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2019 Toyota Corolla problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
64% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2019 Toyota Corolla are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 85% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 32 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 54%).
Does the 2019 Toyota Corolla have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 110 of 172 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Toyota Corolla concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (64%), and the largest group is filed under power train (56). For comparison, the 2018 scores 44% and the 2020 scores 55%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2019 compares with other Toyota Corolla years
Of the 14 Toyota Corolla years with enough complaints to score, the 2019 is the worst on engine and transmission share (64%). The best is the 2010 (11%). By volume, the 2019 drew 204 complaints (110 drivetrain), against 142 for the 2018 and 308 for the 2020.
Toyota Corolla years to avoid and best years →
2010 Corolla problems · 2011 Corolla problems · 2012 Corolla problems · 2013 Corolla problems · 2014 Corolla problems · 2015 Corolla problems · 2016 Corolla problems · 2017 Corolla problems · 2018 Corolla problems · 2019 · 2020 Corolla problems · 2021 Corolla problems · 2022 Corolla problems · 2023 Corolla problems
The rest of the picture on the 2019 Toyota Corolla
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2019 Toyota Corolla said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 110 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2019 Toyota Corolla transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2019 Toyota Corolla involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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…
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…
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019 Toyota Corolla hatchback vehicles equipped with Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVT). The pump impeller blades within the torque converter may detach, especially when driven under high load, potentially causing a vehicle stall.
Risk: A vehicle stall, especially when driving a high rate of speed, can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota has notified owners, and dealers will replace the CVT and torque converter, free of charge. The recall began April 22, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for…
3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2019 Toyota Corolla? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2019 Toyota Corolla
Does the 2019 Toyota Corolla have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 110 of 172 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Toyota Corolla concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (64%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2019 Toyota Corolla?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2019 Toyota Corolla is power train: 56 of 204 complaints (27%) name it, followed by engine (39) and air bags (31). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2019 Toyota Corolla reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 64% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 85% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Toyota Corolla years we score, it ranks worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2019 Toyota Corolla?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2019 Toyota Corolla involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total: 20V012000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump), 18V901000 (power train: automatic transmission: torque converter). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Toyota Corolla years are better?
Among the Toyota Corolla years we track, the 2010 (11%), the 2012 (15%) and the 2013 (24%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2019 (64%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/toyota-corolla
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.