2010 Toyota Corolla Engine Problems
NHTSA lists 228 engine complaints for the 2010 Toyota Corolla, 19% of all 1,225 complaints for the year, with 56 crashes, 5 fires, and 36 injuries reported. Two related recalls, 10V023000 and 10V017000, cover accelerator pedal entrapment and pedal reinforcement issues.
- Engine complaints
- 228
- 19% of 1,225
- Crashes reported
- 56
- Fires reported
- 5
- Injuries reported
- 36
- Median mileage
- 8,650 mi
- Related recalls
- 2
Typical engine symptoms owners report
- Owners report sudden, unintended acceleration while braking at low speeds, such as approaching a stop or pulling into a parking space, with the engine RPM rising on its own.
- Some describe the vehicle failing to slow down even with the brake pedal fully pressed, resulting in a crash into a wall, curb, parked car, or garage.
- A few reports mention smoke coming from under the hood or fire following a sudden acceleration event.
- Several incidents happened at very low mileage, shortly after starting the engine or backing out of a parking space, before the vehicle surged forward unexpectedly.
- One owner reported the vehicle pulling to the side and accelerating without warning while entering a garage, with airbags failing to deploy on impact.
When 2010 Toyota Corolla engine complaints were filed
First complaint Jan 29, 2010, latest Aug 12, 2026.
Engine recalls for the 2010 Toyota Corolla
- NHTSA 10V023000Jan 27, 2010Engine1,126,915 vehicles
Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 highlander, model year 2009-2010 corolla, venza and matrix passenger vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat. This recall is an expansion of a campaign of 3.8 million other toyota vehicles announced in 2009 for the same issue (see 09v-388).
Risk: A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
Remedy: Toyota will modify or replace the accelerator pedals on the subject vehicles. Floor surface modifications are also being considered and will be included for any model for which it is deemed appropriate. Initially, dealers will be instructed on how to reshape the accelerator pedal for the repair. As replacement parts with the same shape as the modified pedal become available, they will be made available to the dealers for the repair. Customers who have had the pedal reshape remedy completed will have the opportunity to receive a new pedal if they desire, after replacement pedals become available. In addition, toyota will replace any toyota all-weather floor mat in a subject vehicle with a newly designed mat, free of charge. For those customers who have the previous design all-weather floor mat but do not need or want the newly designed all-weather floor mat, toyota will recover the previous design all-weather floor mat and reimburse its price. The safety recall began march 30, 2010. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
- NHTSA 10V017000Jan 21, 2010Engine2,230,661 vehicles
Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 avalon, model year 2007-2010 camry, model year 2009-2010 corolla, corolla matrix, rav4, model year 2010 highlander, model year 2008-2010 sequoia, and model year 2007-2010 tundra vehicles. Due to the manner in which the friction lever interacts with the sliding surface of the accelerator pedal inside the pedal sensor assembly, the sliding surface of the lever may become smooth during vehicle operation. In this condition, if condensation occurs on the surface, as may occur from heater operation (without a/c) when the pedal assembly is cold, the friction when the accelerator pedal is operated may increase, which may result in the accelerator pedal becoming harder to depress, slower to return, or, in the worst case, mechanically stuck in a partially depressed position.
Risk: The accelerator pedal may become hard to depress, slow to return to idle, or, in the worst case, mechanically stuck in a partially depressed position, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install a reinforcement bar in the accelerator pedal which will allow the pedal to operate smoothly. Gm will notify owners for the pontiac vibe please see 10v-018. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on february 5, 2010 and will be completed on march 15, 2010. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Engine complaints by Corolla model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How common are engine complaints for the 2010 Toyota Corolla?
- NHTSA lists 228 engine complaints for the 2010 Corolla, which is 19% of the 1,225 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall related to engine problems on the 2010 Toyota Corolla?
- Yes. Recall 10V023000 covers accelerator pedals that can become trapped in the wide-open position, and recall 10V017000 covers installing a reinforcement bar in the accelerator pedal.
- Did the engine issues cause any crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA data tied to this engine complaint category shows 56 crashes, 5 fires, and 36 injuries reported for the 2010 Corolla.
- At what mileage do these engine problems typically occur?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this engine complaint category is 8,649.5 miles.