The Toyota Corolla is still going strong in its twelfth generation. It was the second best-selling sedan in the USA in 2025. It's also one of the most reliable vehicles on the planet. You almost can't go wrong with a used Corolla, aside from a few exceptions, which we'll get into.As dependable as the Corolla may be, if we break it down year by year, one has to stand head and shoulders above the rest, right? So let's dive into the data and pick ourselves a winner.The following overview is based on data sourced from numerous maintenance and consumer advisory resources, with selections being based on best overall reliability ratings and frequency and severity of serious repairs. There Are No Unreliable 11th Or 12th-Gen Corollas Toyota In the latest J.D. Power reliability study, the Corolla was named the highest ranked compact car. So, it goes without saying that every recent Corolla is probably going to have a pretty good J.D. Power Quality & Reliability rating. Let's go over the last ten model years and see how they stack up.If we want to go back ten years, this gives us the twelfth generation and late eleventh generation models to pick from. The most significant change between these two generations would have to be the addition of the hybrid model, so you'll want to go 2020 or later if you're specifically looking for a hybrid.Toyota Taking a quick glance at these numbers, the 2019 seems like the obvious choice, with a quality & reliability rating of 92 out of a possible 100. But, J.D. Power never got around go rating the 2021 model year, and the Q&R rating is based specifically on problems per 100 units on the road, which means that it only accounts for frequency, not severity.In other words, we've still got a bit of digging to do to confirm whether the 2019 model year Corolla is actually the most reliable used model on the road right now. What Can You Expect To Spend Maintaining A 2019 Or 2020 Toyota Corolla? ToyotaCorollas typically have a pretty low cost of ownership, and, adding up routine maintenance and typical repairs, courtesy of RepairPal (annual maintenance estimate) and CarEdge (ten-year maintenance estimate) gives us the following numbers for the nameplate overall.Checking in with CarComplaints to see what kind of repairs we're going to be paying for, and for which model years, turns up a few key points: The 2002 model year is the most troubled in terms of frequency and severity, owing to major engine problems. Over the last ten years, the 2015 model stands as the most troubled, with countless electrical issues stemming from dead batteries and soy-based wiring being chewed through by rodents. According to CarComplaints, the newer your Corolla, the better, excepting the 2019 model year, with six problems on file to the 2020 model's 20, and the 2018 model's eleven. The most severe issue reported for the 2019 Corolla on CarComplaints pertains to the car's DRCC, or Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, failing at 4,500 miles. The 2020 Corolla Is Remarkably Reliable For The First Car In A New Generation Toyota So, CarComplaints essentially backs up with J.D. Power tells us: the 2019 is the model to go with if you want the most reliable used Toyota Corolla. Unless you want a Hybrid, in which case, we've already noted the 2020 model as a favorite. While the 2020 Corolla has its fair share of reports on CarComplaints, it's only generated a single complaint with the NHTSA, for a loose fender, while the hybrid model has generated zero complaints, which is remarkable, given how troublesome it can be to introduce a brand-new hybrid to the market.The 2019 Corolla has considerably more reports on file with the NHTSA than does the 2020 Corolla, at 162 complaints, and 6 recalls, but remember that those are 162 complaints for more than 300,000 units sold in the US. Other Models To Consider (And One To Avoid) While the 2019 and 2020 model Corollas are both marginally better than many other models released over the last decade, the fact remains that you're going to have an easier time driving and maintaining a newer model. The advantage of having fewer miles and less wear and tear on a car far outweighs a few extra points with J.D. Power.With that in mind, here are a couple more models we like: 2021 Toyota Corolla Toyota J.D. Power Quality and Reliability Score: N/A RepairPal Reliability Rating: 4.5/5 CarEdge Rating: A+ Yep, the one that J.D. Power skipped. The car has just two issues reported with CarComplaints, and 109 with the NHTSA, with 22 of those being for an engine coolant bypass valve issue, which is a pretty cheap fix. 2018 Toyota Corolla Toyota J.D. Power Quality and Reliability Score: 86/100 RepairPal Reliability Rating: 4.5/5 CarEdge Rating: N/A CarComplaints has just 11 issues on file for this model year, with the wire-eating rodents being a leading issue, taking up half of the four reports for electrical problems. Trying to find issues to point out in these eleventh-gen Corollas is like picking around in your trail mix to see if there's any M&Ms left. Even the worst of these models won't have much wrong with it. Stay Away From The Tenth-Gen Corollas ToyotaIn particular, you'll want to avoid the 2009 and 2010 model Corollas. Major issues affecting the 2009 model include transmission failure at just 137,000 miles, and water pump failure at 62,000 miles, while 2010 Corolla drivers have to contend with sticking gas pedals, electrical fires, and brake issues.It stands as a testament to the Toyota Corolla that you have to go all the way back to the 2000s to find a used model that you really don't want to drive. While we recommend the 2018–2021 models as your best bet for a reliable used Corolla at a fair price, the truth is you could go back to any model from 2015 forward and probably not regret the purchase.In fact, even those tenth-gen Corollas are more reliable than some of their competitors, they're just not that reliable for a Corolla.Sources: CarComplaints, CarEdge, RepairPal, NHTSA