2023 Toyota Corolla Cross: windshield wiper failure

Filed Oct 25, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · WA

While driving my 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross LE, the engine unexpectedly shut off while I was stopped at a red light during heavy rain with the windshield wipers operating. A warning message appeared on the dashboard indicating that the engine had shut off and instructing me to press the brake firmly. The check engine warning light also illuminated. I shifted the vehicle into Park and pressed the engine Stop button. The vehicle took approximately 20 seconds before the dashboard indicated that the ignition was on but the vehicle was not ready to drive until I pressed the brake and pressed the Start button. After restarting the vehicle, the warnings disappeared and the vehicle appeared to return to normal operation. I am concerned that an unexpected engine shutdown could create a serious safety hazard, particularly in traffic or at an intersection, where the vehicle could lose power unexpectedly and potentially leave me unable to accelerate when needed. I am also concerned about whether the issue could recur while the vehicle is moving or in an unsafe location. The vehicle has approximately 73,000 miles. This is the first time I have personally experienced this issue. I purchased the vehicle in [XXX] and subsequently drove it to [XXX]. This was one of the first times I had used the windshield wipers extensively since purchasing the vehicle, due to the heavy rain. The vehicle is equipped with an automatic Stop & Start system. The problem has not yet been reproduced or checked by a dealership or independent repair facility. To my knowledge, the vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, a dealership, police, or insurance representatives in connection with this incident. The vehicle appeared to operate normally after restarting, but the cause of the shutdown has not been determined. The first symptoms occurred at the time of the incident. I am concerned about the safety implications of an unexpected engine shutdown. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)

Filed Oct 15, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · AR

Vehicle: 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Mileage: Approximately 45,000 miles Relevant Toyota Bulletin: T-SB-0020-23 Rev1 Description of Safety Concern: My 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross experienced a serious safety-related malfunction involving the automatic engine Stop and Start system. While stopped in traffic with the windshield wipers operating, the engine failed to restart automatically when I attempted to proceed. This left the vehicle temporarily unable to move as expected and required me to manually restart the engine. It can sometimes takes a couple of tries. THIS IS INTERMITTENT, there are no warning lights or codes. It is almost impossible to understand what is happening as a consumer. It took me hours of research to connect it to wipers. This condition presents a significant safety concern because it can leave a vehicle unexpectedly immobilized at an intersection or in active traffic, increasing the risk of a rear-end collision or other accident. Toyota had already identified the exact condition in Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0020-23, originally issued April 27, 2023, and subsequently revised. The bulletin specifically addresses an intermittent failure of the engine to restart during windshield-wiper operation in 2022–2023 Corolla Cross vehicles. They charged me $385 to fix it. Toyota developed a software correction for the engine control system, demonstrating that this was a known manufacturer-identified condition rather than normal vehicle wear or maintenance. My primary concern is that Toyota has identified a defect that can prevent a vehicle from restarting in traffic, yet affected owners may not receive the correction unless they experience the malfunction and pay for the repair themselves. I am requesting that the federal safety agency evaluate whether this condition represents an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety and whether a safety recall or broader manufacturer corrective action is warranted, given that the failure can occur unexpectedly.

Filed Aug 3, 2026 · NJ

Rainy day, during daylight hours, wipers and lights on. Engine stalled from 35mph. Display read low steering power. Hard start by pushing brake and ignition button. Could have been terrible accident. No prior notification of battery or electrical issues

Filed Feb 6, 2025 · Engine, Steering · GA

I was at a red light with my windshield wipers on. I then heard several warning beeps with messages stating "steering power low", battery low, and then the steering locked. I tried to turn the wheel after the last message came up but the steering wheel was locked. I couldn’t accelerate. I had to park the car and turn it off and on again. This has happened twice now and Toyota says it is “fine”.

Filed Sep 12, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · GA

While driving in the rain with my windshield wipers on, my car suddenly stopped and the message on the car said “engine stopping, steering slowly” and after that it said “press on brakes slowly, engine stopping , steering slowly” and then it started to cut off. I forcibly put it in park and then the engine came back on and the car started to drive fine. An hour later, I turned my car back on and started driving and my screen went black. I turned the car off and turned it back on and it started working again. I think it could be an electrical issue but I don’t know for sure. I bought this car used with a little over 30k miles on it.

Filed Jun 9, 2024 · Brakes, Engine · NC

Car would not restart after auto stop/start engaged and wipers on. I had to put car in park, turn off the engine then restart. Third time this has happened.

Filed May 19, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · VA

My 2023 Corolla cross XLE, at least 5 times since ownership, has experienced a complete engine shut off at stop lights when driving in the rain with windshield wipers on. A message appears on the driver display saying that the engine shut off and the brake needs to be pressed hard and start button must be pushed to start the engine again. It seems to only occur in association with the engine stop/start capability that is engaged when the vehicle comes to a complete stop and the break pedal is pushed extra to engage the engine. This may sound like the normal start/stop function to save fuel, but it is not. Normally, the capability turns the engine back on upon release of the brake pedal. This issue is very different, in that the engine shut down is not normal, and requires in real time traffic, returning the vehicle to park and starting it up again before putting the gear in drive again. This is very dangerous in traffic and needs a recall fix as soon as possible.

Filed May 3, 2024 · Electrical, Visibility · NC

I have run into issues with the auto start/stop or brake hold being on while the windshield wipers are on. I get a "steering fluid low" message that comes up on the dashboard and the car becomes inoperable. I have to turn the car off and turn it back on in order to drive it again. This has been going on since I purchased the car in March 2023. I have not gone to a dealer around this issue as I've heard from other Toyota Corolla Cross owners have run into the same issue and that there is no remedy for the issue. There is no warning that this will happen, it happens unexpectedly and typically I'm sitting at stop signs or red lights.

Filed Apr 11, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · KY

Vehicle stalled while driving with both front and rear wind shield wipers on. It was raining when this occurred. We were in heavy traffic and vehicle would not move, putting us at risk. The dealer states that they are unaware of this failure occurring in the 2023 corolla cross model. The failure happened suddenly without any type of warning.

Filed Jan 23, 2024 · Engine · NV

This has happened several times since I have bought the car in October 2023. Every time I am driving in the rain, stopped at a red light, with the windshield wipers engaged my car completely shuts off (no it is not the auto-start/stop feature). I receive the message stating “engine stopped, press brake firmly to restart. Power steering low.” Everytime I have been at a red light and in order to get the car to start again, I have to put my car in park, then turn it back on. This is a very dangerous issue as I worry if it will happen while I am driving with wind shield wipers engaged. So far it has happened at a red light everytime. I have already taken it into the dealer and they thought they solved the problem with a software update, but it just happened again, three times today (1/22/24).

Filed Jan 9, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · NY

It was a snow/ rain day I had my wipers on and was stopped at a traffic light when my engine stopped and I got a message on my dashboard “ engine stopped power steering low”. This vehicle is new with less than 5000 miles. I had to turn off the engine and restart the car in the middle of traffic.

Filed Dec 29, 2023 · Engine, Fuel system · PA

In November, the engine stalled at a light when it was raining and the wipers were on. Warning noises were activated and the console read "steering Power Low." The car had to be pushed out of the intersection by other drivers. After a half hour the car was able to be restarted . The Car taken to dealership and they ran diagnostics on it and declared that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. Yet on December 27th, it happened again. This time my daughter was driving the vehicle. It was raining, the lights and wipers were on and we stopped at a light. The engine shut off and would not restart. She pressed the brake multiple times and put the car in park. After about 5 minutes of sheer terror, she was able to restart the car.