Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
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Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2020 Toyota Corolla submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 38 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.
The 25 most recent of 38, in the owner's own words
The concentric slave cylinder in my vehicle is a big issue with these cars. There has been so many reports of issues happening with these cars manual transmission Corolla's. This can cause fluid to spew, brakes to stop working, and no longer able to drive the vehicle safely. This part should be recalled and covered by Toyota.
The CV joint, there is a clicking sound when sharp turns are make to include U-turns. Spoke with a mechanic and was instructed to reach out to the dealership and check for recall on it. I did see any but I see a Technical Service Bulletin ( TSB-0106-20) for 2015- 2021 Corolla models regarding a potential clinking noise during sharp turns and u turns. This may have started three months ago. It is more noticeable now that I am driving more.
FAILED COMPONENT & AVAILABILITY: The manual transmission Concentric Slave Cylinder (CSC) failed internally. Due to caustic hydraulic fluid contamination and severe system pressure loss, I had to replace the internal CSC unit, the clutch disc, the pressure plate, the flywheel, the master clutch cylinder, and the hydraulic clutch lines. The failed components have been retained and are available for inspection upon request. SAFETY RISK: The plastic housing of the OEM slave cylinder cracked internally, spraying caustic hydraulic brake fluid inside the transmission bell housing and completely coating the flywheel, pressure plate, and clutch friction disc. This caused an immediate, sudden loss of hydraulic pressure, forcing the clutch pedal to drop and stick flat to the floorboard. This put my safety and the safety of others at extreme risk, as it suddenly prevented me from disengaging the clutch, shifting gears, or safely dropping the vehicle into neutral while driving in active traffic.CONFIRMATION & REPAIR: A certified Toyota dealership diagnosed the issue and issued an unaffordable repair estimate of $4,800 to fix this recurring manufacturer defect. Because of this extreme cost, I was forced to drop the transmission and perform the entire rebuild myself. The total out-of-pocket cost just for replacement parts was $3,200. The vehicle has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives as no crash resulted. WARNINGS & MILEAGE SYMPTOMS: There were no prior dashboard warning lamps, error messages, or clear physical indicators before either failure occurred. The loss of clutch pedal pressure happened instantaneously. This vehicle has suffered this catastrophic internal failure twice: the original factory-installed unit (part number 31400-19025) failed prematurely at 59,000 miles. The updated replacement part (superseded part number 31400-19027), which suffers from the exact same defective plastic composition, failed again just 40,000 miles later.
Design issue: The 12th-generation (E210) Corolla manual transmission utilizes a CSC unit containing plastic/ABS components that owners and forum communities frequently cite as a weak point prone to premature leakage and mechanical failure. This occured to my corolla on a roadway and presented a severe safety hazard.
"On 04/09/26, I took my vehicle for regular maintenance and an oil change; no potential issues were reported. I operated the vehicle in good faith, trusting its safety. However, on Sunday, 05/03/2026, while driving at highway speeds, the clutch pedal failed and [stuck to the floor / slipped severely]. This caused an immediate loss of power to the wheels in high-speed traffic, creating a life-threatening situation and a high risk of a rear-end collision. No warning lights appeared prior to this failure."
The clutch slave cylinder failed at 48,000 miles. On the freeway, I had difficulty shifting into gear and I had cars passing me at high speeds, putting my life and others' lives at risk. This part defect is due to the plastic clutch slave cylinder failing. This common issue is well-documented by numerous other owners, with the part failing before the routine clutch maintenance cycle. My car was inspected by an independent mechanic, who said the lack of clutch pressure is due to the clutch slave cylinder failing. The worst part is that there were no warning lamps or messages before this happened. Toyota is claiming there is no recalls for this part, whic his astounding because the clutch is essential for the 6speed transmission.
Clutch slave cylinder started leaking leading to a sticking clutch pedal, making it difficult to engage the transmission with the engine, and a lower brake/clutch fluid level which could have caused braking issues if the fluid got too low.
Clutch Slave Cylinder at 51,000 miles failed causing vehicle clutch to not return and loss of fluid. Brake fluid and clutch fluid are used in the same reservoir and could cause issues causing vehicle to not be able to stop. Vehicle has been inspected by shop and has been replicated. The part exploded and leaks fluid inside of transmission housing. This also causes the clutch to fail as-well. Vehicle has always been serviced and maintained and this is a common issue with all vehicles that have 6 speed manual transmission with varying mileage. It is not a matter of if, it’s when and due to this being something that happens with generally no warning signs can be dangerous. There needs to be an updated part that can handle the design Toyota chose for this transmission.
FAULTY HYDRAULICS IN THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. FAULTY SLAVE CYLINDER LEAKING FLUID AND POTENTIALLY CAUSING VEHICLE TO BECOME "STUCK" IN GEAR WHILE DRIVING OR UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR WHILE PARKED. NOT AN UNCOMMON ISSUE WITH THESE MODELS.
