Toyota Corolla problems
210 owner complaints with NHTSA, no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
- Reliability score 7.4/10 — around the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
In 2024, my 2016 Toyota Corolla was involved in a collision. The airbags did not deploy. I went to the emergency room following the crash and later required additional medical treatment, including rehabilitation.
Received a service bulletin that the CVT needed a software update. We had this done at inver grove Toyota. However, the RPM's continued to fluctuate while driving at lower speeds. Took it back to the dealer and then told the transmission needed to be replaced at the cost of…
My husband and I were driving home from a concert at 10:30 pm on the 110 freeway in san pedro, ca when we heard a loud crash on the roof of the car. We hadn't just driven under an overpass. There was no debris behind us. No one was swerving out of the way to avoid anything.…
I was pulling in to parking space at a very low speed. My car started to accelerate and lunged into pared car in front of me. Causing damage to other car and mine. I had my foot on the brake but it didint stop the car. A couple if days before the same thing happened to my…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Under investigation 1 open at NHTSA
NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. EA21002 on NHTSA →
How NHTSA investigations work, and what's open now →
Common questions
Is the 2016 Toyota Corolla reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.4 out of 10 based on 210 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Toyota Corolla is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2016 Toyota Corolla?
The 2016 Toyota Corolla is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 7.4/10 — around the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2016 Toyota Corolla?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 56 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 50,305 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 50,305 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Toyota Corolla has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2016 Toyota Corolla?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 210 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.