2026 Toyota Corolla Owner Complaints

I own a 2026 Toyota Corolla purchased in November 2025. The recurring problems began on December 8, 2025, when multiple warning lights appeared on the dashboard along with the message “System Malfunction – Visit Your Dealer.” The warning indicators involved several vehicle safety and driver-assistance systems. The vehicle was taken to an authorized Toyota dealership for inspection and repair. On June 16, 2026, the vehicle experienced another serious malfunction, including a “Transmission System Malfunction” warning. The electrical and operational problems continued despite dealership visits and repairs. The battery was also replaced, but this did not permanently resolve the recurring failures. During a later incident while the vehicle was being driven, multiple warning lights appeared and the vehicle lost power or shut off. There was no crash or injury, but the unexpected malfunction while driving created a serious risk to the driver, passengers, and other motorists. The dealership has also addressed an issue involving the shift lever position sensor and corrosion or water intrusion. I do not know the exact component responsible for all of these failures. However, the problems have occurred repeatedly since December 2025 despite multiple dealership visits. Toyota was notified and corporate Case No. 260630000224 was opened. I have not received a permanent explanation or resolution, and I am concerned that the vehicle could unexpectedly malfunction or shut off again while being driven.

NHTSA ID

11751940

Incident

Dec 8, 2025

Vehicle emissions out of the dashboard defroster vents deposit a sticky, chemical film onto the inside front windshield, causing severe driver vision impairment. The chemical vapor triggers immediate respiratory irritation and dizziness, presenting an imminent risk of a motor vehicle crash.Defect / Nonconformity: The vehicle suffers from a severe HVAC or interior component material failure causing toxic off-gassing. An official Toyota FTS report (RO #116504) documented dangerous TVOC levels of 9.455 mg inside the vehicle. The manufacturing defect substantially impairs the safety, use, and commercial value of the vehicle. I did not have car seats in trunk, the time completed on report is changed, they will no longer inspect car. Specialist (FTS) report explicitly logs TVOC levels at 9.455 mg (3 PPM) inside the cabin. The film on my front windows is not coming from the trunk THIS IS A KNOWN HAZARD . LITERALLY told you

NHTSA ID

11751412

Incident

Jul 1, 2026

I also wanted to add the mold.. from the hour test was performed on this car. Ac in high flow. Within 12 hrs growth appears

NHTSA ID

11751132

Incident

Jun 26, 2026

System or component that failed: Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) / Climate Control System.Description of Incident: The vehicle's HVAC system emits a severe, persistent chemical odor / Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) smell directly into the passenger cabin.Nail polish remover, burning plastic after DRIVING FORTH 20 MIN, was not addressed. This toxic-smelling odor causes immediate physical discomfort, chest pain, neck stiffness, including headaches and respiratory irritation while driving, creating a driver distraction and safety hazard. Dealer status: The vehicle was taken to a Toyota dealership on june 13, july 29th, refused ANY FURTHER INVESTIGATION. UNDER WARRANTYbut the defect could not be permanently resolved by the service center. Now seeing the chip in car was messed with after getting it towed back

NHTSA ID

11751113

Incident

Jun 3, 2026

I have mcas/ CIRS this new car triggered chest pain, muscle weakness, swelling, etc FTS REPORT CONFIRMED high off gassing. I'm in 3 mast cell stabalizers a day. I'm w out a car i put down 3500 a month ago. They left me, knowing all this. I'm 9 miles from a bus stop, from shopping, can't make money w out a car. 40 min from drs. I Already have lung nodules. Single mom, just want a safe reliable car odi XXX, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11748157

Incident

Jun 7, 2026

There is a shadow or "dark spot" observed in the LED low headlight beam. It is distracting while driving. The dark spot is distracting, sometimes you think an animal is coming into view, causing confusion. It is especially noticeable on totally dark roads in remote places.

