Model research hub
Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla is a compact car made since 1966 that Wikipedia says has been the best-selling automobile nameplate of all time since 1997. Federal data shows the 2019 with 5 recalls, the 2020 with the most complaints (306), and the 2022 and 2025 with no recalls, and the 2026 Corolla starts at $24,320 and is rated 22 to 50 mpg combined.
What the Toyota Corolla is and who buys it
Wikipedia (opens in a new tab) describes the Corolla as a series of compact cars, formerly subcompact, made by Toyota since 1966, and says that since 1997 the Corolla has remained the best-selling automobile nameplate of all time. The 2026 Corolla is offered with a 2.0L four-cylinder, a 1.8L hybrid and a 1.6L three-cylinder in the performance model, rated 22 to 50 mpg combined by the EPA, about $1,250 to $3,500 a year in fuel. Kelley Blue Book base prices are $24,320 for the LE, $26,760 for the SE and $30,035 for the XSE.
Best and worst Corolla model years
Federal counts are low across the board. The 2015 and 2016 have one air bag recall each with 219 and 213 complaints, the 2017 and 2018 have 3 recalls each, and the 2019 has 5, covering equipment, air bags, the fuel system and powertrain, with 201 complaints. The 2020 has 3 recalls, including the fuel system, and 306 complaints, the most of any year. The 2021 has one recall, the 2022 has none, the 2023 has 3, the 2024 has 2, and the 2025 has none and 31 complaints.
Toyoland (opens in a new tab) says the cautions are 2009 to 2011, for a documented oil-consumption issue covered under Toyota's now-closed ZE7 warranty program, and 2020, for a documented fuel-pump recall to verify, and notes that Consumer Reports rated the 2020 as more reliable than the average car that year. It says a 2020 with completed recall work is a perfectly reasonable buy. CarsCounsel (opens in a new tab) and Car Smite (opens in a new tab) publish year-by-year lists. Open the 2020 Corolla page for that year.
Choosing a year
Because the counts are small, a Corolla decision comes down to VIN recall status and the powertrain: the 2020 fuel-pump campaign is the one to check, and Toyoland says a 2021 or 2022 simply sidesteps the first-year question of the new generation for a modest premium.
Questions buyers ask
Which Toyota Corolla years should I avoid?
Toyoland (opens in a new tab) cautions on 2009 to 2011 for oil consumption and on the 2020 for a fuel-pump recall to verify, rather than saying to avoid any year.
How much does the 2026 Toyota Corolla cost?
Kelley Blue Book base prices are $24,320 for the LE, $26,760 for the SE and $30,035 for the XSE.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2025 Toyota Corolla is built around 2.0L gas or 1.8L hybrid, rated at 138 / 169 horsepower across its compact car body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2025 U.S. lineup has 8 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe 2025 Corolla seats 5 and is a Compact car.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA lists 31 owner complaints for the 2025 Corolla.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2025 Toyota Corolla
The 2025 Corolla sedan spans gasoline and hybrid branches. All-wheel drive is confined to selected hybrid configurations and should not be generalized to the gas lineup.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
9 indexed Toyota Corolla model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 Toyota Corolla | 2027 record → | |
| 2026 Toyota Corolla | 2026 record → | |
| 2025 Toyota Corolla | 2 | 2025 record → |
| 2024 Toyota Corolla | 2024 record → | |
| 2023 Toyota Corolla | 2023 record → | |
| 2021 Toyota Corolla | 2021 record → | |
| 2019 Toyota Corolla | 2019 record → | |
| 2016 Toyota Corolla | 2016 record → | |
| 2015 Toyota Corolla | 2015 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Toyota Corolla.
The Toyota Corolla is a series of compact cars (formerly subcompact) manufactured and marketed globally by the Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation since 1966. Since 1997, the Corolla has remained the best-selling automobile nameplate of all time, surpassing the Volkswagen Beetle. Toyota reached the milestone of 50 million Corollas sold over twelve generations in 2021, and has sold over 54 million units as of early 2026.
Source: Toyota Corolla (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Toyota Corolla at a glance
- Production
- November 1966 – present
- Class
- Subcompact car (1966–1991), Compact car (1991–present)
- Predecessor
- Toyota Publica
- Related models
- Daihatsu Charmant (1974–1987)
Toyota Corolla generations
The Toyota Corolla has been redesigned in 1970, 1974, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1991, 1995, 2000, 2006, 2012, 2018, gaps of 4, 4, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 6, 6, 6 years, an average of 4.7 years between generations. The current generation (twelfth generation, E210) began in 2018.
