2005 Toyota Corolla

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2005 Toyota Corolla
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Toyota Corolla Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2005 highlighted. 1980: 2 complaints 1980 1981: 3 complaints 1982: 5 complaints 1983: 1 complaints 1984: 6 complaints 1985: 3 complaints 1986: 3 complaints 1986 1987: 14 complaints 1988: 26 complaints 1989: 23 complaints 1990: 27 complaints 1991: 71 complaints 1992: 63 complaints 1992 1993: 130 complaints 1994: 172 complaints 1995: 176 complaints 1996: 129 complaints 1997: 135 complaints 1998: 225 complaints 1998 1999: 155 complaints 2000: 144 complaints 2001: 133 complaints 2002: 117 complaints 2003: 720 complaints 2004: 477 complaints 2004 2005: 853 complaints 2005 2006: 839 complaints 2007: 836 complaints 2008: 313 complaints 2009: 1459 complaints 2010: 1240 complaints 2010 2011: 584 complaints 2012: 445 complaints 2013: 201 complaints 2014: 267 complaints 2015: 218 complaints 2016: 211 complaints 2016 2017: 176 complaints 2018: 133 complaints 2019: 199 complaints 2020: 300 complaints 2021: 182 complaints 2022: 94 complaints 2022 2023: 71 complaints 2024: 59 complaints 2025: 25 complaints 2026: 11 complaints 2026
2005: 853 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19802
19813
19825
19831
19846
19853
19863
198714
198826
198923
199027
199171
199263
1993130
1994172
1995176
1996129
1997135
1998225
1999155
2000144
2001133
2002117
2003720
2004477
2005853
2006839
2007836
2008313
20091459
20101240
2011584
2012445
2013201
2014267
2015218
2016211
2017176
2018133
2019199
2020300
2021182
202294
202371
202459
202525
202611

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

AIR BAGS 51%

51% of complaints: air bags — 439 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Unknown - The airbag light has been on for a while. Check engine light is also on, and after a few repairs/replacements of diagnosed issues the light remains.

NHTSA ODI report, 20240625

2005 TOYOTA COROLLA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG INFLATOR SAFETY RECALL. *LD *TR

NHTSA ODI report, 20180406

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE STOPPED BEHIND A VEHICLE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI report, 20171207

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 8%

8% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 66 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A BUILDING. THE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS RESTED FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. *SC THE CONSUMER AND PASSENGER WERE INJURED. *JB

NHTSA ODI report, 20050208

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 6%

6% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 52 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

2005 TOYOTA COROLLA.

NHTSA ODI report, 20120424

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 6%

6% of complaints: electrical system — 51 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
ENGINE 3%

3% of complaints: engine — 29 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY

SAFETY TIMELINE

2005 — complaint volume: 853
R 20060509 — exterior lighting

CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM

Remedy: ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.

Campaign 06E023000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090511 — exterior lighting

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF

Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Campaign 09E012000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090728 — exterior lighting

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF

Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Campaign 09E025000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20100818 — EA (closed 20100916)

Engine Stall

R 20101129 — engine and engine cooling

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 HA

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 SE

Campaign 10V384000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20140611 — PE (closed 20150302)

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

I 20150224 — EA (open)

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

R 20150713 — air bags

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015 that they are recalling certain model year 2004 Sequoia vehicles manufactured August 18, 2003, to August 19, 2004, and 2003-2004 Tundra vehicles manufactured March...

Remedy: 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-285 are under a Do Not Drive advisory. Owners of these vehicles are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy has been completed.

Campaign 15V285000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20150713 — air bags

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015, that they are recalling 2005-2007 Lexus SC, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sequoia, and Pontiac Vibe, and 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra vehicles that were originally...

Remedy: 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-286 are under a Do Not Drive advisory. Owners of these vehicles are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy has been completed.

Campaign 15V286000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20190123 — air bags

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2002-2005 Lexus SC and Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2005 Toyota Corolla and Tundra, and 2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe vehicles.

Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota and Lexus owners. General Motors will notify the Pontiac Vibe owners.

Campaign 18V883000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20191018 — air bags

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Corolla, 2005-2008 Corolla Matrix, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles equipped with a front passenger air bag assembly replaced under a prior recall.

Remedy: Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly or sub-assembly, free of charge. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.

Campaign 19V627000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20191120 — air bags

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F,...

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator.

Campaign 19V741000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20210917 — EA (open)

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

R Date not on file — exterior lighting

CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES.

Remedy: TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.

Campaign 06E064000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2005 Toyota Corolla — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for air bags issues (439 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for vehicle speed control issues (66 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (52 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 06E064000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E023000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 10V384000 (engine and engine cooling) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 15V285000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 15V286000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 18V883000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 19V627000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 19V741000 (air bags) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2024 ▲ 1992 ▲ 2023

WORST YEARS

■ 2009 ■ 2010 ■ 2006

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 2005 Toyota Corolla reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2005 Toyota Corolla is rated "significantly worse".

What are the most common problems with the 2005 Toyota Corolla?

The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 51% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2005 Toyota Corolla have?

10 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.