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KLUNK

2001 Toyota Corolla

The Verdict

66 Solid Pick

The 2001 Toyota Corolla has 138 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (43 complaints) and engine (40 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 66/100, it earns a "Solid Pick" rating. If you're shopping for a Toyota Corolla, consider the 2025 model year which has 81% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2025 has 81% fewer complaints

View the 2025 Toyota Corolla dashboard →

66

Klunk Score: Solid Pick

Fewer complaints than most vehicles. Generally dependable, but check the top problems below.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
2000571022587
2001431234409
2002641529328
20031802837412356
2004133142647914
20051483653415734
20061313050915542
20071734049212622
200872271656511
200957911260916933
20105301664326439
201192194053516
2012431036056
2013772366248
201490141132822
20157613762627
20167128742018
20176125681914
2018371029507
20194412267444
202098163612229
2021489643918
20222712271315
202326324135
202424101276
2025126322

By Category

Body
43
Engine
40
Electrical
34
Brakes
12
Transmission
9

By Severity

1
50
2
52
3
1
4
34
5
1

Worst Problems

Compare Against

See how the 2001 Toyota Corolla stacks up against rivals.

Complaints

Body 1

STOLEN

41mo ago
Electrical 4

MY DAUGHTER HIT A STOPPED CAR AT APPROX 30 MPH. SHE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND THEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED TOO LATE. SHE WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. SHE WAS GOING STRAIGHT.

88mo ago
Engine 1

WE HAVE A 2001 TOYOTA WE NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON EVERY MONTH AND SO I TOOK THE CAR TO AUTOZONE FOR A FREE DIAGNOSTIC TEST EACH TIME WITH THE RESULT SHOWING THAT THE CAR HAS AN ELECTRIC SHORT CIRCUIT PROBLEM. THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE TIMING CHAIN AND A PART CALLED A CAM. TO FIX THE PROBLEM IT WOULD COST ME AROUND 800 DOLLARS. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM BUT THEY JUST IGNORED ME. THE RESULT IS I HAVE TO DO AN OIL CHANGE EVERY 1200 MILES AS THERE IS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE AFTER 800 MILES. NORMALLY ONE WOULD HAVE AN OIL CHANGE DONE EVERY 3000 MILES. SO THE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON EVERY 400 MILES INTERVALS. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY PEOPLE ON FORUMS ABOUT THE 2001 COROLLA, BUT TOYOTA NEVER BOTHERED FIXING. IN ADDITION TO THIS PROBLEM THE PLASTIC LINING AROUND OUR CAR WINDOWS, ON ALL FOUR DOORS HAS PEELED OFF. I REPORTED THIS TO THE TOYOTA DEALER LAST SPRING. THE ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS LINING PROBLEM AND YET THE DEALER IGNORED ME ON THIS. INSTEAD THEY ASKED ME TO COUGH UP $450 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IF THIS IS NOT A RIPOFF ON THAMERICAN CITIZENS THEN WHAT IS? ALSO THE HEADLIGHTS AND BLINKERS DONT STAY IN THE CAR I USE WIRE TO WIRE THEM TO THE FRAME OR THEY FALL OUT WHICH HAPPENED TO ME ALREADT THANK GOD IT WAS DAYLIGHT HERE ARE SOME HTTP://WWW.COROLLAND.COM/FORUMS/INDEX.PHP?/TOPIC/18973-2001-COROLLA-CHECK-ENGINE-LIGHT-ISSUE/ HTTP://WWW.FIXYA.COM/CARS/T1082872-CHECK_ENGINE_LIGHT_2001_TOYOTA_COROLLA HTTP://WWW.TUNDRASOLUTIONS.COM/FORUMS/COROLLA-MATRIX/69501-2001-COROLLA-CHECK-ENGINE-P0446/ HTTP://WWW.2CARPROS.COM/FORUM/2001-TOYOTA-COROLLA-CHECK-ENGINE-LIGHT-IS-ON-VT126177.HTML THE SAME PROBLEM OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN REPORTED ON COROLLAS 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003,... WILL THE DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION ACT AGAINST TOYOTA AND HELP US FIX OUR CARS? *TR

94mo ago
Engine 2

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NOT GOING OFF EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE PARTS

97mo ago
Electrical 2

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS DO NOT TURN AUTOMATICALLY. THE HIGH BEAM INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHES. I TURN THE LIGHTS ON AND THE HIGH BEAM INDICATOR LIGHT STOPS FLASHING. I HAVE REPLACED THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT RELAY TWICE AND NEITHER ONE FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT RELAYS WERE USED NOT NEW.

