2023 Toyota Corolla Cross: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 168 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the steering, electrical, and engine. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2023- Owner complaints
- 168
- Recalls
- 6
- Crashes reported
- 6
- 5 injuries
Your inspection sheet
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2023 Toyota Corolla Cross: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Walk-around and cabin
Engine off, key in hand0/2
Cold start, engine bay, and underside
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/1
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/3
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Which Corolla Cross is it?
EPA figures for each version of the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cylGas | AWD, FWD | 30–32 mpg |
| 2.0L 4-cylHybrid | AWD | 42 mpg |
- The 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross was sold in two versions. Confirm which one this is from the window sticker, the engine cover, or the VIN report before you compare prices.
- On the hybrid, watch for the car moving off on electric power at low speed and for any hybrid system warning on the dash.
- Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A Corolla Cross that averages well under the EPA 30 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.
Check the odometer against these mileages
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Stall after Auto Start-Stop
21–2,400 miles
Repeat stalling at stops
11,619–12,197 miles
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Steering431 crash
The engine shuts off at a stop and will not restart, and the steering wheel locks or turns heavy. The dash reads "Engine Stopped, Steering Power Low" and "Press Brake Firmly to Restart," but pressing the brake does nothing. Drivers have to shift to Park and restart while stuck in traffic or an intersection. Most reports tie it to Auto Start-Stop, rain and the wipers, and many cars had only a few hundred miles. One stall ended in a bump into another car. A separate report says Lane Tracing Assist takes tight curves too aggressively.
Electrical391 crash
The same stall leads this category. After Auto Start-Stop shuts the engine off at a light, it fails to restart, the check engine light comes on, and the car has to be put in Park and restarted. Rain and intermittent wipers come up again and again. Dealers often find no stored codes and cannot reproduce the problem. Reported mileages run from about 500 to under 5,000. One crash report describes both screens going black, a string of warning lights, stiff steering, brakes that did not respond and airbags that did not deploy, with 2 people injured.
Engine23No crashes
Nearly every report here is about stalling at stops. The engine quits at a red light or in traffic, a low steering power warning appears, and only shifting to Park and restarting gets the car moving. Wet weather and the wipers are the usual triggers, though one car stalled 5 times in a single afternoon with and without the wipers on. Some cars kept stalling at 11,619 and 12,197 miles. Rough idle and one stall during a turn also appear. Dealer diagnostics often find nothing, and some owners have switched Auto Start-Stop off to avoid it.
Exterior lights15No crashes
Low-beam LED headlights throw a dark shadow or L-shaped streak into the beam, and it is most noticeable on curves at night. Dealers inspect it and call it normal, blaming the bulb element. Other owners say the headlights reach too short a distance. The taillights are criticized as small and dim, and on S and SE hybrid trims only the corner lamps light up, which owners fear invites rear-end crashes. Single factory faults include fog lights that never worked because of a missing relay, miswired rear running lights and a failed driver-side headlight assembly.
Airbags93 crashes
Airbags fail to deploy in several serious crashes, including one car that was totaled and one hit hard from behind on a highway, with 2 injuries reported. The other complaints are about the front passenger airbag recall. Owners were told to keep that seat empty while Toyota had no remedy. Some waited weeks for parts and got conflicting answers from Toyota and dealers. One buyer says the dealer sold the car the day after the recall was issued. Another stall complaint is filed here, and the dealer said the steering column recall did not apply to that car.
Transmission8No crashes
After Auto Start-Stop shuts the engine off, it fails to restart, often in rain with the wipers on, and the car has to be shifted to Park and restarted. One car rolled backward on a slight incline while it would not move. A second group of reports describes a cluster of warnings: check engine, AWD, Drive Start Control, parking brake and secondary collision brake. Some of these come with rough shifting or no acceleration. Warnings come back after codes are cleared, and one owner says a dealer repair did not hold. Early false seat belt and door-ajar alarms also appear.
Brakes6No crashes
The brake pedal turns hard near the end of a stop, and braking seems to quit for 1 to 2 seconds before it works again. Another driver says the pedal pushed back while slowing from freeway speed and only went down under heavy force, with mechanical noise during hard braking. The dealer said the brake pads were fine. The other reports repeat the Auto Start-Stop stall in rain with the wipers on, plus one cluster of stability control, parking brake and secondary collision brake warnings.
Automatic emergency braking3No crashes
Automatic braking slams on while the car pulls out of a parking space. In one case the pedestrian was 25 feet away, and the driver reported whiplash. Dealers could not duplicate it. In rain, adaptive cruise control fails to see the car ahead and holds its set speed with no warning, so the driver has to brake. A third report shows "Secondary Collision Brake System Malfunction" while driving at 2,800 miles, and it came back after the dealer cleared the codes.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints Corolla Cross owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
While at the red light the car cut completely off. The steering wheel locked and wouldn’t restart. The engine light came on and it said “power steering low”. I had just left the dealership. The car only had 21 miles on it. Traffic had to go around me and it was very scary being stuck not able to move.
