MyCarTSB

2011 Toyota Corolla Engine Problems

12 owner-reported engine complaints from NHTSA data

12
Complaints
1
Fires
Mar 2015Dec 2017
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (12)

mediumENGINE
Filed: Jun 2025

You heard a loud knocking sound coming from your engine while driving, even though no warning lights appeared on your dashboard. Your dealer diagnosed the problem as a failed oil pressure sending unit. The repair involved replacing the oil pressure sending unit.

NHTSA #: 11670289
mediumENGINE
Filed: Jul 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START-UP DUE TO EXCESSIVE FUEL IN THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS WERE WET FROM THE FUEL WHICH PRESENTED A HAZARDOUS CONDITION TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BRYAN EASLER TOYOTA (1409 SPARTANBURG HWY, HENDERSONVILLE, NC 28793, (808) 693-7261) TO BE DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE MECHANIC REMOVED AND CLEANED THE SPARK PLUG TIPS AFTER EACH FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT CLEANING THE SPARK PLUGS FAILED TO FIX THE FAILURE. REPEATS 54,321 AND 72,889. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,349. *LN*DT CONSUMER STATED HE HAD 3 IDENTICAL FAILURES.*JB *TR

NHTSA #: 11341894
mediumENGINE
Filed: Oct 2019

MY TOYOTA BURNS OIL TO MUCH, I NEED TO ADD OIL EVERY WEEK AND ALSO NOW IT GIVES ME A CODE OF MISFIRING LAST TIME I BOUGHT IT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON ANF THEY CHARGED ME $2800 TO FIX IT. THEY SAID THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE CYLIDER HEAD. I THINK ITS ONLY 60-70K MILES THAT TIME. PLS HELP ME WITH THIS

NHTSA #: 11269157
mediumENGINE
Filed: Dec 2017

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2011 TOYOTA COROLLA WITH 45K MILES. FOR THE PAST MONTH WHEN TRAVELING BETWEEN 40 AND 70 MPH THE CAR LOOSES POWER. THE TACHOMETER WILL GO DOWN 200 TO 300 RPMS IN A MATTER OF A FEW SECONDS. IT IS LIKE THE ENGINE IS FLUTTERING THEN AFTER 10 TO 30 SECONDS POWER RETURNS AND THE RMPS RETURN TO THE PREVIOUS SETTING. THIS LOSS OF POWER MAKES THE VEHICLE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I STARTED LOOKING AT COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE-SOME FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I CHANGED THE PEDAL BUT IT DID NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER MORE RESEARCH I DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS A AN OFFICIAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. THE CARS COMPUTER HAS TO BE REPROGRAMMED (FLASH). I CALLED THE TOYOTA WEBSITE TO ASK ABOUT THE PROCEEDURE AND IF TOYOTA PAID FOR THIS-ALSO NO HELP. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION AND TOYOTA SHOULD PAY FOR THIS PROCEEDURE I AM NOT THE ONLY VICTIM. TOYOTA COULD NOT TELL ME HOW MANY OTHER 2011 COROLLAS REPORTED THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA #: 11054596
mediumENGINE
Filed: Aug 2016

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. MY CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING AT A TURN, SEVERAL TIMES IN THE COLD AND CAUSING MY CAR TO SLIP. LUCKILY I WAS IN A PARKING LOT BUT WHEN I SLOWED AND TURNED, MY CAR WOULD TURN OFF AND RIGHT BACK ON. I COULD NOT GET A DIAGNOSIS BECAUSE IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AT THE DEALER. BUT THEN I TOOK A TEST AND FOUND OUT I HAVE EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. NOT SURE IF RELATED.

NHTSA #: 10892754
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Mar 2015

MY 2011 TOYOTA COROLLA HAS ACTING UP WE THE RPM GOING HIGHER THAN NORMAL. THE CAR ONCE GOES DOWNHILL IT AUTOMATIC INCREASE SPEED. I WILL LIKE TO KNOW WHAT CAN I DO TO GET THIS PROBLEM TAKING CARE OR IT. ITS A SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. *TR

NHTSA #: 10694164
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Aug 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THE ENGINE RPMS DECREASED BY 300 AND BRAKING DECREASED NOTICEABLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REPAIR UNDER NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: 10042602 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE) WHICH INCLUDED RE-FLASHING THE COMPUTER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000. ..UPDATED 11/28/12 *BF UPDATED 12/03/12

