The Lemon Index2010 Toyota Corolla.
The 2010 Toyota Corolla is worse than average by owner complaints: 631 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 199, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about steering, it has 17 recalls, and it gets 25 to 30 mpg combined. The best Toyota Corolla year is 2002.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 1,244 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Toyota Corolla year. 2010 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 0K to 50K miles on the car (767 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- airbags complaints mostly came at 30K–90K miles
- steering complaints mostly came at 0K–9K miles
- speed control complaints mostly came at 2K–24K miles
Recalls 17
- airbags 2019
These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design.
- airbags 2019
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- airbags 2018
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Show all 17 recalls
- seats 2016
The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
- airbags 2016
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- visibility 2015
During the manufacturing of the Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts.
- seats 2014
Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
- airbags 2014
In the affected vehicles, the steering column assembly contains electrical connections to the driver's airbag module housed in a spiral cable assembly, which includes a Flexible Flat Cable (FFC).
- equipment 2013
These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight ad.
- airbags 2013
If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk…
- body structure 2011
SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 COROLLA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A NON-TOYOTA, BLUE TOOTH HANDS FREE DEVICE OR NAVIGATION UNIT AND CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A N…
- equipment 2010
GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETW…
- equipment 2010
SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE S…
- speed control 2010
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 HIGHLANDER, MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 COROLLA, VENZA AND MATRIX PASSENGER VEHICLES.
- speed control 2010
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 AVALON, MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 CAMRY, MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 COROLLA, COROLLA MATRIX, RAV4, MODEL YEAR 2010 HIGHLANDER, MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 SEQUOIA, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 …
- brakes 2009
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 SCION XD AND MY 2009-2010 COROLLA, AND COROLLA MATRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.8L ENGINE AND ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, COLORADO, …
- equipment 2009
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 COROLLA VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE AIR BAG LABEL INSTALLED ON THE D…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Toyota told dealers about
Toyota sent dealers 395 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Some customers have experienced amber colored oil like substance found on floor mats
- "tt: some customers may encounter bluetooth connectivity concerns such as: difficulty pairing…
- Some customers may encounter Bluetooth connectivity concerns such as: * Difficulty to pair the…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenDesiccated air bag inflator rupture2021
- ClosedLow-speed surging2014–2015
- ClosedSteering wander or drift2010–2011
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★☆ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $2150–2550 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.8L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
2010 Corolla s steering is very hard to control. Car seems to wonder all over the road. Steering seems to be way to responsive!
2010 Toyota Corolla owner · NHTSA complaint 10319136
More owner reports
2010 Toyota Corolla. Consumer states issue regarding floor mat recall.
NHTSA complaint 10360901
I purchased 2010 Toyota Corolla s in november of 2009, and since then I am having problem with the steering wheel. I can not keep the vehicle driving straight on the freeway, I think it is very dangerous.
NHTSA complaint 10306219
Quick answers
Is the 2010 Toyota Corolla reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 2× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 199; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Toyota Corolla year by this measure since 2010 is 2012.
What are the most common 2010 Toyota Corolla problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are steering (50%), speed control (24%) and brakes (16%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2010 Toyota Corolla have?
17 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2010 Toyota Corolla get?
25 to 30 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2010 Toyota Corolla problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 600 and 50,000 miles. The middle report was at 6,000 miles, from 767 complaints.
Does the 2010 Toyota Corolla have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 4% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2010 Toyota Corolla cost in fuel a year?
About $2150 to $2550 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2010 Toyota Corolla have?
1.8L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl.
What Toyota Corolla year is better than the 2010?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2012, 2013 and 2022.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works