2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Electrical Problems

I am reporting Certification Fraud and severe safety violations by Central Florida Toyota. This vehicle was sold as "Toyota Gold Certified" on March 28, 2026, while having an active safety recall (NHTSA 26V203) with no available remedy. Furthermore, a professional inspection revealed a high-voltage hybrid system leak and structural damage (bondo/rust) on engine mounts, indicating a hidden prior collision. The 160-point inspection was falsified to mask these defects. Although the contract was eventually unwound, this vehicle was sold in a lethal condition, violating federal safety standards.

NHTSA ID

11737204

Incident

Mar 28, 2026

I was driving on a cold day. When I stopped at a stoplight seeking to make a left turn, the car would not accelerate when I pressed the gas pedal. I looked down and saw the following warning sign "Engine Stopped, Steering Power Low" appear on the dashboard. However, since the car was not in park, it had rolled forward and was close to the being in the nearest lane of oncoming traffic. It was also difficult to steer to avoid creeping closer to oncoming traffic. Although it did not cause an accident, it easily could have. I took the car to several mechanics, because the car is under a CarMax warranty. However, none of the diagnostics revealed anything of concern (no weak battery, lack of power steering fluid, etc.). The mechanics said they had heard about this happening, but were unable to pinpoint any reason for it occuring. This seems like a serious flaw.

NHTSA ID

11731777

Incident

Feb 13, 2026

Vehicle displayed a “power brake loss” on the 2023 Corolla Cross Hybrid instrument cluster upon trying to start it. After not being able to turn the vehicle on, I exited the vehicle to ensure my key fob was in my pocket. All electronics worked. After roughly 4 minutes of being in the car all power was loss - battery drained. Towing company that my Toyota Dealership Provides had a number out of service so a different towing service came out and jumped my car - my warranty couldn’t be used since the towing company didn’t answer. The towing technician let me know that Toyota put in an extremely low voltage battery in my Hybrid. He expressed how the standard for these vehicles is AGM or high performance batteries to ensure stable voltage for hybrid management, and compatibility with regenerative systems - using the right part prevents electrical issues. My brakes are connected to my electrical system. By putting in weak batteries and below standard expectation is putting their consumers at many risks with electrical malfunctions. I was informed by the dealer after getting it replaced this is the Toyota Manufacturer issue and I had a technician even agree the weak batteries will only help in getting consumers back to a dealer quicker.

NHTSA ID

11728190

Incident

Mar 30, 2026

ATTACHMENTS OF PICTURES FOR COMPLAINT NUMBER 11688637. [XXX] [XXX] . 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross The scanned pictures shows all the warning lights displayed on my vehicle. A NEW COMPUTER WAS INSTALLED YET IT CONTINUES TO REFLECT THESE LIGHTS. A NEW SWITCH ASSY, HOSE VENTILATOR, VALVE ASY, OI AND COMPUTER ASSEMBLY. CURRENTLY THE DEALER ORDERED INJECTOR SET, ALONG WITH SWITCH, PUSH. HONESTLY, THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE FOUND, PARTS WILL BE ORDERED CONTINUOSLY. THE DANGER WAS WHEN THE ENTIRE DASH BOARD WENT BLANK, WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE TRANSMISSION STALLED TO SHIFT GEAR. I PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED THE CEO OF TOYOTA IN PUERTO RICO. I EXPLAINED TO THEM MY LIFE IS AT RISK. THEY DECIDED TO GIVE ME A RENTAL UNTIL THE NEW PARTS COME IN. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER. MY VEHICLE HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE AND TOYOTA DOES NOT CARE IF I DIE OR LIVE. WHO KNOWS IF OTHER INDIVIDUALS IS HAVING THIS ISSUE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS IMPERATIVE MATTER. THIS VEHICLE WILL BE TWO YEARS IN NOVEMBER 2025. VEHICLE COMPUTERS LAST IN EXCESS OF TEN YEARS. ALL THE LIGHTS BELOW STAYED ON FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. THE TECHNICIAN KEEP REMOVING THE BATTERY FOR RESETTING PURPOSES, WHEREAS ALL WARNING SIGNALS DISPLAYED ONCE MORE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11688649

