Toyota Corolla

3,335 complaints across 12 scored model years and 32 recall campaigns.

Which years to avoid

Ownership label · Toyota Corolla Full report

Grade 2010–2021

2010 vs model median 4.0×

Model median3× median

Steering 322

Speed Control 161

Brakes 141

Avoid

2010

Best

2012 · 2021

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Severity-weighted complaint volume and grade by model year for the Toyota Corolla
Year	vs median	Reports	Grade
2010	3.95×	879	F
2011	0.97×	182	C
2012	0.59×	99	C
2013	0.85×	148	C
2014	1.22×	219	C
2015	1.33×	199	C
2016	1.44×	233	C
2017	1.03×	201	C
2018	0.82×	148	C
2019	0.85×	170	C
2020	1.16×	261	C
2021	0.87×	200	B
2022 P	0.61×	131	B
2023 P	0.57×	118	B
2024 P	0.54×	100	B
2025 P	0.34×	47	A

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What it costs to run

EPA figures for the most recent model year on record.

EPA fuel economy and drivetrain
Combined MPG	44
City / Highway	47 / 41
Engine	1.8L, 4 cyl
Drive	Front-Wheel Drive
Annual fuel cost	$1,400

Recalls

32 campaigns on record.

Recall campaigns, largest first
Campaign	Component	Model years	Units affected
20V024000	AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE	2011–2019	2,891,976
10V017000	VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL	2010	2,230,661
20V012000	FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP	2018, 2019	1,830,752
15V689000	VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS	2010, 2011	1,814,284
16V340000	AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE	2010, 2011	1,754,517
20V682000	FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP	2020	1,525,742
14V168000	AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE	2010	1,486,413
19V005000	AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE	2010–2013	1,299,448

+ 24 further campaigns

Others in Compact Cars

Same body and size class. Each grade describes that model against its own history — these are not ranked against each other.

Other models in the same segment
Model	Years to avoid	Grade
Acura ILX	20142016	C
Audi A3	20152017	C
BMW 1 Series	none flagged	C
BMW I3	none flagged	C
Buick Verano	none flagged	C
Chevrolet Bolt EV	2017	C
Chevrolet Cobalt	none flagged	C
Chevrolet Cruze	20112012	C

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2010 Corolla

Complaints in window: 879
Severity-weighted: 1,358.5
Model median (weighted): 344
vs model median: 3.95×
Recall campaigns (weighted): 17
Open investigations: 1

Score 6.7 F