2007 Toyota Corolla

Photo: order_242 from Chile / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons

2007 Toyota Corolla: common problems and reliability

· 10th generation

One of the worst Corolla years.

One of the Toyota Corolla years to avoid. All Corolla years

883 owner complaints, most about air bags. 6 recalls.

Should I buy a 2007 Corolla?

The 2007 Toyota Corolla has 883 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 6 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are air bags and vehicle speed control. Owners most often flag oil consumption due to gummed oil control rings from long oil change intervals.

Safety record for the 2007 model year

883
Owner complaints
6
Recalls
132
Crash reports
7
Fire reports

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2007 Toyota Corolla vehicles (US, public record).

The Year Score compares this year with other Corolla years only. How we score it

Is 2007 a good year for the Corolla?

Across the 29 Corolla model years we track, complaint volume runs from 73 (2023) to 1,533 (2009). With 883 complaints, the 2007 Corolla sits above the model's median of 214.

These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.

Where owners report problems

air bags
473
vehicle speed control
96
electrical system
92
engine and engine cooling
71
service brakes
46

Recalls affecting the 2007 Corolla

air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Campaign 19V741000

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, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Campaign 19V627000

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. The air bag may not unfold as designed during inflation under high temperature conditions, possibly resulting in the air bag not inflating properly.

air bags

Campaign 15V285000

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 18, 2003, to August 25, 2004. On June 16, 2015, Toyota expanded the recall to include an additional 1,270,468 vehicles, including model year 2002-2003 and 2005-2007 Sequoia, 2005-2006 Tundra, 2003-2007 Corolla, 2003-2007 Corolla Matrix, 2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe and 2002-2007 Lexus SC vehicles. This is to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag inflator which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag. This recall addresses both the passenger side frontal air bags that were originally installed in the vehicles, as well as replacement air bags that may have been installed as replacement service parts. A replacement air bag may have been installed, as one example, if a vehicle had been in a crash necessitating the replacement of the passenger side frontal air bag.

air bags

Campaign 15V286000

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 sold, or ever registered, in Florida, along the Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan and American Samoa. On June 16, 2015 Toyota expanded the recall to cover an additional 769,055 vehicles, including certain model year 2002-2004 Lexus SC, Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix, Toyota Corolla, Pontiac Vibe, and Toyota Tundra vehicles, as well the vehicles covered by the May 13, 2015 notification in the portions of Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas that were not previously included. The inflators in the front passenger air bags are susceptible to rupture in the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the front passenger air bag.

Show 2 more recalls

engine and engine cooling

Campaign 10V384000

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.

equipment:other:labels

Campaign 10V036000

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." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

What owners report on the 10th generation Corolla

Owners view this generation as a highly reliable, no-frills commuter appliance that can easily exceed 250,000 miles with basic maintenance.

  • RecurrentVVTi gear rattle on cold start (2009-2013 1.8L engine)
  • RecurrentFront timing cover oil leak (2009-2013 1.8L engine)
  • RecurrentWater pump failure, sometimes repeatedly (2009 model)
  • RecurrentOil consumption due to gummed oil control rings from long oil change intervals
  • RecurrentRust from road salt exposure, particularly in northern states

Owner insights for the 10th generation Corolla. Read the full 10th generation owner report.

Typical used price

Used Corolla listings typically run $11,794–$18,999.

Other Corolla model years

Compare every Corolla year side by side to see how 2007 ranks against the rest.

Compare the Corolla against its rivals

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