Incident

Aug 31, 2025

I purchased a brand-new 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross LE on [XXX], in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, selling price, $31, 500.00 Early July 2025, I started the vehicle, and unexpectedly, multiple lights emerged on the dashboard screen per below, Exhibit 1 - Check Engine - Visit your dealer Exhibit 2 -Drive Start Control Malfunction - Visit your dealer Exhibit 3 - Parking Brake Malfunction Exhibit 4 - Secondary Collision - Brake System Malfunction Exhibit 5- Parking System Malfunction The vehicle was taken to Island Toyota on July 5th. The codes were cleared by removing the battery terminal. Two days later, the warning lights reappeared. After the technician performed diagnostic testing, I received a phone call to pick up the vehicle. The total cost of the ordered parts exceeds $2,000, which includes a computer. This vehicle is under warranty, particular vehicle IS NOT TWO YEARS OLD. This vehicle is a LEMON. I spoke with Carlos Rivera, a Customer Service Agent at Toyota of Puerto Rico. I notified him of this matter via phone calls, and he responded. He stated that his department is the warranty department, solely responsible for ordering parts for vehicles with warranties. He advised me to speak Ms Charla Green, the General Manager for Toyota St. Croix. Not quite sure why she never returns calls and is virtually unfeasible to speak with customers is atrocious. The front desk agents seems to be programmed to let you know Ms Green is not available and the supervisor, Ms Francis, seems uninterested in the daily chronicles with ones vehicle. The Entire department running blind while upper management is collecting hefty salaries. When the poor man cries out in distress, it’s a deep yearning for help and reassurance from the workers getting paid to help. While traversing on the [XXX], with a passenger in the vehicle, approximately, on [XXX], the instrument cluster display went BLANK, the vehicle lost power, slowed down, INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552

NHTSA ID

11688637

Incident

Aug 29, 2025

On [XXX], and again on [XXX], vehicle began beeping while driving on the freeway and flashing the following warning messages: 1) 12-Volt Battery Charging - System Malfunction - Stop in a Safe Place - See Owner's Manual 2) AWD System Malfunction - 2WD Mode Engaged - Visit your Dealer 3) Voltage Abnormality - Steering Power Low - Visit Your Dealer Vehicle shut down and lost power steering while driving on the freeway. My safety was put at risk as I could not easily pull my car over to a safe place due to the car losing power, not turning back on, and power steering turning off. This may have resulted in severe injury or death if I had not been able to eventually pull over. Additionally, the safety of others was put at risk as we were travelling at freeway-level speed, which may have resulted in other vehicles being unable to stop, and consequently crash, if my car had stayed in the freeway lane. Both times I had the vehicle towed to Beaverton Toyota Dealership (Address: 4300 SW Murray Blvd, Beaverton, OR 97005 / Phone: (503) 626-7200) to be inspected and serviced. The first time I was told it was a bad battery cell, which was replaced on 07/26/25. However, the same situation happened after this replacement on 07/27/25. Currently, vehicle is at Beaverton Toyota dealership being inspected. Vehicle was purchased at Wilsonville Toyota (Address: 9155 Boeckman Rd, Wilsonville, OR 97070 / Phone: (503) 582-9040). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11676618

Incident

Jul 25, 2025

While driving at a moderate speed (june 7, 2025), multiple critical systems of the vehicle suddenly failed. Both dashboard screens (driver and center display) went black, and numerous warning lights appeared afterward, including oil pressure, engine, lane departure, tire pressure, and airbag (SRS) system malfunction. The vehicle accelerated involuntarily, the brakes did not respond, the steering became stiff, and the airbags failed to deploy upon impact with concrete and metal highway barriers. A "System Malfunction" and "SRS Airbag System Malfunction" message appeared. The police report attributes the crash to a vehicle system malfunction. Two days before the incident (June 5, 2025), the vehicle had been serviced by the dealer, and the electronic screen issue had been reported but not addressed. This failure put our lives at serious risk and demonstrates a catastrophic malfunction across safety-critical systems. Photos and documentation are available, and the vehicle is under insurance and legal review.

