2023 Toyota Corolla: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 243 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
- 243
- Recalls
- 8
- Crashes reported
- 14
- 9 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: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Cold start, engine bay, and underside
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/4
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 is it?
EPA figures for each version of the 2023 Toyota Corolla. 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 | FWD | 35 mpg |
| 1.8L 4-cylHybrid | AWD, FWD | 48–50 mpg |
- The 2023 Toyota Corolla 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 that averages well under the EPA 35 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.
Start/stop stall in rain
21–12,197 miles
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2023 Toyota Corolla, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Steering603 crashes
The engine shuts off at a stop with auto start/stop on, usually in rain with the wipers running. The dash warns of low power steering, the wheel locks, and pressing the brake does not restart it. Drivers must shift to park and restart, often under 500 miles. Several reports say this happened to the Corolla Cross even though it was filed under the Corolla. Crash reports include a bump into another car and the car swerving into traffic at highway speed. Other complaints cover lane assist steering too hard on tight curves and a steering column recall stalled by part shortages.
Electrical452 crashes
Stalling at a stop in the rain, with auto start/stop on, dominates these reports. A low steering power warning follows, and the car will not restart until shifted to park. Some cars do it repeatedly, and dealers often find no stored codes. More serious reports describe both screens going black, a loss of power, and in one crash with injuries, stiff steering, no brakes, and airbags that did not deploy. Smaller complaints include false emergency braking, a brake booster and battery failure, and CarPlay navigation drifting off the road.
Engine29No crashes
Stalling at red lights with auto start/stop active is the main pattern, again tied to rain and running wipers. It is reported from the first few miles onward, sometimes several times on the same car. Owners must restart the car in park, and dealers often cannot find a fault. One report describes a fire found under the hood after a short drive. Other repeated items are a maintenance message pointing to the coolant bypass valve, a fuel smell with check engine light that returned after an evap repair, a failed fuel injector, and hesitation with high RPM when pulling into traffic.
Exterior lights25No crashes
Dark shadows in the LED low beams are the dominant complaint. They show up as spots or a band across the road and hide parts of the lane, especially on dark rural roads. Two drivers say they hit debris they could not see. Dealers mostly call it normal headlight design and decline repairs, and raising the aim blinds oncoming traffic. Other reports cover headlights too dim even on high beam, water getting into a headlight and knocking out all front lamps on one side, and taillights hard to see from directly behind.
Transmission16No crashes
Early clutch failure on the manual GR Corolla is the clearest pattern. Owners describe a burning smell, slipping in all gears, and grinding shifts, with one failure reported under 5,500 miles. Warranty coverage is often disputed, and one repair topped $6,300. Cars with automatics show the start/stop stall, sometimes rolling backward on a hill before the restart. Others report a cluster of drive start control, parking brake, and collision brake warnings, rough gear changes, no response in drive, and a transmission replacement.
Airbags156 crashes
Airbags failing to deploy in severe crashes is the main concern, with 6 crash reports and 6 injuries, including rear-end hits that totaled cars. One report describes curtain airbags firing while braking through a curve, with the seatbelt locking and steering blocked. Many other complaints concern a front passenger airbag recall. Owners were told to keep the seat empty, remedy parts were unavailable, dealers and Toyota gave conflicting answers, and one car was sold after the recall notice was issued.
Brakes8No crashes
Several reports describe the brake pedal turning hard near the end of a stop. Braking fades for a second or two, or the pedal seems to push back, and drivers have to stomp on it. One GR Corolla owner reports a heavy pedal in rain that dealers could not reproduce. No warning lights appear. The rest of these complaints repeat other patterns: the rainy-day start/stop stall, the secondary collision brake and stability control warning cluster, and one engine that failed completely.
Automatic emergency braking5No crashes
In rain, adaptive cruise control does not detect cars ahead. It holds the set speed with no warning, and drivers have to brake hard to avoid a collision. In dry conditions the reverse problem appears: false pre-collision alerts that briefly apply the brakes with nothing in the lane. One report describes parking assist braking abruptly with a pedestrian far away, causing whiplash. Another describes recurring secondary collision brake malfunction messages that returned after the dealer cleared the codes.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints Corolla 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
Brake booster failure and lost power due to malfunctioned battery . Car could not start and had to be transported by road assistance to dealer for repair. Dealer had to replace Brake Booster as well as replace battery with a new one. Car was purchased brand new in March 2023. Only 10700 miles on it.
Filed with NHTSA, December 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
after fueling strong fuel smell in vehicle within 100 miles check fuel cap light came on. next day check engine light came on. made appointment at dealership . dealership performed evap smoke test which found smoke coming from top of fuel cell. installed fuel pump ring and evap hose clip. performed evap test and smoke test -passed cleared codes. got car back next day less than 50 miles later ck engine code and fuel cap and fuel odor back.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2025
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
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
Low beam lights have a shadow that moves as car turns or goes up/down hills. When driving in dark back roads I see a line of shadow about 30’ ahead of me blacking out entire view. When high beams are on the shadow disappears. Bought car yesterday. Advised salesman. Will make appt to have it looked at. I have a video but it is failing to download.
Filed with NHTSA, October 2023
How the 2023 compares with other Corolla years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2023 ranks second for owner complaints among 8 Corolla years, about 1.6 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Steering608
- Electrical4514
- Engine2921
- Exterior lights254
- Transmission1619
- Airbags1519
Where the 2023 fits in the Corolla's history
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2023 is the fourth model year of the Corolla's eighth generation (2020–2023).
Recalls to confirm (8)
Recall repairs are free at any Toyota dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
25V595000ElectricalSep 2025
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Toyota Venza, 2023-2025 RAV4 Prime, RAV4, Highlander, GR Corolla, Crown, 2024-2025 Lexus TX, LS, Toyota Tacoma, Grand Highlander, and 2025 Lexus RX, Toyota Crown Signia, Camry, RAV 4 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and 4 Runner vehicles. Due to an error in the instrument panel software at vehicle startup, the instrument panel may fail to display vehicle speed, brake system, and tire pressure warning lights.
Risk: An instrument panel display that does not show critical information can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will update the instrument panel software for non-PHEV vehicles, free of charge. For PHEV vehicles, dealers will inspect the instrument panel assembly, and either replace it, or update the software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 5, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB08 and 25TA08. Lexus' numbers for this recall are 25LB05 and 25LA05.
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.
24V878000SteeringNov 2024
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Corolla and Corolla Hybrid vehicles. Due to cracks developed during the manufacturing process, the steering intermediate shaft assembly may fracture and possibly result in the shaft detaching from the steering column.
Risk: A steering shaft that detaches can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the intermediate steering shaft, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 17, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 24TB13/24TA13.
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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2023 owner complaints, side by side
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