The Toyota Corolla is a famously reliable compact car, but the 2014 model is a bit more problematic than other years. Reported issues include glitchy touchscreens, sticky door locks, malfunctioning CVTs, and airbags that may not deploy in a crash.
Key Points
- Just two recalls affect the 2014 Toyota Corolla. One is minor, and the other requires an adjustment to the airbag system to ensure proper function.
- While the 2014 model year gathers more complaints than other years. 226 reports have been lodged with the NHTSA.
- Reported issues include peeling white paint, a touchscreen system that gets stuck while rebooting, and door locks that wear out.
- Some drivers reported uncontrolled acceleration and high revving engines. A service campaign called for reprogramming the electronic control unit.
- Open investigations at the NHTSA may result in an extensive recall of airbag inflators.
2014 Toyota Corolla’s Two Recalls Cover a Bad Windshield Wiper Switch and Airbags that may not Open in a Crash
The first recall appeared in October 2013 and applied to less than 10,000 vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration called for the replacement of a bad windshield wiper switch installed during production.
The second recall applies to every Corolla built for 2014, along with two million other vehicles. The electronic control unit that activates seatbelt pre-tensioning and airbag deployment may fail. Owners of the affected cars will have a noise filter installed between the ECU and the wiring harness to mitigate the static that can cause the system to malfunction.
2014 Corolla Owners Voiced Complaints about Glitchy Infotainment System, Peeling Paint, and Bad Programming for the CVT
When you take into consideration that nearly 340,000 units of the 2014 Toyota Corolla were sold, the 226 complaints logged at the NHTSA are not a huge amount.
Out of all the complaints, 58 refer to airbag problems that include a failure to deploy in case of an accident. In many cases, it represents a direct connection to the January 2020 recall issued above.
Under electrical systems, drivers are reporting a loss of calibration on their Entune navigation touchscreens. Users are unable to hit buttons on the bottom row. A software update often addresses that issue.
Also, the Entune radio may fall into a perpetual reboot mode. While Toyota has issued over 200 service bulletins for the car’s equipment, the memos often focus on checking that the owner’s smartphone is updated and compatible with the Entune apps. In multiple instances, the recurring reboot loop resulted in replacing the infotainment unit due to hardware failure.
If the car was sold with Blizzard Pearl or Super White color, it may experience peeling paint. Toyota identified a problem with the original paint which was also used on other Toyota models. They are offering to repaint the affected parts of vehicles that it identifies as subject to this particular failure. The car must be inspected by Toyota and be free of other types of damage to qualify for the free repair.
Failing door lock actuators represent another repeating complaint, which is not a problem particular to this year. When drivers hit the unlock button on their remote, the door lock does not respond. Some people can get by using the physical key. But in other cases, the lock is completely frozen and requires replacement. The part will run around $300 plus labor.
Improper Programming of CVT Unit Could Lead to Uncontrolled Acceleration
Finally, some users experience a high-revving engine without accompanying acceleration. At other times, the car is subject to uncontrolled acceleration. The JSD service campaign indicates that some vehicles equipped with a continuously variable transmission received the wrong programming for their electronic control module. Premature wear and tear on the transmission could cause an error that places the vehicle in limp mode. The fix is a simple software reflash.
However, since the campaign was not launched until 2018, the transmission may have been damaged and may require significant repair or replacement. There is no indication that the instances of uncontrolled acceleration are due in any way to sticking pedals or problematic floor mats associated with earlier years of the Toyota Corolla.
Pair of Ongoing Investigations May Result in More Recalls for 2014 Corolla’s Airbag System Due to Corrosive Propellants
If you are worried about what future problems might come with the 2014 Toyota Corolla, the two open investigations at the NHTSA indicate that airbag troubles may not be over.
The first one opened in July 2019 and is an ongoing investigation regarding the ECU recall referenced above. While Toyota did start repairing the problem, the manufacturer TRW also sold the same systems to a number of other car brands. The investigation will determine if new guidelines need to be implemented for the design of the control unit associated with airbag systems.
The second investigation opened in September 2021 regarding the propellants used in many airbag systems found in millions of vehicles across the planet. There are reports of airbag inflators rupturing which can injure the passengers.
In cars with specifically non-desiccated inflators, older airbag systems are showing signs of corrosion. If the investigation determines that these inflators should be replaced, the recall will likely be on the scale of the Takata debacle from earlier this century.
List of Complaints and Recalls Does not Mean the 2014 Toyota Corolla is a Bad Ride
While the 2014 Toyota Corolla serves as the debut year for the 11th generation of the compact car, it has significantly more complaints than the 2013 and 2015 years.
Even so, it is still considered a reliable ride. The airbag recalls and investigations, while serious, will also apply to many other small cars in the segment. So, they are not a good reason to cross this one off your list. Just remember to have your mechanic take a good look at the powertrain before sealing the deal.
Photos: Toyota