NHTSA ID

11747698

Incident

Jun 28, 2026

My brand-new 2026 Toyota Corolla LE is venting toxic chemical, burning plastic, and acetone-like fumes directly through the dashboard HVAC vents and interior materials. Exposure to the cabin air causes immediate, severe systemic injury, including acute respiratory distress, throat and vocal cord inflammation resulting in a lost voice, uncontrollable sweating, and severe neurological muscle weakness. I have a critical pre-existing medical condition consisting of two lung nodules, making this chemical inhalation an immediate, life-threatening hazard to my health. This exposure has previously left me physically incapacitated for five days. The manufacturer (Toyota Motor North America) has been formally notified of the defect and my documented medical injuries. However, the manufacturer is refusing to provide emergency alternative transportation or safe loaner transport and is delaying the vehicle safety inspection for a full week (until June 29). The vehicle is currently parked and completely undriveable due to the active chemical or thermal hazard it presents to vehicle occupants.

NHTSA ID

11745779

Incident

Jun 7, 2026

This was a rental car. In the rain, the lane assistance would try to correct the vehicle even when the vehicle was in its lane. It was like it didn’t see the lane markings in the rain. The car was wrecked in the rain but had other incidents previously while driving in the rain. The adaptive cruise control also seemed to malfunction when I set it, it started going faster than what I had set it.

NHTSA ID

11745459

Incident

Jun 19, 2026

What component or system failed or malfunctioned? Seatbelt sensor system and cruise control system. The seatbelt sensor prevents cruise control activation unless the belt is fastened. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? A driver who cannot wear a seatbelt for a valid medical reason (recognized by state law) is forced to drive without cruise control. Manually maintaining speed over long distances increases driver fatigue and distraction, raising the risk of error. The dealer also disabled the factory seatbelt chime without consent, removing an audible safety warning. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. Peppers Toyota ([XXX]) confirmed on March 17, 2026 that cruise control will not activate without a fastened seatbelt. They attempted no fix for cruise control. Instead, they disabled the seatbelt chime without my request or consent. I asked them to restore the chime. They refused. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes. Peppers Toyota inspected the vehicle on March 17, 2026. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Yes. The factory seatbelt chime operated normally until March 17, 2026. On that date, Peppers Toyota intentionally disabled the chime without my consent. The chime no longer functions. The vehicle will not activate cruise control without a fastened seatbelt. If you are uncertain, simply state UNKNOWN and provide your best assessment of the incident and cause in your description. UNKNOWN why Peppers Toyota disabled the seatbelt chime without my consent or authorization. UNKNOWN why they refuse to restore it to factory settings. UNKNOWN why the cruise control cannot be modified to work independently of the seatbelt sensor, given that service staff stated this modification had been done on older Toyota models. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

NHTSA ID

11742883

Incident

Mar 17, 2026

I traded in my 2022 Corolla LE for a 2026 Corolla SE and I got my car on December 19th, 2025 and ever since I got it, the wireless charger hasn’t been working not once. I turn it on, it charges and the light is green and after a few seconds, it stops charging and flashes orange repeatedly. I tried it with different phones, without a case, and brought it to the dealership where they replaced the wireless charger but the issue continued with the new charger, so they put back the original one. The dealership told me it’s a defect issue and that other people had similar issues.

NHTSA ID

11737082

Incident

Dec 19, 2025

#### The ABS Defect 12. Within seven (7) days of purchase, and with fewer than [NUMBER] miles driven, the subject vehicle experienced a catastrophic failure of the ABS pump containing the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) [citation:1 from previous analysis]. 13. This failure caused the ABS warning light to illuminate and completely disabled the ABS functionality, reducing the braking system to non-power-assisted, pre-ABS technology. 14. The failure occurred with no warning and despite the vehicle being operated under normal driving conditions. 15. Upon information and belief, the ABS pump/ECU unit contained manufacturing and/or design defects that existed at the time the vehicle left Defendants' control. #### The Airbag System Defect 16. On or about [DATE OF CRASH], Plaintiffs were involved in a motor vehicle collision while operating the subject 2026 Toyota Corolla. 17. Upon information and belief, the crash forces were of sufficient magnitude that the vehicle's Airbag Control Unit (ACU) should have deployed the front airbags. 18. The airbags failed to deploy, causing Plaintiffs to sustain enhanced injuries that would have been prevented or mitigated had the airbags functioned properly. 19. Upon information and belief, the Airbag Control Unit in the subject vehicle is of the same type or design as those implicated in prior class action litigation against Toyota involving defective ACUs manufactured by ZF-TRW Automotive . 20. Defendants have previously settled claims regarding ACUs that were vulnerable to "electrical overstress," which could disable the airbag system entirely during a crash, for $78.5 million . 21. Defendants failed to warn Plaintiffs that the 2026 Toyota Corolla might contain an ACU with these same vulnerabilities.