NHTSA ID

11670671

Incident

Jun 7, 2025

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Vehicle horn. It does not sound loud enough to be heard under all conditions by other drivers or pedestrians. Similar vehicles come with two horns: one high frequency and one low frequency. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The described condition certainly can put at risk the driver safety or others. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? The problem was reported to the Toyota Dealership. They said that they tested the horn sound, was compared to a known good model, and did not find a difference in the sound intensity or pitch. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes, the dealer said that it tested the horn sound and compared it to a known good model. Were th. any warning lamps, mess. or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Yes. When I first took delivery of the vehicle, the horn sounded louder. Below is a copy of the email I sent to Mossy Toyota dealership in San Diego, CA on 11/30/2023: Brian, This morning I left my Green 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross XLE for repair. One of the issues, in the list is the horn not working correctly. FYI, the Cross has TWO horns. One high note and one low note. Horn - Repair or Replace Did you know most vehicles have two horns that sound in concert? If your horn suddenly sounds thin or weak, your 2023 TOYOTA Corolla Cross may need to have its horn replaced. Contact us to help. For more info, see the weblink below: [XXX] 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Horn - 865200R010 | Toyota Parts Overstock, Lakeland FL Horn. 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross. Genuine Toyota Part - 865200R010 (8652020300, 86520-0R010). Ships from Toyota Parts Overstock, Lakeland FL [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11624051

Incident

Jan 8, 2024

While driving in the rain with my windshield wipers on, my car suddenly stopped and the message on the car said “engine stopping, steering slowly” and after that it said “press on brakes slowly, engine stopping , steering slowly” and then it started to cut off. I forcibly put it in park and then the engine came back on and the car started to drive fine. An hour later, I turned my car back on and started driving and my screen went black. I turned the car off and turned it back on and it started working again. I think it could be an electrical issue but I don’t know for sure. I bought this car used with a little over 30k miles on it.

NHTSA ID

11614344

Incident

Sep 12, 2024

Car just shuts off while driving or at stop lights or stop signs. Car won’t start , takes 10-20 minutes to cut back on after putting car in park or stopping at stop sign or light.

NHTSA ID

11592547

Incident

May 26, 2024

My 2023 Corolla cross XLE, at least 5 times since ownership, has experienced a complete engine shut off at stop lights when driving in the rain with windshield wipers on. A message appears on the driver display saying that the engine shut off and the brake needs to be pressed hard and start button must be pushed to start the engine again. It seems to only occur in association with the engine stop/start capability that is engaged when the vehicle comes to a complete stop and the break pedal is pushed extra to engage the engine. This may sound like the normal start/stop function to save fuel, but it is not. Normally, the capability turns the engine back on upon release of the brake pedal. This issue is very different, in that the engine shut down is not normal, and requires in real time traffic, returning the vehicle to park and starting it up again before putting the gear in drive again. This is very dangerous in traffic and needs a recall fix as soon as possible.

NHTSA ID

11589557

Incident

May 18, 2024

I have run into issues with the auto start/stop or brake hold being on while the windshield wipers are on. I get a "steering fluid low" message that comes up on the dashboard and the car becomes inoperable. I have to turn the car off and turn it back on in order to drive it again. This has been going on since I purchased the car in March 2023. I have not gone to a dealer around this issue as I've heard from other Toyota Corolla Cross owners have run into the same issue and that there is no remedy for the issue. There is no warning that this will happen, it happens unexpectedly and typically I'm sitting at stop signs or red lights.

NHTSA ID

11586904

Incident

May 3, 2024

Vehicle stalled while driving with both front and rear wind shield wipers on. It was raining when this occurred. We were in heavy traffic and vehicle would not move, putting us at risk. The dealer states that they are unaware of this failure occurring in the 2023 corolla cross model. The failure happened suddenly without any type of warning.

