Do you drive a 2011 Toyota Corolla? If so, then you probably enjoy the standard safety equipment found on this stylish sedan, which includes traction control and antilock brakes with brake assist. What you may not realize, however, is that there are a number of open safety recalls on the 2011 Corolla, some of which could affect your vehicle specifically.
Explore current recall notices on the 2011 Corolla listed here and check to determine whether your car is part of any of them. If so, schedule a service appointment with your local Toyota dealer to have the necessary repairs done as soon as possible.
A-Pillar Trim Panel Clip
The first recall issued on the 2011 Toyota Corolla was in November of 2011, shortly after this model’s release. This recall affects up to 518 vehicles, including some 2011 Toyota Sienna models. Specifically, on vehicles equipped with an overhead entertainment system and/or Bluetooth® hands-free device, a pillar clip may have been damaged during assembly. As a result, the front A-pillar trim panel may be at risk of becoming loose and injuring a passenger in the event of a crash.
On all recalled vehicles, Toyota will inspect the A-pillar trim panel retention clip and replace it as needed. This will ensure that the trim panel remains secure, even in the event of a collision.
Passenger Airbag Sensor
This January 2013 recall affects the 2011 Corolla, as well as other Toyota models like the Avalon, Prius and RAV4. In total, up to 3,235 vehicles are part of this recall notice. With this specific recall, it was discovered that some models with optional upgrades (including leather seat covers and seat heaters) may have been assembled without having their passenger-seat occupant sensing system tested for proper calibration. As a result, it is possible that the passenger-seat sensing system may not function properly, and the airbag may or may not deploy as intended in the event of a crash. This, in turn, could lead to a greater risk of injury if the airbag deploys when it isn’t supposed to or doesn’t deploy when it should have.
The sensitivity and calibration of all recalled vehicles can be tested at any Toyota service center, and sensors will be re-calibrated as needed.
Load-Carrying Capacity Label
Up to 7,525 Toyota vehicles may be affected by this recall, which was issued by the NHTSA in April of 2013. With this recall, it was found that the load-carrying capacity labels on some vehicles were inaccurate and fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety standards. Furthermore, an inaccurate load-carrying capacity label could result in drivers unknowingly overloading their vehicles, increasing the risk of a tire failure that could cause a crash.
Toyota is addressing this recall by providing a corrected load-carrying capacity label to all affected vehicle owners. This label can be affixed over the existing one to resolve the issue.
Seat Heater Electrical Wiring
If your 2011 Corolla is equipped with heated seats, you’ll want to be aware of this recall, which was issued in November of 2014. This recall, which affects up to 3,233 Corolla and other Toyota models, is related to factory-installed seat heating wires that can become compressed by the seat cushion. Over time, this can lead to damage to the heater wiring, which can increase the risk of an electrical short and cause a fire.
If your vehicle is affected, schedule a service appointment at a Toyota dealership. A technician will disconnect the heating wires on affected vehicles and issue a refund for the purchase price of this accessory.
Power Window Master Switch
More than 1.8 million Toyota vehicles, including the 2011 Corolla, were recalled in October of 2015 due to an issue with the power window master switch. Specifically, it was discovered that when the sliding electrical contacts were lubricated during assembly, a grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied. As a result, unprotected contacts could become damaged and either overheat or melt. This, in turn, may increase the risk of a fire.
On all recalled vehicles, Toyota will inspect the power window master switch and apply additional lubricant as needed. If an abnormality or damage is found, the entire power window switch assembly will be replaced.
Frontal Airbag Inflators
This issue sparked a series of recalls on the 2011 Corolla and other Toyota models, ranging from May of 2016 through October of 2019 and affecting millions of vehicles nationwide. With this recall, it was discovered that the airbag inflators in affected models can degrade over time with exposure to humidity and temperature changes. As a result of this degradation, the inflators may rupture in the event of a crash, sending metal fragments flying at a high rate of speed, which can cause serious injury or death. Both driver-side and passenger-side airbags have been recalled, making this one of the largest vehicle recalls in history.
It is believed that vehicles are most prone to airbag inflator issues if they are driven in humid or wet climates. However, you should have this issue addressed no matter where you live if your 2011 Corolla is part of the recall group. On all recalled vehicles, Toyota will replace the affected airbag inflators and airbag assemblies free of charge.
Airbags and Seat Belt Pretensioners
In January of 2020, more than 2.8 million Toyota vehicles (including the 2011 Corolla) were recalled after it was discovered that the airbag electronic control unit on some models may malfunction in the event of a crash due to electrical interference. As a result, the airbags and/or seat belt pretensioners may not deploy as designed, which can increase the risk of injury.
If your vehicle is part of this recall, schedule an appointment at a Toyota service center. A licensed technician will inspect the airbag electronic control unit on your vehicle and install a filter between the module and its wire harness. This will protect the module from electrical interference and ensure proper function of the control unit in the event of a crash.