Filed with NHTSA, February 2023
While stopped, my car randomly displayed a warning saying my engine had shut off, my power steering was low and I needed to get to a safe place. I was stopped at a light and even after putting the car in park I was unable to get the engine started again. I ended up rolling to the side of the road, barely able to steer, and after three tries was finally able to start up the car again. It was very unsafe and happened for no reason.
Filed with NHTSA, March 2023
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.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2024
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.
Filed with NHTSA, August 2023
It was raining and wipers were on. I was at a red light, and all of a sudden the engine cut off. The dash read a message "Engine Stopped Steering Power Low" and then "Turn engine on". The engine light was on until a started the car back up again. It is a 2023 Corolla Cross LE with about 1,400 miles on it.
Filed with NHTSA, May 2023
Sunday 10/22/23 while idling and brakes engaged at red light. Engine failure again at 11,619 miles. Had to put in park and restart vehicle and put in drive. This is the 4th time in 11 months. It idles weird as well.
Filed with NHTSA, October 2023
There is an issue with the head lights. There are shadows in the lenses or covers that create a distraction while you are driving. I was told that Toyota did it not to have lights go into on coming cars but they make it hard for the driver to see also because it makes it look like something is in the road. I feel that they should change this cause it's a not to good of a design and it could cause a accident. Thanks
Filed with NHTSA, May 2024
Dark spots on the road with the LED headlights on low beam. This is very distracting and causes me to focus on the dark spots. Very dangerous when driving on winding roads at night. A lot of deer on and on the side of the rural roads and the dark spots take my focus away.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2024
How the 2023 compares with other Corolla Cross years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2023 has the most owner complaints of the 4 Corolla Cross years we cover, about 5.7 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Steering432
- Electrical394
- Engine231
- Exterior lights153
- Airbags91
- Transmission83
Where the 2023 fits in the Corolla Cross's history
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2023 is the second model year of the Corolla Cross's first generation (2022–2023).
Toyota updated the Corolla Cross for 2025, so a 2023 does not have those changes.
What changed for 2025 (not on a 2023)
- New front fascia design
- Updated trim levels
- Enhanced technology features
Recalls to confirm (6)
Recall repairs are free at any Toyota dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
25V040000SteeringJan 2025
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, Lexus RX350, 2023-2024 NX250, and NX350 vehicles that may have been incorrectly repaired under previous NHTSA recall number 23V-480. An electrical connection inside the steering column's spiral cable assembly may be insufficiently welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver's air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection.".
Risk: A deactivated driver's air bag will not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 25TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 25LA02.
24V708000BrakesSep 2024
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Corolla Cross Hybrid and 2023-2025 Corolla Hybrid vehicles. A software error in the skid control electronic control unit (ECU) may result in a loss of power brake assist when turning a corner.
Risk: A loss of power brake assist can extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the skid control ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2024. Additionally, notifications to owners of the Corolla Hybrid vehicles were mailed January 17, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 24TA11.
24V548000EquipmentJul 2024
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain Toyota 2023 GR Supra, 2024 4 Runner, Corolla, Grand Highlander, Grand Highlander Hybrid, Land Cruiser Hybrid, Tacoma, Tacoma Hybrid, 2023-2024 BZ4X, Corolla Cross Hybrid, GR Corolla, GR86, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius Prime, Sequoia Hybrid, Tundra, Tundra Hybrid, Venza Hybrid, 2023-2025 Crown, and 2025 Camry Hybrid vehicles equipped with GST accessories. The load carrying capacity modification label may display inaccurate added weight values. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims.".
Risk: A vehicle with an incorrect maximum capacity weight value may be overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: GST will mail new labels to owners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2024. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 24R2.
23V864000AirbagsDec 2023
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Corolla Cross vehicles that were previously inspected at a dealership under recall 23V-384. The instrument panel may have been produced without the required perforation, which could result in the front-passenger air bag not deploying properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection.".
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the instrument panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 26, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TA16. Vehicles previously inspected under 23V-384 will need to return to the dealership for additional inspection.
23V480000SteeringJul 2023
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, 2023 Lexus RX350, RX350 Hybrid, RX500 Hybrid, 2023-2024 Lexus NX250, NX350, and NX350 Hybrid vehicles. An electrical connection inside the steering column's spiral cable assembly may be insufficiently welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver's air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection.".
Risk: A deactivated driver's air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2023. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TA08. Lexus' number for this recall is 23LA02.
23V384000ElectricalMay 2023
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Corolla Cross vehicles. The instrument panel may have been produced without the required perforation, which could result in the front-passenger air bag not deploying properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safey Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection.".
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the instrument panel, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 10, 2023. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB04/23TA04.
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