Toyota SUVs and sedans tend to be very popular with used car buyers. A Toyota Corolla may not be as athletic as the Mazda3 or Honda Civic, but you can count on it to be reliable for several years. In fact, some drivers say their Corolla models are still running with more than 300,000 miles on the odometer.
However, some Toyota Corolla models require more maintenance. In many cases, it’s not worth buying a car that requires thousands of dollars in premature repairs and other problems. Here are three of the worst Corolla model years that used car buyers should avoid.
1. Toyota Corolla 2002
Judging by the owner testimonials on CarComplaints, the 2002 Toyota Corolla is the worst. The most common repair issues tend to be more expensive to fix compared to other model years. Also, many drivers report that their cars experienced significant problems with less than 100,000 miles on the odometer.
According to CarComplaints, the 2002 Corolla is prone to many engine problems. Excessive oil consumption is the most common problem, with drivers spending an average of $2,600 in diagnostic and repair costs. It usually happens when the car has 99,000 miles on the odometer, but some drivers experienced the problem 40,000 miles earlier.
Although less common, some drivers reported that their engines stopped working completely around the 82,000 mile mark. On average, these engine rebuilds cost $3,670. Many technicians also failed to diagnose the problem properly, so drivers had no advance warning.
2. Toyota Corolla 2009
CarComplaints users also had a lot of trouble with the 2009 Corolla due to various major and minor issues. Oil consumption issues still plague the engine, usually resulting in a complete rebuild costing over $4,000 on average. Some engines only needed minor component replacement around 73,000 miles, at an average cost of $950.
2009 Toyota Corolla drivers also found water pump failures starting at 35,000 miles. The average repair cost is $860, although some drivers had to pay much more to replace the engine on the side. This is because the car’s engine can easily overheat if the water pump cannot circulate the coolant properly.
Also, the transmission on this model has been known to stop working around the 135,000 mile mark. Alternatively, the gear synchronizer may need to be replaced at 85,000 miles. The 2009 Toyota Corolla also had poor paint quality and minor electrical issues.
3. Toyota Corolla (TIE) 2010/2014
CarComplaints data reports that body and paint problems were even more common for the 2010 Toyota Corolla. At the 56,000-mile mark, many drivers reported that the paint was peeling off large sections of their cars. This was accompanied by rust spots, especially on the trunk hinges. Many had to completely repaint the vehicle, at an average cost of $1,200.
2010 Toyota Corolla owners may also experience power steering failures around 58,000 miles. One driver claimed they were quoted $760 to fix the problem. The factory brake pads on this model are also unreliable and may need to be replaced as early as 25,450 miles.
Elsewhere, CarComplaints reports that the 2014 Corolla’s problems are few and far between, but they’re still headaches when found. The infotainment unit in the 2014 Toyota Corolla has been known to stop working with only 54,400 miles on the odometer. It can cost between $960 and $1,340 to replace.
A handful of 2014 Corolla drivers also reported heavy idling due to engine and A/C compressor failures. Repairing the latter costs most drivers over $1,000. So with so many other reliable Corolla models to look at, there’s no reason to waste your time on these lemons.
