Toyota Corolla

Owners filed 11,638 complaints across 37 model years of the Toyota Corolla. The 2009 drew the most (1,459); the 2026 the fewest (15).

Model years37
Complaints11,638
Recalls191
Fires141
Deaths21

Every Toyota Corolla model year compared

Complaints per year
YearComplaintsRelative volumeRecallsFiresCrashesMost reportedStatus
202615
16Unknown or OtherRoutine
202531
0110Unknown or OtherRoutine
202463
211Unknown or OtherFatalities reported
202373
318Unknown or OtherRoutine
2022100
012Electrical SystemRoutine
2021185
1218Air BagsRoutine
2020305
3122EngineFatalities reported
2019202
5123Power TrainFatalities reported
2018133
3525Air BagsFatalities reported
2017178
3144Air BagsRoutine
2016214
1166Air BagsHigh concern
2015219
1160Air BagsHigh concern
2014269
2364Air BagsFatalities reported
2013201
5146Air BagsAbove average
2012446
5141Air BagsAbove average
2011584
9244Air BagsAbove average
20101,244
1710145Air BagsHigh concern
20091,459
1312186Air BagsFatalities reported
2008314
6174Air BagsFatalities reported
2007836
67129Air BagsFatalities reported
2006839
108115Air BagsHigh concern
2005853
104114Air BagsFatalities reported
2004477
13369Air BagsFatalities reported
2003720
139101Air BagsFatalities reported
2002117
5127Air BagsRoutine
2001133
4332Air BagsRoutine
2000145
5322Engine and Engine Cooling › EngineFatalities reported
1999155
4524TiresRoutine
1998225
4836Air BagsAbove average
1997135
6522Seat Belts › Front › RetractorRoutine
1996129
61331Air Bags › FrontalRoutine
1995176
71253Air Bags › FrontalFatalities reported
1994172
8565Air Bags › FrontalFatalities reported
1993130
6539Air Bags › FrontalFatalities reported
199263
238Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail PipeRoutine
199171
1310Structure › Body › DoorRoutine
199027
13Power Train › Automatic TransmissionRoutine

Which Toyota Corolla years should you avoid?

On raw complaint volume the 2009 is the weakest year on record, with 1,459 complaints concentrated in the air bags. It carries 13 recalls.

Read these numbers with sales volume in mind. A model year that sold in huge numbers naturally accumulates more reports than a rare one, and older cars have had more years to fail. The stronger signal is the severity columns and whether the same component keeps coming up year after year.

Data: NHTSA complaint and recall files, September 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports.