Car Defect Radar

Honda Civic vs Toyota Corolla: problems, recalls & years to avoid

NHTSA owner complaints and recalls for the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla, with the 16 model years both have (2010–2025) set side by side. Each model is measured against its own typical year, not against the other model.

Years to avoid and years with the fewest complaints

Honda Civic

Years to avoid
201020162022
Fewest complaints
202020212023

The typical Honda Civic year has 319 complaints on file, across 17 model years (2010–2026).

Toyota Corolla

Years to avoid
201020112012
Fewest complaints
20212023

The typical Toyota Corolla year has 202 complaints on file, across 16 model years (2010–2025).

A year is one to avoid when it drew at least 2 times the complaints of its model's typical year (the median across the model's years on this site) and at least 200 complaints, or when its complaints include 5 or more reports of a death. The years with the fewest complaints have no such flag and are from 2023 or earlier: newer years have not been on the road long enough to compare. Each model is measured only against its own years. Source: NHTSA owner complaints, as of October 26, 2026.

The 16 model years both have, side by side

Complaints by model year

Honda Civic

3.4× its typical year in 2016, its worst year

1,080 complaints against a typical year of 319.

Years to avoid: 2010, 2016, 2022. Fewest complaints: 2020, 2021, 2023.

Toyota Corolla

6.2× its typical year in 2010, its worst year

1,244 complaints against a typical year of 202.

Years to avoid: 2010, 2011, 2012. Fewest complaints: 2021, 2023.