NHTSA ID

11728132

Incident

Mar 4, 2026

The contact rented a 2026 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, she heard a loud pop and the vehicle forcibly swerved to the right. The vehicle crashed into an unoccupied parked vehicle. The contact stated that the front driver's side tire was 90 degrees outward. The air bags did not deploy. The contact did not sustain any injuries, and no medical attention was received. The police were called, but they did not arrive on the scene. A police report was submitted online. The vehicle rental company towed the vehicle to a tow yard. The contact was unaware whether the vehicle had been deemed totaled by the insurance company. The contact related the failure to the suspension. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 766. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID

11723319

Incident

Mar 8, 2026

Mileage

766 mi

Make: Toyota Model: Corolla (likely hatchback/sedan) Year: 2026 VIN: [XXX] Mileage at Incident: 80 Date of Purchase: February 17, 2026 Date of Incident: February 19, 2026 Description of Defect: While moving slowly in reverse on dry pavement (no throttle, no sharp steering, no brake misuse), the vehicle suddenly spun out of control—yaw/skid like rear wheels lost grip or stability control malfunctioned and steering wheel locked. No prior warning. The spin caused a collision with another vehicle and nearly resulted in serious injury/death to the driver/owner (myself, [XXX] ). Suspected Causes (based on symptoms and similar reports): •  Possible ESC (electronic stability control) or yaw sensor failure. •  ABS/traction control pulsing/locking wheels unexpectedly in reverse. •  Electronic power steering (EPS) glitch—wheel felt “fighting” or unresponsive during the event. •  No fault codes pulled by dealer yet, but similar low-speed reverse spin-outs reported in 2025-2026 Corollas (e.g., NHTSA complaints on “ABS ghosting” or “rear-end slide”). Additional Info: •  Dealer (Toyota of Hollywood, 6920 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA) has the vehicle awaiting inspector. •  Demand letter sent/hand-delivered today (February 21, 2026) under Song-Beverly Act—safety defect, one occurrence. •  No insurance claim filed—this is manufacturer liability, not driver error. •  Photos of skid marks/collision available if requested. What I Want NHTSA to Do: Investigate for potential recall—safety risk is high (uncontrolled spin in reverse at low speed). This is the second such incident in recent Corollas I’ve seen reported; could affect others. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11719598

Incident

Feb 19, 2026

On February 19, 2026, at only 80 driven miles in this new 2026 Toyota Corolla hatchback, while moving slowly in reverse on dry pavement with no throttle input, no sharp steering and no misuse of the brake the vehicle spun out of control 4-5 times in the parking lot finally causing a collision with a parked vehicle which then it stopped. This collision nearly caused serious injury to the driver. Since its a brand new vehicle bugs and recalls are hard to tell, but we cannot drive this vehicle any longer due to safety issues.

NHTSA ID

11719536

Incident

Feb 19, 2026

The contact owns a 2026 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to avoid striking a deer the vehicle crashed into a tree. The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that the SOS system detected the impact to the vehicle and alerted First Responders. The vehicle was towed to the local tow yard and later towed to a Collision Center. The contact stated that the vehicle had not been accessed by the adjuster. The contact stated that there were damages to the front of the vehicle, the windshield was shattered, and damages to the hood of the vehicle and the front passenger's door failed to open. No Police report was filed because the crash occurred on private property. The contact later sustained chest pains, however no medical attention was received. In addition, the contact stated that the chest pain was continuous. The contact was advised by the insurance company to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle event data recorder (EDR) was retrieved; however, the contact was not provided any additional information regarding the data. The failure mileage was approximately 883.

NHTSA ID

11698108

Incident

Oct 24, 2025

Mileage

883 mi