Toyota Corolla
Registered from 1990 to 2024.
About this model
The Toyota Corolla is a series of compact cars 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.
From the Wikipedia article Toyota Corolla, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2020 1.8 hybrid. 988 of 15,089 tests failed, 7%.
Better than 72% of 2020 cars. The typical one fails 8%, across 906 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres and wheels | 61% | 598 |
| Visibility | 28% | 280 |
| Lights and electrics | 10% | 100 |
| Brakes | 9% | 85 |
| Body and structure | 3% | 28 |
| Plates and identity | 3% | 26 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A tyre seriously damaged
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- A tyre cords visible or damaged
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- A tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Tyres and wheels — 61% of its failures
- A tyre seriously damaged
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A tyre cords visible or damaged
- Brakes — 9% of its failures
- Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution.
- Lights and electrics — 10% of its failures
- Visibility — 28% of its failures
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
When it starts failing
At 100–120k miles this one fails 12% of its inspections, against the 16% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–20k miles | 3% | 5% | 4,945 | |
| 20–40k miles | 7% | 10% | 5,580 | |
| 40–60k miles | 9% | 13% | 2,737 | |
| 60–80k miles | 10% | 14% | 1,028 | |
| 80–100k miles | 11% | 16% | 451 | |
| 100–120k miles | 12% | 16% | 199 | |
| 120–140k miles | 6% | — | 79 | |
| 140–160k miles | 3% | — | 33 |
15,052 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 20k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 1.8 petrol · 97 hp · 1375 kg · 2676 mm wheelbase · 4.4 L/100km (WLTP) · 164 Wh/km |
| 2019 | 1.2 petrol · 114 hp · 1337 kg · 2660 mm wheelbase · 6.1 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2010 | 1.6 petrol · 1354 kg · 2582 mm wheelbase · 6.3 L/100km (NEDC) |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
A12/00376/20
The gas generator of the passenger airbag may be defective.This may result in uncontrolled inflation and release of metal fragments when the airbag is activated, causing injuries to the occupants.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/00946/21
The resistance characteristics of the fuel pump components against high fuel pressure may be inadequate.As a result, cracks may be formed on the welded parts of the pump and a fuel leak may occur, posing a risk to the following traffic. The product does not comply with the requirements laid down in the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/01370/21
Due to a specific software update error that can cause an abrupt reset, the Data Communication Module (DCM) may become damaged. As a result, it will no longer be possible to initiate an emergency call using the eCall system. The product does not comply with the requirements laid down in the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of Motor Vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/0143/14
Due to improper tightening of the steering wheel set nut during vehicle assembly, the steering wheel nut could become loose. If the vehicle was continuously operated in this condition, the nut could eventually come off, and the steering wheel could separate from the steering shaft, causing a loss of steering ability and the risk of a crash.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/02415/23
Due to a specific software update error that can cause an abrupt reset, the data communication module (DCM) may not restart at the next ignition cycle. It will no longer be possible to initiate an emergency call using the eCall system, increasing the risk of injuries, delayed assistance in the event of an accident. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/02637/23
Insufficient pressing of parts in the high pressure fuel pump can cause movement of the cylinder in the fuel pump through which the piston moves. This can create wear between the cylinder and the pump body, resulting in increased stress on valves and/or movement valve seat inside the pump body. This increased stress can cause a crack in the weld of the affected valves, which could lead to a fuel leak, increasing the risk of fire. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/0308/17
The propellant in the inflator of the driver's front air bag could degrade over time. If this were to occur, the inflator could rupture in the event of the deployment of the driver’s front air bag.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/03580/24
Due to the programming of the skid control's electronic control unit software, the brake fluid pressure can be incorrectly controlled when the brake pedal is applied during cornering. This can lead users to experience a hard brake pedal with reduced braking force, increasing the brake stopping distance and creating a risk of accidents and injuries. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
8 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.