Toyota · Corolla · 2021
2021 Toyota Corolla
1
Recall
172
Complaints
5/5
Safety Rating
The 2021 Toyota Corolla has 1 recall and 172 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Overall safety rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Most reported issue: air bags (42 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated May 4, 2026
Research Context
The 2021 Toyota Corolla page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is air bags with 42 reported complaints.
Best Research Moves
- Use the complaint log to understand what owners were actually reporting instead of relying only on the raw complaint total.
- Review the recall section even if the total is smaller, because a limited number of recalls can still point to meaningful safety actions.
- This page is primarily a complaints-and-recalls research surface, so compare nearby model years before treating the complaint total as a standalone verdict.
Key Takeaways
- The 2021 Toyota Corolla currently shows 1 NHTSA recall listed on this page and 172 owner-reported complaints.
- This page currently shows no linked NHTSA investigations.
- This page reflects complaint volume, recall history, and NHTSA test data, but it does not diagnose causes or rank reliability by itself.
- Safety data currently shows 5/5 overall NHTSA safety rating.
- The most frequently reported complaint categories on this page are air bags (42), engine (26), unknown or other (14).
- Vehicle
- 2021 Toyota Corolla
- Recalls
- 1
- Complaints
- 172
- Safety Rating
- 5/5
How to Interpret This Page
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
NHTSA Crash Test Performance
Frontal Crash Test
Side Crash Test
Overall Frontal Rating
Driver and Passenger Assessment
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Overall Side Rating
Side Barrier and Side Pole Tests
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Rollover Resistance
10.5% rollover risk in single-vehicle crash
Safety Features
ESC: StandardForward Collision Warning: StandardLane Departure Warning: Standard
Recall Notices
NHTSANHTSA ID: 23V865000December 20, 2023
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.
Remedy Status
Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Lexus 23LB03/23LA03.
Owner Complaints
172 totalSTRUCTURE
Apr 29, 2026
When attempting to replace the rear glass at Safelite on 4/29/2026, the worker noticed rust on the headliner. Now the rear glass can't be replaced until a body shop replaces the rusted headliner. I began leasing this car in December 2020, and now I own it. Now I am driving with a...
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STRUCTURE,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRASHApr 10, 2026
The car accelerated on its own when I was attempting to park it. I had no control over the car and it ended up crashing into multiple vehicles.
AIR BAGS
CRASH1 injuryApr 4, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while his son was driving at 3 MPH, they were rear-ended by a BMW X5 and pushed forward, crashing into a Ford Explorer. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that his son sustained injuries consistin...
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ENGINE
Apr 2, 2026
The Clutch Slave Cylinder needs replacement
ENGINE
Mar 24, 2026
Engine maintenance required, call dealer. The engine coolant bypass valve needs to be replaced. Known issue in Toyota corolla’s yet no recall to remedy the repair.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Mar 20, 2026
Coolant bypass valve has shorted out. “Engine maintenance required” notification popped up on the gauge cluster
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Feb 24, 2026
Today I noticed that both of my door front locks passenger and driver side do not even actuate to have the door locked and unlocked by key of by the alarm. They completely stopped working. Even I contacted Toyota Corporate several times about this issue (800) 331-4331 and got ...
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POWER TRAIN
Feb 21, 2026
One night shortly after starting the car, I went to put the car in first gear amd as I let out the clutch, but pedal stayed flat to the floor. I was able to lift the pedal with my foot and drive the car back to safety. The next day, I drove the car to the nearest shop before any...
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POWER TRAIN
Feb 12, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, the clutch pedal failed to function as intended. The clutch pedal was stuck, and the contact was unable to shift gear. The contact forced the clutch back into neutral while holding the clutch...
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POWER TRAIN
Feb 11, 2026
While in a parking lot, the clutch pedal suddenly lost all pressure and remained stuck to the floor, rendering the vehicle unable to shift gears. While this occurred at parked car , a sudden loss of gear engagement at highway speeds would have caused a catastrophic loss of motive...
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Showing 10 recent complaints from 172 total
View Full Complaint LogCompare Related Vehicles
Why Compare These Pages
The strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2021 Toyota models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
More Toyota Corolla Years
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many recalls does the 2021 Toyota Corolla have?
The 2021 Toyota Corolla has 1 recall recorded by NHTSA.
How many complaints have been filed for the 2021 Toyota Corolla?
NHTSA has received 172 owner-reported complaints for the 2021 Toyota Corolla.
What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2021 Toyota Corolla?
The 2021 Toyota Corolla received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Toyota Corolla?
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2021 Toyota Corolla are air bags (42 reports), engine (26 reports), unknown or other (14 reports).
Does the 2021 Toyota Corolla have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA has 1 recall on record for the 2021 Toyota Corolla. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check Another Vehicle
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.