NHTSA #: 10470547
mediumENGINE
FireFiled: Jun 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE PASSENGER NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AS BLACK SMOKE BEGAN TO EMIT FROM THE HOOD, FOLLOWED BY FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY THE FIRE WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 13,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA #: 10462280
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,POWER TRAIN
Filed: Nov 2011

SINCE LEASING THIS BRAND NEW 2011 COROLLA, I NOTICED THAT AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 40MPH AND 60MPH THE CAR WOULD FEEL AS IF IT WAS DECELERATING, AKIN TO BEING BUFFETED BY STRONG HEADWINDS, ALTHOUGH THE SPEED DID NOT REFLECT IT. I DRIVE MOSTLY AROUND A CITY THAT HAS MANY ZONES WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 40MPH, SO I WAS EXPERIENCING THIS PHENOMENON A LOT. BY THE TIME I HAD 250 MILES ON THE CAR, I KNEW THAT IT WAS NOT JUST A QUIRK, AND I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE PERSON WHO BOOKED ME IN FOR SERVICE SAID THAT HE HAD NEVER HEARD ABOUT THIS ISSUE, BUT I HAD DONE SOME RESEARCH AND SAW THAT MANY 2011 COROLLA OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOLD HIM TO CHECK ONLINE. I ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT APPALLING MILEAGE - I WAS AVERAGING LESS THAN 20MPG - AND HE SAID THAT HE WOULD GET THEIR TECHNICIANS TO FOCUS ON THE TWO ISSUES. WITHIN 30 MINUTES HE WAS BACK TO SAY THAT NOT ONLY HAD HE FOUND THE DECELERATION ISSUE ONLINE, HE FOUND IT ON TOYOTA'S OWN SERVICE WEBSITE, AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE COMPANY HAD ISSUED AN OFFICIAL SERVICE BULLETIN. IT IS NOT SHOWING THAT ONE WAS ISSUED ON THIS SITE, BUT I HAVE SEEN IT, AND THE DEALERSHIP WERE ABLE TO REPROGRAM THE CAR'S COMPUTER (THEY CALLED IT A "FLASH"). THE CONCLUSION WAS THAT THE POOR GAS MILEAGE WAS BEING CAUSED BY THE MISTIMING, AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE SOFTWARE UPDATE. IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE, CALL YOUR DEALERSHIP AND DEMAND THAT THEY FIND THE BULLETIN ON TOYOTA'S OWN SITE. IT'S THERE! MY CAR IS NOW DRIVING MUCH BETTER AND THE GAS MILEAGE IS IMPROVING...SLOWLY. *TR

NHTSA #: 10435627
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Sep 2011

I PICKED UP THIS NEW LEASE CAR MARCH 8, 2011 & NOTICED THIS ISSUE AT THE END OF MARCH WITH ABOUT 50 MILES ON THE ODOMETER; CAR NOW HAS 1000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER.. I NOTICED THAT ALWAYS AROUND 40 MPH THE ENGINE ALMOST STOPS AS IF I WERE DRIVING STANDARD SHIFT (WHICH I AM NOT) & SOMEONE DOWNSHIFTED INTO ANOTHER GEAR, OR IF THE SPEED CONTROL WAS ON (NEVER USE IT) & IT CAME OUT OF THE SET SPEED.. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I KIND OF IGNORED IT BUT THEN WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I STOPPED AT THE DEALER GETTEL TOYOTA WHERE I PICKED UP THIS LEASE CAR & THE PERSON IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME "NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS GETTING USED TO MY DRIVING HABITS & THAT IF SOMETHING WERE WRONG ENGINE/DASH LIGHTS WOULD GO ON" (PP).. SO I WENT MY WAY KEEPING HIS WORDS IN MIND.. THIS PROBLEM STILL EXISTS WITH 1000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER & WHILE I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT IT I DIDN'T RAISE ANY RED FLAGS UNTIL NOW I SEE I AM NOT THE ONLY TOYOTA COROLLA OWNER HAVING THIS ISSUE WHICH LEADS ME TO THINK ITS ANOTHER "TOYOTA DESIGN FLAW".. I LEARNED THAT TERM "DESIGN FLAW" FROM TOYOTA WHEN I HAD MY 2007 COROLLA & FILED MANY LEMON LAW COMPLAINTS ON IT & TOYOTA WOULD REPEAT THOSE WORDS IN THEIR RESPONSES SINCE TOYOTA DOESN'T PARTICIPATE IN LEMON LAW NEGOTIATIONS THEY TOLD ME.. I HAVE BEEN LEASING CARS SINCE 2002 & THIS IS MY SECOND TOYOTA LEASE WHICH I WASN'T GOING TO DO AGAIN SINCE I HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY 2007 COROLLA BUT I LIKED THE DESIGN OF THE NEWER MODEL & COULDN'T BEAT THE DEAL TOYOTA KEPT GIVING ME TO TAKE ANOTHER CAR FROM THEM.. NOW THAT I AM READING ABOUT OTHER OWNERS HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE OF THE SPEED DECELERATION I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE MAY BE A "DESIGN FLAW" WITH THE TRANSMISSION OR ENGINE MECHANICS.. ALTHOUGH THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL OF THE TIME IT DOES CONSISTENTLY HAPPEN AT 40 MPH & IS QUITE NOTICEABLE SINCE THE CAR ALMOST JERKS FORWARD WHEN IT OCCURS. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. UPDATED 10/18/11 *TR

