Toyota Corolla years to avoid
The Toyota Corolla years to avoid are 2009, 2010, 2007, 2005, 2006, 2003, 2011, 2004, 2012, 2020, 2014, 2008, 2016, 2015, 2019, 2017, 1998, 2013, 2021, 1995, 2018 — each drew complaint volumes well above the model's norm or has an open safety investigation. The 1978 is the cleanest year on record.
14,553
Total complaints
71
Recall campaigns
1969–2026
Years covered
21
Years to avoid
Complaints by model year
Corolla years to avoid
| Year | Why | Complaints | vs avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | High complaints + open investigation | 1,770 | |
| 2010 | High complaints + open investigation | 1,582 | |
| 2007 | High complaints + open investigation | 984 | |
| 2005 | High complaints + open investigation | 972 | |
| 2006 | High complaints + open investigation | 971 | |
| 2003 | High complaints + open investigation | 860 | |
| 2011 | High complaints + open investigation | 690 | |
| 2004 | High complaints + open investigation | 560 | |
| 2012 | High complaints + open investigation | 496 | |
| 2020 | High complaint rate | 395 | |
| 2014 | High complaints + open investigation | 382 | |
| 2008 | High complaints + open investigation | 378 | |
| 2016 | High complaints + open investigation | 311 | |
| 2015 | High complaints + open investigation | 309 | |
| 2019 | High complaint rate | 290 | |
| 2017 | High complaints + open investigation | 279 | |
| 1998 | High complaint rate | 278 | |
| 2013 | High complaints + open investigation | 269 | |
| 2021 | High complaint rate | 253 | |
| 1995 | High complaint rate | 226 | |
| 2018 | Open safety investigation | 196 |
Every Corolla year
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 27 | 1 | |
| 2025 | 50 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 100 | 2 | |
| 2023 | 118 | 3 | |
| 2022 | 131 | 0 | |
| 2021avoid | 253 | 1 | |
| 2020avoid | 395 | 3 | |
| 2019avoid | 290 | 5 | |
| 2018avoid | 196 | 3 | |
| 2017avoid | 279 | 3 | |
| 2016avoid | 311 | 1 | |
| 2015avoid | 309 | 1 | |
| 2014avoid | 382 | 2 | |
| 2013avoid | 269 | 5 | |
| 2012avoid | 496 | 5 | |
| 2011avoid | 690 | 9 | |
| 2010avoid | 1,582 | 17 | |
| 2009avoid | 1,770 | 13 | |
| 2008avoid | 378 | 6 | |
| 2007avoid | 984 | 6 | |
| 2006avoid | 971 | 10 | |
| 2005avoid | 972 | 10 | |
| 2004avoid | 560 | 13 | |
| 2003avoid | 860 | 13 | |
| 2002 | 141 | 5 | |
| 2001 | 163 | 4 | |
| 2000 | 177 | 5 | |
| 1999 | 188 | 4 | |
| 1998avoid | 278 | 4 | |
| 1997 | 149 | 6 | |
| 1996 | 151 | 6 | |
| 1995avoid | 226 | 7 | |
| 1994 | 199 | 8 | |
| 1993 | 154 | 6 | |
| 1992 | 115 | 2 | |
| 1991 | 96 | 1 | |
| 1990 | 31 | 1 | |
| 1989 | 30 | 2 | |
| 1988 | 33 | 1 | |
| 1987 | 15 | 0 | |
| 1986 | 3 | 0 | |
| 1985 | 5 | 0 | |
| 1984 | 8 | 2 | |
| 1983 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1982 | 5 | 0 | |
| 1981 | 3 | 0 | |
| 1980 | 2 | 1 | |
| 1979 | 3 | 1 | |
| 1978 | 0 | 1 | |
| 1977 | 1 | 1 | |
| 1976 | 2 | 0 | |
| 1973 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1971 | 0 | 2 | |
| 1970 | 0 | 1 | |
| 1969 | 0 | 2 |
Common questions
What are the worst Toyota Corolla years?
Based on NHTSA complaint rates and open investigations, the Corolla years to avoid are 2009, 2010, 2007, 2005, 2006, 2003, 2011, 2004, 2012, 2020, 2014, 2008, 2016, 2015, 2019, 2017, 1998, 2013, 2021, 1995, 2018. The cleanest year on record is 1978.
What is the best year for the Toyota Corolla?
By complaint volume, 1978 has the cleanest NHTSA record among Corolla years with enough data to compare.
How many recalls does the Toyota Corolla have?
Across all model years, the Corolla has 71 distinct NHTSA recall campaigns and 14,553 consumer complaints on file.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through August 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated August 28, 2026.
Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.