What component or system failed or malfunctioned: complete slave cylinder failure resulting in loss of braking and ability to shift. Luckily I was traveling at a low rate of speed when this happened, but if this happens to anyone on the freeway or while turning against traffic for example they would have no control of their car and could be seriously injured. I took it to the dealership and they diagnosed it as a slave cylinder failure at only 70k miles. This is incredibly pre-mature. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, only the dealership but I am trying to escalate the issue. No warnings at all, I regularly get my car serviced on there were no instances of the clutch acting strange or brakes losing power (because the clutch and brakes share the same fluid reservoir) prior to this incident.
2020 Toyota Corolla brakes problems
24 complaints (8% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 7,000. 6 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 24
- of this car's complaints
- 8%
- typical mileage
- 7,000
- crashes
- 6
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
Owners did not name a specific part.
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Toyota Corolla brakes problems in other years
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
What 2020 Toyota Corolla owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The concentric slave cylinder in my vehicle is a big issue with these cars. There has been so many reports of issues happening with these cars manual transmission Corolla's. This can cause fluid to spew, brakes to stop working, and no longer able to drive the vehicle safely. This part should be recalled and covered by Toyota.
I am having a problem with my 2020 Toyota Corolla's brakes. I live in [XXX] . In the winter when the car is cold the brakes work normally. When the car has been driven for a while, the car has warmed up, and the brake fluid has thinned, the brakes behave abnormally. When I stop at a red light, after 20 to 40 seconds, the brake pedal slowly drops towards the floor. My understanding is that this could indicate a problem with the master brake cylinder. My fear is that there could be a sudden failure of the cylinder causing an accident. I brought the car to Rudy Luther Toyota in Golden Valley. When I brought the car in, it was warm and the brakes were malfunctioning. Unfortunately, they let the car sit for several hours, the brake fluid cooled, and the mechanic was unable to duplicate the problem. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Clutch slave cylinder started leaking leading to a sticking clutch pedal, making it difficult to engage the transmission with the engine, and a lower brake/clutch fluid level which could have caused braking issues if the fluid got too low.
Beginning on April 18, 2025, my 2020 Toyota Corolla LE began experiencing repeated failures involving multiple safety systems while driving. Without warning, several lights illuminate at the same time, including: Brake System Malfunction, Pre-Collision System, Parking Brake System, Vehicle Stability Control, Check Engine, and Secondary Collision Brake System. These warnings appear suddenly during normal driving, then sometimes disappear, then return again unpredictably. These failures disable several integrated safety systems and create a serious safety risk due to changes in braking performance, loss of stability control, and disabled collision-avoidance functions. Diagnostic scans from both the dealership and an independent mechanic repeatedly show: P1578 — Brake System Malfunction P265B — Rocker Arm Actuator Position Sensor Circuit Range/Performance (Bank 1) Both codes reappear even after being cleared. The vehicle was with Loving Toyota Lufkin, TX multiple times over seven months. They received over $7,100 in insurance payments for repairs, $463 towing cost (due to the negligence of Loving Toyota) and almost $1,500 in rental cars (Paid by State Farm) but were unable to diagnose or fix the underlying failure. Loving Toyota also provided a courtesy rental for 7+ weeks while they did no repairs to the car. The safety warnings continue to occur. Toyota Corporate is now involved but the vehicle remains unsafe to drive. The same code P265B is present that was present back in April 2025. This car is not safe! The problem has been reproduced by me, the dealership, and an independent shop. The vehicle is available for inspection. All scans, photos, videos, and documentation are available upon request. Date first occurred: April 18, 2025 Issue continues intermittently to present day
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 MPH and making a left turn, the Forward Collision Avoidance system activated ad the vehicle stopped independently. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the braking function resumed, and the contact was able to continue driving. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the Forward Collision Avoidance was functioning correctly and there were no failure found with the brakes. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact reported that the vehicle had started to shake abnormally while driving at speeds under 40 MPH. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle back to a dealer or mechanic to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.
The anti-lock brake system (ABS) malfunctioned when the vehicle was still very new, with only 25,000 miles. Diagnostics from two independent service centers confirmed that the ABS electronic control unit is failing due to an external failure. Both specialists stated that such a failure is highly uncommon and is a clear quality issue related to the electronic components. A critical system like ABS should not fail this early, raising serious concerns about the durability and reliability of the vehicle’s braking system.
At 4 years and 1/2 old car 2020 Corolla XSE an Engine Maintenance Required SEE DEALER light turned on. Did diagnostic with OBD 2 scanner at two locations auto body shop and Uto zone. Nothing appears. It is in fact a NEEDED future recall since thousands if not more people have encountered the same. It is a Coolant By Pass Valve. Cost is only $99.53 + tax at dealer. Problem is that should be under warranty or extended warranty or recall. Dealer likes to charge $800 (180-200 for diagnostic, $110 part, $400 labor. Part only takes 30 minutes to install. I should be able to buy at dealer for $110 and have them install for free or pay 30 minutes of work time = $85. 1 hour is about $175. So instead of trying to be billed $800 I should only be billed for $85 labor (30 minutes) + $110 part = Brand total of $105 USD. My daughter [XXX] and I, [XXX] (dad) bought the car at Longo Toyota El Monte, CA 91731. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the gear shifter was shifted to drive and then reverse, but the vehicle failed to respond as needed. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and a diagnostic test was performed. The vehicle was diagnosed with a locked cylinder. The dealer stated that there was recall for the failure however, the vehicle had exceeded the mileage limitation. The vehicle was repaired. The contact referenced the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V544000 (Electronic Stability Control, Service Brakes) as a possible solution to the failure however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,249.
I had to replace all four tires before reaching 40k miles. Brakes needed to be fully replaced with only two years of driving it. AND Engine Maintenance Light on for an issue with the coolant bypass valve, not covered under warranty. This is causing issues with the engine, when driving even at 25 miles per hour or at 65 the car sounds like its dragging or forcing itself, the wheel shake & car feels unbalanced even with a tire alignment. Overall i give the car a 2.5 out 5 star in performance. The body of the car is so fragile and made by very cheap materials. Spending a fortune on this vehicle and it hasnt even reached 60k miles yet.
Questions about the 2020 Toyota Corolla brakes
Does the 2020 Toyota Corolla have brakes problems?
Owners have filed 24 complaints about the brakes of the 2020 Toyota Corolla, 8% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2020 Toyota Corolla brakes problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 7,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2020 Toyota Corolla brakes?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the Toyota Corolla have bad brakes?
The Toyota Corolla model years with the most brakes complaints are 2010 (166 complaints), 2009 (120 complaints) and 2007 (45 complaints).
Other 2020 Toyota Corolla problems
Engine 112Transmission 41Electrical 34Airbags 18Visibility 18Fuel system 17Body 12Driver assistance 12Seat belts 8Steering 8Wheels 7Acceleration 5Lights 3Tires 3Locks 1Suspension 1
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