RoadVitals

2018 Toyota Corolla Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Oct 18, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 133 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2018 Toyota Corolla submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalFuel system
Filed Oct 18, 2025

After having no indication of any issue, my 2018 Toyota Corolla has stopped re-starting after fueling. The only light that appeared was regarding my battery. My battery is brand new and tested.

NHTSA ID
11694221
Incident
Oct 17, 2025
Electrical
Filed Aug 25, 2025

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2018 Toyota Corolla. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was approximately 85,000. The contact later discovered that the mileage on the Title was 200,095.

NHTSA ID
11682844
Incident
Aug 24, 2025
Mileage
200,095 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 13, 2024

I was driving down the highway and I heard a tapping noise thought it might have been a piece of trim loose on the car so I pulled over and stopped. Immediately the engine died would not restart. I looked under the hood and the radiator cap had blown off and all of the coolant was gone The engine had overheated when I put compression test was done there was water shooting out of the valve cover. It was diagnosed as a blown head gasket The car never gave any warning lights or the thermostat never showed any temperature problem at all. I was sitting on the side of the highway for 12 hours trying to figure out what to do with the car because I didn't have money for a tow truck. Fortunately nothing terribly bad happened as a result However had I not heard the trim loose and pulled over and the car had died in the highway it could have been way worse.

NHTSA ID
11577085
Incident
Mar 11, 2024
Electrical
Filed Nov 8, 2023
Fire reported

The contact owned a 2018 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle in the driveway, approximately 12 hours later while the contact was sleeping, a sound woke the contact and it was discovered that the vehicle caught on fire. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. During the incident, the vehicle was destroyed and the fire also caused damage to the garage door, the side of the home, and the concrete driveway. The contact mentioned that the battery was replaced by AAA 3 weeks after the incident. No injuries were reported. A fire report was taken at the scene. The vehicle was later towed away. The cause of the fire was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the fire. The failure mileage was 8,000.

NHTSA ID
11554139
Incident
Jul 17, 2022
Mileage
8,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed May 5, 2023

Check engine light on. Cruise control stopped working. Fuel cap tightened.

NHTSA ID
11520548
Incident
May 4, 2023
Driver assistanceElectricalFuel system
Filed Jan 6, 2022

While driving the car started to sputter like it was going to die. When I stopped to gas the next day a gush of air came out of the gas tank when I took the cap off. I put gas in and then my car wouldn’t start. For 3 hours I tried and finally it started. Now I can have in park and it revs clear to the 5 sometimes then it starts sputtering. Every time I put gas in I have to sit for 3 hours then it starts. The trac off light on the dash is on as well so nothing works the lane control, cruise control, the emergency brake system.

NHTSA ID
11446498
Incident
Dec 1, 2021
AirbagsElectricalSeat belts
Filed Nov 17, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE AIR BAGS AND REAR SEAT BELTS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER TOYOTA OF DOWNTOWN LA. (1901 S FIGUEROA ST, LOS ANGELES, CA 90007, (213) 986-2011) HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 19,391. *LN*JB

NHTSA ID
11375105
Incident
Nov 2, 2020
Mileage
19,391 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 1, 2020
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WITHOUT STARTING THE VEHICLE, SMOKE START TO EMITTED THROUGH THE VENTS AND THE BOTTOM OF THE DASHBOARD IN THE MIDDLE. THE CONTACT NOT AWARE OF WHAT CAUSING THE SMOKE TO COME THROUGH THE VENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,326.

NHTSA ID
11362185
Incident
Sep 30, 2020
Mileage
59,326 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed May 29, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN JIM ELLIS TOYOTA OF MCDONOUGH (144 HWY 81, MCDONOUGH, GA 30253), TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V012000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 33,000.*DT*JB

NHTSA ID
11326502
Incident
Jan 15, 2020
Mileage
33,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 16, 2020

THE CAR WAS IN STATIONARY MODE ON A CITY STREET AND WAITING FOR THE RED LIGHT TO TURN GREEN. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE TURNED GREEN AND I ACCELERATED A LITTLE AS THE CAR BEGIN TO MOVE BUT OUT OF NOWHERE THE CAR TURNED OFF AND ALL SYSTEMS STOPPED, INCLUDING THE COMPUTER BOARD, BUT BEFORE ALL WENT BLANK THERE WAS A MESSAGE ABOUT SYSTEM ERROR WITH A TRIANGLE SYMBOL, AND I HAD TO MANUALLY ACTIVATE THE PARKING LEVER AS WELL AS PRESS THE BRAKES. THANKFULLY EVERYONE IN THEIR LANES NOTICED MY ODYSSEY AND MADE SPACE FOR THE OTHER UPCOMING CARS AS I ACTIVATED THE EMERGENCY FLASHING LIGHTS. HOWEVER, I TURNED THE CAR FULLY OFF BY TURNING THE KEY AND WAITED SOME MINUTES AS I WAS ADJUSTING TO THE SITUATION. I THEN TURNED THE CAR ON AGAIN AND WORKED. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE STAFF MEMBER WHO ASSISTED ME SAID THAT THE SYSTEM'S RECORD SHOWED THAT THERE AS AN ERROR HISTORY BUT DID NOT SAY WHICH COMPONENT PART OR WHERE THE MALFUNCTION WAS LOCATED THAT CAUSED THE CAR'S SAFETY RISK IN REGARDS TO THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND ENGINE TO STOP WITHOUT ANY NOTICE. THIS RESPONSE TO WHAT HAPPENED WAS NOT SATISFACTORY TO ME BECAUSE NOTHING WAS DONE AND NO PAPERWORK OR RECORD WAS GIVEN TO ME ABOUT THE SYSTEM CHECK OR REPORT. THIS INCIDENT AND UNKNOWN RESPONSE TO THE MALFUNCTION CAUSE HAVE MADE ME WORRY ABOUT THIS HAPPENING AGAIN IN THE FUTURE UNDER OTHER UNSAFE CIRCUMSTANCES AND THAT IT COULD CAUSE ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
11299994
Incident
Sep 6, 2019
Mileage
10,264 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Dec 27, 2019
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO ENTER HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, THE LANE DEPARTURE WHEEL ASSIST MALFUNCTION. THE LANE DEPARTURE WHEEL ASSIST ENGAGED WITHOUT BEING ACTIVATED BY THE DRIVER CAUSING THE VEHICLE VEERED LEFT AND RIGHT. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT CRASHED INTO A WALL BARRIER. THE AMBULANCE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT ASSISTED THE DRIVER OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT HAND, BACK, AND LEGS, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND WERE CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION. POLICE REPORT NUMBER: 19049540 WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ID
11291652
Incident
Sep 13, 2019
Mileage
30,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 22, 2019

I WAS TRYING TO BACK UP IN AREA WITH A LOT OF YOUNG CHILDREN AROUND. WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND LOOKED AT THE CAMERA SCREEN, IT HAD COMPLETELY DIED. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET THE SCREEN TO WORK SINCE. IT DOES NOT DO ANY GOOD FOR THE NHTSA TO REQUIRE BACK UP CAMERA SYSTEMS IF THEY FAIL AFTER A FEW MONTHS. THE SAFETY BENEFIT OF REQUIRING A SYSTEM ON 2018 VEHICLES IF THE SYSTEM FAILS COMPLETELY BEFORE THE END OF 2019 IS NOT GOOD.

NHTSA ID
11257194
Incident
Sep 22, 2019
Mileage
28,600 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .