NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2020 Toyota Corolla. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
I purchased my vehicle new in 2020. I am currently at 74,000 miles and noticed my engine maintenance required light come on although I received an oil change service two days prior. It’s a different message from the routine maintenance. I got it checked out at Toyota today and the “engine coolant bypass valve” needed to be replaced. When I looked into it I noticed the 2020 Camry and 2020 rav 4 were recalled for the issue and repaired for free. However my model Toyota Corolla was not recalled and I had to pay $700.82 to get it replaced at Toyota today.
Engine Coolant Bypass Valve replacement , Toyota is charging me 888 dollars for repair.
I own 2020 corolla le. It has 50k miles. There is a message that keeps coming up in the infotainment screen and hinders the navigation information especially when i am looking for directions and evey second counts and not being able to act when the exit appearscan cause an accident. The message is caused by a dcm failure. Toyota should never allow a message like that pop up every time on the navigation screen. It keeps saying “ device connected not supported “ every few seconds.
Had my car (Toyota Corolla 2020 SE) give a “engine maintenance required, take to a dealer” error message on my digital dashboard. No error codes from any maintenance device but apparently only the Toyota dealership can find this in the software using their computers to find it somewhere deep in there… The problem is the upper engine coolant bypass valve. This is costing me almost $1000 including the $80+ in diagnostics that ONLY the Toyota dealership can see and find out. Apparently this is a very common occurrence with the 4 cylinder corollas and RAV4s.
toyota 2020 COOLANT BYPASS VALVE Circuit Short.
After bringing my vehicle in for its oil change and tire rotation, a warning message showed up from my car saying "Engine Maintenance Required". After checking with my dealer, they said that the coolant bypass valve needed to be replaced. My car only has 33,000 miles and has had no issues whatsoever.
After I had brought a my car to the dealer for its oil change and tire rotation, a warning message came from my car saying "Engine Maintenance Required". After checking with my dealer, they said that the coolant bypass valve needed to be replaced. After checking online, it seems that this is a common problem for recent Toyota vehicles.
Wipers randomly stall mid-cycle when in use, speed settings are inconsistent and sometimes fail to function at all.
Coolant bypass valve leaks through wiring and damages itself.
Coolent bypass valve
The fuel gauge suddenly malfunctioned giving a false reading of the amount of fuel remaining in the tank. A technician said that the problem seems to be with the sending unit in the tank. I use top tier gas and the car has only about 29,800 miles. The fuel gauge continues to malfunction and could be a generic design flaw. Safety could be put at risk if the vehicle ran out of fuel while driving in traffic. There were no warning lights, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure.
Electrical issue on vehicle says that vehicles safety features are unavailable and all the light indications on the dash are lit up. It was taken to the dealership several times but the issue still hasn’t been resolved.
“Engine Maintenance Required Visit Dealer” keeps popping up despite engine being fine. Another scan by my mechanic determined that the cooling bypass valve is having an issue/keeps getting stuck and triggering the maintenance alert to keep going off.
I discovered that my 2020 Toyota Corolla SE has a Coolant Valve Bypass malfunction coded "p2688115". I have also discovered this a prevalent issue after you hit 70,000 miles. There are forums all over the internet with complaints about the same issue as mine. I did some research and found no recalls. With this being such a common issue for no reason, faulty equipment. The car has been inspected by a Toyota dealer in Bradenton, FL because we had thought the service vehicle message was for a tire rotation. They scanned the vehicle and discovered the fault code "p2688115" after trying to reset it numerous times. The senior tech was the one who scanned it. He knew the exact reason why it was not clearing before scanning the vehicle. He only scanned it to solidify his hypothesis. I then spoke to the service team, they wanted me to bring it in for a diagnosis that would cost $85.00 if my warranty did not cover it. The cost of the part was estimated at around $150.00 plus labor and taxes. It was over a $400.00 repair. For a repair as such, this needs to be recalled. The warning message never went away, if you tried to clear it to view the screen you had about three seconds before it came back on. It is a major safety risk for those who wear glasses and drive at night. I use the screen to keep myself safe and maintain my driving speed. This warning message came on around 70,000. Some so many other individuals have experienced and complained about the same problem. This needs to be escalated. I am not allowed to utilize the safety features my car has to offer. Please take action and commence an investigation.
The engine Coolant Valve is leaking coolant, in ordering a new part to replace so yes it’ll be available for inspection. My car Could overheat leaving me or my riders stranded wherever it is that the car stops. I went to Tires plus and they said I had to swap it out but I refuse to go to Toyota so they can rob my money The part has not been inspected by manufacturer, police, or insurance, The only symptom is my coolant runs low sometimes and my engine maintenance screen won’t go away
Coolant bypass valve bad cost $550+ to fix car is 4 years old
The coolant bypass valve in some Toyota models has been malfunctioning recently and has become a common issue. Dealer confirmed that this was the issue per attached diagnostic report/invoice copy. Costs were >$800 to repair the issue for a <$100 part and 30 minutes of labor. The "Engine Maintenance Required" warning was visible in the display. Unsure as to the short or long-term effects of this malfunctioning part, but as it's related to the cooling system of the vehicle, it may trigger other more serious issues.
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the gear shifter was shifted to drive and then reverse, but the vehicle failed to respond as needed. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and a diagnostic test was performed. The vehicle was diagnosed with a locked cylinder. The dealer stated that there was recall for the failure however, the vehicle had exceeded the mileage limitation. The vehicle was repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V544000 (Electronic Stability Control, Service Brakes) as a possible solution to the failure however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,249.
There is a thing that’s happening to a lot of Corollas and I think RAV4 and some cram it’s called engine maintenance required and a lot of mechanics don’t know what that means so you have to take it to the dealership to get it fixed and it’s like a $900 fix and it’s been happening to a lot of vehicles around 35,000 miles. It’s called the coolant bypass valve. There is hundreds of YouTube videos about it and people complaining about it on forums.
Precollision System Malfunctioning and Hybrid System Malfunctioning warning signs on dashboard won’t allow the car to move or driven at all. I read reviews where people with the same warning signs on dashboard got their car stalled in the middle of the road. My vehicle only has 81,000 miles on it and Toyota dealership warranty states it’ll cover the vehicle up to 150,000 miles EV hybrid but now they are stating the car is not under warranty
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.
Coolant bypass valve failure. Replacement part carried the same defect.
The wipers keep stopping during use. I have to switch speeds to get it running again. Very dangerous when raining.
In the past week at 30,700 miles, my 2020 Toyota Corolla "Engine Maintenance light; see dealer" service light appeared on the dash. Through talking with a Toyota dealer, they are aware of this issue with Corollas, Camrys, and Rav4's. It is an engine coolant bypass valve, and appears to be faulty in many vehicles according to youtube videos, google, and Toyota service. Perhaps this needs to be a recall? Also, the dealer wants almost $800 to repair even though many people do it on youtube in under an hour. Parts are less than $200, and 1.5 hours of labor do not add up to $800.
My car, a 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid, impacted an abandoned motorcycle on the dark road at full speed; however, none of the airbags deployed.
Driving approximately 20 mph- hear a beep- get instructions to go to neutral- check engine light / power steering lights are on- pulled off the side of the road- put in park, turned off and waited a minute and it started normally.
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the vehicle became difficult to operate. The contact was informed that the fuel pump was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V682000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,600.
Around 40k miles I received an Engine Maintenance Required warning. After some research Engine Maintenance and Engine Service Required are two very different indicators. I received and P2681 code meaning the electrical coolant bypass valve had failed unfortunately one can’t tell if it’s stuck shut or open this could lead to one’s care over heating and or damaging one’s engine. After some research I’ve come to find out most 2020-2024 corollas have been having this issue tends to happen about 30-50k miles
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that the front driver's side fender liner above the tire detached while driving at approximately 55 MPH. After inspection, the liner was missing. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the fender liner needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 38,650.
The engine coolant bypass valve is coming up as a code. Around 44k miles. Others have had this problem.
Engine maintenance light came on and found out I had replace coolant bypass valve. Apparently this is an issue many 2020 corollas and RAV4 have issues with and need replacement. There’s no reason or rhyme as to why it becomes faulty but should be recalled as many people have the same issue and dealership are aware of this issue.
I had to replace all four tires before reaching 40k miles. Brakes needed to be fully replaced with only two years of driving it. AND Engine Maintenance Light on for an issue with the coolant bypass valve, not covered under warranty. This is causing issues with the engine, when driving even at 25 miles per hour or at 65 the car sounds like its dragging or forcing itself, the wheel shake & car feels unbalanced even with a tire alignment. Overall i give the car a 2.5 out 5 star in performance. The body of the car is so fragile and made by very cheap materials. Spending a fortune on this vehicle and it hasnt even reached 60k miles yet.
