The Lemon Index2011 Toyota Corolla.
The 2011 Toyota Corolla is one of the most reliable years by owner complaints: 111 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 37, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about steering, it has 9 recalls, and it gets 24 to 30 mpg combined. The best Toyota Corolla year is 2002.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 584 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Toyota Corolla year. 2011 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 5K to 65K miles on the car (194 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 34K–79K miles
- speed control complaints mostly came at 0K–38K miles
- steering complaints mostly came at 0K–21K miles
Recalls 9
- airbags 2020
During certain crashes, the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may malfunction, possibly disabling the deployment of the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners.
- 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.
Show all 9 recalls
- 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.
- 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…
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 356 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…
- The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of…
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
- ClosedElectrical overstress2019–2024
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Corolla 4 DR FWD | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2150–2700 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.8L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
2011 Toyota Corolla s, steering problems. Feel like off-center, not easy to keep car in line. Not so nice to have this feeling on brand new car.
2011 Toyota Corolla owner · NHTSA complaint 10411806
More owner reports
When driving on the highway with any kind of wind the car is hard to steer, it has a mind of it's own, it will start to go to one side to the other.
NHTSA complaint 10399518
While traveling on highway at 65 miles per hour when I release the gas pedal the vehicle continues accelerated for about one minute and then I noticed that the rpm and the engine start to reduce speed.
NHTSA complaint 10502101
Quick answers
Is the 2011 Toyota Corolla reliable?
Yes, it is one of the most reliable by government complaints. It drew 2.7× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 37; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Toyota Corolla year by this measure since 2010 is 2012.
What are the most common 2011 Toyota Corolla problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are steering (31%), speed control (31%) and transmission & drivetrain (13%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2011 Toyota Corolla have?
9 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 2011 Toyota Corolla get?
24 to 30 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2011 Toyota Corolla safe?
NHTSA gave it 3 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2011 Toyota Corolla problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 5,000 and 65,000 miles. The middle report was at 31,000 miles, from 194 complaints.
Does the 2011 Toyota Corolla have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 13% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2011 Toyota Corolla cost in fuel a year?
About $2150 to $2700 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2011 Toyota Corolla have?
1.8L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl.
What Toyota Corolla year is better than the 2011?
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