99mo ago
Body 1

THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE HOW MUCH TROUBLE I HAVE HAD GOTTEN A NEW SET OF TIRES EVERY 90-120 DAYS SINCE I HAVE OWNED MY CAR THE SHOCKS ARE ALWAYS PROFESSIONALLY INSTALLED THEY HAVE BROKEN ONE AND THEN BEFORE I CAN GET TO THE SHOP WITHIN 3 DAYS OF FEELING LIKE I AM DRIVING ON SQUARE TIRES THEY START TO FEEL LIKE I AM ONLY ON RIMS WITH IN 50 HWY AND INTERSTATE MILES THEY START TO COME DOWN AND THE TIRES ARE RUBBING ON THE CAR CAUSING THE DAMAGE TO THE TIRES AND THE PADS HAVE BROKEN TWICE I HAVE TRIED DIFFERENT SHOPS BUT THE SAME OUTCOME BROKEN

103mo ago
Body 1

THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLES AND EXTERIOR DOOR LOCKS BREAK ONCE EVERY TWO OR THREE MONTHS I HAVE REPLACED THEM ALL WITH FACTORY TOYOTA DOOR HANDLES AND AFTERMARKET DOOR HANDLES AND OUT SIDE DOOR LOCKS I HAVE HAD THEM REPAIRED AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND BY A COUPLE DIFFERENT MECHANIC SHOPS I HAVE HAD TO ORDER AND REPLACE THEM MYSELF NO MATTER HOW GENTLE I AM NOT EVEN THE SLIGHTEST BIT OF PRESSURE AND THEY SNAP I HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN LOCKED INSIDE MY CAR TO THE POINT I HAVE HAD TO OPEN THE WINDOW AND OPEN THE DOOR HANDLES TO KEEP THEM IN ONE PIECE LONG ENOUGH TO MAKE THEM LAST THE TRIP FROM LOUISIANA TO IOWA 980 MILES ONE WAY THAT'S THE ONE WAY THEY HAVE NOT BROKEN BY NOT USEING THEM AS EXPECTED I HAVE THEM ON ORDER RIGHT NOW IT'S NOT BEEN ONE CALLANDER MONTH SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO NOT REPLACE THEM IT'S NOW TO THE POINT I HAVE 2 SETS ON ORDER THIS WAY WHEN THEY BREAK EXCEPT FOR WHEN I HAVE USED THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES AS ENTRY AND EXIT POINTS I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT IT'S FUNNY BUT WHEN I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE WINDOW OPEN AND I COULDN'T EXIT THE CAR IT WAS A HORRIBLE FEAR AFTER STRUGGLING WITH THEM I HAPPENED TO BE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO BRAKE THE WINDOW AND A MAN PARKED BESIDE ME SEEN MY STRUGGLE AND THE FEAR ON MY FACE AND HE CAME TO THE DOOR ASKED ME IF HE COULD OPEN IT FROM THE OUTSIDE IN RELIEF I WAS NOT GOING TO HAVE TO BREAK MY WINDOW I NOW ROLL THE WINDOW COMPLETELY UP EVEN IN FREEZING OR RAINING WEATHER I ALSO KEEP MY BACK SEAT WEDGED OPEN FOR THE ABILITY TO EXIT THE TRUCK IF IT'S EVER NESSARY

103mo ago
Electrical 4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SEAT DETACHED AND MOVED BACKWARDS. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT COULD NOT REACH THE PEDALS. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A NECK, HEAD, AND MID BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-331-4331 AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE WITHIN FIVE DAYS. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FOR 30 DAYS AND THE MANUFACTURER WOULD CONTACT THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