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that after rainy weather, the front driver's and passenger's doors leaked water while opened. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
Just bought a used 20 Corolla SE and put less then 500 miles on it and got a "maintenance required return to dealer" notification on the dash and a warning message in my information screen via infotainment system. Dealer said they got nothing via a scan. The issue is the Coolant Bypass Valve. I reset the light on the dash and restarted my car with air off and it did not come back on. The second you turn on the air (the A/C in particular) the light immediately popped back on along with a new warning message. I've looked around and there's literally THOUSANDS of people reporting the same issue all on vehicles between 15k and 100k miles. The dealers also charge at least $600-$1100 to remedy this all too common issue as they will tell you it is not covered under warranty. I'm unsure of what promised damage to the vehicle could be but I know for a fact it's not nothing. Everyone is dumbstruck with how many people have this issue and there is still no Recall on this clearly terribly made Coolant Bypass Valve. It seems to apply of us that this is just a cash grab for Toyota
As a driver I was involved in frontal collision with my Toyota Corolla LE 2020 properly serviced. ([XXX]) . Air bags were deployed followed by smoky air that made me difficult to breathe. I opened the windows, but I could not open the door to get out; it was locked. A passer -by could not open the door from the outside either. He told me to move gear shift to P; I did that and he was able to open the door and I got out. There was on loud automatic message informing about collision…. Certain safety steps must be automatically activated after collision. I am very surprise to experience that the driver’s door could not be opened after collision from inside or outside. I had to move gear shift from D to P myself for the door to be opened. I could not breathe properly inside the car even with open windows with air bags deployed. The door should be automatically unlocked after the collision. Driver may be unconscious, the car is in the fire or may be nobody to help the driver. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Issue with unlocked driver's door after the collision reported on 6/25/23 # 11528724 Additional concern: After the accident, my car engine was not turned off automatically; even after automatic speaker announced collision and that 911 was informed. After I got out of the car ( # 1152874) I was standing by the car, drivers door I left opened and at one point I realized that my car was still running ( Gear shift was left in P). I manually switched off the car and I removed the key from ignition.
On three occasions this car was parked in an attached garage and remained running when parked resulting in potential CO exposure. This is a known hazard which NHTSA is aware of in cars with keyless start system in hybrid vehicles. Toyota is well aware of this issue (first acknowledged death in 2016 was in a Toyota Avalon) and was supposed to equip 2020 models with auto shutoff [XXX] I thought my 2020 Hybrid Corolla had this feature when purchased, but it does not. Toyota has not responded to multiple requests to retrofit my vehicle. This is a serious safety issue with many CO deaths reported. Its my understanding this will be required soon of new vehicles but its important that all existing hybrid vehicles be required to be retrofitted with auto shutoff to prevent continuing deaths. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Coolant bypass valve problem. Engine maintenance required light has come on. This part affects several other components of the vehicle. Toyota dealership wants to charge $800 to fix it. It is a very common issue faced by many customers of 2020+ Corollas and 2019+ Rav4s. All dealerships with service departments are aware of this issue.
I was driving on the road and I heard something like an explosion, I turned the emergency lights on and stopped to find out what had happened. I saw the sunroof completely broken, fortunately I didn’t get hurt but I got so scared and I don’t know if I will feel comfortable driving my car again.
Engine maintenance required People on internet saying that i need to change the coolant bypass valve
Driving regularly from work and sunroof exploded and glass went everywhere.
Front windshield has bubbles on all the edges and they are getting bigger i took it to the warranty ofrece and they say it not a defect, but i hace sean more tan 100 cars With the same problem ,and i don't fiel sale wathching then grow or break. I hope You can verify , just look at any corolla and You Will see what i say on the edges of the windshield, thank
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that the front driver's side seat belt buckle failed to lock as needed. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V877000 (Seat Belts) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 74,500.
Coolant leak due to engine defect from manufacture.
The car is showing an engine maintance required which ended up being a faulty coolant valve
The car seat base does not install properly with the seat belt method nor the anchor method. The edge of the base still flips up if the part secured by the seat belt is properly tightened. No level infication
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH and making a right turn, while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to stop. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that she shifted to park(P) and heard an abnormal noise. The contact stated that the vehicle continued to move forward until reaching the curb. The contact stated she had experienced the failure two times. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to her residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.
The system belt sensor kept beeping even though I have on seat belt
"Engine maintenance required. Visit dealer" message appeared about 2 years ago. The message appears when I turn on the A/C or heater and will not go away, which affects multiple functions such as speedometer and text function.
I have a manufacturer defect on my car. The piece of the car's body which goes around the tire and connects to the bumper does not connect right because there is not connector on the bottom of this piece, like there is on the rest of this piece. It often comes lose and it separates, which is very scary when I get out of my car and see that I have a piece of my cars' body separated from the body of the car. I'm scared when I take the freeway or bit a bump on the road. Please help me with this problem. Respectfully, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).