2012 Toyota Corolla E140

Overview

Engines

1.8L four-cylinder

Came as

• Sedan

On record

2 warnings, 5 recalls

What changed for 2012

• The base car, now the L, gets power windows, locks and keyless entry, and the LE a stereo with USB and Bluetooth. Edmunds, a published reference

Compare 2012 with 2011

Colors

• Tropical Sea Metallic An owners' registry (unofficial)8U6, 2012–2013
• Sandy Beach Metallic4T8, 2011–2013
• Nautical Blue Metallic8S6, 2011–2013
• Super White040, 2009–2013
• Classic Silver Metallic1F7, 2009–2013

Sources: Edmunds, a published reference, an owners' registry (unofficial)

Interiors in the generation, years not known: Bisque (Cloth) Edmunds, Ash (Cloth) Edmunds

Specs

Engines

• 1.8L four-cylinder 2ZR-FE Edmunds, a published reference

  132 hp and 128 lb-ft

Transmissions

• 5-speed manual Edmunds, a published reference
• 4-speed automatic Edmunds, a published reference

Drivetrains

• Front-wheel drive A published reference

Body styles

• Sedan A published reference

Trims

• L (2012–2013) Edmunds, a published reference
• LE A published reference
• S A published reference

Packages

• JBL audio Toyota, a published reference
• Navigation Edmunds

Figures for the whole 10th gen

• XRS performance: 0–60 mph in 7.9 seconds and the quarter mile in 16.0 A published reference
• Fuel tank: 13.2 gal A published reference
• Steering: Electric power steering in place of a belt-driven pump A published reference
• Safety award: An IIHS Top Safety Pick A published reference

Watch out

Faults owners and the press report, and how to spot each one.

• Burning oil All years

  Check: Check the oil level, ask how much it uses between changes, and watch for blue smoke.

  Toyota's ZE7 program extended cover for oil burning on certain 2009–2011 Corollas with the 2AZ engine, about 7,700 cars built from early January 2008 to mid-November 2011, to ten years or 150,000 miles from first use, so it has ended. On CarComplaints.com's page for the 2009, an unofficial source, 23 owners report burning oil at about 100,750 miles on average, nine ending with a new engine, and comments name both engines. Toyota, owners' reports (unofficial)

• Water pump All years

  Check: Look for coolant leaking at the water pump and on the alternator below it, and ask whether the pump has been replaced.

  CarComplaints.com, an unofficial source, lists water pump failure among the 2009's worst problems, at about 62,000 miles on average. In a CarGurus thread, also unofficial, two owners report the pump failing on their 2009s, one leaking onto the alternator. Owners' reports (unofficial)

Recalls

Newest first. Ask the seller for proof the work was done, or check the VIN with NHTSA.

• 2011–2019 Recall 20V024000

  In certain crashes the airbag computer may malfunction, so the airbags or seat belt pretensioners may not deploy. NHTSA

• 2003–2013 Recall 19V741000

  Inflators fitted under an earlier recall were of the same design, and can still explode after long exposure to heat and humidity. NHTSA

• 2010–2013 Recall 19V005000

  The passenger front airbag inflator may explode after long exposure to heat and humidity, throwing metal fragments. NHTSA

• 2009–2013 Recall 18V024000

  The passenger front airbag inflator may explode after long exposure to heat and humidity, throwing metal fragments. NHTSA

• 2009–2012 Recall 17V006000

  The passenger front airbag inflator may rupture after long exposure to heat and humidity, throwing metal fragments. NHTSA

Checked against NHTSA records on November 2, 2026.

Owning

What owners and buyers say

• Sought after

  2011–2013

  One source so far

  SlashGear picks 2011 to 2013 among the best used Corolla years, for excellent IIHS results and very few NHTSA complaints and recalls. SlashGear

Maintenance

No service schedule is added yet.

Warranty when new