Toyota Corolla: lost key, dead fob or locked out?

The Toyota Corolla

The Corolla was Canada's best-selling car in 2022 (33,096 sold), ending the Civic's 24-year run. Toyota Canada calls the 2009 model the 10th generation, and said the 2014 car was "built for the North American market at" TMMC, whose Cambridge, Ontario plant built Corollas.^[1][2][3][4]

Corollas of the same year can take different keys: the 2009, 2014 and 2020 manuals each cover a smart key with a hidden mechanical key, a key with a built-in remote, and plain keys. In Canada the sedan's smart key has depended on trim, from LE-only in 2010 to every 2026 Hybrid grade but not the base L sedan.^{[5][6][7][8][9]}

Which key does your Toyota Corolla use?

Not sure which generation you have? The model year is on your ownership (vehicle permit).

Dead fob, locked out or trunk stuck: what the owner's manual says

Hidden key inside the smart fob (2009–2026)

In the 2009, 2014, 2020 and 2026 sedan manuals and the 2024 hatchback manual, the smart fob holds a mechanical key: push the release button (2014 sedan, 2024 hatchback) or slide it (2020 and 2026 sedan). The 2014, 2020 and 2026 manuals say the blade is grooved on one side only; if it will not go in, turn it over.^{[5][6][18][7][23]}

Driver's door key cylinder (by year)

2009 smart-key cars: turn the mechanical key rearward for the driver's door, then again within 3 seconds for the others; the 2014 and 2016 manuals allow 5 seconds. 2005 cars with power locks, and 2020 and 2026 smart-key cars: one turn for the driver's door, a second for the rest. A wrong key "rotates freely" (2020). The 2005, 2009, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2022 and 2026 manuals show no door keypad.^{[5][6][24][7][23][10][25]}

Starting with a dead fob (2009–2026)

2009 and 2010: in P with the brake on, touch the Toyota-emblem side of the fob to ENGINE START STOP, then press it within 5 seconds of the buzzer. 2014, 2020 and 2022: touch the emblem side to the engine switch; with a manual gearbox, shift to N and press the clutch. The 2024 and 2026 manuals also say to touch the key to the engine switch (the power switch on the 2026 Hybrid). The 2009 manual calls this a temporary measure: replace the battery.^{[6][7][25][5][26][27][23][28]}

Fob battery size (by manual year)

Smart key: CR1632 (2009, 2010), CR2032 (2014, 2016, 2020, 2022), CR2450 (2023 edition for production through March 2023, 2024, 2026, 2026 Hybrid, 2024 hatchback). Other remotes: CR2032 (2005, 2008, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026 and 2026 Hybrid), CR2025 or CR2016 depending on key type (2009, 2010), CR2016 (2014, 2016). The 2020 manual recommends a Toyota dealer replace it, as the key may be damaged.^{[5][26][6][24][7][25][29][27][23][28][18][10][11]}

Trunk that will not open (sedan, by year)

2005: of the keys, only the master key opens it, and turning it counterclockwise in the trunk lock disables the release lever by the driver's seat. 2009: turning the key counterclockwise locks the trunk opener, and then neither the remote nor the entry function opens the lid; with a dead fob, turn the mechanical key clockwise in the trunk lock. The 2014, 2016, 2020 and 2023 manuals give the key step only for "vehicles with a key cylinder on the trunk lid". On 2020 and 2024 smart-key cars, once all doors are unlocked (the mechanical key counts), the lid button opens it without the fob. The 2005, 2009, 2014, 2020 and 2026 manuals show a glow-in-the-dark release inside the lid.^{[10][5][6][24][7][29][27][23]}

Lockout traps (2005, 2008, 2014, 2020)

The 2005 and 2008 manuals say the doors and trunk can lock without a key, so carry a spare master key; the 2005 manual adds that a duplicate key you make yourself will not start the engine. With all doors locked, closing the trunk on a smart key left inside sounds an alarm, but the key may not be detected (2014). If smart entry has not been used for 14 days or more, only the driver's door unlocks (2014, 2020).^{[10][11][6][7]}

Recalls involving locks, latches or keys

To check whether your own vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN on the manufacturer's recall page — Transport Canada lists them here. To browse recalls by make, model and year, use the Transport Canada recalls database.

Known problems and what owners report

Door locks acting up, 2009–2011 and 2014 (U.S. data)

Bulletin T-SB-0061-13 covers all 2009–2010 Corollas, and 2011s built before a listed VIN, whose locks "cycle without any operator input"; the repair includes the door wire harness and door lock actuator. Unverified owner complaints describe failed actuators, such as three in one week on a 2009, and all four doors plus the trunk on a 2014.^[33][34][35]

Trunk lid closing or hard to latch, 2009–2011 and 2014 (U.S. data)

T-SB-0017-13 covers 2009–2010 North American-built Corollas, including TMMC (Canadian-plant) cars built before a listed VIN, and U.S. program ZE4 covered the trunk lid torsion bars on certain 2009–2010 cars; owners complained of 2009–2011 lids that would not stay open. T-SB-0031-14 covers 2014 remote or smart-key cars built before listed VINs whose trunk is hard to latch in the cold after a remote opening.^{[36][37][34][38][39][40]}

Every key lost, 2005–2025 (bulletins are U.S. data)

