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Toyota Corolla.

The best Toyota Corolla years are 2002, 2000, 2012. Years to avoid: 2009, 2010. Across 2010-2022, it has a Lemon Index of 46, where 100 is the average car and lower is better.

Reliability by year, 2000 to 2025.

46Lemon Index · 100 = average car

One of the most reliable. Whole model, 2010-2022: 2.2× fewer complaints than average.

Best year 2002 · Worst year 2009

Toyota Corolla
Photo shows a 2020 Toyota Corolla. Kevauto, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · background removed

Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.

2000205× fewer complaints2001244.2× fewer complaints2002195.3× fewer complaints2003661.5× fewer complaints2004392.6× fewer complaints2005382.6× fewer complaints2006422.4× fewer complaints2007801.2× fewer complaints2008382.6× fewer complaints20092842.8× the complaints20101992× the complaints2011372.7× fewer complaints2012205× fewer complaints2013273.7× fewer complaints2014333× fewer complaints2015333× fewer complaints2016323.1× fewer complaints2017342.9× fewer complaints2018313.2× fewer complaints2019333× fewer complaints2020492× fewer complaints2021422.4× fewer complaints2022303.3× fewer complaints202326early read · 3.8× fewer complaints202433early read · 3× fewer complaints202522early read · 4.5× fewer complaints

Scores before 2010 are rough: fewer owners filed complaints back then.

Best years to buy

2002.

2002195.3× fewer complaints than average2000205× fewer complaints than average2012205× fewer complaints than average

Years to avoid

2009.

20092842.8× the average car's complaints20101992× the average car's complaints

Compare the Toyota Corolla.

Toyota CorollaToyota Camryvs Toyota CamryToyota CorollaHonda Civicvs Honda CivicToyota CorollaHonda Accordvs Honda AccordToyota CorollaNissan Altimavs Nissan Altima

vs Toyota Camry · vs Honda Civic · vs Honda Accord · vs Nissan Altima · vs Ford Fusion · vs Hyundai Elantra · vs Chevrolet Malibu · vs Hyundai Sonata

Quick answers.

Is the Toyota Corolla a good car?

Yes, it is one of the most reliable models we track, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2010-2022: Lemon Index 46; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: the best is 2002 and the worst is 2009.

What are the best Toyota Corolla years to buy?

By owner complaints per car sold: 2002, 2000, 2012.

What Toyota Corolla years should you stay away from?

The years with the most complaints per car sold: 2009, 2010.

How many recalls does the Toyota Corolla have?

145 safety recalls across the 26 model years we track. Most: 2010 (17), 2003 (13), 2004 (13). Each year's page lists them.

What are the most common Toyota Corolla problems?

Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name steering, speed control and engine most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.

Every year in one table
YearIndexCompared with averageComplaintsTop complaintRecallsCrash testMPG
2000205× fewer complaints than average52airbags (19%)5—26–30
2001244.2× fewer complaints than average62airbags (18%)4—27–31
2002195.3× fewer complaints than average50airbags (24%)5—27–31
2003661.5× fewer complaints than average175engine (37%)13—28–31
2004392.6× fewer complaints than average112engine (32%)13—28–31
2005382.6× fewer complaints than average90engine (22%)10—25–31
2006422.4× fewer complaints than average113engine (28%)10—25–31
2007801.2× fewer complaints than average263speed control (25%)6—29–31
2008382.6× fewer complaints than average131speed control (29%)6—29–31
20092842.8× the average car's complaints674steering (48%)13—25–30
20101992× the average car's complaints631steering (50%)17—25–30
2011372.7× fewer complaints than average111steering (31%)9★★★☆☆24–30
2012205× fewer complaints than average62airbags (27%)5★★★★☆29
2013273.7× fewer complaints than average101airbags (28%)5★★★★☆29
2014333× fewer complaints than average122airbags (20%)2★★★★★30–34
2015333× fewer complaints than average117airbags (21%)1★★★★★30–34
2016323.1× fewer complaints than average120airbags (22%)1★★★★★30–34
2017342.9× fewer complaints than average123airbags (29%)3★★★★★30–34
2018313.2× fewer complaints than average97airbags (31%)3★★★★★30–34
2019333× fewer complaints than average104airbags (21%)5★★★★★30–36
2020492× fewer complaints than average114engine (14%)3★★★★★31–52
2021422.4× fewer complaints than average101airbags (27%)1★★★★★31–52
2022303.3× fewer complaints than average81electrical (21%)0★★★★★30–52
2023263.8× fewer complaints than average74steering (22%)3★★★★★30–50
2024333× fewer complaints than average67automatic emergency braking (24%)2★★★★★30–50
2025224.5× fewer complaints than average33airbags (18%)0★★★★★30–50

Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. How it works

Toyota Corolla transmission problems by year →

Updated

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data