Toyota has been manufacturing the Corolla since 1966. In that time, it has evolved through several generations and continues to be a top choice for drivers across the country. Various sports-tuned versions of the Corolla have been sold at various times as coupes, sedans, hybrids, and even as coupes. Known for its fuel economy and affordable price, it’s an incredibly versatile and reliable vehicle. Corollas are among the most reliable cars ever built by Toyota, but not every model year is equally reliable.
Despite the fact that some Corollas last for decades and thousands of miles, others suffer from reliability issues and require higher maintenance costs. There are a few things to look for when buying a used Toyota Corolla, and some specific model years to avoid. There are several Corolla models that are notorious for pervasive issues, such as excessive oil consumption, defective airbags, and bad transmissions. The majority of Corollas are great vehicles, and if properly maintained, they will provide many years of reliable service. Now let’s dive into which years of the Toyota Corolla are best and which are not.
2007-2008 Toyota Corolla’s
In general, the Toyota Corolla has a very high level of reliability. However, not all model years are equal. Despite the Corolla’s origins in the 1960s, some of the best cars were built during the 20th century. This list features Toyota Corollas from 2007-2008 as the first set of model years.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives these cars excellent safety ratings in nearly every category. An enhanced version of the 1.8-liter engine, capable of producing up to 170 horsepower, was also available in the sport trim version of the cars, which was powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with 126 horsepower. There are complaints and recalls associated with every vehicle. It is worth noting, however, that the 2007 and 2008 Toyota Corollas feature far fewer recalls and customer complaints than the worst model, and neither year seems to have been plagued by pervasive or excessive problems. On sites like Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book, the 2007 and 2008 Toyota Corolla models have excellent ratings and scores.
2011-2013 Toyota Corolla’s
A Toyota Corolla model year between 2011 and 2013 represents another peak in the model line. The IIHS has given these vehicles excellent safety ratings, as it did with previous model years. In each category, including structural integrity and overall safety, all three years scored exceptionally well.
Additionally, Toyota released various comfort, safety, and performance enhancements for each of these model years. The interior has been revamped, new trims have been added, and various forms of modern technology have been incorporated into the vehicle. Corollas are usually powered by 4-cylinder engines with 1.8 liters. With 132 horsepower, it’s capable of producing excellent fuel economy, with most drivers getting at least 26 mpg in the city and up to 34 mpg on the highway.
There are always going to be recalls, defects, and complaints associated with cars. However, drivers rate the 2011 through 2013 Corolla exceptionally well, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) receives very few complaints or recalls. Finally, Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book have praised the cars’ comfort, safety, and reliability, while consumers praise their longevity and reliability.
2018-2021 Toyota Corolla’s
The newest Toyota Corollas are some of the best ever made. Throughout the 2018 through 2021 model years, there have been no serious complaints or problems with vehicles. During those four years, three of those models received top safety picks from IIHS, scoring high marks in nearly every category.
All 2018 and 2019 models are equipped with either a continuously variable transmission (CVT) or a six-speed manual transmission. The 1.8-liter engine has 132 or 140 horsepower, depending on trim options. Meanwhile, drivers can choose between a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine and a 2.0-liter engine in model years 2020 and 2021, as well as a hybrid option with a 1.8-liter engine.
Consumers and experts have excellent reviews for each of the four model years covered in this section, and none have been associated with serious issues or excessive recalls. The newer Corolla generation has some of the lowest numbers of driver complaints, and each model is highly rated on various review sites, such as Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book.
The Toyota Corolla years to avoid
Toyota Corollas are excellent and incredibly reliable vehicles in general, but some model years are more prone to problems than others. You have a lot of choices if you are looking for a Toyota Corolla. Nearly six decades have passed since the car was introduced, and most of those years have been exceptional in their own way. A few years, however, should be avoided, including 2002, 2009-2010, and 2014.
Is there anything wrong with those model years? Customer complaints have been exceptionally high in each of these years. With fewer than 100,000 miles on their vehicles, owners regularly report excessive oil consumption on models from 2002. Drivers are reporting a variety of issues with model years 2009-2010, including excessive oil consumption and cooling system problems. Last but not least, the Corolla had a bad year in 2014. Everything from engine malfunctions to transmission failures has been reported by drivers.
