Toyota offers a solid package with the Corolla that brings practicality and reliability to the users. The sedan portrays a smooth transition between the roles of a commuter and a tourer. The Corolla upholds the Toyota standards of reliability irrespective of the role. However, the 2018 Corolla comes with a wide range of mechanical and electrical issues. These issues range from faulty door actuators to airbag malfunctions. Even so, the car records no major concern for the 2018 model year. Furthermore, it registers a respectable safety record with 94 complaints and 3 recalls. The 2018 Corolla also carries a 5-star overall safety rating. With this, the sedan offers a dependable ride to the users. Corolla finds its competition in the likes of the Mazda 3, the Honda Civic, and the Chevrolet Cruze. CarHp ranks the sedan in the 5th spot for the top-10 compact sedans of 2018. Here’s a closer look at the car.
User Complaints and Problems
Mechanical Problems
- Fuel pump - Fuel pump failures are a common issue with Toyota Corolla customers. Failure of a fuel pump results in a drop in drive power and induces engine stalling. A sudden drop in speed under driving conditions increases the chances of a crash.
- Powertrain - Users report instances of the car lurching forward while moving from a standstill. This increases the risk of injury to the occupants. Users also report instances of gear grinding and hesitant gear shifts while driving. These powertrain issues demand hefty upkeep and time to fix.
- Brakes - Braking issues are common with the sedan. Users report many cases of braking failures under driving conditions. Users report that the sedan does not slow down or stop even with the brake pedal depressed. Few cases also report cases of grinding and squealing noise while braking. These issues compromise user and vehicle safety and increase the risk of crashing.
- Engine - Engine stalling is a common complaint with Corolla customers. Complaints report that the sedan experiences heavy vibrations and a loss of drive. Users also report a loss of IC information. A sudden loss of drive power increases the chances of rear-ended collisions.
- Accelerator - Users report cases of the sedan accelerating without any driver input. This is majorly observed while descending a hill/slope. Rogue acceleration increases the chances of a crash and injury to the occupants.
Electrical Problems
- Driver aids - Driver aid defects are common with the car. Users report instances of Auto emergency braking(AEB) malfunctions. An AEB malfunction fails to brake to avoid a potential collision. This compromises the user safety and that of the vehicle, increasing the chances of a crash.
- Door actuators - Users report that the car’s door actuators are prone to malfunction. This restricts the ability to open the vehicle door from both inside as well as outside. This can prove fatal in the event of a crash.
- Backup camera - The rearview backup camera system of the 2018 Toyota Corolla is prone to failure. This leads to the blacking out of the rear-view camera display and loss of rearview graphics. Missing rearview images increase the chances of a crash or injury.
- Driver aids - Lane departure assist and forward collision assist malfunctions are common with the sedan. The lane departure assist malfunction results in veering the SUV under driving conditions. Forward collision avoidance malfunction can lead to the failure of braking to avoid a potential collision. These driver aid issues increase the chances of crashing.
Safety Problems
- Airbags - User complaints report a few cases of airbag deployment failures in the event of a crash. This can compromise the safety of the occupants and increase the chances of injury.
Recalls
|
S. No |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
January 17, 2020 |
20V024000 |
The airbag/seatbelt pretensioners may not deploy. |
In the event of a crash if the airbag/seatbelt pretensioners do not deploy as intended may increase the chances of a crash. |
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ECU and install a noise filter between the airbag 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. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB03, 20TA03, and 20TA05. |
|
2 |
January 13, 2020 |
20V012000 |
The fuel pump may fail. |
If the fuel pump fails, it may stall the engine under driving conditions. This increases the chances of a crash. |
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began on May 4, 2020. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles. |
|
3 |
June 28, 2019 |
19V503000 |
Incorrect load carrying capacity labels./FMVSS 110 |
An incorrect load carrying capacity label may lead to unintentional overloading of the vehicle. This increases the chances of a crash. |
SET will notify owners and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on August 23, 2019. SET's number for this recall is SET19A. |
Should you buy the 2018 Toyota Corolla?
The Toyota Corolla offers a fairly reliable drive for a practical budget. The sedan also offers versatile adaptability for city commuting and touring. For the price tag, the 2018 Toyota Corolla makes for a value on return buy for the users. The sedan comes across a few issues, however, Toyota aftersales addresses them effectively. Furthermore, the car does not record any major concerns or issues that can trouble the users. Considering the track record, Corolla gets our approval as an economic, reliable, and practical drive.
