Corollabuyer's guide

The E170 Corolla deserves its reliability reputation, but only when it's been looked after. This guide walks you through the ten faults that turn a "bulletproof Toyota" into a five-figure repair before you pay a deposit.

This guide covers ten documented issues: CVT shudder and harsh-launch behaviour, engine oil consumption and valve-cover leaks, coolant leaks (water pump, thermostat, hose joints), AC compressor and condenser failure, infotainment and reverse-camera electrical faults, suspension knocks and uneven tyre wear, brake pulsation and seized calipers, water leaks and accident-repair patterns, Toyota Safety Sense radar calibration faults on later cars, and the full recall and campaign checklist. Each fault has a field check and a real repair-cost range.

A clean E170 will outlast almost anything else at this price point. A worn one will quietly bleed money through a tired CVT and an oil-burner of an engine. This guide tells you the difference in twenty minutes at the car.