2016 Toyota Corolla Safety Report
2016 Toyota Corolla Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2016 Toyota Corolla
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2016 Toyota Corolla. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Moderate (1) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (208) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 0 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Air Bags | Compare air bags issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2018 | Compare against the 2018 Toyota Corolla with 131 complaints and 3 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2020 | Check the 2020 Toyota Corolla before buying across this generation. |
Toyota Corolla Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Toyota Corolla years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Toyota Corolla | 185 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2015 Toyota Corolla | 213 | 1 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2018 Toyota Corolla | 131 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Toyota Corolla | 193 | 5 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Toyota Corolla | 293 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2021 Toyota Corolla | 168 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2016 Toyota Corolla Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2016 Toyota Corolla, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Air Bags
32 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags issues Toyota onlyVehicle Speed Control
12 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Vehicle Speed Control issues Toyota onlyService Brakes
12 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Service Brakes issues Toyota onlyPower Train
11 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Toyota onlyAir Bags,Seat Belts
11 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags,Seat Belts issues Toyota onlyUnknown Or Other
10 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Toyota onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2016 Toyota Corolla
Reliability Score
The 2016 Toyota Corolla receives a reliability score of 85 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2016 Toyota Corolla
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2016 Toyota Corolla
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2016 Toyota Corolla:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag System Reports indicate that the airbag system may not deploy during a collision, which is a moderate severity issue. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Service Brakes Service brakes have been reported to occasionally fail to work properly, which is a moderate severity issue. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Power Train Power train issues have been reported, which is a moderate severity issue. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Airbag And Seat Belt Airbag and seat belt issues have been reported, which is a moderate severity issue. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2016 Toyota Corolla:
Airbag system issues are the most common problem reported.
Service brakes are a frequent issue.
Power train issues are a common problem.
Airbag and seat belt issues are a common problem.
Recall Details for the 2016 Toyota Corolla
The following 1 recall has been issued for the 2016 Toyota Corolla by NHTSA:
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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...
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2016 Toyota Corolla
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2016 Toyota Corolla with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 13 reported injuries or fatalities.
In 2024, my 2016 Toyota Corolla was involved in a collision. The airbags did not deploy. I went to the emergency room following the crash and later required additional medical treatment, including rehabilitation.
My 2016 Toyota Corolla suddenly showed a Check Engine light, and the dealer diagnosed a CVT transmission failure with code P2757. This code is linked directly to Toyota’s own TSB T-SB-0150-16 for torque converter clutch/valve-body failure. The dealer confirmed the issue and quoted me $11K to fix it. This is frightening because a failing transmission can slip, hesitate, or lose power at any moment...
The driver seat belt dont work and once in a great while it will work but even whenever it does latch it still shows the seat belt isn't on and that noise keeps going off but after a while the noise goes off but the symbol is still on the dash board. I recently got hit from behind (09/15/2025) at a red light and no air bags deployed. Im not sure if they were suppose to deploy but either way my sea...
Radio will constantly reset as well as the in-dash clock, and the Tire Pressure light will illuminate and flash. I found this appears to be a consistent issue with 2014, 2015, and 2016 Toyota Corolla's on YouTube.
At about 40000 miles on about [XXX] I noticed my paint starting to peel and fade from my roof as time passed it went to my hood and trunk faded and clear coat peeling I took my car to Toyota in Brownsville Tx and there was no recall on paint defect on roof but the associate told me they had 2 Toyota Corollas being fix on recall for same defect as my Red toyota Corolla but those cars are white I d...
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle downshifted with no warning light illuminated. The contact also stated that the steering wheel seized with no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, w...
I recently 6 weeks ago bought a used certified 2016 Toyota Corolla with 43,000 miles. I have been going back and forth with Toyota since the day after I bought it about the many mechanical issues that pose a major safety risk. The car shudders/vibrates when accelerating, knocks when backing up. And when making turns the car shifts hard side to side with a shudder and wobble in floor board of car. ...
There are no incidents but it is requiring me to fill this out.
We own a 2016 Toyota Corolla Sport model. 4 door sedan. We first started to notice a loud sound that was seemingly coming from the front of the car. It was a whining, rattling sound. The car's mileage is 87k. We took it into the shop, we were first told that it sounded like a bearing going out in the wheel. Then we took it to a licensed Toyota dealership. The dealership then tells us that it is a...
The roof of my car started peeling. It’s been progressing quickly. Also starting a small little part in the back as well.
