Common Problems with the Toyota Corolla

Charlotte Phillips, 1 year ago

3 min read

  • Toyota
  • Common problems
Toyota Corolla

WhoCanFixMyCar discusses some of the common problems drivers have reported with the Toyota Corolla.

First introduced in 1966, the Toyota Corolla is a series of compact cars manufactured by the Japanese Automaker. By 1974, the Corolla was the best-selling car in the world, with the automaker surpassing the milestone of 50 million models sold in 2021.

However, some drivers have also reported some issues with the model. Some common problems with the Toyota Corolla include:

Some of these faults have resulted in Toyota announcing recalls on affected Corolla models, which you can find out more about in the table below.

Toyota Corolla recent recalls

Toyota Corolla leaking oil/excessive oil use

Toyota Corolla jerky acceleration

Toyota Corolla MAF sensor problem

Toyota Corolla vibration at high speeds

How reliable is the Toyota Corolla?


Toyota Corolla recent recalls

Affected model datesIssue
18/06/2018 - 09/04/2021Cracks may form on the welded parts of the fuel pump, which could cause a fuel leak
17/12/2018 - 28/02/2019Wind deflector on panorama roof may not be properly attached, and could break off
01/2002 – 01/2008Passenger airbag may be defective, which may result in uncontrolled inflation
2001-2011Airbag inflator may degrade over time, and excessive pressure could cause the inflator body to rupture

Toyota Corolla oil leak/excessive oil use

Some drivers have noticed leaking oil coming from their Toyota Corolla model. While it’s possible for any model of car to experience an oil leak at some point, the Toyota Corolla Versa has been known to have a particular problem with frequent oil leaks.

Additionally, some Corolla drivers have reported excessive oil use from their Corolla models. While this could be the result of an oil leak, another reported problem with the Corolla was caused by Toyota manufacturing a number of models with defective piston rings. Piston rings help to seal together the piston and cylinder wall, so when this component becomes damaged, you can notice higher fuel consumption.

Luckily, repairing an oil leak is a relatively inexpensive procedure to carry out. The average quote for an oil leak repair on the Toyota Corolla is £64.99 when booked with WhoCanFixMyCar.


Toyota Corolla jerky acceleration

Many drivers have also reported a jerky acceleration with their Toyota Corolla. Jerking or juddering when accelerating could indicate an issue with a number of components in your car. Some possible causes can include dirty fuel filters, faulty spark plugs, a blocked catalytic converter, or even a damaged fuel pump. If you notice this problem, the best thing to do is to take your car straight to a trained mechanic who can diagnose the root of the problem for you.


Toyota Corolla MAF sensor problem

There have also been reports from drivers that have experienced issues with the MAF sensor on their Toyota Corolla. Problems with the MAF (Mass Airflow) sensor can have symptoms including poor performance and rough idling amongst others. While it’s always worth taking your car to a specialist to be sure, this fault is the most likely cause of these symptoms.


Toyota Corolla vibration at high speeds

Some owners have also reported that their Corolla vibrates when reaching high speeds. While it’s normal for slight vibrations to be felt at higher speeds, this should be relatively minimal and any new excessive vibrations should be investigated by a trained mechanic as soon as possible. Vibrations at high speeds can be pinpointed to a number of potential causes, from the spark plugs, to the fuel filter, however the most common cause is an issue with the vehicle’s suspension system

The average quote for suspension repairs on the Toyota Corolla is £137.37 when booked with WhoCanFixMyCar.


Is the Toyota Corolla reliable?

With Toyota’s solid reputation for building reliable cars, it’s no surprise that the Corolla stacks up well in overall reliability.

Drivers gave the model an overall reliability and safety rating of 4.5 out of 5, as well as placing 38th out of 75 cars in the Auto Express 2022 Driver Power survey.

Additionally, Toyota as an auto manufacturer were able to secure a position in 10th place out of 29 automakers in the Best Brands poll, cementing another solid result for the Japanese brand. The Corolla even managed to secure a top safety score of five out of five stars in Euro NCAP’s most recent crash test of the model in 2019.


Having some issues with your Toyota Corolla? Here at WhoCanFixMyCar, we can help you find a trusted mechanic for the best price.