NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 215 owner complaints for the 2016 Toyota Corolla. Most complaints involve air bags (65) and service brakes (30). The EPA rates it 30–34 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, and 2013-2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles. During certain crashes, the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may malfunction, possibly disabling the deployment of the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Corolla model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 133 |
| 1997 | 138 |
| 1998 | 233 |
| 1999 | 157 |
| 2000 | 156 |
| 2001 | 138 |
| 2002 | 144 |
| 2003 | 769 |
| 2004 | 506 |
| 2005 | 943 |
| 2006 | 904 |
| 2007 | 883 |
| 2008 | 345 |
| 2009 | 1,533 |
| 2010 | 1,264 |
| 2011 | 590 |
| 2012 | 446 |
| 2013 | 202 |
| 2014 | 271 |
| 2015 | 220 |
| 2016 | 215 |
| 2017 | 189 |
| 2018 | 136 |
| 2019 | 206 |
| 2020 | 313 |
| 2021 | 188 |
| 2022 | 104 |
| 2023 | 74 |
| 2024 | 66 |
| 2025 | 32 |
“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.”
“While operating a vehicle through the peer-to-peer car-sharing platform Turo in Alaska (Reservation: 61060048), the vehicle experienced a sudden, catastrophic brake failure of the braking system while driving. The brakes completely failed to respond, creating an immediate loss of vehicle control. Immediately following the braking failure, upon exiting the vehicle, smoke erupted from the wheel well/undercarriage area. This subsequently led to a minor burn on one of the passenger's face and hand. Before this event occured, we had discussed an issue with the brake light remaining on. When discussing it with the host, she had assured me that the vehicle had been thoroughly inspected before renting it to us. She gave us a few DIY solutions we could try out, but we opted to not attempt anything of that nature. She did tell us we could take it to the mechanic if we were concerned, but we would have had to cover the cost of an inspection. After the event, the host had the car towed, but we are completely unaware if they had the vehicle inspected.”
“The driver seat belt dont work and once in a great while it will work but even whenever it does latch it still shows the seat belt isn't on and that noise keeps going off but after a while the noise goes off but the symbol is still on the dash board. I recently got hit from behind (09/15/2025) at a red light and no air bags deployed. Im not sure if they were suppose to deploy but either way my seat belt dont work. And I know this isn't a safety matter but my radio doesn't turn off when I turn off my car and I can't lock/unlock my doors with the key fob I have to lock it with the key on the driver door. I have to take the fuse out for the radio so my battery won't die and so the radio turns off.”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corolla LE Eco Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.8 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 30 | 40 | 34 | $1,900 | 263 |
| Corolla LE Eco Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.8 L, 2-mode (Normal/Eco) Transmission · Front-Wheel Drive | 30 | 38 | 33 | $1,950 | 266 |
| Corolla Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.8 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 29 | 37 | 32 | $2,000 | 281 |
| Corolla Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 1.8 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 28 | 36 | 31 | $2,050 | 282 |
| Corolla Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 28 | 36 | 31 | $2,050 | 284 |
| Corolla Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 35 | 30 | $2,150 | 291 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
1 safety recall as of Nov 3, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 215 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (65), service brakes (30), seat belts (26). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2016 Toyota Corolla at 30–34 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (6 versions rated).
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2016 Toyota Corolla 5 out of 5 stars overall.