When my sister’s 2018 Toyota Corolla suddenly flashed that annoying yellow “MAINT REQD” light at 5,000 miles right after an oil change, she panicked and almost drove straight to the dealer. Turns out it’s just a friendly reminder, not a real warning, and you can kill it in under 30 seconds without any tools. That little light has freaked out thousands of Corolla owners, but today you’re going to laugh at how simple it is to make it disappear forever (or until the next oil change).
Key Takeaways
Turn the car to OFF, press and hold the trip reset button while turning the key to ON (don’t start engine), keep holding until the dashes go from 000000 to all clear or the light blinks and shuts off, release the button, start the car once to confirm it’s gone. Takes 10–20 seconds on most 2009–2025 Corollas.
Why the Maintenance Light Comes On (And Why It’s Not Broken)
Toyota built this light on purpose. Every 5,000 miles the car counts down and screams “MAINT REQD” so you never forget oil changes. It’s not connected to any sensor that knows if you actually changed the oil – it’s literally just a mileage timer. That means even if you changed the oil yesterday at Jiffy Lube, the light stays on until someone tells the car “yep, done.”
Most shops forget to reset it (especially quick-lube places), so you end up looking at that yellow reminder for weeks. The cool part? Toyota made the reset stupid-easy on purpose so owners wouldn’t need the dealer every time. You’re basically just pressing two buttons in the right order – no scan tool, no secret code, nothing.
People think it’s a check-engine light and spend $100+ at shops for nothing. I’ve seen friends pay dealerships $45 just to push a button. Save that money for tacos.
- Light is only a 5,000-mile reminder
- Has zero idea if oil was actually changed
- Safe to drive with it on – no real problem
- Resetting it yourself is 100% free
Exact Button Method That Works on 99% of Corollas (2009–2025)
Grab your key (or make sure your push-button Corolla is completely off). Look at the little black trip button on the dash – usually right below the speedometer or to the lower right. Push it until the display shows “Trip A” (super important – not Trip B, not odometer).
Now turn the key OFF completely. Press and hold that same trip button, keep it held, and turn the key to ON position (or press the start button twice without touching brake on newer models). Don’t start the engine yet. You’ll see six little dashes 000000 start blinking, then they count down or just disappear. Keep holding the button the whole time – usually 10–15 seconds.
When the dashes vanish or the display goes back to normal mileage, let go of the button. Start the car normally and boom – light gone. If it didn’t work the first time, you probably let go too early or weren’t on Trip A.
- Must start on Trip A (not odometer)
- Hold button BEFORE turning key to ON
- Wait until all dashes disappear completely
- Works on both key and push-button models
Push-Button Corolla Models (2014–2025) Tiny Difference
If your Corolla has the start button instead of a key, the steps are almost identical but feel weirder. Foot completely off the brake, press the power button twice fast to get to IGNITION ON mode (dash lights up but engine stays off). You’ll know you’re in the right mode because all the warning lights glow.
Now hold the trip button exactly like before. You’ll see the same countdown or blinking zeros. The trick that trips people up is accidentally pressing the brake – that starts the engine and ruins the reset. Just keep your foot chill on the floor mat.
I’ve done this in parking lots with the door open so my foot couldn’t reach the brake by mistake. Takes the same 15 seconds and works every single time on 10th-gen and newer Corollas.
- Press power button twice (no brake)
- Foot stays off brake the entire time
- Same hold-trip-button trick
- Light disappears exactly the same way
What to Do When the Normal Method Fails (Rare Cases)
Sometimes older Corollas (2009–2013) or Canadian models need you to hold the odometer button instead of the trip button. Try the same steps but hold the main odometer reset stick (the longer one) instead. Takes the same amount of time.
If you have a super-base 2023–2025 Corolla with the tiny screen, Toyota moved it to the steering wheel controls. Scroll using the arrows on the left side of the wheel until you see “vehicle settings,” press OK, scroll to “maintenance reset,” press and hold OK. Takes literally three extra seconds.
Worst case, disconnect the battery for 10 minutes – that brute-force resets everything including the clock and radio presets. Only do this if you’re desperate because it’s annoying to reprogram stations.
- Try odometer stick on older cars
- Use steering wheel menu on newest models
- Battery disconnect always works (but resets radio)
How to Stop It Coming Back Too Early Forever
Here’s the pro move most people miss: after you reset it, immediately go into the menu and change the reminder from 5,000 miles to 7,500 or 10,000 miles if you use full-synthetic oil. Toyota lets you pick.