typical yearavoid zonesolid bar = a year to avoid

Honda Civic3 years to avoid · typical year 319avoid zone: 638+02505007501,0001,2502010Honda Civic 2010: 396 complaints, 1.2× its typical year, a year to avoid396avoid2011Honda Civic 2011: 168 complaints, 0.5× its typical year2012Honda Civic 2012: 454 complaints, 1.4× its typical year2013Honda Civic 2013: 319 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2014Honda Civic 2014: 291 complaints, 0.9× its typical year2015Honda Civic 2015: 380 complaints, 1.2× its typical year2016Honda Civic 2016: 1,080 complaints, 3.4× its typical year, a year to avoid1,080avoid2017Honda Civic 2017: 592 complaints, 1.9× its typical year2018Honda Civic 2018: 598 complaints, 1.9× its typical year2019Honda Civic 2019: 429 complaints, 1.3× its typical year2020Honda Civic 2020: 224 complaints, 0.7× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints224fewest2021Honda Civic 2021: 143 complaints, 0.4× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints143fewest2022Honda Civic 2022: 881 complaints, 2.8× its typical year, a year to avoid881avoid2023Honda Civic 2023: 254 complaints, 0.8× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints254fewest2024Honda Civic 2024: 122 complaints, 0.4× its typical year2025Honda Civic 2025: 70 complaints, 0.2× its typical year2026Honda Civic 2026: 28 complaints, 0.1× its typical yearHonda Civicavoid zone: 638+typical 3192026Honda Civic 2026: 28 complaints, 0.1× its typical year282025Honda Civic 2025: 70 complaints, 0.2× its typical year702024Honda Civic 2024: 122 complaints, 0.4× its typical year1222023Honda Civic 2023: 254 complaints, 0.8× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints254fewest2022Honda Civic 2022: 881 complaints, 2.8× its typical year, a year to avoid881avoid2021Honda Civic 2021: 143 complaints, 0.4× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints143fewest2020Honda Civic 2020: 224 complaints, 0.7× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints224fewest2019Honda Civic 2019: 429 complaints, 1.3× its typical year4292018Honda Civic 2018: 598 complaints, 1.9× its typical year5982017Honda Civic 2017: 592 complaints, 1.9× its typical year5922016Honda Civic 2016: 1,080 complaints, 3.4× its typical year, a year to avoid1,080avoid2015Honda Civic 2015: 380 complaints, 1.2× its typical year3802014Honda Civic 2014: 291 complaints, 0.9× its typical year2912013Honda Civic 2013: 319 complaints, 1.0× its typical year3192012Honda Civic 2012: 454 complaints, 1.4× its typical year4542011Honda Civic 2011: 168 complaints, 0.5× its typical year1682010Honda Civic 2010: 396 complaints, 1.2× its typical year, a year to avoid396avoid
Toyota Corolla3 years to avoid · typical year 202avoid zone: 403+02505007501,0001,2502010Toyota Corolla 2010: 1,244 complaints, 6.2× its typical year, a year to avoid1,244avoid2011Toyota Corolla 2011: 584 complaints, 2.9× its typical year, a year to avoid584avoid2012Toyota Corolla 2012: 446 complaints, 2.2× its typical year, a year to avoid446avoid2013Toyota Corolla 2013: 201 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2014Toyota Corolla 2014: 269 complaints, 1.3× its typical year2015Toyota Corolla 2015: 219 complaints, 1.1× its typical year2016Toyota Corolla 2016: 214 complaints, 1.1× its typical year2017Toyota Corolla 2017: 178 complaints, 0.9× its typical year2018Toyota Corolla 2018: 133 complaints, 0.7× its typical year2019Toyota Corolla 2019: 202 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2020Toyota Corolla 2020: 305 complaints, 1.5× its typical year2021Toyota Corolla 2021: 185 complaints, 0.9× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints185fewest2022Toyota Corolla 2022: 100 complaints, 0.5× its typical year2023Toyota Corolla 2023: 73 complaints, 0.4× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints73fewest2024Toyota Corolla 2024: 63 complaints, 0.3× its typical year2025Toyota Corolla 2025: 31 complaints, 0.2× its typical year2026noneToyota Corollaavoid zone: 403+typical 2022025Toyota Corolla 2025: 31 complaints, 0.2× its typical year312024Toyota Corolla 2024: 63 complaints, 0.3× its typical year632023Toyota Corolla 2023: 73 complaints, 0.4× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints73fewest2022Toyota Corolla 2022: 100 complaints, 0.5× its typical year1002021Toyota Corolla 2021: 185 complaints, 0.9× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints185fewest2020Toyota Corolla 2020: 305 complaints, 1.5× its typical year3052019Toyota Corolla 2019: 202 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2022018Toyota Corolla 2018: 133 complaints, 0.7× its typical year1332017Toyota Corolla 2017: 178 complaints, 0.9× its typical year1782016Toyota Corolla 2016: 214 complaints, 1.1× its typical year2142015Toyota Corolla 2015: 219 complaints, 1.1× its typical year2192014Toyota Corolla 2014: 269 complaints, 1.3× its typical year2692013Toyota Corolla 2013: 201 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2012012Toyota Corolla 2012: 446 complaints, 2.2× its typical year, a year to avoid446avoid2011Toyota Corolla 2011: 584 complaints, 2.9× its typical year, a year to avoid584avoid2010Toyota Corolla 2010: 1,244 complaints, 6.2× its typical year, a year to avoid1,244avoid
Bars are NHTSA owner complaints per model year. The dashed line is the model's typical year (the median of its years on this site). A year that reaches the hatched avoid zone, twice the typical year and at least 200 complaints, is a year to avoid. The two panels have different scales. Each model is measured only against its own years: the counts are not adjusted for sales, so the chart does not say one model has more problems than the other. Hover a bar for its numbers; every value is also in the table below.
Model yearHonda CivicToyota Corolla
ComplaintsTimes its typical yearRecallsOur readComplaintsTimes its typical yearRecallsOur read
2025700.2×2Some concerns to check310.2×0Some concerns to check
20241220.4×3Few red flags630.3×2Some concerns to check
20232540.8×4Few red flags730.4×3Few red flags
20228812.8×4Approach with caution1000.5×0Some concerns to check
20211430.4×4Few red flags1850.9×1Few red flags
20202240.7×5Few red flags3051.5×3Some concerns to check
20194291.3×4Some concerns to check2021.0×5Some concerns to check
20185981.9×6Some concerns to check1330.7×3Some concerns to check
20175921.9×6Some concerns to check1780.9×3Some concerns to check
20161,0803.4×5Approach with caution2141.1×1Some concerns to check
20153801.2×1Some concerns to check2191.1×1Some concerns to check
20142910.9×2Some concerns to check2691.3×2Some concerns to check
20133191.0×0Few red flags2011.0×5Some concerns to check
20124541.4×3Some concerns to check4462.2×5Approach with caution
20111680.5×9Some concerns to check5842.9×9Approach with caution
20103961.2×8Approach with caution1,2446.2×17Approach with caution

Complaints link to each model year's report. "Times its typical year" sets a year against the same model's typical year. The two models' counts can't be compared directly: they are not adjusted for how many of each were sold.

Most reported problem, by model year

Model yearHonda CivicToyota Corolla
2025SteeringBrakes
2024SteeringForward collision avoidance system
2023SteeringSteering
2022SteeringElectrical system
2021SteeringAirbags
2020Electrical systemEngine
2019Fuel systemTransmission and drivetrain
2018SteeringFuel system
2017SteeringAirbags
2016SteeringAirbags
2015Transmission and drivetrainAirbags
2014Transmission and drivetrainAirbags
2013AirbagsAirbags
2012AirbagsAirbags
2011AirbagsAirbags
2010AirbagsAirbags

Top problems of each model

The areas of the car NHTSA owner complaints name most, all model years together. A complaint can name more than one area.

Honda Civic

Toyota Corolla

Recalls

NHTSA recall campaigns. A campaign that covers several model years is counted once.

What the data can't show