Head-to-head reliability
Toyota Corolla vs Honda Civic
How the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Toyota Corolla vs Honda Civic: The Corolla averages 128 complaints per year over 10 years, while the Civic averages 370. The Civic has 1907 steering complaints, a major issue, whereas the Corolla's top complaint is 'unknown or other' at 252. Both have recalls, but the Corolla has 24, the Civic 20. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla, over the past decade, has accumulated a moderate number of complaints, averaging about 128 per year. The issues span a wide range, from engine and air bag concerns to electrical and powertrain problems, with a notable portion of complaints categorized as 'unknown or other.' Owners report specific incidents like unexpected automatic emergency braking, fuel system leaks, and air bag deployment without a crash, suggesting that while the Corolla is generally reliable, there are areas of concern that could affect safety and ownership experience.
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic has a higher complaint volume, averaging about 370 per year, with steering issues dominating the reports. Owners describe steering that becomes stiff or sticky, which can be alarming and potentially dangerous. Other frequent complaints involve electrical system failures, such as A/C refrigerant leaks and BCM malfunctions, as well as forward collision avoidance systems that brake unexpectedly. These patterns indicate that the Civic may have more pronounced reliability issues, particularly with steering and electronic systems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Toyota Corolla | Honda Civic |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,282 Better | 3,705 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 24 | 20 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 182 Better | 203 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 128.2 Better | 370.5 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 149 | 140 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 4 | 1 Better |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Toyota Corolla
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER252
- 02ENGINE250
- 03AIR BAGS222
- 04POWER TRAIN168
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM145
Owners report the automatic emergency braking engaging for no reason, causing sudden stops. Also, fuel system issues like a strong fuel smell and check engine light due to an evaporative leak from the fuel cell.
There are reports of air bags deploying without a crash, filling the cabin with smoke, and also cases where the air bag did not deploy in a collision, indicating potential sensor or deployment issues.
Some owners experience unexpected revving to high RPMs and violent jerking, along with gear shift indicator problems where the 'P' is not displayed on the instrument cluster.
“Volume of media from certain apps can't be adjusted. The vehicle says that if media is not playing, the volume can't be adjusted. This can cause distraction while driving and increase risk of a crash. Specific application where this is the case: Youtube audio…”
“Description of problem/issue: Dear Reader: I recently purchased a new (certified preowned) vehicle and ever since then I have been experiencing some concerns with its handling on the road. This letter seeks to communicate this matter to the proper establishme…”
Honda Civic
- 01STEERING1,907
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER494
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM324
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE255
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM215
The most common issue: steering gradually stiffens then suddenly releases, or becomes 'sticky' requiring more force, especially after driving for a while. This can make the car feel unstable and hard to control.
A/C systems fail due to refrigerant leaks at the evaporator, leading to weak cooling. Also, the BCM can malfunction, causing the car to turn on the ignition by itself.
The collision mitigation braking system frequently activates when the road is empty, causing sudden, unnecessary braking, which can be startling and increase the risk of being rear-ended.
“My steering gradually stiffens then suddenly releases while traveling the highway. It cycled this way during the entire trip. It acted this way for the first time Oct 22, 2025 on the outgoing part of my hour long trip. It acted this way the second time Oct 25…”
“The steering wheel becomes "sticky" and requires more force than usual to move it to the right or left. This is particularly noticeable when driving in a straight line, and the issue becomes apparent after driving for roughly 10 minutes. This causes an overco…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Toyota Corolla — 24 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, 2023 Lexus RX350, RX350 Hybrid, RX500 Hybrid, 2023-2024 Lexus NX250, NX350, and NX350 Hybrid vehicles. An electrical connection inside the…
The risk: A deactivated driver's air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2023. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this re…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Corolla and Corolla Hybrid vehicles. Due to cracks developed during the manufacturing process, the steering intermediate shaft assembly may fracture and possibly result in the shaft detaching from the steering column.
The risk: A steering shaft that detaches can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the intermediate steering shaft, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 17, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 24TB13/24TA13.
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, Lexus RX350, 2023-2024 NX250, and NX350 vehicles that may have been incorrectly repaired under previous NHTSA recall number 23V-480…
The risk: A deactivated driver's air bag will not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2026 Corolla vehicles. The front headlights may have missing headlight aim markings, which can result in improperly aimed headlights during service. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor V…
The risk: Incorrectly aimed headlights can reduce driver visibility or create a glare for oncoming traffic, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace both front headlight assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 20, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 26TA05.
Honda Civic — 20 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic Sedan, Civic Sedan Si, Civic Type R, Fit, HR-V, Odyssey, Passport, Pilot and Ridgeli…
The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 18, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Civic, 2020-2023 Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Passport, 2021-2022 Pilot, and 2020 Acura MDX vehicles. The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the brake master cylinder may have been improperly assembled during manufacturing, w…
The risk: Brake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the brake booster assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall ar…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV,…
The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansi…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura R…
The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls ar…
Buyer analysis
Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic: which should you buy?
The Toyota Corolla has fewer complaints per year (128 vs 370) and fewer recalls (24 vs 20, but lower complaint rate). In practice, the Corolla's issues are more varied but less frequent, while the Civic's steering and electronic problems are more prevalent and potentially more concerning for safety and comfort.
Key differences
- The Civic has a much higher rate of steering complaints (1907) compared to the Corolla's powertrain issues (168), indicating a more systemic problem with the Civic's steering system.
- The Corolla has more air bag complaints (222) than the Civic (not in top 5), with reports of unexpected deployment, which is a serious safety concern.
- The Civic's forward collision avoidance system is a frequent source of complaints (255), with phantom braking events, while the Corolla's engine complaints (250) include similar AEB issues but also fuel system problems.
- The Corolla has more recalls (24) than the Civic (20), but the Civic's recalls include fuel pump and air bag sensor issues, which are also critical.
- Check for any signs of unexpected automatic braking or fuel smells, and have the fuel system and AEB sensors inspected.
- Verify that the air bag system has no open recalls and consider having the air bag sensors tested if there are any concerns.
- Test drive the Civic for at least 20 minutes to see if the steering becomes stiff or sticky, and check for any A/C cooling issues.
- Ask about the BCM and forward collision system, and ensure any recalls for fuel pump or air bag sensors have been addressed.
Before you buy
- Check the NHTSA website for open recalls on the specific VIN and confirm they've been fixed.
- For the Corolla, test the automatic emergency braking in a safe area to ensure it doesn't engage without reason.
- For the Civic, pay attention to steering feel during a longer test drive, and test the A/C for adequate cooling.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for fuel system and electrical repairs.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic familiar with these models.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Toyota Corolla | Honda Civic |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 15 | 24 |
| 2025 | 27 | 89 |
| 2024 | 61 | 257 |
| 2023 | 72 | 577 |
| 2022 | 95 | 877 |
| 2021 | 184 | 139 |
| 2020 | 306 | 218 |
| 2019 | 201 | 348 |
| 2018 | 133 | 598 |
| 2017 | 188 | 578 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Toyota Corolla vs Honda Civic
- Toyota Corolla total complaints
- 1,282
- Honda Civic total complaints
- 3,705
- Toyota Corolla total recalls
- 24
- Honda Civic total recalls
- 20
- Toyota Corolla avg complaints/year
- 128.2
- Honda Civic avg complaints/year
- 370.5
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Corolla
- Toyota Corolla top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Honda Civic top complaint area
- STEERING