Registering new keys when all master keys are lost falls under T-SB-0057-18 for 2005–2019 Corollas, and its reset erases every registered key. The smart key immobilizer reset bulletin for 2019–2025 hatchbacks and 2020–2025 sedans and Hybrids is T-SB-0013-24, which says a removed key "can never be reused". The 2009 and 2014 manuals say a dealer makes a new key from the key number plus another key.^{[41][42][5][6]}

Theft and key security

Équité ranked the Corolla 9th on its Canada and Ontario top-10 most-stolen lists labelled 2020, with the 2017 model year stolen most often. It is not in the top 10 on Équité's Canada or Ontario lists labelled 2021 through 2024.^{[43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52]}

A CAN-injection write-up lists the models one theft device claims to support; the Toyotas it names are the GR Supra, Prius, Highlander, Land Cruiser and RAV4, not the Corolla. The 2020, 2024 and 2026 sedan manuals say that for about 10 days after a new electronic key is registered, the display shows "A New Key has been Registered"; if no key was added, they say to have a dealer check for an unknown key.^{[53][7][27][23]}

Toyota Corolla keys — questions

Related help

Other Toyota models

Sources

1. Car Guide — Top 10 best-selling vehicles in Canada in 2022 (third-party)
2. Toyota Canada — All-new 10th-generation 2009 Corolla unveiled at SEMA (2007)
3. Toyota Canada — 2014 Corolla launch release (2013)
4. Toyota USA newsroom — North American manufacturing realignment (2015)
5. Toyota — 2009 Corolla Owner's Manual, OM12C16U
6. Toyota — 2014 Corolla Owner's Manual, OM12F00U
7. Toyota — 2020 Corolla Owner's Manual, OM02580U
8. Toyota Canada — 2010 Corolla specifications
9. Toyota Canada — What's new: the 2026 Corolla (2025)
10. Toyota — 2005 Corolla Owner's Manual, OM12891U
11. Toyota — 2008 Corolla Owner's Manual, OM12B28U
12. Toyota Canada — 2008 Corolla specifications
13. Toyota Canada — The all-new 2009 Corolla (2008)
14. Toyota Canada — The 2015 Corolla marks 50 years of Toyota in Canada (2014)
15. Toyota Canada — Introducing the 2018 Corolla XLE (2017)
16. Toyota Canada — 2019 Corolla Hatchback specifications
17. Toyota Canada — What's new: the 2026 Corolla Hatchback (2025)
18. Toyota — 2024 Corolla Hatchback Owner's Manual, OM12S56U
19. Toyota Canada — Even more Corolla to love: the 2020 Corolla (2019)
20. Toyota Canada — The 2023 Corolla (2022)
21. Toyota Canada — The 2024 Corolla (2023)
22. Toyota Canada — Now on sale: the 2025 Corolla sedan (2024)
23. Toyota — 2026 Corolla Owner's Manual, OM02722U
24. Toyota — 2016 Corolla Owner's Manual, OM12J84U
25. Toyota — 2022 Corolla Owner's Manual, OM02617U
26. Toyota — 2010 Corolla Owner's Manual, OM12E31U
27. Toyota — 2024 Corolla Owner's Manual, OM02684U
28. Toyota — 2026 Corolla Hybrid Owner's Manual, OM12W12U
29. Toyota — 2023 Corolla Owner's Manual (through March 2023 production), OM02525U
30. Transport Canada — Recall 2013-317, 2009–2010 Corolla trunk lid (2013)
31. Transport Canada — Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database
32. NHTSA — Recalls by vehicle, 2010 Corolla example (U.S. data)
33. Toyota — T-SB-0061-13, Abnormal Power Door Lock Operation (U.S. data, 2013)
34. NHTSA — Owner complaints, 2009 Corolla (U.S. data)
35. NHTSA — Owner complaints, 2014 Corolla (U.S. data)
36. Toyota — T-SB-0017-13, Trunk Lid Closing Under Certain Limited Conditions (U.S. data, 2013)
37. Toyota — Warranty Enhancement Program ZE4, trunk lid torsion bars, dealer letter (U.S. data, 2014)
38. NHTSA — Owner complaints, 2010 Corolla (U.S. data)
39. NHTSA — Owner complaints, 2011 Corolla (U.S. data)
40. Toyota — T-SB-0031-14, Trunk Difficult to Latch in Cold Temperatures (U.S. data, 2014)
41. Toyota — T-SB-0057-18 Rev2, Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset (U.S. data)
42. Toyota — T-SB-0013-24 Rev1, Smart Key Immobilizer Reset and Add/Remove Key (U.S. data, 2024)
43. Équité — Top 10 most stolen vehicles of 2020, Canada
44. Équité — Top 10 most stolen vehicles of 2020, Ontario
45. Équité — Top 10 stolen vehicles "2021", Canada
46. Équité — Top 10 stolen vehicles "2021", Ontario
47. Équité — Top 10 most stolen vehicles 2022, Canada
48. Équité — Top 10 most stolen vehicles 2022, Ontario
49. Équité — Top 10 most stolen vehicles 2023, Canada
50. Équité — Top 10 most stolen vehicles 2023, Ontario
51. Équité — Top 10 most stolen vehicles 2024, Canada
52. Équité — Top 10 most stolen vehicles 2024, Ontario
53. Ken Tindell — CAN Injection (third-party, 2023)