Toyota Corolla 2009–2013 problems by year and mileage
10th generation · E140/E150
NHTSA data through 24 September 20263,934 complaints, 2,053 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 2009 Toyota Corolla
Close- Median failure report
- 23,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 1,459
- Recalls naming this year
- 13
Most reported on the 2009
- Airbag system552 reports · median 80,000 mi
- Steering382 reports · median 9,500 mi
- Throttle and speed control197 reports · median 20,000 mi
13 recall campaigns name the 2009: Air bags — frontal; Seats — front assembly; Visibility — power window devices and controls. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2010 Toyota Corolla
Close- Median failure report
- 6,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 1,244
- Recalls naming this year
- 17
Most reported on the 2010
- Airbag system424 reports · median 62,000 mi
- Steering371 reports · median 1,000 mi
- Throttle and speed control198 reports · median 6,000 mi
17 recall campaigns name the 2010: Air bags — frontal; Seats — front assembly; Visibility — power window devices and controls. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2011 Toyota Corolla
Close- Median failure report
- 31,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 584
- Recalls naming this year
- 9
Most reported on the 2011
- Airbag system418 reports · median 57,000 mi
- Throttle and speed control46 reports · median 10,000 mi
- Steering43 reports · median 2,000 mi
9 recall campaigns name the 2011: Air bags — air bag/restraint control module; Air bags — frontal; Visibility — power window devices and controls. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2012 Toyota Corolla
Close- Median failure report
- 37,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 446
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
Most reported on the 2012
- Airbag system370 reports · median 45,000 mi
- Steering18 reports
- Throttle and speed control16 reports
5 recall campaigns name the 2012: Air bags — air bag/restraint control module; Air bags — frontal; Seats. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2013 Toyota Corolla
Close- Median failure report
- 26,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 201
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
Most reported on the 2013
- Airbag system72 reports · median 38,000 mi
- Steering39 reports · median 3,000 mi
- Brakes23 reports
5 recall campaigns name the 2013: Air bags — air bag/restraint control module; Air bags — frontal; Seats. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. The 2012 reports latest and the 2010 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 2010 has had 2 more years on the road to accumulate mileage.
The short answer
“Is the 2009–2013 Toyota Corolla reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 18,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 100,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 2,053
- Recalls
- 20
Most reported
- Airbag system46.7% of complaints · median 60,000 mi
- Steering21.7% of complaints · median 3,500 mi
- Throttle and speed control12.1% of complaints · median 13,000 mi
Documented problems
- Accelerator/Unintended Acceleration2009–2010
- Steering2009–2010
- Engine2009–2010
Owners filed 3,934 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009–2013 Toyota Corolla; the airbag system leads with 46.7% of them, and half of the 2,053 that record an odometer reading came by 18,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.
43% of complaints that record mileage fall within the first 12,000 miles, against 11.2 reports per 1,000 miles between 20,000 and 80,000. Failures clustered that early usually indicate a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2009–2013 Toyota Corolla last?
Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2009–2013 Toyota Corolla, half of the 2,053 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 18,000 miles and 90% by 100,000 miles.
63 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 17 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Corolla reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Toyota Corolla 2009–2013 · 2,053 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 633 complaints.
- First 12,000 miles — 43% of all failures
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 17 complaints (0.8%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 100
- 25%
- 2,500
- Median
- 18,400
- 75%
- 59,444
- 90%
- 100,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 633 | 30.8% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 198 | 9.6% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 116 | 5.7% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 96 | 4.7% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 85 | 4.1% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 58 | 2.8% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 72 | 3.5% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 65 | 3.2% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 74 | 3.6% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 48 | 2.3% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 53 | 2.6% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 43 | 2.1% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 50 | 2.4% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 35 | 1.7% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 44 | 2.1% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 43 | 2.1% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 39 | 1.9% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 42 | 2.0% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 34 | 1.7% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 18 | 0.9% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 20 | 1.0% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 26 | 1.3% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 16 | 0.8% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 14 | 0.7% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 17 | 0.8% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 10 | 0.5% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 13 | 0.6% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 5 | 0.2% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 12 | 0.6% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 11 | 0.5% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 15 | 0.7% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 3 | 0.1% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 5 | 0.2% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 3 | 0.1% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 3 | 0.1% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 3 | 0.1% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 3 | 0.1% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 5 | 0.2% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 5 | 0.2% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 1 | 0.0% |
| 200,000+ | 17 | 0.8% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Common Corolla problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Toyota Corolla 2009–2013
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Steering853 reports3,500150–23,000Steering: 853 reports, median 3,500 miles, middle half 150 to 23,000 miles.
- Hydraulic brake circuit176 reports5,0001,000–14,000Hydraulic brake circuit: 176 reports, median 5,000 miles, middle half 1,000 to 14,000 miles.
