2008 Toyota Corolla Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2008 Toyota Corolla has a Complaint Index of 55, ranking 10th of 21 model years, and carries a Caution verdict. Airbags (44% of complaints) and Engine (33%) are the top problem areas, with 6 recalls on record.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 55/100
- #10 of 21 Corolla years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 314
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 6
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 74
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 47
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 30
- 27 city / 36 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 47 / 1
Top 2008 Toyota Corolla problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags138 (44%)
- Engine103 (33%)
- Brakes31 (10%)
- Electrical System23 (7%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires15 (5%)
- Transmission & Powertrain13 (4%)
- Steering12 (4%)
- Fuel System9 (3%)
- Other9 (3%)
- Visibility & Wipers7 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Vehicles reportedly surged or accelerated unexpectedly at low speeds, including while parking or shifting into reverse.
- Owners describe brake pedals that went to the floor or failed to stop the car, sometimes leading to rear-end or head-on crashes.
- Front airbags reportedly failed to deploy in crashes, including rollovers and head-on collisions.
- Some drivers reported the vehicle shooting backward at high speed while the brake pedal was still depressed.
- Brake complaints in some cases followed dealer visits where the issue was reportedly dismissed before a later crash occurred.
2008 Toyota Corolla recalls
6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V741000Oct 17, 2019Airbags928,220 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began November 20, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0A, J0B, and J0C. Lexus' numbers for this recall are JLI, JLJ, and JLK.
- NHTSA 19V627000Aug 28, 2019Airbags229,460 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Corolla, 2005-2008 Corolla Matrix, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles equipped with a front passenger air bag assembly replaced under a prior recall. The air bag may not unfold as designed during inflation under high temperature conditions, possibly resulting in the air bag not inflating properly.
Risk: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly or sub-assembly, free of charge. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are K1Q and K0Q. Pontiac owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-762-2737. GM's number for this recall is N192273760.
- NHTSA 16V127000Mar 3, 2016Airbags147,242 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Lexus SC vehicles manufactured August 3, 2007, to July 30, 2010, 2008 Toyota Corolla vehicles manufactured May 25, 2007, to December 21, 2007, 2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to December 18, 2007, and 2008 Pontiac Vibe vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to January 2, 2008. This is to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag inflator which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag. This recall addresses both the passenger side frontal air bags that were originally installed in the vehicles, as well as replacement air bags that may have been installed as replacement service parts. A replacement air bag may have been installed, as one example, if a vehicle had been in a crash necessitating the replacement of the passenger side frontal air bag.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: The recall began on March 25, 2016 for Toyota and Lexus vehicle owners. The recall began on June 23, 2016 for GM owners. The respective dealers will either replace the front passenger air bag inflator or the entire front passenger air bag assembly depending on the model. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. This recall expands recall 15V-285.
2008 Toyota Corolla fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 27 MPG
- Highway
- 36 MPG
- Combined
- 30 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,175
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2008 compared with other Corolla years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2008 Toyota Corolla reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 Corolla has a Complaint Index of 55 and ranks 10th out of 21 model years, earning a Caution verdict relative to other Corolla years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2008 Toyota Corolla?
- Airbags are the top problem area, making up 44% of complaints and linked to 37 crashes, followed by engine issues at 33% of complaints and 34 crashes.
- Does the 2008 Toyota Corolla have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2008 Corolla, most involving airbags, plus one covering the engine control module and one about tire labeling.
- What year Toyota Corolla should I avoid instead of 2008?
- Several other Corolla years carry higher Complaint Index scores and Avoid verdicts, including 2009 (100), 2010 (95), and 2007 (90), all worse than the 2008 model's 55.
- How does the 2008 Corolla compare to newer Corolla years?
- The 2008 Corolla's Complaint Index of 55 is higher than later Best-rated years like 2018 (5), 2022 (10), and 2023 (0), meaning it reported more issues relative to those years.