The Lemon Index2016 Toyota Corolla.
The 2016 Toyota Corolla is one of the most reliable years by owner complaints: 120 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 32, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about airbags, it has 1 recall, and it gets 30 to 34 mpg combined. The best Toyota Corolla year is 2002.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
Fixes owners look up most.
From 89 YouTube videos about the 2014–2019 Toyota Corolla, 19.4M views. The 2016 is the same car.
- Gauges, lights & wiring1.2M views
2014 and 05-2017 Toyota Corolla oil light reset / maintenance resetThe Bravo Connection · 506K views · 4 videos - Infotainment, battery & electrical982K views
Fuse Box Locations, How To Check and Replace Fuses, Toyota Corolla, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018Clever Fix · 252K views · 8 videos - Transmission & shifter836K views
2014 Corolla How-To: Paddle Shifters | ToyotaToyota USA · 387K views · 4 videos - Timing chain & engine414K views
2014-2019 Corolla Buying GuideThe Car Care Nut · 414K views
Show 4 more
- Oil changes & service305K views
How to Change Oil 2014-2019 Toyota CorollaTRQ · 196K views · 2 videos - Cooling system284K views
Coolant Change, Toyota Corolla, Drain & Fill 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018Clever Fix · 284K views - Brakes & ABS227K views
Toyota Corolla Front Brake Pads & Rotors Replacement 2013-2017 - 3 1/2 Minute DIY VideoMINUTE DIY VIDEOS · 227K views - Death wobble & steering141K views
2014 Corolla How-To: Steering Wheel Controls - Audio | ToyotaToyota USA · 141K views
Before you buy, watch
Top 5 Problems Toyota Corolla Sedan 11th Gen 2014-161A Auto: Repair Tips & Secrets Only Mechanics Know · 311K views
How Reliable is a 2014 Toyota Corolla S POV Test DrivePOV Nelson · 81K views
Toyota Auris (Corolla) 2018 in-depth review | carwow Reviewscarwow · 866K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them.
How serious. Out of 215 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Toyota Corolla year. 2016 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 8K to 50K miles on the car (139 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 19K–68K miles
- brakes complaints mostly came at 5K–35K miles
- speed control complaints mostly came at 4K–64K miles
Recalls 1
- 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.
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 268 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Front Brake Vibration Key Points: * Issue can occur at any time if improper torque is applied…
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 $1900–2150 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.8L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
Accident due to breaks locking and the car continued to roll. Back seat passenger seat belt did not lock causing passenger to fly forward and back; injured breast bone driver air bag from steering wheel did not inflate fully.
2016 Toyota Corolla owner · NHTSA complaint 11019003
More owner reports
Breaks dont stop the car and also make a grinding noise when trying to break while going over any kind of bumps.
NHTSA complaint 11183223
I was driving on a city street at 15 mph and when my foot pressed the brake (for 2 seconds), the engine revved and the vehicle accelerated for a couple of seconds before braking fully.
NHTSA complaint 11156891
Quick answers
Is the 2016 Toyota Corolla reliable?
Yes, it is one of the most reliable by government complaints. It drew 3.1× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 32; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Toyota Corolla year by this measure since 2010 is 2012.
What are the most common 2016 Toyota Corolla problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are airbags (22%), brakes (20%) and speed control (13%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2016 Toyota Corolla have?
1 safety recall (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Toyota Corolla get?
30 to 34 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2016 Toyota Corolla safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 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 2016 Toyota Corolla problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 8,300 and 50,000 miles. The middle report was at 25,000 miles, from 139 complaints.
Does the 2016 Toyota Corolla have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2016 Toyota Corolla cost in fuel a year?
About $1900 to $2150 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2016 Toyota Corolla have?
1.8L 4-cyl.
What Toyota Corolla year is better than the 2016?
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