | 2% | 50,000 miles |
| 2006 | 20 | 2% | 57,000 miles |
| 2005 | 17 | 2% | 53,000 miles |
| 2004 | 8 | 2% | 0 miles |
| 2003 | 31 | 4% | 50,000 miles |
| 2002 | 5 | 4% | 50,000 miles |
| 2001 | 12 | 9% | 100,000 miles |
| 2000 | 7 | 5% | 106,000 miles |
| 1999 | 10 | 6% | 52,000 miles |
| 1998 | 24 | 11% | 94,000 miles |
| 1997 | 7 | 5% | 200,000 miles |
| 1996 | 5 | 4% | — |
| 1995 | 6 | 3% | 204,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that the front bumper on the driver's side occasionally detached while driving 50 MPH or more, and while driving over rough roads. The contact was able to reattach the bumper. The dealer had been contacted but the vehicle had not been taken to the dealer. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was 47,200.
On October 1st, 2025, I was in a car accident. I was side-swiped on the highway by a truck, which led me to collide with a metal fence. My airbags did not deploy after the collision. After filing a claim with my insurance company on October 1st, I was informed the same day that my vehicle is a total loss. Prior to the accident, there were no warning lamps or messages.
While driving approx. 35-40 mph driver impacted front left side with a stop sign post . Causing very little body damage but completely ripped the control arm out of the sub frame which caused an unreasonable amount of other significant damages . The axle broke off at the transmission . These 3 parts alone costing almost 2500$ plus labor to repair. It ripped part of my bumper cover which had to be replaced and dented the fender which is being repaired . Had the cars subframe held up in what should have been a minor incident none of the other parts would have been affected the way the were. I had the car inspected and aligned at the Toyota dealership and was directed by two employees to file this complaint. They too felt the sub frame shouldn't have ripped apart like it did. Had I been involved in a collision with another car my car would have crumbled . …
While driving my car I noticed a sloshing noise like water, I thought it was a bottle of wiper fluid until I opened and closed my passenger rear door. The door was full of water, I looked it up online and found tips to loosen a plug on the bottom of the door to let the water drain out. I did this and it was pouring out of the door. I called for service, took the vehicle in, asked about damage to electrical inside the door like speakers and locking systems. The man explained due to the way the door is made IF any water got in it would not affect these systems. They advised the plugs can get full of debris and to loosen the plugs after heavy rain. This has now happened several times, I have to check all my doors and drain them after it rains. Note there are three plug holes, all have plugs so no water can freely drain on it's own.
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 owns a 2020 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that the front driver's side fender liner above the tire detached while driving at approximately 55 MPH. After inspection, the liner was missing. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the fender liner needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 38,650.
I hit a deer going roughly 65mph on my way to work. The hit crushed the radiator into the engine, destroyed the airbox, folded the hood, and practically vaporized the headlight. The airbag, however, did not deploy- not in the wheel or in the side curtain. I wasn't injured but thought it was strange the because the crash totalled the car (~$16k of damage) and was at a high speed. The car had one accident prior, hitting a concrete pillar at a low speed (less than 10mph) and had been repaired two years earlier. I kept every maintainence record for the car and never had any airbag lights on or service done. Because the airbags didn't deploy, the car didn't initiate the Safety Connect call to 911 or anyone else. I recently saw Toyota settled with many owners of 2019 Corolla sedans but the hatch wasn't included, but I have (anecdotally) heard of similar stories from other hatch owners. …
On or about August 12, 2020 the car was enroute from Corpus Christi, Texas to College Station, Texas. The bumper dislodged from the car and almost feel underneath causing a serious accident. This is a low clearance car with the bottom of the car having an extension causing more difficulty. The car was pulled over to the side of the road and temporarily put in place. The car was taken to AutoNation Toyota in Corpus Christi, Texas for repair on or about August 15, 2020. Once again, the bumper detached almost causing another accident on or about June 3, 2022. The car was taken in again for repair with Auto Nation Toyota Corpus Christi on or about June 3, 2022 and the pins were replaced. The pins did not hold and the dealership was notified immediately. An appointment was made to secure the pins for June 20, 2022. The dealership stated another bumper needed to be purchased. …
Related recalls (1)
Structure › Body › Roof and pillars
Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 corolla vehicles equipped with a non-Toyota, blue tooth hands free device or navigation unit and certain model year 2011 Toyota sienna vehicles equipped with a non-Toyota, overhead entertainment system and/or Bluetooth hands free device.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the a-pillar trim panel retention clip and replace it if necessary free of charge. The safety recall began on December 30, 2011. Owners May contact southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Frequently asked questions
Which Toyota Corolla years have body problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2009 (42), 2015 (33), 2014 (32), 2003 (31) and 2010 (28) model years. Body complaints make up 3% of all complaints for the 2009.
Is there a recall for Toyota Corolla body problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 11V-566 (roof and pillars, Nov 22, 2011). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Toyota Corolla body problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 46,000 miles; 57% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the body (266 mentions), followed by the body › door (36).
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.