Avg. Price Paid:$8,955 - $10,242
Original MSRP: $14,405 - $16,415
MPG: 28 City / 37 Hwy
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Toyota Corolla Recalls & Reliability

These scores and this review are from when the car was new.

Scorecard

Overall: 2008 Toyota Corolla U.S. News Best Cars 7.7
Critics' Rating: 7.7
Performance: 6.6
Interior: 7.0
Safety: 8.0
Reliability:
How we calculate scores
Research analyzed for this review

Pros & Cons

  • Stellar reliability may be the Corolla's strongest selling point
  • Generous passenger space
  • Excellent fuel economy and overall value
  • Economical base price within its class
  • Bland exterior styling
  • Front-seat side and side curtain air bags are only available as options
  • Lacking in power for performance lovers

Research Other Years

Review Last Updated: 2/17/09

Recalls

There have been 2 safety recalls issued from NHTSA.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGRecall Date: 08/26/2010
  • Consequence: HARSH SHIFTING COULD RESULT, THE ENGINE MAY NOT START, OR THE ENGINE COULD STOP RUNNING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
  • NHTSA Campaign ID: 10V384000
  • Potential Number of Units Affected: 1290413
  • Summary: TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2008 COROLLA AND COROLLA MATRIX VEHICLES. THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) FOR THE SUBJECT MODELS EQUIPPED WITH THE 1ZZ-FE ENGINE AND TWO-WHEEL DRIVE MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT A CRACK MAY DEVELOP AT CERTAIN SOLDER POINTS OR ON VARISTORS ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD.
  • Remedy: 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 OWNERS THAT THEY WILL RECEIVE A FUTURE NOTIFICATION WHEN PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE TO HAVE THE FREE REMEDY PERFORMED ON THEIR VEHICLE. A SCHEDULE HAS NOT BEEN SET FOR THE FUTURE NOTIFICATIONS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
  • Notes: OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELSRecall Date: 10/01/2009
  • Consequence: A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
  • NHTSA Campaign ID: 10V036000
  • Potential Number of Units Affected: 153418
  • Summary: SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 SIENNA PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.
  • Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION (ADDENDUM) LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-954-420-2000.
  • Notes: OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

Reliability

Our reliability score is based on the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) rating or, if unavailable, the J.D. Power Predicted Reliability rating.

Dependability Ratings1 2008
Overall Dependability
Powertrain Dependability
Feature & Accessory Dependability
Body & Interior Dependability

1These scores come from consumer ratings of their vehicles after three years of ownership.

  • Key:
  • Among The Best
  • Better Than Most
  • About Average
  • The Rest

J.D. Power and Associates Power Circle Ratings do not include all information used to determine J.D. Power and Associates awards. See JDPower.com for more information on Power Circle Ratings. Your experience may vary.

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Warranty

Toyota provides a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty, and all Corollas comes with a five-year/60,000-mile drivetrain warranty.

 

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