How many miles can a Toyota Corolla last? When you’re in the market for a new or second-hand Corolla, that’s, of course, a very reasonable question to ask. After all, you’re probably looking to get the most bang for your buck. In this blog, we’ll look at this question in great detail but first, let’s start with a quick answer:
On average, a Toyota Corolla lasts between 250.000 – 280.000 miles. A Corolla needs to go to the garage for unscheduled repairs about 0.35 times per year, with a 7% chance of severe problems. Furthermore, Corolla owners spend an average of $362 per year on repair costs.
Having said that, we’re certainly not done. Below we’ll first explain in more detail how many miles a Corolla can last. After that, we’ll also show you how much a Corolla costs per year and which production years are the most and least expensive. Furthermore, we also discuss the common problems that the car can have. Read on!
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How Many Miles Can A Toyota Corolla Last?
Our team puts strenuous amounts of effort into bringing you the most accurate research-based answers to all of your automotive worries. Today, we will look at the champion of reliability, why the American manufacturers had to become reliable—or go out of business.
Today, we are looking at the Toyota Corolla. We have talked extensively about the reliability of a Corolla in our other research, but today, we will go deep into the statistical analysis of its reliability. We will look at the mileage data and compare it with the competitors. Furthermore, we will see how much it will cost you for maintenance and what exactly are those common problems that increase the total cost of maintenance annually.
The first test in our series is the primary look at the odometer test. If more than 3% of the total vehicles listed for sale have 150k+ miles on the odometer, the car is considered reliable. We looked at several databases having over seventeen thousand Toyota Corollas listed for sale in the US to get this data. The result was not surprising, but it was pretty unusual, and there is a reason.
| Number Of Miles | Percentage Of Cars |
| Cars With 150,000+ | 4.52% |
| Cars With 100,000 – 149,000 | 8.75% |
| Cars With 45,000 – 99,999 | 41.59% |
| Cars With 0 – 44,999 | 45.14% |
It’s not surprising that 4.53% of the total number of Corollas crossed the 150k mile barrier. Surprisingly, Corollas that were between 100k and 150k miles were very low. It does not mean that they are not reliable. Most Corolla owners are unwilling to sell their Corollas even when they are about to reach this mileage barrier.
And the ones that eventually ended up on sale were sold right away, so we didn’t find that many on the used market within this mileage interval.
However, we are not satisfied with just one win. For the Toyota Corolla to be considered reliable, it has to pass all our reliability tests with flying colors. Since there has been so much hype for its reliability, it should live up to the expectations.
How Reliable Is A Toyota Corolla Compared To Its Competitors?
The next test on our list is the comparison with the competitors. If others perform better than Corolla, it won’t be good for its image. We did all the math, and the data that came out is inscribed in the following table.
We also added another aspect to the previous data; now, we will be looking at the highest mileage achieved by Corolla and the competitors.
| Model | Sample Size | Cars With 150,000+ Miles | % Percentage Of Cars With 150,000+ | Highest Mileage |
| Toyota Corolla | 17297 | 782 | 4.52% | 340,000 |
| Hyundai Elantra | 11555 | 336 | 2.90% | 260,000 |
| Honda Civic | 21284 | 1009 | 4.74% | 340,000 |
| Chevrolet Cruze | 7633 | 356 | 4.66% | 250,000 |
More competitors show a higher percentage than Corolla because of the buying trend. People prefer buying a Corolla instead of a competitor with the same mileage. Because you can get a Corolla with a lot of miles at a relatively low price, it becomes an excellent option, which causes the number of high mileage Corollas to decrease.
The argument is made clear when you see the highest mileage achieved by each of competitor. The highest mileage achieved by Corolla is far superior to its competitors like Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, and Chevrolet Cruze.
It even competes well with other long-lasting Toyota vehicles like the Highlander or super-reliable Toyota Tacoma.
So, if you wonder that the data still does not suffice, rest assured, we have plenty more where that came from. We still have a bunch of other tests that might give Corolla a hard time.
