YearToAvoid

2021 Toyota Corolla Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2021 Toyota Corolla has a complaint index of 40, ranking 13th of 21 model years, with a Good verdict. NHTSA lists 185 complaints, 1 recall, and 18 crashes, with airbags as the top problem area at 28% of complaints.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
40/100
#13 of 21 Corolla years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
185
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
18
reported in complaints
Fires
2
Injuries
13
Top issue
Airbags
Best nearby year
2022
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
33
30 city / 38 hwy
Injuries / deaths
13 / 0

Top 2021 Toyota Corolla problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags52 (28%)
  2. Engine46 (25%)
  3. Other32 (17%)
  4. Electrical System28 (15%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain19 (10%)
  6. Visibility & Wipers15 (8%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires12 (6%)
  8. Brakes9 (5%)
  9. Structure & Body9 (5%)
  10. Collision Avoidance & Cameras8 (4%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Owners report the vehicle powering down unexpectedly while driving on the highway, requiring pulling off the road.
  • Several complaints describe sudden unintended acceleration while parking, causing the car to crash into buildings or other vehicles.
  • Some drivers report a burning smoke odor and a fire starting in the trunk after a brake hold malfunction.
  • Owners describe airbags and seat belts failing to deploy or lock during frontal or rear collisions, resulting in injuries.
  • One complaint describes the steering wheel detaching from the car during a rear-end collision.
  • Headlights are described as having a dark unlit area on low beam that reduces visibility of objects in the road.
2021 Toyota Corolla complaints: complaints filed per quarter172020 Q32021 Q32022 Q22023 Q12023 Q42024 Q32025 Q22026 Q1
185 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2020 Q3 to 2026 Q3; peak 2024 Q3 (17).

2021 Toyota Corolla recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V865000Dec 20, 2023Airbags999,901 vehicles

    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.

    Risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.

    Remedy: 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.

2021 Toyota Corolla fuel economy and fuel cost

City
30 MPG
Highway
38 MPG
Combined
33 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$1,950
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.

2021 compared with other Corolla years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2019Good25202532.5
2020Caution70306333
2021Good40185133
2022Best10100033
2023Best073339.5

All Toyota Corolla years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Toyota Corolla reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2021 Corolla has a complaint index of 40 and earns a Good verdict, ranking 13th out of 21 Corolla model years.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Toyota Corolla?
Airbags are the top problem area, making up 28% of complaints, followed by engine issues at 25% and electrical system issues at 15%.
Does the 2021 Toyota Corolla have any recalls?
NHTSA lists one recall for the 2021 Corolla, campaign 23V865000, involving an airbag sensor that dealers inspect and replace free of charge.
How does the 2021 Corolla compare to other Corolla years?
With a complaint index of 40, the 2021 Corolla ranks better than earlier years like 2009 and 2010, which had complaint indexes of 100 and 95, but worse than 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, which earn Best verdicts.
What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Toyota Corolla?
The EPA rates the 2021 Corolla at 33 mpg combined, 30 city and 38 highway, with an annual fuel cost of $1,950.

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.