| Generation | Code | Began | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| First generation | E10 | 1966–1970 | The first generation Corolla was unveiled at the 1966 Tokyo Motor Show and then introduced in November in the same year with the new 1100 cc K pushrod engine. |
| Second generation | E20 | 1970–1974 | In May 1970, the E20 was restyled with a more rounded body. |
| Third generation | E30, E40, E50, E60 | 1974–1979 | April 1974 brought rounder, bigger and heavier Corollas and Sprinters. |
| Fourth generation | E70 | 1979–1983 | A major restyle in March 1979 brought a square edged design. |
| Fifth generation | E80 | 1983–1987 | A sloping front hood and a contemporary sharp-edged, no-frills style was brought in during May 1983. |
| Sixth generation | E90 | 1987–1991 | A somewhat more rounded and aerodynamic style was used for the E90 introduced on 15 May 1987. |
| Seventh generation | E100 | 1991–1995 | In June 1991, Corollas received a redesign to be larger, heavier, and have the completely rounded, aerodynamic shape of the 1990s. |
| Eighth generation | E110 | 1995–2000 | Production of the E110 Corolla started in May 1995. |
| Ninth generation | E120, E130 | 2000–2006 | For the ninth generation, Toyota split the Corolla into two separate models. |
| Tenth generation | E140, E150 | 2006–2012 | The tenth generation of the E140 Corolla was introduced in October 2006. |
| Eleventh generation | E160, E170, E180 | 2012–2018 | For the eleventh generation, Toyota split the Corolla into three separate models. |
| Twelfth generation | E210 | 2018–present | The twelfth generation of the Corolla, built on the TNGA-C platform, is available in three body styles: |
NHTSA rated the 2025 Toyota Corolla overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 5 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 4 of 5 stars.
Recent recalls (4 campaigns across the latest model years)
- January 2025, Steering:Column. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, Lexus RX350, 2023-2024 NX250, and NX350 vehicles that may have been incorrectly repaired under previous NHTSA recall number 23V-480. An electrical… Consequence: A deactivated driver's air bag will not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
- November 2024, Steering. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Corolla and Corolla Hybrid vehicles. Due to cracks developed during the manufacturing process, the steering intermediate shaft assembly may fracture and possibly result in the shaft detaching from the steering column. Consequence: A steering shaft that detaches can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- July 2024, Equipment:Other:Labels. Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain Toyota 2023 GR Supra, 2024 4 Runner, Corolla, Grand Highlander, Grand Highlander Hybrid, Land Cruiser Hybrid, Tacoma, Tacoma Hybrid, 2023-2024 BZ4X, Corolla Cross Hybrid, GR Corolla, GR86, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius Prime, Sequoia… Consequence: A vehicle with an incorrect maximum capacity weight value may be overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash.
Owners filed 31 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Toyota Corolla, most often about service brakes (8), unknown or other (7), air bags (6).
Year by year
The Toyota Corolla across 13 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Toyota Corolla | 33–50 | $1,300–$1,950 | 9 | |||
| 2026 Toyota Corolla | 22–50 | $1,250–$3,500 | 12 | 1 | 5 stars | |
| 2025 Toyota Corolla | 22–50 | $1,250–$3,500 | 12 | 31 | 5 stars | |
| 2024 Toyota Corolla | 24–50 | $1,250–$3,250 | 9 | 2 | 62 | 5 stars |
| 2023 Toyota Corolla | 24–50 | $1,250–$3,250 | 9 | 3 | 72 | 5 stars |
| 2022 Toyota Corolla | 31–52 | $1,200–$2,000 | 12 | 97 | 5 stars | |
| 2021 Toyota Corolla | 31–52 | $1,200–$2,000 | 12 | 1 | 185 | 5 stars |
| 2020 Toyota Corolla | 31–52 | $1,200–$2,000 | 10 | 3 | 306 | 5 stars |
| 2019 Toyota Corolla | 30–36 | $1,750–$2,100 | 8 | 5 | 201 | 5 stars |
| 2018 Toyota Corolla | 30–34 | $1,850–$2,100 | 7 | 3 | 133 | 5 stars |
| 2017 Toyota Corolla | 30–34 | $1,850–$2,100 | 7 | 3 | 189 | 5 stars |
| 2016 Toyota Corolla | 30–34 | $1,850–$2,100 | 6 | 1 | 213 | 5 stars |
| 2015 Toyota Corolla | 30–34 | $1,850–$2,100 | 6 | 1 | 219 | 5 stars |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Toyota Corolla, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 to 2027 | 12 to 9 | 36.0 to 41.5 | Labels: Corolla (1-mode transmission), Corolla (3-mode transmission) | Labels: Corolla (1-mode TM), Corolla (3-mode TM), Corolla Hatchback FX, Corolla Hybrid SE, and 2 more; Engines: 1.6L 3-cyl SIDI & PFI; Transmissions: Automatic (S8), Manual 6-spd; Fuels: Premium; Size classes: Subcompact Cars |
