The best Corolla years to buy are 2018 and 2022. No Corolla year is truly bad: even the worst, 2012 and 2020, draw fewer complaints per car than most compact cars. On older ones, make sure the air bag recalls are done.
Best years: 20182022 Years to avoid: none stand out
Every Corolla year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Known Corolla problems
Year by year
| Year | Complaints | Per 100k sold | Recalls | Top issue | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 68 | - | 3 | Other | Too new to judge |
| 2023 | 74 | - | 3 | Other | Too new to judge |
| 2022 | 106 | 48 | 0 | Electrical | Good year |
| 2021 | 188 | 76 | 1 | Air bags | Average |
| 2020 | 314 | 132 | 4 | Engine | Watch out |
| 2019 | 206 | 68 | 5 | Transmission and drivetrain | Average |
| 2018 | 144 | 47 | 3 | Fuel System | Good buy |
| 2017 | 189 | 57 | 3 | Air bags | Good year |
| 2016 | 215 | 59 | 1 | Air bags | Average |
| 2015 | 220 | 61 | 1 | Air bags | Average |
| 2014 | 271 | 80 | 2 | Air bags | Average |
| 2013 | 202 | 67 | 5 | Air bags | Average |
| 2012 | 446 | 153 | 5 | Air bags | Watch out |
About the Corolla
The Corolla has the lowest average complaint rate of every car on this site. Its biggest issue in older years is not a design flaw but recall work: many 2009-2013 Corollas had defective air bag inflators that must be replaced. In newer years, the most common complaint is an engine warning from a coolant valve.
- 2012-2013: Older 1.8L with a 4-speed automatic. Very simple; air bag inflator recalls are critical.
- 2014-2019: Eleventh generation with a CVT. Extremely low complaints.
- 2020 on: Twelfth generation. 2020 has coolant valve and manual clutch complaints; 2022 on is very low.
Corolla warranty extensions and special coverage
Carmakers sometimes extend the warranty on a part that fails too often, or pay for a fix outside a recall. These notices come from the dealer bulletins Toyota files with NHTSA. 1,043 Corolla bulletins are on file in total.
DL: As part of our continual efforts to ensure the best in customer satisfaction, Toyota has announced a Warranty Enhancement Program to extend warranty coverage to address customer complaints of Excessive Engine Oil Consumptio...
WPB: The engine is covered under the Toyota New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 5 years from the date of first use or 60,000 miles (whichever occurs first).
WPB: Toyota has received some reports where the vehicles may exhibit excessive engine oil consumption.
Warranty Policy Bulletin (POL14-12): Toyota has received some reports where vehicles may exhibit excessive engine oil consumption.
Warranty Enhancement: BACKGROUND As part of our continual efforts to ensure the best in customer satisfaction, Toyota has announced a Warranty Enhancement Program to extend warranty coverage to address customer complaints of Ex...
WPB: Toyota has received some reports where vehicles may exhibit excessive engine oil consumption.
RL: As part of our continual efforts to ensure the best in customer satisfaction, Toyota has announced a Warranty Enhancement Program to extend warranty coverage to address customer complaints of Excessive Engine Oil Consumptio...
Electronic Communication: BACKGROUND As part of our continual efforts to ensure the best in customer satisfaction, Toyota has announced a Warranty Enhancement Program to extend warranty coverage to address customer complaints o...
Warranty Policy Bulletin: Toyota has received some reports where vehicles may exhibit excessive engine oil consumption.
Ask a dealer to check a specific car by VIN. Extensions usually have a time or mileage limit.
Government investigations into the Corolla
NHTSA opens an investigation when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Some end in a recall and some close without one.
Defect petition DP22005 · 2020–2022 · opened Jan 2023, closed Aug 2023 · led to recall 22V063000
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States.
Engineering analysis EA21002 · 2012–2018 · opened Sep 2021
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L.
Engineering analysis EA19001 · 2012–2019 · opened Apr 2019, closed Sep 2024 · led to recall 20V024
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.
Corolla vs rivals
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Which years drew fewer problems per car sold
Questions
What is the best year for the Toyota Corolla?
2018 and 2022. The best Corolla years to buy are 2018 and 2022. No Corolla year is truly bad: even the worst, 2012 and 2020, draw fewer complaints per car than most compact cars. On older ones, make sure the air bag recalls are done.
Which Toyota Corolla years should I avoid?
No year stands out as clearly bad. Check the recall list for the exact year you are looking at.
Based on 2,643 complaints filed by owners with U.S. safety regulators for model years 2012 to 2024, and U.S. sales by calendar year. How we score.