2022 Toyota Corolla Cross: What to check before buying

Stalling at stops, usually with auto stop/start on, brings up the message "Engine stopped, steering power low." The steering goes heavy or will not turn until the car is restarted. Most reports tie the stalls to rain with the wipers running. Restarts can take several minutes, which leaves drivers stuck in traffic. One car started stalling before 15,000 miles, and the stalls became more frequent over time. Dealers often cannot duplicate the problem. One crash report describes warning lights, failed brakes and lost steering, with 2 injuries.

Sudden shutoffs happen in drive without warning, either at a stop or right after stop/start restarts the engine while pulling into traffic. Coolant bypass valve faults trigger an Engine Malfunction warning. One dealer found the valve stuck closed and warned it could cause stalling and overheating. The repair and coolant flush cost the owner over $800, and the warning came back right away. One fire report describes an engine that kept running after shutdown, sounded like a lawnmower, and caught fire while parked.

The car shuts off completely, either while driving or after stop/start powers it down at a light. Warnings include "Voltage abnormality Steering Power Low" and a 12-volt battery charging system malfunction telling the driver to stop in a safe place. Some cars will not restart and leave drivers stranded in traffic or needing a tow. One failure came at only 5,000 miles. Repairs are slow. One car sat at the dealer for 70+ days, and other owners report dealer visits with no fix.

Front airbags fail to deploy in frontal collisions. Two crash reports list 3 injuries, including a fractured sternum from the seat belt. After one crash, an airbag error left the car undrivable. A recall also applies here: owners received letters warning that the passenger airbag may not deploy as designed. One owner says the recall came out 2 weeks before their crash, but they were never notified.

Restarting after an automatic stop fails at lights, typically in rain with the wipers on. Pressing the gas does nothing, the dash shows "Engine stopped" messages, and the steering wheel may not turn until the driver shifts to park and restarts. Drivers end up stuck at green lights with traffic behind them. A separate complaint describes a coolant bypass valve replacement. The owner says other Toyotas from these years needed the same fix soon after the warranty ended and was told the engine would fail without it.

The right rear differential bracket cracks, causing loud banging when turning or shifting from reverse to forward. In the reported case it broke in two places with no pothole impact, and the service staff had never seen it before. A separate complaint describes hard jerking under acceleration, a knocking sound from the engine and slow pickup. The dealer repeatedly found nothing wrong.

The manual driver seat slowly sinks after it is raised, dropping 1 to 2 levels within hours or days. Drivers have to lift it back up each time they get in. Both reports involve the LE trim. One appeared at 25,491 miles while the car was still under warranty, and neither the dealer nor Toyota corporate would acknowledge the problem.