| 2025 to 2026 | Labels: Corolla (1-mode TM), Corolla (3-mode TM), Corolla Hatchback FX, Corolla Hybrid SE, and 1 more | Labels: Corolla FX; Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; 1-mode, 2L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; 3-mode | ||
| 2024 to 2025 | 9 to 12 | 37.0 to 36.0 | Labels: Corolla FX; Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; 1-mode, 2L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; 3-mode; Transmissions: Automatic (S8) | Engines: 2L 4-cyl 3-mode (Sport/Normal/Eco) |
| 2023 to 2024 | Engines: 2L 4-cyl 3-mode (Sport/Normal/Eco) | Engines: 1.8L 4-cyl Hybrid; with Sport mode, 2L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; 3-mode | ||
| 2022 to 2023 | 12 to 9 | 41.5 to 37.0 | Labels: Corolla Hybrid AWD, GR Corolla; Engines: 1.6L 3-cyl SIDI & PFI, 1.8L 4-cyl Hybrid; with Sport mode, 2L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; 3-mode; Drives: All-Wheel Drive; Fuels: Premium; Size classes: Subcompact Cars | Labels: Corolla APEX, Corolla XLE, Corolla XSE; Engines: 1.8L 4-cyl |
| 2021 to 2022 | Transmissions: Automatic (AM-S10) | |||
| 2020 to 2021 | 10 to 12 | Labels: Corolla APEX; Transmissions: Automatic (AM-S10) | ||
| 2019 to 2020 | 8 to 10 | 33.0 to 41.5 | Labels: Corolla Hybrid, Corolla XLE, Corolla XSE; Engines: 1.8L 4-cyl Hybrid | Labels: Corolla LE Eco; Engines: 1.8L 4-cyl 2-mode (Normal/Eco) Transmission; Transmissions: Automatic (AV-S7); Size classes: Midsize Cars |
| 2018 to 2019 | 7 to 8 | 32.0 to 33.0 | Labels: Corolla Hatchback, Corolla Hatchback XSE; Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; Transmissions: Automatic (AV-S10); Size classes: Compact Cars | Labels: Corolla iM |
| 2016 to 2017 | 6 to 7 | Labels: Corolla iM | Transmissions: Automatic 4-spd |
Buying used
What the Toyota Corolla recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | exterior lighting (headlights) | None |
| 2024 | 2 | equipment (other); steering | None |
| 2023 | 3 | steering (column); steering | None |
| 2021 | 1 | air bags (sensor) | None |
| 2020 | 3 | seat belts (rear/other); fuel system, gasoline (delivery); air bags (sensor) | None |
| 2019 | 5 | power train (automatic transmission); equipment (other); fuel system, gasoline (delivery); 1 more | None |
| 2018 | 3 | equipment (other); fuel system, gasoline (delivery); air bags (air bag/restraint control module) | None |
| 2017 | 3 | tires (temporary/emergency spare tire); equipment (other); air bags (air bag/restraint control module) | None |
| 2016 | 1 | air bags (air bag/restraint control module) | None |
| 2015 | 1 | air bags (air bag/restraint control module) | None |
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| air bags | 337 | 20% | 2016 (65) |
| unknown or other | 305 | 18% | 2020 (79) |
| engine | 265 | 15% | 2020 (108) |
| power train | 224 | 13% | 2019 (55) |
| electrical system | 165 | 10% | 2020 (31) |
| service brakes | 152 | 9% | 2016 (29) |
Trim by trim
Every 2026 Toyota Corolla trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LE | FWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Dynamic-Force) | 169 | 151 | 2,955 | – | 34 | $24,320 |
| SE | FWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Dynamic-Force) | 169 | 151 | 3,110 | – | 34 | $26,760 |
| XSE | FWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Dynamic-Force) | 169 | 151 | 3,150 | – | 34 | $30,035 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2026 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Toyota Corolla model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Dynamic-Force) | 169 | 2,955–3,150 | – | 13.2 |
| 2025 | 4 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Dynamic-Force) | 169 | 2,955–3,150 | – | 13.2 |
| 2024 | 4 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Dynamic-Force) | 169 | 2,955–3,150 | – | 13.2 |
| 2023 | 3 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Dynamic-Force) | 169 | 2,955–3,150 | – | 13.2 |
| 2022 | 8 | 1.8-liter 4-cylinder / 2.0-liter 4-cylinder | 139–169 | 2,910–3,150 | – | 13.2 |
| 2021 | 8 | 1.8-liter 4-cylinder / 2.0-liter 4-cylinder | 139–169 | 2,910–3,150 | – | 13.2 |
| 2020 | 6 | 1.8-liter 4-cylinder / 2.0-liter 4-cylinder | 139–169 | 2,910–3,150 | – | 13.2 |
| 2019 | 6 | 1.8-liter 4-cylinder / 1.8-liter 4-cylinder (Valvematic) | 132–140 | 2,840–2,885 | – | 13.2 |
| 2018 | 6 | 1.8-liter 4-cylinder (Valvematic) / 1.8-liter 4-cylinder | 132–140 | 2,820–2,865 | – | 13.2 |
| 2017 | 7 | 1.8-liter 4-cylinder (Valvematic) / 1.8-liter 4-cylinder | 132–140 | 2,820–2,865 | – | 13.2 |
| 2016 | 11 | 4-Cyl, Valvematic, 1.8L / 1.8-liter 4-cylinder | 132–140 | 2,820–2,875 | – | 13.2 |
| 2015 | 10 | 4-Cyl, Valvematic, 1.8L / 1.8-liter 4-cylinder | 132–140 | 2,820–2,875 | – | 13.2 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Owning it
Oil, fluid and wheel-nut figures for the Toyota Corolla.