I own a 2016 Toyota Corolla with 35000 miles. My extended warranty expired in January 2024. In the the last few months my Toyota developed a “rattle” or noise, primarily on the right side at slow speeds and slow turns. I took the car to a well respected and nearby repair facility for an oil change and had them look at the noise. They found that the control arm bushings had stress cracks and th...
A knocking noise is coming from the front of car. Noise correlates with car motion. Worn parts in suspension were replaced by Euro Car Doctor in Costa Mesa. One problem complies with Toyota Technical Service Bulletin. Noise continues. The electronic invoice has photos of worn parts. Euro Car Doctor documents concern. I do not trust the local Toyota dealer service department to properly inspect...
Unknown
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was rear-ended. The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that the other driver was driving at about 45 MPH when the contact's vehicle was rear-ended. A police report was filed. The contact did not seek medical attention at the scene but later went to...
I have been driving my car since 2016, however since Nov 24, 2023. Incidents that alarm me have happen. I have filed a police report but don't have the funds to get vehicle swept. All of these events occur while I am driving. Passenger windows goes up in and down a lot. Static in my speakers. Steering wheels lock. somethings draining my battery. though I have ensured nothings on or there isn't any...
The contact's daughter owned a 2016 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that the vehicle was stolen, and while being chased by the police, the suspect crashed into a supporting beam located on the expressway. The front end of the vehicle was damaged. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed. The contact was unaware of any injuries. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot for the city. ...
Airbags did not deploy on time of the accident that I was very injured and hospitalized for 4 days in the iCU
The car is at very good condition
Toyota has installed several parts on my 2016 corolla that were previous years' parts. In previous complaints, the tires (under 11,000 miles) started to dry rot. When filing the warranty repair, the dealerships and Toyota tried to claim that it was normal. After deep investigation, it was found that the tires were actually over a YEAR older than the release of the vehicle. The tire warranty st...
We discovered that there was an explosion of some sort inside the car on the passenger side, which seems to have potentially involve the air bag system and/or electrical around the system, but this is not entirely known. The car was parked at the time and had not been driven for approximately 65 hours. It appears there was a fire but we did not witness. The dash is melted leaving a gaping hole,...
Showing 20 of 208 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2016 Toyota Corolla
NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.
Component: Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Opened 2021-09-17
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 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 20...
Component: Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module
Opened 2019-04-19 · Closed 2024-09-19
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Elec...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2016 Toyota Corolla
Has the 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA been recalled?
Yes, the 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA has 1 recall on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA have?
The 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA has 208 complaints filed with NHTSA. None of the complaints involved crashes. 56 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA?
The 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 5/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA involve air bags (32 complaints), vehicle speed control (12 complaints), service brakes (12 complaints). Other affected components include power train, air bags,seat belts, unknown or other.
How many crash reports does the 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA have?
There are no crash reports associated with the 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA in the NHTSA database.
How many fire reports does the 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA have?
There are no fire reports for the 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA.
How many injuries are reported for the 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA?
56 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA is research thoroughly before purchasing. It has 208 complaints, 1 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA?
The components with the most failures on the 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA are: 1. AIR BAGS (32 complaints), 2. VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (12 complaints), 3. SERVICE BRAKES (12 complaints), 4. POWER TRAIN (11 complaints), 5. AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS (11 complaints). AIR BAGS is the single most-reported problem area with 32 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA?
Be cautious of the airbag system and service brakes, as they are frequently reported issues. Regular maintenance is crucial. The 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA has 208 NHTSA complaints and 1 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA?
The 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 208 owner complaints, 1 recalls, and 0 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Airbag System and Service Brakes.
What are the known issues with the 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA?
Known issues with the 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA include: Airbag System, Service Brakes, Power Train, Airbag and Seat Belt. These are based on patterns found across 208 NHTSA complaints. 1 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the most common issues with the 2016 Toyota Corolla?
The most common issues are with the airbag system, service brakes, power train, and airbag and seat belt issues.
Is the airbag system reliable?
There have been reports of the airbag system not deploying during collisions, indicating potential unreliability.
What should I do if I experience issues with my 2016 Toyota Corolla?
Contact Toyota immediately and have the vehicle inspected by a professional mechanic.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of the airbag system and service brakes, as they are frequently reported issues. Regular maintenance is crucial.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2016 Toyota Corolla
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2016 Toyota Corolla. The data includes 208 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 1 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 56 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2016 Toyota Corolla an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 5 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16