Beginning on April 18, 2025, my 2020 Toyota Corolla LE began experiencing repeated failures involving multiple safety systems while driving. Without warning, several lights illuminate at the same time, including: Brake System Malfunction, Pre-Collision System, Parking Brake System, Vehicle Stability Control, Check Engine, and Secondary Collision Brake System. These warnings appear suddenly during normal driving, then sometimes disappear, then return again unpredictably. These failures disable several integrated safety systems and create a serious safety risk due to changes in braking performance, loss of stability control, and disabled collision-avoidance functions. Diagnostic scans from both the dealership and an independent mechanic repeatedly show: P1578 — Brake System Malfunction P265B — Rocker Arm Actuator Position Sensor Circuit Range/Performance (Bank 1) Both codes reappear even after being cleared. The vehicle was with Loving Toyota Lufkin, TX multiple times over seven months. They received over $7,100 in insurance payments for repairs, $463 towing cost (due to the negligence of Loving Toyota) and almost $1,500 in rental cars (Paid by State Farm) but were unable to diagnose or fix the underlying failure. Loving Toyota also provided a courtesy rental for 7+ weeks while they did no repairs to the car. The safety warnings continue to occur. Toyota Corporate is now involved but the vehicle remains unsafe to drive. The same code P265B is present that was present back in April 2025. This car is not safe! The problem has been reproduced by me, the dealership, and an independent shop. The vehicle is available for inspection. All scans, photos, videos, and documentation are available upon request. Date first occurred: April 18, 2025 Issue continues intermittently to present day
This is in regards to toyota CSP 24TE04 and the Engine Bypass System. This was also included in a class action lawsuit that got dropped. Engine Bypass System is faulty and shows check engine requiring replacing of Bypass Valve and or wiring. According to 24TE04 it has been affecting over 2 million cars, but not all are being fairly covered. They need to include all models with this system that were produced during this time. Thank you
At 97,000 miles, the slave cylinder in my vehicle blew. My clutch pedal had stuck to the floor, and my brakes became harder and harder to press down because the clutch takes from the brake fluid reservoir. Brake fluid began to leak from the transmission, and it had to be towed in. If I hadn't come to a stop, I could have gotten in a horrible accident.
I was driving on the freeway on my way to the house my car start to make some noises and I was loosing power I pulled up on the shoulder and turn off the car because the check engine came on turn off the car again but was struggling to go into first gear
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.
Drive start control malfunction occurred when turning the car on. Second time this has happened. First time was a charcoal canister and engine coolant valve. It was replaced under warranty at 50k miles but now at 96k miles the dealer says it is not covered under the extended warranty. Not sure how this problem happened.
The "Engine Maintenance Required" message on a 2020 Toyota Corolla SE keep coming on after I have reset numerous time. The "Engine Maintenance Required" message on a 2020 Toyota Corolla SE typically indicates a problem with the coolant bypass valve, not the regular maintenance schedule. This message is distinct from the "Maintenance Required" light that usually prompts oil changes. The coolant bypass valve issue often results in a DTC code and may require replacement.
Approximately one month ago the clutch pedal on my manual 2020 Corolla went all the way to the floor and stuck in place. Had it towed to my mechanics shop and it took them nearly 2 weeks just to get a slave cylinder to replace the defective part with. Fast-forward a week later and exactly the same thing happened. According to several different threads I have read online, this seems to be a problematic situation with the manual Corollas. Hopefully I will not experience any further problems however it appears that the defective slave cylinder part is to blame.
Engine Coolant Bypass Valve failed at 42400 miles. The problem was identified and confirmed at a dealership. There was a warning message appearing on the dashboard stating that engine maintenance was required.
Engine maintenance light came on after turning on air conditioner. Vehicle information: warning light came on at 56,800 miles on 2020 Toyota Corolla, no after market modifications to vehicle. I took vehicle to Toyota dealership for diagnostic testing. Conclusion: coolant bypass valve faulty causing leaks (this can cause overheating, stalling, increased emissions, and total engine failure and also allows coolant to leak into and damage surrounding engine components, including a vehicle's electrical system, the complaint relays). Fortunately, I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY when I bought the vehicle new, which covered the repairs. The faulty coolant bypass valve was replaced at the Toyota dealership. Had I not purchased the extended warranty, I would of been out of pocket for said repairs.
At 55K miles for my 2020 Toyota Corolla, the Engine Maintenance Required notification popped up on my screen and is not removable. Upon further verification numerous 2020-2021 corollas have been having this issue at similar amounts of mileage. It is a faulty Engine Coolant Bypass Valve that needs to be replaced. If I were to take it in to a dealership, they would charge $500+ just as they have for many others when it should really be a recall. As of now I have not taken it to be inspected due to fear of steep labor costs. My safety is at risk because if this does not get replaced my engine will overheat causing total failure of the car, and as a 2020 model with such low mileage, this is ridiculous.
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.
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle was jerking abnormally. The contact noticed a failure with the transmission; however, there were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was concerned that the vehicle might stall while driving. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was instructed to contact the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 131,000.
Engine coolant valve is broken. Part of power train as it cools circuits for the power train.
Engine coolant bypass valve becomes faulty at low mileage
I have only had the car for a year and a half, and I have already had to replace the battery which was less than 2 years old, all 4 tires (2 at 40000 miles and 2 at 48000), and now the engine wiring harness somehow got severed and has to be replaced which is almost $6k repair!
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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