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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.
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.
- Every owner quote, 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 them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
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. 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 17, 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.
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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.
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.
Should I buy a 2019 Toyota Corolla?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2019 Toyota Corolla has an elevated transmission complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing transmission work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the transmission. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.
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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.