On 2019+ models, from the main screen hit the up/down arrows on the steering wheel → Vehicle Settings → Maintenance Reset → Scheduled Maintenance → change interval. Boom, next reminder at 10,000 miles instead of 5,000. You’ll save yourself two resets per year.
Quick-lube places hate this trick because they want you back every 3,000–5,000 miles even with synthetic. Do what’s best for your wallet and the planet.
- Change interval to match your actual oil type
- Full synthetic = safe to go 10,000 miles
- Fewer resets = happier life
When You Should Actually Worry (Not Just the Reminder)
The “MAINT REQD” light is yellow and says exactly those words – totally different from the red oil-can light or check-engine light. If you see a red oil can, pull over right away – that means real low oil pressure.
Yellow wrench or check-engine means something actually needs scanning. But plain yellow “MAINT REQD”? Just the nanny reminder. Toyota even says in the manual it’s safe to drive until you reset it.
I’ve driven 2,000 extra miles with it on – zero problems. Just don’t ignore real warning lights.
- Yellow MAINT REQD = reminder only
- Red oil can = stop driving now
- Check engine = get it scanned soon
Final Thoughts
You now own the power to kill that light in less time than it takes to find your keys. Next time it pops on, smile, pull over anywhere safe, and knock it out in 15 seconds flat. No tools, no shop, no stress. You’re the boss of your Corolla now – go show that little yellow light who runs the show!
| Action | Exact Steps | Pro Tips & Common Mistakes |
|---|---|---|
| Prepare display | Push trip button until Trip A shows | Must be Trip A – odometer won’t work |
| Turn car off | Key to OFF or power button once | Make sure everything is completely dark |
| Hold trip button | Keep it pressed the whole time | Don’t let go early – most failures happen here |
| Turn to ON (no start) | Key to ON or power button x2 (no brake) | Foot off brake on push-button models |
| Watch countdown | 000000 dashes blink then disappear | Takes 8–20 seconds depending on year |
| Release & start | Let go when display normal, start engine | Light should stay off forever |
| Change interval (optional) | Steering wheel → Settings → Maintenance → Interval | Set to 10k with synthetic oil |
| Backup method | Disconnect battery 10 min | Resets radio presets – last resort |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is it safe to drive with the maintenance required light on Toyota Corolla?
Yes, 100% safe. That yellow light is purely a reminder that you’ve driven about 5,000 miles since the last reset. It doesn’t monitor actual oil level or quality – Toyota even says in the owner’s manual you can keep driving until your next service. I’ve driven friends’ Corollas 3,000 extra miles with it blinking and nothing bad happened. Just don’t confuse it with the red oil-pressure light.
Can I reset the maintenance light without starting the engine?
That’s exactly how you’re supposed to do it! You turn the key to ON position (or press power button twice) without starting the engine, hold the trip button, and the countdown happens with the engine completely off. Starting the engine first is the number-one reason people think the reset “doesn’t work.” Keep that foot away from the brake pedal.
Do I need any tools to turn off the maintenance light?
Zero tools required on every Corolla from 2009 onward. Your finger and the trip button are literally all you need. Some YouTube videos show people using paperclips or whatever – total myth. The only time you might grab something is if your trip button is super stiff, but even then just press harder.
Is the maintenance required light the same as check engine light?
Not even close. Check-engine light is usually orange/yellow and shaped like an engine block – that one needs a scan tool. Maintenance required is soft yellow letters spelling “MAINT REQD” and only counts miles. Totally different systems. One is a friendly nag, the other means something might actually be wrong.
Can quick oil change places reset the light for free?
Most places will do it if you ask nicely, but tons of them forget or claim “we’re not allowed.” I always watch them like a hawk now. Takes them 10 seconds. If they charge you, laugh and walk away – you can do it yourself in the parking lot before you even leave.
Do I have to reset it exactly at 5,000 miles?
Nope – reset it whenever you actually change the oil, even if it’s at 7,000 or 10,000 miles with full synthetic. The light has no idea what oil is in there. Resetting early or late does zero harm. You’re just telling the car “cool, I handled it.”
Can the maintenance light come back right after I reset it?
Only if you mess up the procedure – usually letting go of the button too soon or starting the engine first. Do it exactly as written and it stays off until the next 5,000–10,000 miles (whatever interval you picked). I’ve never had one come back instantly when done right.
Is there a way to permanently disable the maintenance light?
Toyota doesn’t give an official way because they want you to remember oil changes, but you can set the interval to the maximum (usually 10,000 miles) and it feels permanent if you use good synthetic oil. Some people tape over the light – works but looks silly. Just reset it twice a year and call it a day.
