Toyota Corolla Best and Worst Years (2005–2025)
Avoid the 2005-2007 and 2009-2011 Toyota Corolla years, which carry complaint indexes from 75 to 100 and heavy airbag-related recalls. The best years are 2018 and 2022-2025, all with complaint indexes of 20 or below and far fewer reported problems.
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.
Avoid 2005Avoid 2006Avoid 2007Avoid 2009Avoid 2010Avoid 2011Best 2018Best 2022Best 2023Best 2024Best 2025
- Model years
- 21
- 2005–2025
- NHTSA complaints
- 8,750
- Recall campaigns
- 40
- Crashes reported
- 1,258
- Fires reported
- 63
- Top problem area
- Airbags
Corolla Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
Toyota Corolla problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Avoid | 80 | 853 | 114 | 4 | 6 | Airbags | 29 | — |
| 2006 | Avoid | 85 | 839 | 115 | 8 | 7 | Airbags | 29 | — |
| 2007 | Avoid | 90 | 836 | 129 | 7 | 6 | Airbags | 30 | — |
| 2008 | Caution | 55 | 314 | 74 | 1 | 6 | Airbags | 30 | — |
| 2009 | Avoid | 100 | 1,459 | 186 | 12 | 13 | Airbags | 27.5 | — |
| 2010 | Avoid | 95 | 1,244 | 145 | 10 | 17 | Airbags | 27 | — |
| 2011 | Avoid | 75 | 584 | 44 | 2 | 9 | Airbags | 27 | 3★ |
| 2012 | Caution | 60 | 446 | 41 | 1 | 5 | Airbags | 29 | 4★ |
| 2013 | Good | 30 | 201 | 46 | 1 | 5 | Airbags | 29 | 4★ |
| 2014 | Caution | 50 | 269 | 64 | 3 | 2 | Airbags | 32 | 5★ |
| 2015 | Good | 45 | 219 | 60 | 1 | 1 | Airbags | 31.5 | 5★ |
| 2016 | Caution | 65 | 214 | 66 | 1 | 1 | Airbags | 31.5 | 5★ |
| 2017 | Good | 35 | 178 | 44 | 1 | 3 | Airbags | 31 | 5★ |
| 2018 | Best | 5 | 134 | 26 | 5 | 3 | Fuel System | 31 | 5★ |
| 2019 | Good | 25 | 202 | 23 | 1 | 5 | Transmission & Powertrain | 32.5 | 5★ |
| 2020 | Caution | 70 | 306 | 22 | 1 | 3 | Engine | 33 | 5★ |
| 2021 | Good | 40 | 185 | 18 | 2 | 1 | Airbags | 33 | 5★ |
| 2022 | Best | 10 | 100 | 12 | 0 | 0 | Electrical System | 33 | 5★ |
| 2023 | Best | 0 | 73 | 8 | 1 | 3 | Electrical System | 39.5 | 5★ |
| 2024 | Best | 20 | 63 | 11 | 0 | 2 | Collision Avoidance & Cameras | 39.5 | 5★ |
| 2025 | Best | 15 | 31 | 10 | 1 | 0 | Brakes | 35 | 5★ |
Corolla years to avoid: what went wrong
2009 Toyota Corolla Index 100 · 1,459 complaints · 13 recalls
The 2009 Corolla ranks worst overall with a complaint index of 100 out of 1,459 complaints. Airbags were 38% of complaints, but steering issues were unusually high at 26%, with a very low median failure mileage of 9,500. Owners described sudden loss of steering control and brake failures leading to crashes, alongside airbags that failed to deploy. NHTSA lists 13 recall campaigns for this year, the most of any Corolla year in this range.
2009 airbags problems →2009 steering problems →2009 engine problems →
2010 Toyota Corolla Index 95 · 1,244 complaints · 17 recalls
The 2010 Corolla has a complaint index of 95 from 1,244 complaints. Steering problems made up 30% of complaints with a median failure mileage of just 1,000, and brakes were 15% with a median of 5,000 miles. Owners reported brake failures shortly after purchase, steering lockups after hitting potholes, and engine surges accompanied by smoke. NHTSA recorded 17 recall campaigns for this year, the highest count among all Corolla model years.
2010 airbags problems →2010 steering problems →2010 engine problems →
2007 Toyota Corolla Index 90 · 836 complaints · 6 recalls
With a complaint index of 90, the 2007 Corolla is among the worst years for this model. Airbags made up 52% of its 836 complaints, with a median failure mileage of 85,000; owners reported airbags failing to deploy in frontal crashes at highway speeds, sometimes with reported injuries. Engine complaints (23%) included pedal confusion and unintended surging. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns, largely airbag inflator related.
2007 airbags problems →2007 engine problems →2007 electrical system problems →
2006 Toyota Corolla Index 85 · 839 complaints · 7 recalls
The 2006 Corolla carries a complaint index of 85, with airbags accounting for 54% of its 839 complaints and a median failure mileage of 56,707. Owners described brake failures leading to crashes, non-deploying airbags, and sudden engine lunges while parking or backing up. NHTSA recorded 7 recall campaigns for this year, again centered on airbag inflator replacement shared with related Toyota and Pontiac Vibe models.
2006 airbags problems →2006 engine problems →2006 electrical system problems →
2005 Toyota Corolla Index 80 · 853 complaints · 6 recalls
The 2005 Corolla has a complaint index of 80 out of 8,750 total complaints logged across all years, with airbags making up 53% of its 853 complaints. Owners reported airbags failing to deploy in crashes, at a median mileage of 69,944.5 for airbag-related failures. Engine surging while parking was also reported. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns tied to this year, mostly covering airbag inflators shared across multiple Toyota and Pontiac models built in the same era.
2005 airbags problems →2005 engine problems →2005 electrical system problems →
2011 Toyota Corolla Index 75 · 584 complaints · 9 recalls
The 2011 Corolla has a complaint index of 75, with airbags dominating at 72% of its 584 complaints and a median failure mileage of 57,000. Owners reported airbags failing to deploy in rear-end and frontal crashes, engine fires accompanied by smoke, and speed sensor issues causing failure to decelerate after releasing the accelerator. NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for this year, including a 2011-2019 airbag control unit recall covering multiple Corolla generations.
2011 airbags problems →2011 engine problems →2011 steering problems →
Most common Toyota Corolla problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.
- Airbags3,728 (43%)
- Engine1,765 (20%)
- Steering1,081 (12%)
- Electrical System783 (9%)
- Brakes771 (9%)
- Other615 (7%)
- Transmission & Powertrain498 (6%)
- Structure & Body374 (4%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires353 (4%)
- Fuel System299 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- What year Toyota Corolla should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, avoid the 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, and 2011 Corolla years. These carry complaint indexes between 75 and 100, the highest in the model's history, driven mainly by airbag, steering, and brake complaints.
- Which Toyota Corolla years are the best?
- The 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 Corolla years earn a Best verdict, with complaint indexes ranging from 0 to 20, the lowest among all 21 model years tracked.
- Is the 2009 Toyota Corolla reliable?
- The 2009 Corolla has the highest complaint index of any Corolla year at 100, with 1,459 complaints including a high share of steering problems reported at a median of 9,500 miles. It also carries 13 recall campaigns.
- Does the Toyota Corolla have airbag recalls?
- Yes. Airbags are the top problem area across all Corolla years, accounting for 3,728 of 8,750 total complaints (43%). Multiple recall campaigns, including 19V741000 and 19V627000, cover front airbag inflator replacement across various model years.
- How many recalls does the Toyota Corolla have overall?
- Across the 2005-2025 model years covered, NHTSA lists 40 total recall campaigns for the Toyota Corolla, with 2010 alone accounting for 17 of them.