Especially for drivers who care about fuel efficiency and longevity, the Toyota Corolla is an excellent car. It does, however, have its issues and problem years, like any other vehicle. Avoid buying a used Corolla from the model years described here and search for one of the time-tested model years described above if you want to avoid unnecessary repairs.
Common Toyota Corolla Problems
The Toyota Corolla has multiple issues across model years despite its legendary reliability. You should look out for these Toyota Corolla problems:
- Excessive oil consumption – Many Corolla owners complain that their engines consume too much oil. Even with a barely new vehicle, oil issues seem to mostly plague the 2002 and 2009 model years. Oil thickening, replacing piston rings, and engine replacement are some of the most common solutions.
- Faulty transmission – Corolla owners have reported that their transmissions failed despite regular maintenance. There have been many reports of cars making clunking and grinding noises before they stopped. There is a high rate of transmission failure in 2003 Corollas. In most cases, the transmission needs to be rebuilt or replaced, which may cost up to $1,200.
- Slow engine startup – Some Corolla owners report that their car takes a long time to start. Most people experience this problem between 100,00 and 125,000 miles. In most cases, the problem is caused by a faulty starter, so it is necessary to replace the starter solenoid. The 2015 Corolla is most likely to experience this issue.
- Lit check engine light – Common in Corollas from 1998 to 2016, this issue originates from the EVAP (evaporative emission) system. There are a number of potential causes of this problem, such as a faulty gas cap or a faulty charcoal canister.
- Musty and moldy A/C system – There were many Toyota vehicles with defective air conditioning systems. It is the smell of musty or moldy air from the AC that is the most concerning example of this issue. As well as causing poor air quality, musty odors can affect the health of occupants. The 2009 Toyota vehicles have also received similar complaints, although they are particularly common with older Corollas. The complaints eventually led to a lawsuit, claiming Toyota’s evaporators and enclosures don’t properly remove water from the evaporators.
- Soy coating attracts rodents – Toyota uses soy-coated electrical wire coating to be more eco-friendly, and it’s also cheaper. Rodents, however, were highly attracted to soy materials for nest building. Due to the fact that it is not covered by warranty, owners have had to pay between $2,000 and $9,000 to repair the damage.
- Faulty mass airflow sensor – A faulty mass airflow sensor was reported to be found in the Corolla model years 1998-2010. A vehicle’s performance and acceleration will be adversely affected if the sensors are not cleaned frequently. Furthermore, the issue may also cause the check engine light to illuminate. It is most common to replace the sensor to fix the problem.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Toyota Corolla Years to Avoid
Which Toyota Corolla years should I avoid buying as used?
Models 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2009, and 2014 of the Toyota Corolla should be avoided. In addition to excessive oil consumption, transmission problems, and other reliability issues, these models have been identified as having a higher frequency of complaints.
What are the main problems reported with the Toyota Corolla models from 2000 to 2009?
Especially the 2002 and 2009 Toyota Corolla models consumed excessive oil from 2000 to 2009. Additionally, the 2009 model experienced cooling system problems due to a failure of the water pump.
Is there a Toyota Corolla year known for having the most problems, and what are they?
In addition to excessive oil consumption and water pump failures, the 2009 Toyota Corolla is notorious for numerous problems. Vehicle reliability could be negatively affected by these issues, which could result in significant repair costs.
What common problems should potential Toyota Corolla owners be aware of?
It is important for potential Toyota Corolla owners to be aware of issues such as excessive oil consumption, defective transmissions, slow engine startups, illuminated check engine lights resulting from the EVAP system, musty and moldy air conditioning systems, soy coating that attracts rodents, and malfunctioning mass airflow sensors.
Are Toyota Corollas typically reliable?
There are few cars with such a bulletproof reputation as the Toyota Corolla. Over 50 million of them have been sold around the world, making it a popular choice among people looking for reliable and efficient transportation. It’s best not to buy any Corolla because some model years are problematic (Hint: some years from the 2000s are problematic).