NHTSA ID

11582326

Incident

Jan 5, 2024

When driving to work it’s the 4 times the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross turns on the engine light and starts beeping with the power steering low message and shuts down and I am unable to continue driving I have taken it 4 times to Toyota dealership with them continue to say no issue is found. For me to get the vehicle working again I have to completely turn it off lock it and then unlock it and turn it back on. This is unacceptable and a big hazard issue because it does this in the middle of traffic without any indication.

NHTSA ID

11570655

Incident

Feb 3, 2024

malfunctions of electronic control of engine, AWD system, drive-start control system codes displayed on dash all of a sudden, My vehicle is new bought it Feb 2023, Acceleration doesn't engage Change of gears is rough, Got scared on the slow road bought the vehicle back to parking lot now getting it towed to the dealer.

NHTSA ID

11565579

Incident

Jan 15, 2024

It was a snow/ rain day I had my wipers on and was stopped at a traffic light when my engine stopped and I got a message on my dashboard “ engine stopped power steering low”. This vehicle is new with less than 5000 miles. I had to turn off the engine and restart the car in the middle of traffic.

NHTSA ID

11564463

Incident

Jan 9, 2024

Driving in Bumper-to-Bumper traffice on interstate 10. It was raining and the wipers were on. The problem occurred on December 20th during frequent starts and stops to maintain traffic flow with other vehicles. During one of the stops, the engine turned off as it normally does at a traffic light or when stuck in traffic. Upon lifting my foot off the brake, the car emiited loud sounds and various lights came on the dashboard. Cars behind me started honking their horns and other cars began acclerating passed me on the adjacent lanes. I was very upset and frightened. I tried several times to try and restart the car. I finally was able to get it started and drove directly to the dealer- Toyota of the Desert in Cathedral City. The Service writer said they could not find anything wrong with the car and would not give me a loaner. I am a health care provider and use my car to take my patients for doctor visits etc. She needs 24/7 coverage, so I asked her husband to pick me up at the dealer. He called the dealer and escalated the request for a loaner which was granted. The next day I asked him to return the loaner and pick up my car. He spoke with several people at the dealership including F&I, Service Director and Sales director and no one ever heard of this problem. He did some research and found that this problem has been reported many times. ie. Auto stop/start and many times with windshield wipers on causes car to unexpectantly stall. There are multiple reports listed under several categories on this database. This needs immediate attention before something terrible happens.

NHTSA ID

11561787

Incident

Dec 20, 2023

I bought my car yesterday. Was driving tonight when it was raining with my wipers on. I stopped at a stoplight and the engine stopped, the check engine light came on, a loud and long beep sounded, and messages came up on the screen saying steering power low, press brake firmly to restart. I tried multiple times to press the brake for restarting but it didn't work. I had to put on my flashers for cars to go around me because I couldn't get the car to go. I finally put it in park and had to turn it completely off and on I believe twice before I finally got it started and could drive home.

NHTSA ID

11558866

Incident

Dec 6, 2023

Dear NHTSA Representative: I bought a Toyota Cross LE 2023 in April of 2023. During the first few weeks of owning and using the vehicle, seat belt alarms got activated even though all passengers were wearing their respective seat belts. Also, open door alarms got activated randomly while all of them were properly closed. On the 27 of July 2023 at a stop light the vehicle turned off in accordance with the Auto Stop Programming feature, however once the brake pedal was released, the engine failed to start while faults appeared on the instrument cluster display. When the vehicle was taken to the Toyota dealer, the manufacturer representative did not recognize the situation as a technical problem. They just advised to turn off the Auto Stop Feature as a "remedy" on August 3, 2023. Service job orders were not given when repair was requested. On November 13, 2023 the vehicle failed to engage any gear once the shift lever was moved from P to D. Malfunction faults appeared on the instrument cluster display and the engine stalled. Once again the vehicle put us on a safety risk due to manufacturer defects. The vehicle was transported to the Toyota Dealer for repair. I am a resident of Puerto Rico and this car was bought to accommodate my mother's and my needs of transportation to fulfill personal and professional necessities. Even though monthly payments are made in compliance with the financial commitment, warranty services already paid in advance are not being delivered or fulfilled. As a result of this condition, I am not able to recognize the trustworthiness of the vehicle under Toyota Brand advertising in Spanish "Maneja Confiado". It is my request for NHTSA to evaluate my complaint and investigate this defect of intermittent nature that compromises the safe use of this car by my family among traffic with other drivers. I will be seeking to cancel this purchase agreement and no longer recognize Toyota as a dependable or reliable option for transportation.

