OBSOLETE NOTICE February 27, 2026: This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2020 Toyota Corolla engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2020 Toyota Corolla have filed 84 NHTSA complaints about the engine at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
84
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 Corolla | 4 |
| 2017 Corolla | 4 |
| 2018 Corolla | 5 |
| 2019 Corolla | 23 |
| 2020 Corolla (this page) | 84 |
| 2021 Corolla | 29 |
| 2022 Corolla | 6 |
| 2023 Corolla | 5 |
1crash
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 84 engine complaints filed for the 2020 Toyota Corolla, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 84 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Engine accounts for 28% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 12 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
OBSOLETE NOTICE August 19, 2025: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0059-25.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2020 – 2025 model year Corolla vehicles may exhibit a vibration or rattle noise from the right-hand engine mounting insulator sub-assembly. This condition will usually go away when the engine’s Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) are above idle. This condition is typically found on vehicles in warm climates/weather. No Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) are associated with this condition. This condition does not affect the operation of the vehicle.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗The specific condition covered by this program is for a small engine coolant leak that can occur from the flow shut-off valve that can allow coolant to drip on other parts of the vehicle. This can cause "Engine Maintenance Required" to be displayed on the instrument cluster or cause the A/C not to function normally. Although the flow shut-off valve is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 36 months or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers’ ownership experience. Toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to Flow Shut-off Valve Coolant Leak.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2018 – 2021 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with an A25A-FKS, A25A-FXS, or M20A-FKS engine may exhibit a condition in which an “Engine Maintenance Required” message is displayed in the Multi-Information Display (MID). Additionally, the vehicle will exhibit DTC(s) P268111 (Engine Coolant Bypass Valve Circuit Short to Ground) and/or P268115 (Engine Coolant Bypass Valve Circuit Short to Battery or Open).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The overwhelming majority of complaints center on a faulty engine coolant bypass valve that triggers an "Engine Maintenance Required" warning on the dashboard. Owners report the warning appearing between 30,000 and 106,000 miles—most commonly in the 30,000–60,000 range—with no prior symptoms or performance issues. The message will not clear and reappears after each dismissal, obstructing the speedometer and other essential display functions while driving.
When diagnosed by Toyota dealerships, the defect requires valve replacement at costs ranging from $400 to $1,200. Owners note that the part itself costs under $200 and labor takes 20 to 90 minutes, making the dealer markup significant. Multiple owners report that Toyota is aware of this issue—dealers confirm it affects Corollas, RAV4s, Camrys, and Prius models across 2019–2024 production years—yet no recall has been issued. The defect reportedly does not fall under powertrain warranty coverage.
One owner received a "Customer Support Program" letter from Toyota describing a coolant leak and offering repair under "voluntary" terms, only to be charged nearly $700. Owners cite risk of engine overheating, coolant leakage onto electrical connectors, A/C malfunction, and potential engine damage if the valve remains unfixed. A class-action lawsuit for 2019–2023 models is mentioned by multiple filers.
Secondary complaints include a missing exhaust heat shield on at least one unit, one instance of carbon monoxide exposure in a rental vehicle, engine sputtering at low speeds, unusual downshift behavior, and performance degradation at higher mileage. These appear isolated to individual cases.
Same Toyota Corolla engine reports on nearby years: 2019 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Engine Coolant Bypass Valve Malfunction
The engine coolant bypass valve fails prematurely, triggering an 'Engine Maintenance Required' warning on the dashboard. Owners report the valve cracks, leaks coolant, and can become stuck in open or closed position, restricting coolant flow. The defect appears widely across 2019–2024 model years of Corolla, RAV4, Camry, and Prius.
