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2018 Toyota Corolla Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2018 Toyota Corolla carries 3 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering labels and air bag/restraint control module. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Seat belt retraction, tightness, and tearing failures.” Toyota's owner's manual splits service into Schedule 1 (severe) and Schedule 2 (normal). Most US drivers fall under Schedule 1 because it covers short trips, extreme temperatures, dusty roads, or heavy idling. The intervals below reflect Schedule 1 — the schedule Toyota recommends for typical real-world use.

3 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Campaign #19V503000 · Jun 28, 2019

Issue: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Risk: An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: SET will notify owners and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. SET's number for this recall is SET19A.

AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE

Campaign #20V024000 · Jan 17, 2020

Issue: 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.

Fix: 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.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Campaign #20V012000 · Jan 13, 2020

Issue: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200T and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. On March 19, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include 2015 Lexus GS350 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.

Recall data refreshed Sep 6, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2018 Toyota Corolla.

1 active NHTSA investigation

Source: NHTSA

  • Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

    Action #EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021

    From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 200…

    View on NHTSA →

Reported to NHTSA

Seat belt retraction, tightness, and tearing failures

SEAT BELTS

6 NHTSA complaints · 2019-02 → 2026-04

“PASSENGER REAR SEAT BELT SNAPPED IN HALF AND RIPPED UP THE MIDDLE OF THE BELT. HALF OF THE SEAT BELT IS HANGING THERE STILL CONNECTED. THIS IS WERE MY 7 YEAR OLD SITS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11181618
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS MALFUNCTIONED AND FAILED TO RETRACT OR SECURE THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11353698
“DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT DOES NOT LOCK WHEN BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED WHILE COMING TO A STOP. DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME. DIFFICULT TO REPLICATE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11301570

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Suspension and steering noise from control arms

SUSPENSION

5 NHTSA complaints · 2022-05 → 2026-02

“Purchased this vehicle new. The vehicle has 58,000 miles and the suspension went out, upper & lower control arms, ball joints, struts and stabilizer”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11556024
“I just bought my car less than three years ago, recently I started noticing a creaking squeaking sound and my mechanic could not figure out what it was, I did research and found other people had problems as well with 2014-2019 Toyota Corolla control arms and the bushings”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11464670
“The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while driving over a speed bump, the contact heard a ratting sound coming from the steering wheel”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11520329

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Fuel pump failure causing engine stall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

43 NHTSA complaints · 2020-01 → 2026-01

“The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle shut off unexpectedly on several occasions. The check engine warning light was illuminated”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11613928
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V012000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11328971
“Due to recent reports of fuel pump recalls, my daughter bought a 2018 Toyota Corolla almost a year ago. Right now that is problem and her car will not start. I need a free replacement of her fuel pump. Thank you”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11709551

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Airbag non-deployment during a crash

AIR BAGS

22 NHTSA complaints · 2018-10 → 2025-10

“THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER OWNED A 2018 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11144852
“HIT A DEER AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, FRONT END OF CAR WAS DESTROYED, WAS A TOTAL LOSS. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11172963
“TAKATA RECALL- I WAS INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS FIVE CAR ACCIDENT WHICH MY 2018 TOYOTA COROLLA'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11140432

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Unintended acceleration and cruise-control speed surge

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

12 NHTSA complaints · 2018-04 → 2022-10

“THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM IS DESIGNED SO THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTS WHEN THE SYSTEM IS ENGAGED AND GOING DOWN HILLS. THIS PUTS MUCH MORE WEAR AND TEAR ON BOTH THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11088789
“THE RPM OF THE CAR JUMPS UPTO 4000 WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SLOW THE CAR ON DOWN HILLS. TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS ARE REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE BUT THERE ARE CASES MANY PEOPLE GOT THEIR CAR FIXED OR EXCHANGED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11166428
“The contact owned a 2018 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while driving into a parking space, the vehicle accelerated without any warning causing the vehicle to drive over the curb and crash into a 7 eleven store building”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11490000

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Power train jerking, hesitation, and stalling under load

POWER TRAIN

6 NHTSA complaints · 2019-12 → 2026-06

“The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH, there was an abnormal whining sound coming from the vehicle, and the vehicle failed to accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11723306
“corolla 2018, has 90k miles, reently, (3rd time already). driving o freeway car reduced speed, and wont go over 40mph, although rpm goes high all the way to 4,000”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11574887
“CVT transmission is making a loud noise and undrivable due to jerking motion every time I accelerate”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11669267

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Service brake noise and failure to stop

SERVICE BRAKES

7 NHTSA complaints · 2018-08 → 2021-09

“THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11119695
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD OR THE VEHICLE WOULD TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11123438
“ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2019, APPROXIMATELY 3:10 PM I GOT INTO MY 2018 TOYOTA COROLLA, THE CAR WAS STATIONARY IN PARK, AND WAS NOT RUNNING ON A FLAT SURFACE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11271148

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Note: NHTSA also opened 1 defect investigation(s) on this vehicle that closed without action.

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 11, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 11, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 5,000 mi

Replace 0W-20 full-synthetic oil and filter every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1, or 10,000 miles under Schedule 2. Toyota covers the first 2 oil changes through ToyotaCare.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 5,000 mi

Rotate tires every 5,000 miles. Toyota recommends rotation at every oil change to maximize tire life on FWD and AWD models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 5,000 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake every 5,000 miles. Toyota recommends measuring pad thickness at each service.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 36 months. Critical for the integrity of the ABS, VSC, and brake assist systems.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace the engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Earlier under Schedule 1 if driven on unpaved roads.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Toyota labels ATF as 'lifetime fill' on most automatics, but recommends inspection and replacement every 60,000 miles under severe service. Use Toyota WS or Type-IV — no substitutes.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 120,000 mi

Toyota iridium-tipped spark plugs are rated for 120,000 miles. Earlier replacement reduces fuel economy and can cause misfires on direct-injection engines.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Super Long Life Coolant (SLLC)

Every 50,000 mi

Toyota SLLC (pink): first change at 100,000 miles, then every 50,000 miles. Do not substitute green or orange coolant — it will damage the cooling system seals.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace the cabin air filter every 30,000 miles, sooner in dusty climates. Located behind the glove box on most Toyota and Lexus models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Serpentine / Drive Belt Inspection

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect the serpentine belt and tensioner every 60,000 miles. Toyota uses long-life EPDM belts that rarely fail before 100,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Timing Chain — No Replacement

On condition / lifetime

Toyota's 2AR-FE, 2GR-FKS, A25A-FKS, and most Toyota engines built since 2010 use a timing chain rated for the life of the engine. No scheduled replacement.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Pro only

Timing chains are normally lifetime. Listen for rattle on cold start — that's the actionable signal. Replacement is major work, quote separately.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

124 crashes 2010–2024

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

25

complaints mentioning a crash

5

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2018 Toyota Corolla reflects Toyota's published service intervals and the Maintenance Required Light system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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