NHTSA ID

11556116

Incident

Apr 6, 2023

I bought this car less than a month ago! I pulled out of a parking lot and was waiting to turn left when my car suddenly shut off with a loud alarm sound. The check engine light came on as well as a steering pressure light. The dashboard read to press the brake firmly into the ground to start the car..it did not start. I was able to put the car in park and after 3 attempts get the car to start. I was in rush hour traffic with many cars around and behind me honking their horns and yelling all while I was stuck. There was no warning it simply just shut off in the middle of traffic. I am now waiting for it to be inspected by the service department where I purchased it from.

NHTSA ID

11552174

Incident

Oct 26, 2023

My vehicle was stopped at a stoplight with the start stop engine feature engaged. I had my windshield wipers on, and it was raining heavily, when suddenly that car turned completely off and started emitting a loud beep. There was a power steering error on my dash and the wheel locked itself completely, the car would not restart at all. There was a message on my dash to firmly press the brake, and the car would restart, but pressing the brake did nothing. I was stuck in the middle of an intersection in a vehicle that is less than two months old in the middle of traffic, and live in a city, where it rains continuously for several months out of the year. Toyota is aware of this issue, but there aren't any fixes available for a vehicle that will turn itself off when using the windshield wipers while it's raining.

NHTSA ID

11548036

Incident

Oct 2, 2023

I was driving during the rain with the wipers on (intermittent) and the auto start/stop feature engaged. I got to a red light and stopped. I lifted my foot off the brake to press the accelerator and then the car didn't restart. The instrument panel then said low steering power and another message about the brake. A loud tone was continuously emitted. I pressed the brake and put the car in park and was able to restart it. I was scared because traffic behind me was honking for me to proceed and I was not able to at first.

NHTSA ID

11547505

Incident

Sep 29, 2023

I ordered the car in July and it arrived on 8/3/23. On 8/31/23, I got in the car while in my garage, attempted to start it as usual, and a loud sound occurred when I shifted from park to reverse. Lights began flashing. I turned off the car, got out and walked around to make sure I hadn’t hit anything. After verifying clearance all around, I checked my phone. The Toyota Corolla Cross XLE had 4 codes listed: malfunctions of: electronic control of engine, AWD system, drive-start control system, and the advanced ultrasonic detecting and ranging system. I restarted the car and backed out of my garage. The check engine light was still on. I backed out and tried to drive down my neighborhood street. When I steeped in the accelerator, the engine would race but not engage. Acceleration was problematic so I returned home. Later the same day, I had it towed into a local Toyota service center. After several days, they said it was “just a glitch”. They reset it and have not been able to get the codes to recur.

NHTSA ID

11542639

Incident

Aug 31, 2023

The car has suddenly turn off while driving, all lights come one and does take a while to be able.to turn back on. It had happened 4 times already. Twice today while my daughter was driving on a busy street, nearly missing getting it by someone else. And the second time in the middle of an intersection today was a rainy day, and she had the automatic on/off button off. Twice before, on 2 separate days one was sunny, the day was sprinkling.

NHTSA ID

11541799

Incident

Aug 30, 2023

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross. The contact stated that the automatic START/STOP feature intermittently failed to operate as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle failed to restart upon depression of the accelerator pedal. The contact was forced to manually place the gear shift into park(P) and restart the vehicle. The contact called the dealer and was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 3,000.

NHTSA ID

11539111

Incident

Jul 1, 2023

Mileage

3,000 mi