Which years should I avoid for the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla?

For the Civic, avoid 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2016 and 2022. For the Corolla, avoid 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011, based on NHTSA complaints and recalls.

Which model has more complaints, the Civic or the Corolla?

The Civic has 10,783 total complaints across 21 model years (513 per year on average), while the Corolla has 8,750 total complaints (417 per year on average). NHTSA does not publish sales data, so these totals are not normalized per vehicle sold.

Which model has more recalls?

The Civic has 49 total recall campaigns across its tracked years versus 40 for the Corolla.

What are the top problem areas for each model?

For the Civic, Steering leads at 22% of complaints, followed by Engine at 15% and Airbags at 13%. For the Corolla, Airbags dominate at 43%, followed by Engine at 20% and Steering at 12%.

Which model gets better fuel economy?

The two are close: the Civic averages 31.3 MPG combined across its years and the Corolla averages 31.4 MPG combined.

Honda Civic vs Toyota Corolla: Which Years to Avoid

Honda Civic years to avoid are 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2016 and 2022; Toyota Corolla years to avoid are 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011. Civic logs 10,783 total complaints across 49 recall campaigns versus Corolla's 8,750 complaints and 40 recalls, though totals aren't sales-normalized. MPG is close overall (31.3 vs 31.4 combined).

Head to head

Honda Civic

Model years: 2005–2025 (21)
NHTSA complaints: 10,783
Per model year: 513
Recall campaigns: 49
Years to avoid: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2016, 2022
Best years: 2013, 2014, 2020, 2021
Top problem area: Steering
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 31.3
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 4.8 ★

Toyota Corolla

Model years: 2005–2025 (21)
NHTSA complaints: 8,750
Per model year: 417
Recall campaigns: 40
Years to avoid: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011
Best years: 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Top problem area: Airbags
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 31.4
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 4.7 ★

Year by year

Complaint Index is relative within each model (0 = that model’s best year, 100 = its worst). Complaints and recalls are raw counts.

Year	Civic				Corolla
Year	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG
2005	Caution	315	10	30	Avoid	853	6	29
2006	Avoid	1,402	13	28.5	Avoid	839	7	29
2007	Avoid	1,204	9	28.5	Avoid	836	6	30
2008	Avoid	916	7	28.5	Caution	314	6	30
2009	Caution	395	8	28.5	Avoid	1,459	13	27.5
2010	Avoid	396	8	28.5	Avoid	1,244	17	27
2011	Caution	168	9	28.5	Avoid	584	9	27
2012	Caution	455	3	31	Caution	446	5	29
2013	Best	319	0	31	Good	201	5	29
2014	Best	291	2	31.5	Caution	269	2	32
2015	Good	380	1	31.5	Good	219	1	31.5
2016	Avoid	1,080	5	34	Caution	214	1	31.5
2017	Good	593	6	34	Good	178	3	31
2018	Caution	741	6	34	Best	134	3	31
2019	Caution	430	4	32.5	Good	202	5	32.5
2020	Best	225	5	32	Caution	306	3	33
2021	Best	144	4	32.5	Good	185	1	33
2022	Avoid	881	4	33	Best	100	0	33
2023	Caution	255	4	33	Best	73	3	39.5
2024	Good	123	3	33	Best	63	2	39.5
2025	Good	70	2	34	Best	31	0	35

Complaint Index by year

Frequently asked questions

Which years should I avoid for the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla?: For the Civic, avoid 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2016 and 2022. For the Corolla, avoid 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011, based on NHTSA complaints and recalls.
Which model has more complaints, the Civic or the Corolla?: The Civic has 10,783 total complaints across 21 model years (513 per year on average), while the Corolla has 8,750 total complaints (417 per year on average). NHTSA does not publish sales data, so these totals are not normalized per vehicle sold.
Which model has more recalls?: The Civic has 49 total recall campaigns across its tracked years versus 40 for the Corolla.
What are the top problem areas for each model?: For the Civic, Steering leads at 22% of complaints, followed by Engine at 15% and Airbags at 13%. For the Corolla, Airbags dominate at 43%, followed by Engine at 20% and Steering at 12%.
Which model gets better fuel economy?: The two are close: the Civic averages 31.3 MPG combined across its years and the Corolla averages 31.4 MPG combined.