Toyota GR Corolla Owner Says, "I've got a 2023 And Sure Hope Toyota Will Warranty When It Goes.", After Owners Complain From Vague Feel And Premature Clutch Wear

Many owners of the Toyota GR Corolla will immediately point out that the Japanese hot hatchback is everything they wanted in a daily-driven performance car. That said, not all is well when it comes to Toyota’s most popular model and its performance variant. Toyota has had a lot of recalls lately, and depending on how many issues owners report, we could be looking at another one in the near future. 

While browsing through the GR Corolla Owners group on Facebook, I stumbled upon a post. There, an owner reports that he had to replace the clutch on his 2024 GR Corolla Performance, and even included images. A few things immediately made an impression on me. Here’s what the owner said:

“2024 GR Corolla Premium clutch replaced at 37,000 miles by Toyota. The new clutch is noticeably better. Even when this car was brand new, the clutch grab point was very vague. I know they changed the parts for the clutch in model year 2024. My car was built in October 2023. Going to compare the part numbers and see if I originally had the revised clutch or the discontinued one. Either way, I have never seen a clutch this toasted. Absolutely insane.”

The GR Corolla is a performance car meant to be driven hard, so naturally, other group members would think the failure is due to aggressive driving. However, the owner who created the post explained that there are “probably fewer than 10 launchers”, which isn’t nearly enough to wear out a performance clutch. The car apparently had 111 miles on the odometer when he bought it, but that is hardly enough to contribute to a failure of what is essentially a brand-new clutch. 

Related story: The One Thing About Toyota GR Corolla You Need To Know If You Want To Make More Power

Other GR Corolla owners are already worried about potential implications for their cars.

Another owner says: “I've got a 2023 and I sure hope Toyota will warranty it when it goes. Vague would definitely be the right word.”

This is not an isolated issue, as other owners are also reporting excessive clutch wear without abusing the car. 

It seems the problem is present on Toyota GR Corolla models produced up to 2024. As some of these cars still have fairly low miles, the issue could manifest itself in even more vehicles as they accumulate mileage. According to owner reports, the failure commonly occurs between 30,000 and 40,000 miles. 

Joseph McLane says: “Mine looked similar at 33,000 miles. Granted I have 2023".

Another group member says something that is even more alarming: “I work at a Toyota dealership. Recently, I had a guy whose clutch was completely ruined at 9,000 miles. The car couldn't even move. He paid around $8,000 for repairs. Everyone says he just didn't know how to drive a manual, and I'm just glad mine's an automatic.”

Alexis Preciado says:  “I’m at 42,000 miles and my clutch does sound really loud, and when I push the clutch sound goes away, maybe I need a replacement soon.”

Related story: So 17,000 Miles In, My 2024 Toyota GR Corolla Has a Complete Transmission Failure With No Warning, And I Am Facing $4,700 Repair

Toyota GR Corolla owners who have yet to experience the clutch failure are worried about whether Toyota will replace the clutch under warranty. 

At this point, it is not clear whether Toyota dealerships treat the issue on a case-by-case basis or have devised a universal way of handling the GR Corolla’s clutch-failure issues, but at least one owner reported that the excessive clutch wear isn’t being fixed under warranty. 

Another owner who had experienced the issue with his GR Corolla, after asking whether the clutch was replaced under warranty, said: “I ended up doing it myself. They said it was a wear product, so not covered”. 

Related story: Toyota Land Cruiser J250 Owners Report New Issues With The Driver's Side Mirror, Dealer Calls It "Normal."

Toyota’s solution so far

As with many carmakers, Toyota issued improved parts to improve the GR Corolla’s reliability. Toyota started by releasing an upgraded, dual-mass flywheel back in January 2023, followed by an upgraded clutch in March 2024. The new parts should fix the issue with excessive wear. Many owners opt for aftermarket solutions due to the more affordable price and perceived superior capabilities.

Interestingly, the GR Yaris doesn’t experience excessive clutch wear, and there is a good explanation. The clutch and flywheel are different on both models. This doesn’t necessarily mean that installing a GR Yaris and GR Corolla would work. Luckily, aftermarket solutions are available and interchangeable between the two Toyota performance cars.

If you have had any similar experience with your Toyota GR Corolla or any other car, feel free to share your insight in the comment section below.

Image source: 2025 Toyota GR Corolla press release, GR Corolla Owners via Facebook

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Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, Linked-in, Instagram, and Facebook.