When: 30,000–106,000 miles; commonly reported between 30,000–60,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine Maintenance Required warning message on dashboard; Warning message will not clear and reappears after dismissal; Message obstructs speedometer and other display functions; A/C or heating malfunction or delayed operation; Coolant level drops or visible coolant leak; Engine overheating; Message appears when A/C or heater is activated
Codes mentioned: P2681, P2688115, P268115, 24TE04R1
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of the coolant bypass valve or flow shut-off valve; owners cite repair costs ranging from $400 to $1,200 (parts often under $200, labor typically 20–90 minutes; dealership labor markups significant). Some owners report Toyota's 'Customer Support Program' letter offering repair under warranty terms, though coverage varies.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota has not issued a recall. Toyota is aware of the issue per dealership confirmations in narratives. Some owners mention a 'Customer Support Program' letter from Toyota offering repair under 'voluntary Customer Support Program' terms. Class-action lawsuit cited by multiple owners for 2019–2023 models. Defect not covered under powertrain warranty according to owner reports.
Missing Exhaust Heat Shield
The 2020 Corolla was manufactured without a heat shield on the exhaust system. An independent mechanic warned that exhaust could get hot enough to cause a vehicle fire. Toyota confirmed the vehicle was produced without the heat shield and offered only an aftermarket part purchase as solution.
When: Identified at approximately 1,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Potential for exhaust to reach fire-causing temperatures
Repairs/costs cited: Aftermarket heat shield installation available at owner's cost; original vehicle did not include OEM heat shield.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall. Manufacturer confirmed vehicles no longer manufactured with heat shield; aftermarket part offered as alternative.
Carbon Monoxide Exposure (Rental Vehicle)
A rental 2020 Corolla exposed occupants to carbon monoxide poisoning during extended driving. Both the driver and passenger experienced severe symptoms including weakness, dizziness, vomiting, and breathing difficulty. Roadside assistance indicated this is a common issue in Toyota vehicles.
When: During multi-day rental period
Symptoms owners cite: Weakness and dizziness; Vomiting; Severe difficulty breathing; Near loss of consciousness while driving; Illness across multiple days of vehicle use
Repairs/costs cited: No repair documented; vehicle was a rental.
Rough or Abnormal Engine Downshift
One owner reports abnormal downshift behavior while driving normally on city streets and highways. Shifts feel hard and unsmooth, occurring since the vehicle had 10,000 miles and increasing in frequency as of 17,000 miles.
When: Started at approximately 10,000 miles; ongoing at 17,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal downshift sensation while driving; Harsh, unsmooth shifts; Increasing frequency of occurrence
Engine Performance Degradation and Check Engine Light
One owner reports a flashing check engine light accompanied by severe acceleration limitation (vehicle unable to exceed 30 mph) and multiple unknown failures diagnosed by independent mechanic. A Technical Service Bulletin (0098-19) was referenced but not confirmed as applicable.
When: Approximately 119,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Flashing check engine warning light; Severe acceleration limitation (unable to exceed 30 mph); Multiple unknown failures
Codes mentioned: Rocker arm actuator system performance failure
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired; Technical Service Bulletin 0098-19 discovered but not verified for applicability.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not notified.
Engine Sputtering and Clunking Noises
One owner reports the engine sputters and feels like it will stall at low speeds (5–10 mph) and makes a clunking sound during acceleration. Dealership could not replicate the issues or find fault codes.
When: Multiple occasions; specific mileage not stated
Symptoms owners cite: Engine sputtering at low speeds (5–10 mph); Sensation engine will shut off; Clunking sound during acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to diagnose; computer found no fault.
Synthesized from 84 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Engine coolant bypass valve
There was a maintenance required notice on my dashboard and I searched up that it was my coolant bypass valve having an issue. Apparently it’s a defective part in Toyota Corolla and rav4 models from 2019-2023 I believe. The notice would come on and off each time I would start the vehicle. The dealership has confirmed this issue is common and after having it inspected and diagnosed, it was indeed…
Engine abnormal shift downward while driving regularly. I feel the shift is not smooth even feels like a defect in the engine shift system 17,000 miles mostly happens regularly driving on city streets and a bit less happens on the parkway but does happen. The shifts are hard to ignore I remember the very time I felt it on 10,000 miles and it would able occasionally and now it's happening…
Coolant bypass valve failure. Replacement part carried the same defect.
Had engine trouble with your 2020 Toyota Corolla?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2020 Toyota Corolla?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 84 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 84 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 35,125 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2020/Toyota/Corolla.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.