YearToAvoid

2021 Toyota Corolla Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

33/100

#11 most-complained of 16 Corolla years

The 2021 Toyota Corolla ranks 11th worst out of 16 model years, with a complaint index of 33 and a Good verdict. NHTSA logged 185 complaints, 18 crashes, 2 fires, 13 injuries and 1 recall for this year, well below the worst years like 2010 and 2011.

Complaints
185
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
18 / 2
Injuries / deaths
13 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
33
30 city / 38 hwy

Top 2021 Toyota Corolla problems

NHTSA owner 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%)

What owners report

  • Some owners describe unintended acceleration while parking at low speed, resulting in crashes into buildings or other vehicles.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy on the driver's side even when passenger and rear airbags deployed in a crash.
  • Owners report headlights with a dark "V" shaped unlit area on low beam that limits visibility of objects in the road.
  • Some drivers report the vehicle powering down unexpectedly while on the highway, requiring the car to be pulled off the road.
  • One owner reported a brake hold malfunction warning followed by a smoke odor and a fire starting in the trunk area.
2021 Toyota Corolla complaints: complaints filed per quarter242020 Q32021 Q32022 Q22023 Q12023 Q42024 Q32025 Q22026 Q1
248 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2020 Q3 to 2026 Q3; peak 2024 Q3 (24).

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)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2019Best20202532.5
2020Avoid80306333
2021Good33185133
2022Best13100033
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 33 and ranks 11th worst of 16 model years, which NHTSA data classifies as a Good verdict relative to other Corolla years.
What problems does the 2021 Toyota Corolla have?
The top reported problem area is Airbags, making up 28% of complaints, followed by Engine issues at 25% and Electrical System issues at 15%. NHTSA also lists 18 crashes and 2 fires tied to this model year.
Does the 2021 Toyota Corolla have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2021 Corolla, campaign 23V865000, covering an airbag sensor that Toyota says dealers will inspect and replace free of charge.
What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Toyota Corolla?
EPA rates the 2021 Corolla at 33 mpg combined, 30 mpg city and 38 mpg highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,950.
How does the 2021 Corolla compare to other years?
The 2021 Corolla's complaint index of 33 is much lower than Avoid years like 2010 (100), 2011 (93) and 2014 (87), but higher than Best years like 2018 (7) and 2023 (0).

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.