- Throttle and speed control475 reports13,0004,000–37,000Throttle and speed control: 475 reports, median 13,000 miles, middle half 4,000 to 37,000 miles.
- Transmission and driveline129 reports32,0004,500–73,000Transmission and driveline: 129 reports, median 32,000 miles, middle half 4,500 to 73,000 miles.
- Airbag system1,836 reports60,00030,000–90,000Airbag system: 1,836 reports, median 60,000 miles, middle half 30,000 to 90,000 miles.
- Engine163 reports60,00028,000–90,000Engine: 163 reports, median 60,000 miles, middle half 28,000 to 90,000 miles.
- Electrical system206 reports61,00016,000–89,000Electrical system: 206 reports, median 61,000 miles, middle half 16,000 to 89,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag system | 1,836 | 46.7% | 60,000 | 30,000–90,000 |
| Steering | 853 | 21.7% | 3,500 | 150–23,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 475 | 12.1% | 13,000 | 4,000–37,000 |
| Electrical system | 206 | 5.2% | 61,000 | 16,000–89,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 176 | 4.5% | 5,000 | 1,000–14,000 |
| Engine | 163 | 4.1% | 60,000 | 28,000–90,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 129 | 3.3% | 32,000 | 4,500–73,000 |
| Brakes | 127 | 3.2% | 47,000 | 25,000–78,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 119 | 3.0% | 45,000 | 16,000–87,000 |
| Body structure | 116 | 2.9% | 34,000 | 9,500–60,000 |
System by system, in words
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 18,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The airbag system accounts for 46.7% of complaints (1,836 reports, 364 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 60,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 30,000 and 90,000 miles.
A single system taking 46.7% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The steering accounts for 21.7% of complaints (853 reports, 702 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 3,500 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 150 and 23,000 miles.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 12.1% of complaints (475 reports, 387 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 13,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 4,000 and 37,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 5.2% of complaints (206 reports, 164 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 61,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 16,000 and 89,000 miles.
The hydraulic brake circuit accounts for 4.5% of complaints (176 reports, 152 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 5,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 1,000 and 14,000 miles.
The engine accounts for 4.1% of complaints (163 reports, 135 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 60,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 28,000 and 90,000 miles.
Known problems with the 2009–2013 Corolla
Accelerator/Unintended Acceleration 2009–2010
Covered by Toyota's 2009-2010 unintended-acceleration recalls: floor mat pedal entrapment and, separately, CTS-supplied accelerator pedal assemblies that could stick or return slowly due to friction-lever wear.
Steering 2009–2010
Electric power steering complaints of wandering, loose on-center feel and darting, subject of NHTSA investigation PE11-016 and Toyota service action on the EPS ECU calibration.
Engine 2009–2010
2.4L 2AZ-FE oil consumption from piston ring design on the XRS trim (the same mechanism documented on the Camry/RAV4 2AZ-FE); Toyota ran a warranty enhancement program.
Before you buy a 2009–2013 Corolla: the 3-minute check
Generated from 2,053 mileage-tagged complaints, 20 recall campaigns, 3 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 20 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Ask for steering repair records. Reports on this area come at a median of 3,500 miles — on any car this age it already happened or never will; the question is whether it was fixed under warranty.
- Ask for hydraulic brake circuit repair records. Reports on this area come at a median of 5,000 miles — on any car this age it already happened or never will; the question is whether it was fixed under warranty.
- Check accelerator/unintended acceleration on 2009–2010 cars. Covered by Toyota's 2009-2010 unintended-acceleration recalls: floor mat pedal entrapment and, separately, CTS-supplied accelerator pedal assemblies that could stick or return slowly due to friction-lever wear.
- Check steering on 2009–2010 cars. Electric power steering complaints of wandering, loose on-center feel and darting, subject of NHTSA investigation PE11-016 and Toyota service action on the EPS ECU calibration.
- Check engine on 2009–2010 XRS cars. 2.4L 2AZ-FE oil consumption from piston ring design on the XRS trim (the same mechanism documented on the Camry/RAV4 2AZ-FE); Toyota ran a warranty enhancement program.
- Complaint reports are not spread evenly across model years here — see the by-model-year table below before you settle on a year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, an early-failure pattern is comparatively good news on a used example: 43% of the reported failures occur in the first 12,000 miles, which on a car of this age means they have already happened or they were never going to. Service history matters more than mileage here.
