2021 Toyota Corolla: Recalls, Complaints and Vehicle Data

Before you buy a 2021 Corolla

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  Recalls vs. other years

  Its single recall campaign ties for the fewest of the six model years we cover (2016–2021); the busiest has 5.

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  Where complaints cluster

  Complaints concentrate on the air bags: 27% of the 188 on file. The top components are air bags (50, of which 9 mention a crash, 1 a fire and 7 an injury), engine (29, of which 1 mentions a crash) and electrical system (20, of which 3 mention a crash, 1 a fire and 1 an injury). Across all 188 reports, 18 describe a crash, 2 a fire and 10 at least one injury.

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  Recent reports

  38 complaints (20% of the total) were filed in the last 12 months, so owners are still reporting problems, most often about the power train (13).

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  Changes from 2020

  EPA lists the same engines, transmissions and drive types as 2020; two recall campaigns name one of the two years and not the other (fuel system and seat belts).

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  Fuel economy and running cost

  Its most efficient version (1.8-litre 4-cylinder hybrid) is rated 52 mpg combined, better than most for the 2021 sedans we cover (median 32 mpg across 28 other EPA listings); the thirstiest version is rated 31 mpg. At 15,000 miles a year and the national average regular gasoline price of $4.28 (EIA, week of Oct 19, 2026), fuel would cost about $1,240 a year in the most efficient version and about $2,070 in the thirstiest.