2012 vs 2013 Toyota Corolla

Both years

• Burning oil All years

  What to 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

  What to 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)

Both years

• 18V024000 2009–2013

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

• 19V005000 2010–2013

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

• 19V741000 2003–2013

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

• 20V024000 2011–2019

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

Both years

Engines

1.8L four-cylinder Edmunds, a published reference

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

Both years

• Super White 040, 2009–2013 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
• Classic Silver Metallic 1F7, 2009–2013 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
• Magnetic Gray Metallic 1G3, 2009–2013 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
• Black Sand Pearl 209, 2009–2013 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
• Sandy Beach Metallic 4T8, 2011–2013 A published reference, an owners' registry (unofficial)
• Barcelona Red Metallic 3R3, 2009–2013 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
• Tropical Sea Metallic 8U6, 2012–2013 An owners' registry (unofficial)
• Nautical Blue Metallic 8S6, 2011–2013 A published reference, an owners' registry (unofficial)

Both years

• 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