2006 Toyota Corolla
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.
COMPLAINTS PER YEAR
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1980 | 2 |
| 1981 | 3 |
| 1982 | 5 |
| 1983 | 1 |
| 1984 | 6 |
| 1985 | 3 |
| 1986 | 3 |
| 1987 | 14 |
| 1988 | 26 |
| 1989 | 23 |
| 1990 | 27 |
| 1991 | 71 |
| 1992 | 63 |
| 1993 | 130 |
| 1994 | 172 |
| 1995 | 176 |
| 1996 | 129 |
| 1997 | 135 |
| 1998 | 225 |
| 1999 | 155 |
| 2000 | 144 |
| 2001 | 133 |
| 2002 | 117 |
| 2003 | 720 |
| 2004 | 477 |
| 2005 | 853 |
| 2006 | 839 |
| 2007 | 836 |
| 2008 | 313 |
| 2009 | 1459 |
| 2010 | 1240 |
| 2011 | 584 |
| 2012 | 445 |
| 2013 | 201 |
| 2014 | 267 |
| 2015 | 218 |
| 2016 | 211 |
| 2017 | 176 |
| 2018 | 133 |
| 2019 | 199 |
| 2020 | 300 |
| 2021 | 182 |
| 2022 | 94 |
| 2023 | 71 |
| 2024 | 59 |
| 2025 | 25 |
| 2026 | 11 |
KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS
53% of complaints: air bags — 445 distinct reports on file.
CRASH FIRE INJURYShow complaint excerpts
The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Corolla. The contact's son was driving at 55 MPH, another vehicle ran a stop sign and pulled into his path, resulting in a frontal collision with the side of the other vehicle.
NHTSA ODI report, 20260311
On my way to work when the I hit the brakes... brakes locked up causing me to be unable to come to a complete stop.. Driver side airbag deployed but the passenger side airbag caused the dash to explode causing a fire in the dash.
NHTSA ODI report, 20231021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO DECELERATE, BUT ENDED UP REAR ENDING THE MERGING VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI report, 20180418
9% of complaints: electrical system — 79 distinct reports on file.
CRASH FIRE INJURY9% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 73 distinct reports on file.
CRASH INJURYShow complaint excerpts
MY WIFE WAS BEHIND THE WHEEL OF HER 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA LE AND WAS BACKING SLOWLY OUT OF A PARKING SPACE (HER FOOT WAS RESTING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL) WHEN SHE AND ANOTHER DRIVER BUMPED REAR BUMPERS (SPEED WAS ABOUT 2 MPH), MY WIFE SHIFTED THE...
NHTSA ODI report, 20060812
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE COMING TO A STOP IN A PARKING LOT THE ENGINE REVVED THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. WHEN THE VEHICLE LUNCHED FORWARD IT ROLLED OVER THE CONCRETE SLAB USED AT THE END OF PARKING SPACES AND CRASHED INTO A TREE.
NHTSA ODI report, 20060721
8% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 65 distinct reports on file.
CRASH INJURY4% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 30 distinct reports on file.
CRASH FIRE INJURYSAFETY TIMELINE
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
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
Engine Stalling
SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS."
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT S
Campaign 10V036000 — check if this car was fixed
GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VE
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECAL
Campaign 10V035000 — check if this car was fixed
Engine Stall
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
Low-speed surging
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
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
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
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
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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
2006 Toyota Corolla — pre-purchase inspection
- Test/inspect for air bags issues (445 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for electrical system issues (79 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for vehicle speed control issues (73 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 10V036000 (equipment) has been completed.
- Verify recall 10V035000 (equipment) 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 19V627000 (air bags) has been completed.
- Verify recall 19V741000 (air bags) has been completed.
OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL
BEST YEARS
WORST YEARS
FAQ
Is the 2006 Toyota Corolla reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2006 Toyota Corolla is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Toyota Corolla?
The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 53% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2006 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.