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Toyota Corolla: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Toyota Corolla problems by model year, from 4,629 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2019 (64%, 110 drivetrain complaints), 2023 (61%, 127 drivetrain complaints) and 2020 (55%, 154 drivetrain complaints). 7 of the 14 Toyota Corolla years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 2 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2010 (11%), 2012 (15%) and 2013 (24%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2017 (27%) to 2018 (44%), up 17 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2020 drew the most drivetrain complaints (154 of 909 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Toyota Corolla year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Corolla | no elevated signal | 11% | 95 | 1,264 | 14/14 | 17 |
| 2011 Corolla | no elevated signal | 29% | 47 | 590 | 9/14 | 9 |
| 2012 Corolla | no elevated signal | 15% | 11 | 446 | 13/14 | 5 |
| 2013 Corolla | no elevated signal | 24% | 31 | 202 | 12/14 | 5 |
| 2014 Corolla | no elevated signal | 26% | 50 | 269 | 11/14 | 2 |
| 2015 Corolla | elevated | 34% | 51 | 220 | 7/14 | 1 |
| 2016 Corolla | no elevated signal | 30% | 39 | 214 | 8/14 | 1 |
| 2017 Corolla | no elevated signal | 27% | 34 | 189 | 10/14 | 3 |
| 2018 Corolla | high | 44% | 47 | 142 | 5/14 | 3 |
| 2019 Corolla | very high | 64% | 110 | 204 | 1/14 | 5 |
| 2020 Corolla | high | 55% | 154 | 308 | 3/14 | 3 |
| 2021 Corolla | high | 49% | 59 | 185 | 4/14 | 1 |
| 2022 Corolla | high | 44% | 54 | 149 | 6/14 | 2 |
| 2023 Corolla | very high | 61% | 127 | 247 | 2/14 | 5 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Toyota Corolla years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Toyota Corolla transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the Toyota Corolla involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 33 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2018 | 18V901000 | power train: automatic transmission: torque converter | 2019 |
| Jan 2020 | 20V012000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2018–2019 |
| Nov 2020 | 20V682000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2020 |
30 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2009 | 09V332000 | equipment: other: labels | 2010 |
| Aug 2009 | 09V338000 | service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum | 2010 |
| Jan 2010 | 10V017000 | vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal | 2010 |
| Jan 2010 | 10V023000 | vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal | 2010 |
| Feb 2010 | 10V035000 | equipment: other: labels | 2010 |
| Feb 2010 | 10V036000 | equipment: other: labels | 2010 |
| Nov 2011 | 11V566000 | structure: body: roof and pillars | 2010–2011 |
| Jan 2013 | 13V014000 | air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive | 2010–2013 |
| Apr 2013 | 13V123000 | equipment: other: labels | 2010–2011 |
| Oct 2013 | 13V505000 | visibility: windshield wiper/washer: switch/wiring | 2014 |
| Apr 2014 | 14V168000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2010 |
| Nov 2014 | 14V743000 | seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler | 2010–2011 |
| Oct 2015 | 15V689000 | visibility: power window devices and controls | 2010–2011 |
| May 2016 | 16V340000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2011 |
| Jun 2016 | 16V396000 | seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler | 2010 |
| Jan 2017 | 17V006000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2012 |
| May 2017 | 17V295000 | tires: temporary/emergency spare tire | 2017 |
| Jan 2018 | 18V024000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2013 |
| Jan 2019 | 19V005000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2013 |
| Mar 2019 | 19V244000 | equipment: other: labels | 2019 |
| Jun 2019 | 19V503000 | equipment: other: labels | 2017–2019 |
| Oct 2019 | 19V741000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2013 |
| Dec 2019 | 19V877000 | seat belts: rear/other: buckle assembly | 2020 |
| Jan 2020 | 20V024000 | air bags: air bag/restraint control module | 2011–2019 |
| May 2023 | 23V384000 | electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2022–2023 |
| Jul 2023 | 23V480000 | steering: column | 2023 |
| Dec 2023 | 23V864000 | air bags: frontal | 2022–2023 |
| Dec 2023 | 23V865000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification | 2020–2021 |
| Nov 2024 | 24V878000 | steering | 2023 |
| Jan 2025 | 25V040000 | steering: column | 2023 |
What the free pages leave out on the Toyota Corolla
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Toyota Corolla
What are the worst years for the Toyota Corolla?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Toyota Corolla years are the 2019 (64% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2023 (61% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2020 (55% of relevant complaints, high). 7 of 14 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Toyota Corolla?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Toyota Corolla years are the 2010 (11%), the 2012 (15%) and the 2013 (24%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Toyota Corolla have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 14 scored years, 909 of 2,800 relevant NHTSA complaints (32%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Is the Toyota Corolla reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 7 of 14 Toyota Corolla years we score have an elevated complaint share and 7 do not. Pooled across those years, 32% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Toyota Corolla?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Toyota Corolla years we track, out of 33 in total: 18V901000 (Dec 2018, 2019), 20V012000 (Jan 2020, 2018–2019), 20V682000 (Nov 2020, 2020). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.