On inspection, the airbag system and the steering are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The steering in particular shows a median failure mileage of 3,500, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Corolla problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi75% below | At 90k mi87% below | At 120k mi94% below | At 150k mi97% below | At 200k mi99% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag system | 30,000–90,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Steering | 150–23,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Throttle and speed control | 4,000–37,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 16,000–89,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 1,000–14,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Engine | 28,000–90,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Transmission and driveline | 4,500–73,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Toyota Corolla 2009–2013 · 2,053 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 75% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 87% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 94% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 97% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 99% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it above
The staircase tops out at 99%: the remaining 0.8% of reports (17) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
2009–2013 Toyota Corolla recalls (20)
NHTSA records 20 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (7), equipment (4), seats (3). Several campaigns against one area can mean a remedy that did not hold, or separate defects in parts filed under the same heading; the summaries below name each defect.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Jan 2020 · 2011–2013 · Air BagsIn the event of a crash, air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners that do not deploy as intended may increase…
The defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, and 2013-2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles. During certain crashes, the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may malfunction, possibly…
What can happen. In the event of a crash, air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners that do not deploy as intended may increase the risk of injury.
The free fix. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ECU and install a noise filter between the air bag control module and its wire harness, as necessary, free of charge. Owners were notified of…
Oct 2019 · 2009–2013 · Air BagsAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in…
The defect. 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…
What can happen. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The free fix. 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…
Jan 2019 · 2010–2013 · Air BagsAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in…
The defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Toyota 4Runner, 2014-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, and 2014-2017 Lexus GX460 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama…
What can happen. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The free fix. Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began February 15, 2019. Owners may…
Jan 2018 · 2009–2010, 2013 · Air BagsAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in…
The defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, 4Runner, Lexus IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, IS-F, and GX460 vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA…
What can happen. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The free fix. Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or…
Jan 2017 · 2009, 2012 · Air BagsAn inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury…
The defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012 Toyota 4Runner, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, Yaris, Scion xB, Lexus ES350, GX460, IS-F, IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, and Lexus LFA vehicles originally sold, or ever registered…
What can happen. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The free fix. Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air…
Jun 2016 · 2009–2010 · SeatsIf damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The defect. Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011…
What can happen. If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The free fix. SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact…
May 2016 · 2009–2011 · Air BagsAn inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury…
The defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Scion xB and Lexus IS F, 2009-2011 Toyota Corolla and Corolla Matrix, 2006-2011 Toyota Yaris, Lexus IS250 and Lexus IS350, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, Lexus IS250C…
What can happen. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The free fix. Toyota will notify the Toyota and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag…
Oct 2015 · 2009–2011 · VisibilityIf the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the…
The defect. Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tundra, Sequoia, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Scion xB, 2008-2011 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4, 2006-2010…
What can happen. If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch may cause a short circuit and the switch assembly may overheat and melt, increasing the…
The free fix. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the switch, applying a lubricant if no abnormality is found. If abnormality is found, the PWMS circuit board will be replaced, free of charge. The…
Nov 2014 · 2010–2011 · SeatsDamage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and…
The defect. Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4…
What can happen. Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
The free fix. SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected…
Apr 2014 · 2009–2010 · Air BagsIf the FFC is damaged, connectivity to the driver's air bag module could be lost and the air bag deactivated.
The defect. Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2008 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, 2008-2010 Highlander, and 2009-2010 Tacoma, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and General Motors Pontiac Vibe vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the steering column assembly contains electrical…
What can happen. If the FFC is damaged, connectivity to the driver's air bag module could be lost and the air bag deactivated. The failure of the driver's air bag to deploy in the event of a crash that typically…
The free fix. Toyota will notify the Toyota vehicle owners, and General Motors will notify the Pontiac Vibe owners. Toyota sent owners an interim notification letter in May 2014 to advise owners of the recall.…
Apr 2013 · 2010–2011 · EquipmentAn inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires.
The defect. Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 RAV4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ…
What can happen. An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property…
The free fix. Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still…
Jan 2013 · 2010–2013 · SeatsIf the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may…
The defect. Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and…
What can happen. If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This…
The free fix. Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact…
Oct 2012 · 2009 · VisibilityIf the switch overheats, it may melt, possibly resulting in a fire.
The defect. Toyota is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Camry, Camry Hybrid, RAV4, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Tundra, Sequoia, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Yaris, Scion xB, Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. The power window master switch assemblies in some of…
What can happen. If the switch overheats, it may melt, possibly resulting in a fire.
The free fix. Toyota will notify its owners, and dealers will inspect the switch and apply a special grease that inhibits heat build up or replace any switch damaged by the defect, free of charge. Toyota owners…
Nov 2011 · 2010–2011 · StructureA damaged a-pillar trim panel retention clip may allow the trim panel to come loose and injure an occupant in…
The defect. Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Corolla vehicles equipped with a non-Toyota, blue tooth hands free device or navigation unit and certain model year 2011 Toyota sienna vehicles equipped with a non-Toyota, overhead entertainment…
What can happen. A damaged a-pillar trim panel retention clip may allow the trim panel to come loose and injure an occupant in the event of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect the a-pillar trim panel retention clip and replace it if necessary free of charge. The safety recall began on december 30, 2011. Owners may contact southeast Toyota at…
Feb 2010 · 2009–2010 · EquipmentA driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.