| Model year | Engine oil | Brake fluid | Wheel-nut torque | A/C refrigerant | Key-fob battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0W-8 (4.4 qt) | – | – | – | – |
| 2026 | 0W-8 (4.4 qt) gasoline engine; 0W-16 (4.4 qt) hybrid engine | – | – | – | – |
| 2020 | – | – | – | – | CR2032 |
| 2016 | – | DOT 3 | – | – | – |
| 2015 | 0W-20 | DOT 3 | – | – | – |
Source: the manufacturer's owner's manual for each model year. A dash means that year's manual gave no single value for it, for instance one that lists two oil grades or two key types.
Model-year recall record
Toyota Corolla: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
More recalls than this model’s own average
- 2019 Toyota Corolla : 5 recalls on file, most commonly affecting equipment and airbags.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | not available | exterior lighting |
| 2025 | 31 | ||
| 2024 | 2 | 62 | equipment, steering |
| 2023 | 3 | 72 | steering |
| 2022 | 97 | ||
| 2021 | 1 | 185 | airbags |
| 2020 | 3 | 306 | fuel system, seat belts, airbags |
| 2019 | 5 | 201 | equipment, airbags, fuel system, powertrain |
| 2018 | 3 | 133 | equipment, airbags, fuel system |
| 2017 | 3 | 189 | airbags, equipment, tires |
| 2016 | 1 | 213 | airbags |
| 2015 | 1 | 219 | airbags |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Toyota Corolla model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Toyota Corolla?
Recall count alone can't answer that: it says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record. What federal data can say: 2019 carried more. See the model-year table on this page for the exact counts and what they cover.
Q02Which Toyota Corolla model years should I watch for recalls?
The 2019 Toyota Corolla has 5 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting equipment, airbags, fuel system. Always confirm the open/completed status of every campaign for the specific VIN: a recall on this list may already be repaired on the vehicle in front of you.
Q03What are common recall-related problems on the Toyota Corolla by model year?
2026: exterior lighting. 2024: equipment, steering. 2023: steering. 2021: airbags. 2020: fuel system, seat belts, airbags. 2019: equipment, airbags, fuel system, powertrain.
Q04Why do some Toyota Corolla model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Toyota Corolla model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Buying, records and recalls, Brakes, tires and steering, Engine and cooling, Transmission and drivetrain, Climate and electrical.
2019 Toyota Corolla owners specifically: see Buying, records and recalls and Engine and cooling and Transmission and drivetrain.
Trim ladder
2 Toyota Corolla trims, each with its own page.
Compared with
Models this Toyota Corolla is most often compared with.
Nearest Toyota models
Other Toyota models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2025 Corolla come in?
The 2025 Toyota Corolla (compact car) comes in 8 trims: LE, SE, FX, XSE, Hybrid LE, Hybrid SE, Hybrid Nightshade, Hybrid XLE.
Q02What are the 2025 Corolla trims?
The 2025 Toyota Corolla trims are LE, SE, FX, XSE, Hybrid LE, Hybrid SE, Hybrid Nightshade, Hybrid XLE, listed from the entry LE up to the top Hybrid XLE.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2025 Corolla use?
The 2025 Toyota Corolla is built around 2.0L gas or 1.8L hybrid, rated at 138 / 169 horsepower across its compact car body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2025 Corolla have?
The 2025 Toyota Corolla is rated at 138 / 169 horsepower (2.0L gas or 1.8L hybrid).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2025 Corolla?
The 2025 Toyota Corolla is offered with FWD / AWD hybrid.