2006 Toyota Corolla: Reliability Data
Source: NHTSA — 970 complaints
970
Total Complaints
59,000mi
Median Mileage
Air Bags
Top Issue
163
Crash Reports
When Do Complaints Happen?
Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.
32,000
25th Percentile
59,000
Median Mileage
92,000
75th Percentile
What Fails?
Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.
Air Bags
444
Electrical System
79
Vehicle Speed Control
73
Engine And Engine Cooling
65
Engine
30
Unknown Or Other
28
Power Train
25
Engine
24
Steering
21
Service Brakes
18
Severity Assessment
163
Crashes
12
Fires
129
Injuries
0
Deaths
Sample Complaint Reports
"I PURCHASED A 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA LE, AND BROUGHT IT HOME JAN. 2. NEXT MORNING, JAN. 3, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. AFTER ABOUT 7 ATTEMPTS IT FINALLY STARTED. I TOOK IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP, THEY CHECKED IT AND ADVISED NO PROBLEM FOUND. I DROVE IT TO RESTAURANT FOR LUNCH, WENT OUT LATER, VEHICLE WOUL..."
"DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER OR HEAT IS IN USE, THE CONTACT GETS A NOSE INFECTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS NO ODOR IN THE AIR THAT COMES OUT OF THE VENTS, BUT FEELS THAT THE INFECTION MAY BE CAUSED BY THE AIR BEING SATURATED WITH CHEMICALS. WHEN A DOCTOR WAS CONS..."
"DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CLUTCH IS SO HARD TO PUSH THAT IT CAUSES DRIVER FATIGUE. THE CLUTCH FORCES THE DRIVER'S LEG UP EVERY TIME IT IS APPLIED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE PROBLEM SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE CLUTCH OPERATION WAS NORMAL ..."
Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.
When Were Complaints Filed?
Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.
When Does Each Component Fail?
Median mileage at complaint for top components.
Air Bags
444 complaints
25th: 62,250 mi
Median: 89,000 mi
75th: 140,000 mi
Electrical System
79 complaints
25th: 32,168 mi
Median: 54,000 mi
75th: 83,473 mi
Vehicle Speed Control
73 complaints
25th: 16,364 mi
Median: 50,000 mi
75th: 80,000 mi
Engine And Engine Cooling
65 complaints
25th: 28,344 mi
Median: 53,250 mi
75th: 82,425 mi
Engine
30 complaints
25th: 26,000 mi
Median: 40,000 mi
75th: 57,420 mi
Where Are Complaints Coming From?
Top states by complaint count.
CA: 167
FL: 82
PA: 55
NY: 55
VA: 55
TX: 50
MD: 48
MA: 46
NJ: 38
OH: 34
Who Files Complaints?
8.9%
Original Owners
91.1%
Second+ Owners
Toyota Corolla — Other Years
See how this model compares across different model years.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 31 | 3 |
| 1991 | 96 | 22 |
| 1992 | 115 | 8 |
| 1993 | 154 | 46 |
| 1994 | 199 | 78 |
| 1995 | 226 | 63 |
| 1996 | 151 | 34 |
| 1997 | 149 | 22 |
| 1998 | 278 | 45 |
| 1999 | 188 | 30 |
| 2000 | 176 | 35 |
| 2001 | 163 | 39 |
| 2002 | 141 | 38 |
| 2003 | 857 | 142 |
| 2004 | 558 | 85 |
| 2005 | 969 | 144 |
| 2007 | 983 | 165 |
| 2008 | 378 | 95 |
| 2009 | 1769 | 276 |
| 2010 | 1567 | 210 |
| 2011 | 689 | 71 |
| 2012 | 496 | 54 |
| 2013 | 269 | 62 |
| 2014 | 379 | 104 |
| 2015 | 303 | 104 |
| 2016 | 306 | 104 |
| 2017 | 271 | 67 |
| 2018 | 193 | 33 |
| 2019 | 281 | 39 |
| 2020 | 380 | 35 |
| 2021 | 234 | 28 |
| 2022 | 111 | 17 |
| 2023 | 108 | 16 |
| 2024 | 89 | 19 |
| 2025 | 28 | 6 |
Active Recalls (10)
Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.
Inflator Module
Campaign 19V741000 | 17/10/2019
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began November 20, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service
Inflator Module
Campaign 19V627000 | 28/08/2019
An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly or sub-assembly, free of charge. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are K1Q and K0Q. Pontiac
Air Bags
Campaign 15V285000 | 13/05/2015
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-285 are under a Do Not Drive advisory. Owners of these vehicles are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy has been completed. Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will
Air Bags
Campaign 15V286000 | 13/05/2015
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-286 are under a Do Not Drive advisory. Owners of these vehicles are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy has been completed. Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will
Exterior Lighting
Campaign 09E012000 | 07/04/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Campaign 10V384000 | 26/08/2010
THERE ARE A VARIETY OF WARNINGS AND CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEFECT. THE ENGINE WARNING LAMP COULD BE ILLUMINATED, HARSH SHIFTING COULD RESULT, THE ENGINE MAY NOT START, OR THE ENGINE COULD SHUT OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. AN ENGINE SHUTOFF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN INCR
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE PRODUCTION NUMBER OF THE ECM AND REPLACE THE ECM IF NECESSARY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. TOYOTA WILL MAIL AN INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION THE MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER 2010 TO ADVISE OWNERS OF THIS DEFECT AND RECALL. THIS INTERIM NOTIFICATION WILL INFORM OWNE
Labels
Campaign 10V035000 | 03/02/2010
THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATES TOYOTA AT 713-580-3300.
Labels
Campaign 10V036000 | 03/02/2010
A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.
Headlights
Campaign 06E023000 | 13/03/2006
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.
Exterior Lighting
Campaign 06E064000 | 17/07/2006
LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.
Airbag Safety
Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.
- Check for open airbag recalls at NHTSA.gov using your VIN
- Never ignore the airbag warning light — get it diagnosed immediately
- Don't install aftermarket steering wheel covers that block the airbag
- Keep the area around airbag deployment zones clear of accessories
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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.
Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.
Data through: 2026-03-28