YearToAvoid

2015 Toyota Corolla Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

60/100

#7 most-complained of 16 Corolla years

The 2015 Toyota Corolla has a complaint index of 60 and ranks 7th worst out of 16 model years, earning a "Caution" verdict. Airbags are the top problem area, with 56 complaints, 26% share, and 40 crashes tied to that category.

Complaints
219
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
60 / 1
Injuries / deaths
50 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
31.5
28.5 city / 36.5 hwy

Top 2015 Toyota Corolla problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags56 (26%)
  2. Other37 (17%)
  3. Structure & Body34 (16%)
  4. Engine32 (15%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain30 (14%)
  6. Electrical System29 (13%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires22 (10%)
  8. Brakes20 (9%)
  9. Steering15 (7%)
  10. Fuel System11 (5%)

What owners report

  • Owners report airbags failing to deploy in moderate to severe side, rear, and rollover crashes, including one case with a documented back and neck injury.
  • Some drivers describe the vehicle lurching forward or backward unexpectedly at low speed, including one incident while parked at about 5 mph that ended in a crash into a metal barrier.
  • Others report sudden unintended acceleration at a stop, with the RPM gauge fluctuating and the car surging forward after a brief slowdown.
  • One owner described the vehicle rolling over on its own at 25 mph and crashing into a roadside boulder without warning.
  • A brake-related complaint describes the car shifting into reverse and moving backward unexpectedly before the driver could regain control.
2015 Toyota Corolla complaints: complaints filed per quarter182015 Q12016 Q32018 Q12019 Q32021 Q12022 Q32024 Q22025 Q4
302 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2015 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2015 Q3 (18).

2015 Toyota Corolla recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V024000Jan 17, 2020Airbags2,891,976 vehicles

    Air bags: air bag/restraint control module

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, and 2013-2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles. During certain crashes, the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may malfunction, possibly disabling the deployment of the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners.

    Risk: In the event of a crash, air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners that do not deploy as intended may increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ECU and install a noise filter between the air bag control module and its wire harness, as necessary, free of charge. Owners were notified of the safety risk beginning March 2, 2020. A second letter notifying owners of the remedy repair will be mailed between March 16, 2020 and June 27, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB03, 20TA03 and 20TA05.

2015 Toyota Corolla fuel economy and fuel cost

City
28.5 MPG
Highway
36.5 MPG
Combined
31.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,075
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2015 compared with other Corolla years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2013Caution53201529
2014Avoid87269232
2015Caution60219131.5
2016Caution67214131.5
2017Good40178331

All Toyota Corolla years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Toyota Corolla reliable?
NHTSA lists 219 complaints for the 2015 Corolla with a complaint index of 60, ranking it 7th worst among 16 model years and giving it a "Caution" verdict relative to other Corolla years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2015 Toyota Corolla?
Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 56 complaints, a 26% share of all complaints, and 40 crashes, with a median failure mileage of 40,704 miles.
Does the 2015 Toyota Corolla have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists one recall (campaign 20V024000) covering the airbag electronic control unit, which can affect deployment during certain crashes; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2015 Corolla compare to other years?
The 2015 Corolla's complaint index of 60 is lower than 2010 (100), 2011 (93), and 2014 (87), all rated "Avoid," but higher than 2017 (40) and 2018 (7), which rate "Good" and "Best."
What is the fuel economy of the 2015 Toyota Corolla?
EPA rates the 2015 Corolla at 31.5 mpg combined (28.5 city / 36.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,075.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.