2013 vs 2014 Toyota Corolla

vs

Each year's own entries sit side by side, then what both share. Warnings of different generations are listed apart even under the same name, because what to check can differ.

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

2013

  • 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)

2014

  • CVT software and valve body, 2014–2017 One source so far

    What to check: Ask a Toyota dealer whether campaign JSD was done. On a test drive, watch for a check-engine light, slipping, jerky shifts or a loss of power.

    Toyota's campaign JSD, from August 2018, replaced an earlier software update that was halted. The engine computer's programming can make a part of the CVT cycle and wear, lighting the check-engine light and holding speed to about 37 mph. The fix is a software update and a solenoid valve check, a new valve body if needed, and a new CVT if code P2820 is stored, free. It covers about 1,300,800 cars: 2014–2017 Corollas, the 2017 Corolla iM and the 2016 Scion iM, and the bulletin gives no end date.

    Toyota

  • Air conditioning and radio, 2014 One source so far

    What to check: Run the air conditioning and the radio through every setting, and listen for rattles from the dashboard.

    CarComplaints.com, an unofficial source, lists air conditioning that stops working, radios that stop working and dashboard rattles as the 2014's worst problems.

    Owners' reports (unofficial)

Recalls

2013

  • 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

2014

  • 13V505000 2014

    The windshield wiper switch may short circuit, and the wipers can stop working. NHTSA

Both years

  • 20V024000 2011–2019

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

What changed between

After 2013, up to and including 2014.

  1. 201411th gen begins.
  2. 2014New generation in L, LE, LE Eco and S trims, with a 132 hp 1.8L, or 140 hp in the LE Eco, and a six-speed manual, four-speed automatic or CVT. Toyota, Edmunds

What it came with

2013

Transmissions
5-speed manual Edmunds, a published reference
Packages
JBL audio Toyota, a published reference, Navigation Edmunds, Special Edition (2013) Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)

2014

Engines
1.8L four-cylinder, Valvematic Toyota, a published reference
Transmissions
6-speed manual Toyota, Edmunds, a published reference, CVT (CVTi-S) Toyota, a published reference
Trims
LE Eco Toyota, a published reference
Packages
Plus and Premium (2014–2016) Toyota, Edmunds

Both years

Engines
1.8L four-cylinder Toyota, a published reference
Transmissions
4-speed automatic Edmunds, a published reference
Drivetrains
Front-wheel drive A published reference
Body styles
Sedan A published reference
Trims
L Toyota, Edmunds, LE Toyota, Edmunds, S (2014–2016) Toyota, Edmunds, a published reference

Colors

2013

  • Magnetic Gray Metallic 1G3, 2009–2013 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Sandy Beach Metallic 4T8, 2011–2013 A published reference, 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)
  • Hot Lava 4R8, 2013 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Black Currant Metallic 9AH, 2013 An owners' registry (unofficial)

2014

  • Blizzard Pearl 070, 2014–2019 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Slate Metallic 1F9, 2014–2019 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Brown Sugar Metallic 4V8, 2014–2016 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • 4evergreen Mica 6W3, 2014–2016 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Blue Crush Metallic 8W7, 2014–2019 An owners' registry (unofficial)

Both years

  • Super White 040, 2014–2019 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Classic Silver Metallic 1F7, 2014–2019 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Black Sand Pearl 209, 2014–2019 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Barcelona Red Metallic 3R3, 2014–2019 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)

What owners and buyers say

Reputation: what owners and the press report

2013

  • 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

2014

  • Avoid: 2014 Less sought after

    SlashGear says to avoid the 2014 for interior electrical faults, engine trouble and transmission failures. On CarComplaints.com's page for it, an unofficial source, the worst problems are air conditioning and radios that stop working, at about 58,000 miles. SlashGear, owners' reports (unofficial)