Are Toyotas Reliable? Toyota Reliability by Model
Across the 6 most-documented Toyota models, CarWhere's analysis of 33,748 NHTSA complaints finds 6 carry at least one model year to avoid; none is entirely free of a flagged year, with the Prius carrying the fewest. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume. Data as of July 2026.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall campaigns · Data as of July 2026 · How we rate model years
33,748 NHTSA complaints
model years flagged on federal data
every model carries at least one
What Toyota owners report most
The vehicle systems drawing the most federal service-bulletin activity across the 6 Toyota models we analyze — a signal of where problems concentrate.
Toyota reliability by model
| Model | Complaints | Years to avoid | Best years | Worst year vs. its avg. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Camry | 7,186 | 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019 and 2020 | 2016, 2017 and 2022 | 3.8× |
| Toyota Tacoma | 3,195 | 2008, 2009, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2024 | 2021 | 2.4× |
| Toyota RAV4 | 5,833 | 2008, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024 | — | 5.2× |
| Toyota Prius | 7,247 | 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 | 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023 | 18.8× |
| Toyota Highlander | 3,965 | 2008, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 | — | 6.2× |
| Toyota Corolla | 6,322 | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2019 and 2020 | — | 5.8× |
Counts are raw federal filings (NHTSA owner complaints), not adjusted for sales volume. A model year is flagged when its severity-weighted complaint rate is among the highest within that model's own history — never a comparison against other brands. Follow any model for its full year-by-year verdict. Full methodology.
Where Toyota owners report the most trouble
Toyota Prius: 7 model years flagged to avoid (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014) — the worst logged up to 18.8× the model's own average complaint rate. See the year-by-year verdict →
Toyota Highlander: 8 model years flagged to avoid (2008, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023) — the worst logged up to 6.2× the model's own average complaint rate. See the year-by-year verdict →
Toyota Corolla: 5 model years flagged to avoid (2009, 2010, 2011, 2019 and 2020) — the worst logged up to 5.8× the model's own average complaint rate. See the year-by-year verdict →
You just got the basic decode. Unlock the full picture for $9.99.
One-time. No subscription, ever. You see exactly what your report includes before you pay — no blind-box reports.
FAQ
Are Toyotas reliable?
Toyota reliability varies sharply by model and year, not by brand. Across the 6 most-documented Toyota models, 6 carry at least one model year we flag to avoid on NHTSA complaint and recall data. No Toyota model is entirely free of a flagged year; the Prius carries the fewest. These are raw federal complaint counts, not adjusted for how many vehicles Toyota sold, so they can't be read as a single cross-brand reliability score — use the per-model verdicts below.
What is the most reliable Toyota?
Every Toyota model we analyze carries at least one flagged year, but the Prius has the fewest — the most best-rated years and lowest severity-weighted complaint rate in the lineup. Reliability comes down to the specific model year, so check the year-by-year verdict before buying.
Which Toyota models have the most years to avoid?
The Toyota models carrying the most flagged years are the Prius (7 years flagged, worst up to 18.8× its own average), the Highlander (8 years flagged, worst up to 6.2× its own average), the Corolla (5 years flagged, worst up to 5.8× its own average). A flag means that model year has one of the highest severity-weighted complaint rates within that model's own history — it is not a comparison against other brands.
How do I check a specific Toyota before buying?
Start with the free Toyota window sticker lookup at carwhere.com/window-sticker/toyota to confirm the exact trim and factory options, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for that VIN — it includes the recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for the exact model year plus a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Sources & data notes
All figures are drawn from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Office of Defects Investigation — owner-filed complaints and recall campaigns — across the 6 most-documented Toyota models and every model year on record for each. Retrieved July 2026. Counts are raw federal filings and are not adjusted for the number of vehicles sold or registered, so they cannot be read as a single cross-brand reliability ranking; each model year's verdict compares it only against the rest of that model's own history. Full scoring at the methodology page.