TOYOTA COROLLA Common Problems & Reliability

Based on 5,550 MOT tests from 645 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore®. The figures below describe that VehicleScore® sample. Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore® MOT data are not a claim that every TOYOTA COROLLA has the same fault.

TOYOTA COROLLA's have a very good reliability rating of 606/999. The score was calculated from the average of every TOYOTA COROLLA that has had a registered MOT.

We calculated all of the below figures by getting the score from each vehicle make/model/year/fuel, which are each calculated a score. We then generate the average score, taking into account factors such as mileage and emissions.

Also check BHP & performance, road tax, fuel economy, and CO2 emissions for the TOYOTA COROLLA.

TOYOTA COROLLA (example)

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Fuel Type	Year	Reliability Score	Avg Mileage	Sample Size
Hybrid Electric	2019	890/999Excellent	80,530 miles	3,824 vehicles
Petrol	2008	508/999Above average	97,869 miles	1,314 vehicles
Diesel	2007	485/999Average	91,805 miles	911 vehicles
Petrol	2004	504/999Above average	92,311 miles	7,455 vehicles
Diesel	2003	499/999Average	88,100 miles	1,584 vehicles
Diesel	2002	482/999Average	87,291 miles	867 vehicles
Petrol	2001	541/999Above average	82,331 miles	6,570 vehicles
Petrol	2000	575/999Above average	83,638 miles	6,380 vehicles
Petrol	1997	594/999Above average	86,958 miles	1,418 vehicles
Petrol	1987	786/999Very good	103,830 miles	788 vehicles
Petrol	1985	807/999Excellent	101,997 miles	913 vehicles

How reliable is the TOYOTA COROLLA?

Based on 5,550 MOT tests from 645 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore®.

Vehicles

645

MOT tests

5,550

Pass rate

82.1%

Median mileage

62,293 mi

Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore® MOT data are inspection findings from this sample. They are not a statement that every TOYOTA COROLLA has the same fault. The median VehicleScore® in this sample is 873 out of 999.

Common TOYOTA COROLLA MOT problems

These groups combine equivalent MOT comments, such as the same tyre note on different corners. Counts are comment occurrences in the sample, not a percentage of cars.

Tyre wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 857 advisory comments and 55 failure comments in this group. Seen as both an advisory and a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record tyres that were worn, damaged, or close to the legal tread depth when the car was inspected.

What to inspect

Check the tread depth and look for uneven wear, cracking, or damage on all four tyres.

Example MOT wording: OFFSIDE FRONT TYRE WORN CLOSE TO LEGAL LIMIT/WORN ON EDGE (5.2.3 (E))

Registration plate condition

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 133 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record a number plate that was deteriorated, insecure, or did not meet the plate rules.

What to inspect

Check both plates are secure, clean, and clearly readable.

Example MOT wording: FRONT REGISTRATION PLATE DETERIORATED BUT NOT LIKELY TO BE MISREAD (0.1 (B))

Oil leak

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 108 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record an oil leak noted by the tester. Shock absorber misting is counted as a damper issue, not as an engine oil leak.

What to inspect

Look under the engine for fresh oil, and check the oil level.

Example MOT wording: OIL LEAK, BUT NOT EXCESSIVE (8.4.1 (A) (I))

Brake pad wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 71 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record brake pads that were worn or below the inspection limit.

What to inspect

Ask for recent pad replacement and look at the remaining pad thickness.

Example MOT wording: FRONT BRAKE PAD(S) WEARING THIN (3.5.1G)

Coil spring issues

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 61 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record coil springs that were corroded, fractured, or otherwise defective. They are counted separately from shock absorbers.

What to inspect

Look for a broken or heavily corroded spring and compare the ride height on both sides.

Example MOT wording: OFFSIDE REAR COIL SPRING CORRODED (5.3.1 (B) (I))

Parking brake faults

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 42 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record a parking brake that did not hold well enough or had a component defect.

What to inspect

Test that the parking brake holds the car on a slope and releases cleanly.

Example MOT wording: PARKING BRAKE EFFICIENCY BELOW REQUIREMENTS (1.4.2 (A) (I))

Windscreen damage

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 40 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record chips, cracks, or other windscreen damage in the driver’s view.

What to inspect

Look for chips and cracks, especially in the area swept by the wipers.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE WINDSCREEN WIPER DOES NOT CLEAR THE WINDSCREEN EFFECTIVELY (8.2.2)

Lambda sensor issues

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 24 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record a lambda sensor reading or defect noted at the test.

What to inspect

Ask whether a sensor or emissions fault has been diagnosed since the test.

Example MOT wording: EXHAUST EMISSIONS LAMBDA READING AFTER 2ND FAST IDLE OUTSIDE SPECIFIED LIMITS (7.3.D.3)

TOYOTA COROLLA MOT reliability by year

A model year is only commented on when VehicleScore® has at least 5 vehicles from that year.

Year	Vehicles	MOT tests	Pass rate	Recurring issues seen
2026	10	2	100%	No recurring grouped MOT issue in this year sample
2025	31	4	100%	No recurring grouped MOT issue in this year sample
2024	21	12	91.7%	No recurring grouped MOT issue in this year sample
2023	77	102	92.2%	Tyre wear
2022	60	148	89.9%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2021	85	290	90%	Tyre wear, Windscreen damage
2020	83	352	90.9%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2019	77	435	89%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2007	5	91	83.5%	Tyre wear, Corrosion
2006	47	990	81.6%	Tyre wear, Corrosion
2005	44	974	78.5%	Tyre wear, Coil spring issues
2004	19	454	78.2%	Tyre wear, Registration plate condition
2003	21	455	80.9%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2002	11	259	80.3%	Tyre wear, Headlamp faults
2001	6	161	77%	Tyre wear, Corrosion
2000	5	126	77%	Brake disc wear, Tyre wear
1999	5	89	82%	Tyre wear, Corrosion

What to check when buying a used TOYOTA COROLLA

This is an inspection checklist based on MOT comments in the VehicleScore® sample. It does not mean the car you are looking at has these defects.

Tyre wear. Check the tread depth and look for uneven wear, cracking, or damage on all four tyres.
Registration plate condition. Check both plates are secure, clean, and clearly readable.
Oil leak. Look under the engine for fresh oil, and check the oil level.
Brake pad wear. Ask for recent pad replacement and look at the remaining pad thickness.
Coil spring issues. Look for a broken or heavily corroded spring and compare the ride height on both sides.
Parking brake faults. Test that the parking brake holds the car on a slope and releases cleanly.
Windscreen damage. Look for chips and cracks, especially in the area swept by the wipers.
Lambda sensor issues. Ask whether a sensor or emissions fault has been diagnosed since the test.

Buying a TOYOTA COROLLA?

Common problems tell you what can affect TOYOTA COROLLAs generally. VehicleScore® can check the history of the actual car you're considering.

Where does this data come from?

VehicleScore® analyses MOT histories from vehicles in its own dataset. Sample sizes vary by model, and a small sample is labelled as such. MOT data records roadworthiness and inspection defects. It does not capture every mechanical or electronic problem a car can have, and a comment on one test is not proof that the model has an inherent fault.

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