The defect. Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 passenger vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "Tire selection and rims." These vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying…
What can happen. A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact…
Feb 2010 · 2009–2010 · EquipmentThis does not meet the standard requirements.
The defect. Gulf states Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "Tire selection and rims." These vehicles were sold between september 1, 2005 and june 2, 2008…
What can happen. This does not meet the standard requirements.
The free fix. Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. Dealers will also correct the owner's manual. The safety…
Jan 2010 · 2009–2010 · Vehicle Speed ControlA stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the…
The defect. Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 highlander, model year 2009-2010 Corolla, venza and matrix passenger vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's…
What can happen. A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
The free fix. Toyota will modify or replace the accelerator pedals on the subject vehicles. Floor surface modifications are also being considered and will be included for any model for which it is deemed…
Jan 2010 · 2009–2010 · Vehicle Speed ControlThe accelerator pedal may become hard to depress, slow to return to idle, or, in the worst case, mechanically…
The defect. Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 avalon, model year 2007-2010 camry, model year 2009-2010 Corolla, Corolla matrix, RAV4, model year 2010 highlander, model year 2008-2010 sequoia, and model year 2007-2010 tundra vehicles. Due to the manner in…
What can happen. The accelerator pedal may become hard to depress, slow to return to idle, or, in the worst case, mechanically stuck in a partially depressed position, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will install a reinforcement bar in the accelerator pedal which will allow the pedal to operate smoothly. Gm will notify owners for the Pontiac vibe please see 10v-018. This service will be…
Aug 2009 · 2009–2010 · Service Brakes, HydraulicThis could lead to an increase in vehicle stopping distance and a crash could occur.
The defect. Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 scion xd and my 2009-2010 Corolla, and Corolla matrix vehicles equipped with 1.8L engine and originally sold in or currently registered in the states of alaska, colorado, idaho, illinois, iowa, kansas, maine…
What can happen. This could lead to an increase in vehicle stopping distance and a crash could occur.
The free fix. Dealers will install a newly designed intake air connector which will relocate the brake system vacuum port. This service will be performed free of charge. The recall began on september 21, 2009.…
Aug 2009 · 2010 · EquipmentThis does not meet the standard requirements.
The defect. Toyota is recalling certain model year 2010 Corolla vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, "Occupant crash protection." The air bag label installed on the driver side sun visor can separate from…
What can happen. This does not meet the standard requirements.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect the label and exchange the driver's side sun visor free of charge. The recall began on september 3, 2009. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 3,934 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 462 (11.7%)
- Fires
- 26
- Injury reports
- 253
- Fatality reports
- 2
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Corolla problems by model year
The 2009 drew the most complaints of this generation, 1,459, most of them about the airbag system, and the 2013 the fewest, 201. A typical year drew about 584.
That makes the 2009 stand out at roughly 2.5 times a typical year. A count like this follows how many cars of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as how often they failed, so it is not by itself evidence of a worse year; what each year's reports name, in its card and row, is the useful part.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 1,459 | 838 | 23,000 | Airbag system (552) | 13 |
| 2010 | 1,244 | 768 | 6,000 | Airbag system (424) | 17 |
| 2011 | 584 | 194 | 31,000 | Airbag system (418) | 9 |
| 2012 | 446 | 115 | 37,000 | Airbag system (370) | 5 |
| 2013 | 201 | 138 | 26,000 | Airbag system (72) | 5 |
What Corolla owners reported
The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly lunged forward. The brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle kept rolling forward, and the contact was forced to use the parking brake to stop the vehicle. The contact associated the…
2010 · 139,000 miles · Throttle and speed control
The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that, while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle suddenly accelerated despite the brakes being applied, causing the driver to crash into a parked vehicle. The TPMS warning light was illuminated. There were no reported injuries, air bag deployments, or…
2010 · 53,000 miles · Hydraulic brake circuit
The contact owned a 2011 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while he was driving at 40 MPH, another vehicle that was speeding caused a multiple vehicle collision. During the collision, the contact was in the middle lane when the speeding vehicle crashed into a vehicle in the left lane, and that vehicle merged…
2011 · 124,000 miles · Airbag system
The contact owned a 2012 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while parking in a post office parking lot and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle experienced sudden and unintended acceleration, crashed into a tree, and shut off. There was no warning light illuminated before or after the crash. There was no…
2012 · 57,000 miles · Throttle and speed control
Built from 2,053 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built
Other Corolla generations
- Corolla 1998–2002 316 reports with mileage, most about the airbag system
- Corolla 2003–2008 2,088 reports with mileage, most about the airbag system
- Corolla 2014–2019 687 reports with mileage, most about the airbag system
- Corolla 2020–2025 137 reports with mileage, most about the engine