How Reliable Is A Toyota Corolla Compared To Other Toyotas?
Through extensive research, we have learned that a reliable manufacturer makes reliable vehicles, and an unreliable manufacturer makes unreliable vehicles. So, where does the Toyota Corolla stand in reliability?
You might already know the answer, but if you don’t, we will give you the statistics you need to come to believe. We performed a similar mileage test with other Toyotas and have compared the data in the following table.
| Model | Sample Size | Cars With 150,000+ Miles | % Percentage Of Cars With 150,000+ | Highest Mileage |
| Toyota Corolla | 17297 | 782 | 4.52% | 340,000 |
| Toyota Tacoma | 18016 | 1185 | 6.57% | 540,000 |
| Toyota Camry | 22403 | 1398 | 6.24% | 380,000 |
| Toyota Highlander | 16128 | 845 | 5.23% | 310,000 |
All the data that we collected speaks in favor of Toyota. Since all the Toyotas are reliable and can achieve the highest of miles, it’s a given that the Corolla would be reliable as well.
When it comes to how many miles a Corolla will last, it’s pretty comparable to other Toyota vehicles as well. The Prius has a similar expected mileage of 290k on the top end while a larger vehicle like the Tundra can typically hold up a bit longer.
How Much Does Maintenance Cost Per Year?
A Toyota Corolla has to take up a lot of maintenance to last that many miles.
The research-based answer says otherwise.
When we looked at the maintenance cost of several model years, not to our surprise, the data was again in favor of the Toyota Corolla.
| Model Year | Annual Maintenance Cost |
| 2019 | $381 |
| 2018 | $343 |
| 2017 | $421 |
| 2016 | $370 |
| 2015 | $352 |
| 2014 | $364 |
| 2013 | $388 |
| 2012 | $383 |
$362 is the Average Annual Maintenance Cost of a Toyota Corolla. To give you some perspective, all other competitors cost more on maintenance. The Toyota Corolla has one of the lowest maintenance costs in the automotive industry. As with most Toyotas, the fuel requirements are also simple and affordable which only makes things even better.
However, there might be some common problems that would increase this cost, so that’s what we are going to highlight.
Toyota Corolla Common Problems
NOTE: Before buying a used car, I always like to make sure the vehicle isn´t having any problems that you should be aware of. The easiest way to do this is by buying an OBD2 scanner. These scanners can easily be plugged into any car you’re interested in, and they’ll give you a rundown of potential problems.
Check Engine Light On Toyota Corolla
The most common Corolla check engine light turns out to be caused by the (EVAP) Evaporative Emission System malfunction. An EVAP problem does not affect everyday driving, so you wouldn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. This issue is so widespread that even the latest models might have this issue.
EVAP is responsible for capturing the vapors lest they escape into the atmosphere. If the system is not functioning right, the check engine light will illuminate your odometer. The best-case scenario is the fault in the gas cap, which is only going to cost you a few dollars to replace. However, the worst-case scenario would be the canister itself which costs about $400 to replace.
Toyota Corolla Automatic Transmission Is Not Shifting Properly
The automatic transmission problem occurs when the car has accumulated several miles on the odometer. The problem is not just a Corolla problem; it has been observed in every automatic transmission, especially with CVT (continuously variable transmission). These transmissions are known to fail at high mileage.
The best remedy is on-time maintenance, which includes replacing transmission oil every 30,000 miles. If you can change it a little earlier, do so. Another enemy of CVT transmission is rash driving. Toyota Corollas are not meant to be raced on track or floored at the traffic lights—it’s an everyday commuter.
Toyota Corolla Won’t Start/Crank
When your battery is okay, but you have a no crank problem, it often occurs in those vehicles used daily. Another underlying factor of those vehicles with this issue is that they usually start and stop multiple times a day, damaging the starter solenoid. Sometimes the whole starter assembly might require replacement.
The starter replacement for a Toyota Corolla costs about $400, so ensure that everything else, i.e., the battery, fuel pump, fuses, and ignition switch, is working correctly before moving on to the more expensive cause.
