YearToAvoid

2016 Toyota Corolla Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 33 engine-related complaints for the 2016 Toyota Corolla, 15% of its 214 total complaints for the year. Ten crashes and five injuries are tied to this area, with a median failure mileage of 15,000. No related recalls are listed.

Engine complaints
33
15% of 214
Crashes reported
10
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
5
Median mileage
15,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the vehicle suddenly accelerating on its own while pulling into or backing out of a parking space, even with the brake pedal depressed.
  • Several drivers describe the car lunging forward or backward into another vehicle, a pole, or a wall during low-speed maneuvers.
  • Some complaints mention the vehicle losing speed unexpectedly on the highway, dropping well below normal speed while surrounded by traffic.
  • One owner cited a Toyota special service campaign about improper transmission programming causing a reduction of speed while driving.
  • A few reports say pressing the brake pedal did not stop the unwanted acceleration, forcing drivers to swerve or shift into neutral.

When 2016 Toyota Corolla engine complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 9, 2016, latest Aug 13, 2024.

2016 Toyota Corolla engine complaints: complaints filed per month3Feb 2016Jul 2017Mar 2018Nov 2018Oct 2019May 2020Aug 2023
33 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2016 to Aug 2024; peak Jan 2020 (3).

Engine recalls for the 2016 Toyota Corolla

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Corolla model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2005185 (22%)
  2. 2006198 (24%)
  3. 2007191 (23%)
  4. 2008103 (33%)
  5. 2009320 (22%)
  6. 2010230 (18%)
  7. 201162 (11%)
  8. 201220 (4%)
  9. 201332 (16%)
  10. 201446 (17%)
  11. 201532 (15%)
  12. 201633 (15%)
  13. 201738 (21%)
  14. 201824 (18%)
  15. 201950 (25%)
  16. 2020113 (37%)
  17. 202146 (25%)
  18. 202216 (16%)
  19. 202314 (19%)
  20. 20248 (13%)
  21. 20254 (13%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Toyota Corolla have an engine recall?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the engine complaint area on the 2016 Corolla.
How many engine complaints does the 2016 Corolla have?
NHTSA lists 33 engine-related complaints for the 2016 Corolla, which is 15% of the 214 total complaints filed for that model year.
What mileage do engine problems tend to show up at on the 2016 Corolla?
The median mileage at failure for engine-area complaints on the 2016 Corolla is 15,000 miles.
Are the engine complaints tied to crashes?
Yes, NHTSA data shows 10 crashes and 5 injuries associated with the engine complaint area for the 2016 Corolla.
Is the 2016 Corolla's engine complaint rate high compared to other years?
The 15% share for 2016 is close to several nearby years like 2014 (17%) and 2015 (15%), but lower than 2020's 37% share.

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.