105mo ago
Electrical 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED TO SEE APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (COX TOYOTA OF BURLINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER HAD NOT RENDERED A DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL AT THE DEALER GETTING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

109mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

113mo ago
Electrical 4

IN 2009 I WAS INVOLVED IN A MAJOR CAR ACCIDENT. I HIT MY HEAD AND BECAME UNCONSCIOUS AND MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHEN I REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS. I WAS ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL I HAD A GASH ON MY FOREHEAD. WHEN I TOUCHED MY LEFT EYEBROW IT FELT LIKE I HAD PIECES OF GLASS IN THERE. BUT NOW WITH THE RECALLS OF THE AIRBAGS, I WONDERED IF IT WAS METAL FRAGMENTS, SCHRAPRAL THAT IS STILL IN MY LEFT EYEBROW. WOULD YOU PLEASE RECALL MY VEHICLE SO I COULD HAVE MY AIRBAGS REPLACED. WHEN I REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS I SAW DIRT AND OTHER STUFF POWDER COMING OUT OF MY DRIVERS AIRBAG. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND EMAIL ME BACK AT [XXX] THANK YOU. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

122mo ago
Body 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DOOR HANDLE WAS REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE, THE MECHANIC OPENED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE FRACTURED. THE DOOR HANDLE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,452.

124mo ago
Electrical 4

DRIVER AIR BAG CAME OUT N BURNED MY ARM ACTUALLY BOTH DID BY I HAD NO PASSANGER THO IT BROKE WINDSHIELD,ANYWAY IT'S BEEN TEN DAYS MY SKIN IS RAW SEVERE PAIN NO SIGNS OF GETTING BETTER THE BRUISEB GOES ALL WAY AROUND WHOLE BK OF ARM I AM GOIN BK TO DRS. AS I'VE BEEN CARING FOR IT W CLEAN NON STICK PADS N HV TO APPLY TRIPLE ANTIBIOTIC OINTMENT LITERALLY A 13$ TUBE LASTS TWO DAYS I THEN WRAP N AT NITE LET AIR GET IT.THERE IS NO SIGN OF HEALING BURNT THRU ALL LAYERS OF SKIN TO NOW IT IS RAW TO THE MEAT THE PAIN IS CRAZY U WUD XPECT SO SORT OF RELIEF AFTER WAY TEN DAYS I AM GOING TO FURTHER MY RESEARCH.WAY CHEMICALS ARE IN THESE AIRBAGS THAT'S WAY I WANT TO KNOW.

133mo ago
Electrical 4

ON 4/22/2008 [XXX], THE OWNER OF A PT.CRUISER, HIT MY TOYOTA HEAD ON AFTER CROSSING THE CENTER LANE AND WAS DRIVING 35 MPH, WHILE I WAS ALMOST STOPPED ON FALLING WATER DRIVE IN EAGLE RIVER.. IT FLATTENED THE RIGHT FRONT AND LATER LEFT FRONT TIRE, AND BUMPER AND QUARTER PANELS ON THE LEFT. I FELT LIKE I HAD AN ELECTRIC SHOCK TO MY SPINE THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY SEAT BELT WAS ON. , I COULDN'T LIFT THE COMPACT SPARE TIRE TO CHANGE THE FLAT WITHOUT MY NECK HURTING. I HAD CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT BUT MY NECK WAS STILL SORE . A YEAR LATER I WENT TO MY GP DR. BARNES AND HE ORDERED AN MRI. THE MRI SHOWED BLOWN DISCS AND /DR. BARNES ORDERED PT. PT. UNSUCCESSFUL AND WENT TO NEUROSURGEON DR. KRALICK . WHO SUGGESTED POSTERIOR CERVICAL. LAMINECTOMY AND SPINAL FUSION C-3-C7 AND HAD SAME 4-7-2010. UNFORTUNATELY I DEVELOPED SEROMA AND ABSCESS AT PROV. HOSPITAL. I CODED BLUE TWICE. I HAD MASSIVE DISABILITY AND WAS ALMOST PARALYZED BY THE INFECTION. I HAD MASSIVE REHAB AND MED EXPENSES IN EXCESS OF $500,000 I AM STILL RECOVERING 4 YEARS LATER AND HAVE TO TQKE FLEXIRIL AND PERKASET FOR PAIN. I HAVE PROFOUND NEUROPATHY IN MY FEET AND HANDS CRAMPING IN MY LEFT HIP, KNEE AND CALF AND SHARP PAIN AT THE SITE OF THE INCISION. IF THE AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED AS IT SHOULD, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN HURT SO BADLY IN MY SPINE.. *TR