Day Time Running Light Problem In Toyota Corolla
This issue is primarily present in the older models. Owners have reported all types of misbehaviors regarding the DRLs. Most often, the issue is not even appropriately diagnosed. The first thing is to check the fuse responsible for DRLs. If changing the fuse does not solve the problem, the likely culprit is a loose connection in the wiring harness.
The cause is often the (IH1) connector in the fuse box under the steering column. If the connector there makes a loose connection, you have found the culprit. When the loose connection and light fuse are taken care of, the problem will likely disappear.
P0100 P0101 P0102 P0103 P0104 Code On Toyota Corolla
This problem is one of those maintenance ones. The Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor is at fault here. After some hundred thousand miles, the MAF sensor would need a thorough cleaning. If not cleaned, you will experience sluggish acceleration on top of the check engine light. If the check engine light is not illuminated, you can check for the code by attaching an OBD tool to the system.
Also read: 4 Common Problems Of A Toyota Corolla Hybrid
Is A Toyota Corolla A Smart Buy?
Yes. In this budget, a Toyota Corolla answers all the reliability needs plus the lowest depreciation in this category. Toyota depreciates about 38% in the beginning five years of its life outside the dealership. From all the tests we performed on the Toyota Corolla, we can safely conclude that Toyota Corolla is a reliable piece of metal.
Toyota Corolla Maintenance Schedule
Toyota recommends every 5,000 Miles: Oil and filter change, brake inspection, tire inspection, and rotation. In addition, at regular intervals, some other maintenance steps are essential.
Before/On Every 10,000 Miles
- Change the oil and oil filter
- Check the driver’s floor mat installation.
- Check all fluid levels
- Add Toyota EFI Tank Additive or equivalent (M20A-FKS engine and Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or Saipan only)
- Inspect wiper blades
- Inspect the all brake system.
- Rotate tires
- Inspect the cooling system.
Before/On Every 20,000 Miles
- Change the oil and oil filter.
- Check installation of driver’s floor mat.
- Check all fluid levels.
- Add Toyota EFI Tank Additive or equivalent (M20A-FKS engine and Hawaii, Puerto Rico or Saipan only)
- Inspect wiper blades
- Check engine coolant
- Check fuel system
- Inspect all brake system
- Check ball joints
- Inspect the boots for the driveshaft
- Examine steering boots, linkage, and gearbox
- Check the exhaust system
- Rotate tires
Before/On Every 40,000 Miles
- Replace cabin air filter
- Replace engine air filter
- Check the front differential oil
- Add Toyota EFI Tank Additive or equivalent (M20A-FKS engine and Hawaii, Puerto Rico or Saipan only)
- Inspect wiper blades
- Check engine coolant
- Check fuel system
- Inspect all brake system
- Examine steering boots, linkage, and gearbox
- Check the exhaust system
- Rotate tires
Before/On Every 60,000 Miles
- Change the oil and oil filter
- Check installation of driver’s floor mat
- Check all fluid levels
- Add Toyota EFI Tank Additive or equivalent (M20A-FKS engine and Hawaii, Puerto Rico or Saipan only)
- Inspect wiper blades
- Check engine coolant
- Check fuel system
- Inspect all brake system
- Check ball joints
- Inspect the boots for the driveshaft
- Examine steering boots, linkage, and gearbox
- Check the exhaust system
- Check drive belts
- Inspect/change transmission fluid
- Rotate tires
Other Maintenance Tips
Please refer to the Owner’s Manual and maintenance guide of your Toyota vehicle for any general help like the specific oil viscosity rating recommended for your vehicle/engine type.
Sources
Hi! My name is Stefan; I’m the owner and lead writer at TheDriverAdviser.com.
I’m an active writer on this blog myself, as well as a novice car mechanic. For the really technical stuff, I find writers with experience as a mechanic or who have studied mechanical engineering.
Read more about our fantastic team on our about page!