NHTSA #: 10424649
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Aug 2011

MY BRAND NEW CAR (53 MILES ON IT) SEEMS TO LOOSE POWER WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AT 40 TO 50 MPH. I HAVE MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR MAINTAINING THE SPEED AND IT FEELS AS IF SOMEONE ELSE IS STEPPING ON THE BRAKE. YOU CAN FEEL THE SURGE OF THE POWER LOSS .IT DROPS QUICKLY BY ITSELF. ALSO WHEN MAINTAING THE SPEED OF 60 TO 65 ON THE FREEWAY I WILL LET OFF THE ACCELERTOR AND MY CAR MAINTAINS THAT SPEED AS IF I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL ON.IT DRIVES QIUTE A DISTANCE BEFORE EVER SLOWING DOWN. I TOOK IT TO DEALER BUT THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. BECAUSE I KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM!!!!! AND IF THEY TOOK IT FOR A DRIVE AS THEY SAID THEY DID (SEVERAL TIMES) THERE IS NO WAY THEY COULD NOT HAVE NOTICED THE BOGGING DOWN OF THE ENGINE.

NHTSA #: 10417330
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,POWER TRAIN
Filed: Jul 2011

MY NEW 2011 COROLLA LE MIGHT HAVE A SAFETY DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION OR FUEL SYSTEM. WHETHER AT FREEWAY OR LOCAL, I CAN FEEL THE PULL-BACK WHILE DRIVING. ACCORDINGLY, THE RPM WAS FOUND TO BE FLUCTUATED BETWEEN 100-400RPM DROPPING INSTANTLY (1-2S). IT HAPPENED A LOT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE DEALER SERVICE TECHNICIANS DUPLICATED MY CONCERN (SUDDEN PULL-BACK). THEY EVEN FOUND THE PULL-BACK (OR RPM DROPS DOWN SUDDENLY) IN CRUISE CONTROL AT 60 MILES. THEN THEY OPENED THE CASE AND GOT THE FIELD TECHNICAL SPECIALISTS CHECK THIS PROBLEM. IT TAKES ONE WEEK AND THE REPORT SAID THAT "OTHER VEHICLES ARE CHECKED AND SAME THINGS OBSERVED. THIS VEHICLE WAS OPERATED AS DESIGNED AND NO REPAIR NECESSARY." BUT THE WEIRD THING IS THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER (HE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS COMMUNICATED BETWEEN THESE SPECIALISTS AND ME) THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY ALSO THINK SOMETHING WAS WRONG (POSSIBLE SOFTWARE). THEY OFFERED ME A COUPLES OF MONTH PAYMENT CREDIT (700-1000$). AND THEY TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THEY CAN'T FIX IT AND HAVE TO HAVE THAT DONE IN JAPAN. IT TAKES A WHILE. NOW THE SERVICE MANAGER RECOMMENDED ME TO CLAIM TO THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND GET MY MONEY BACK. BUT THE TOYOTA CASE MANAGER IS BAD. HE INSISTED THAT IN TOYOTA'S POSITION, NOTHING WAS WRONG. HE DECLINED MY REQUEST. NOW, IT IS STILL IN THE PROCESSING. BUT I AM AFRAID THAT IT IS HARD TO GET MY MONEY BACK. I ALSO FOUND THE SAME COMPLAINT ONLINE. PLEASE HAVE A CHECK. SEE THE POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2011/TOYOTA/COROLLA/

NHTSA #: 10416035

Other 2011 Toyota Corolla Issues