140mo ago
Electrical 4

CAR WAS TOTALED IN FRONT END COLLISION. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING CERTAIN TOYOTAS OF THIS YEAR HAD ISSUES WITH AIR BAG PROPELLENT AND MINUTE FRAGMENTS OF SHRAPNEL BEING PROPELLED DURING DEPLOYMENT. SINCE THE CAR WAS TOTALLED, I WOULD LIKE INFORMATION ON ANY RECALLS REGARDING TYPE OF AIR BAG PROPELLENT USED IN THIS MODEL AND ANY OTHER RECALLS REGARDING THE AIR BAG ISSUES IF ANY. *TR

144mo ago
Engine 2

ENGINE STALLED DURING DRIVING, OCCURRED TO BOTH OF MY CARS THIS ONE IS 2001 COROLLA, HAPPENED TO MY 2006 COROLLA A WEEK AGO. VERY CONCERNING ABOUT COROLLA'S DRIVING SAFETY ISSUE. RE-IGNITE THE CAR, RUN NORMALLY. *TR

147mo ago
Brakes 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS SENSOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,900.

148mo ago
Brakes 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES IN ONE MONTH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

149mo ago
Body 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES WERE BROKEN. THE CONTACT REPLACED ALL FOUR DOOR HANDLES THREE TIMES BUT THE FAILURES WERE RECURRING. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000. UPDATED 02/24/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF AT DIFFERENT MILEAGE INTERVALS AND WERE REPLACED BY HIM, ON ALL FOUR DOORS. UPDATED 02/24/14

152mo ago
Electrical 4

MY 20YO DAUGHTER WAS AT A STOP LIGHT COMPLETELY STOPPED. LIGHT TURNED GREEN, EVERYONE STARTED TO GO, SHE TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE BRAKE ROLLED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER, TAPPED THE CAR AND HER AIRBAGS WENT OFF, BROKE HER JAW, DISLOCATED HER JAW, BROKE 5 TEETH IN THE BACK, AND LACERATED HER LIP. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IN THE PASSENGERS SIDE. SHE HAD HER SEATBELT ON, HER WINDSHIELD WAS SHATTERED BY THE AIRBAGS, NO DAMAGE TO ANY OTHER PART OF THE VEHICLE. SHE HAD TO HAVE SURGERY, AND HER JAW WIRED SHUT FOR 4-6 WEEKS NOW. SHE WILL HAVE TO HAVE ROOT CANALS AND CAPS PUT ON HER TEETH AFTER HER JAW HEALS. SHE DID GO UNCONSCIOUS AT IMPACT. LUCKILY SHE HAD BRACES BEFORE AND HAD A RETAINER BRACKET ON HER LOWER TEETH WHICH THE ORAL SURGEON SAID SAVED HER TEETH BELOW OR THEY WOULD HAVE ALL BEEN OUT. I WAS SO SHOCKED THAT JUST A TAP OF THE BUMPER IN FRONT COULD CAUSE THE AIRBAGS TO GO OFF AND CAUSE SO MUCH DAMAGE TO SOMEONE'S FACE. SHE IS A FULL TIME STUDENT AND HAS TWO PART TIME JOBS, SO SHE WILL BE OUT FOR A FEW WEEKS. *TR UPDATED 3/32/13 *CN

162mo ago

138 total

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