Used car safety, rank #155 of 181
Toyota Corolla Safety Rating (2020)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2020 Toyota Corolla, a small car, compared with its class and with the current model.
The 2020 Toyota Corolla has an IIHS driver death rate of 58 per million registered vehicle years against a small cars average of 60.5, which is 4% below the class average. That places it #155 of 181 used vehicles with a safety score of 19.5/100.
What the Toyota Corolla death rate means
At 58 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Toyota Corolla beats the small cars average of 60.5 by 4%. The 95% confidence interval is 31 to 86, so the upper end of the range overlaps the class average and the advantage is not certain.
The other-driver death rate of 60 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Toyota Corolla. It is higher than the Toyota Corolla's own driver death rate, the usual pattern for this class. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used cars
The safest small cars in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Toyota Corolla highlighted. It ranks 7 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Chevrolet Bolt at a death rate of 8.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Bolt | 2017-20 | 8 (0 to 19) | 65.3 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Prius Prime | 2017-20 | 23 (0 to 45) | 52.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Subaru WRX | 2017-20 | 38 (19 to 58) | 34.2 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Prius | 2017-20 | 45 (23 to 67) | 29.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Subaru Impreza sedan | 2017-20 | 46 (18 to 74) | 28.4 | n/a | n/a |
| Honda Civic | 2019-20 | 49 (29 to 69) | 26.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Corolla (this page) | 2020 | 58 (31 to 86) | 19.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Honda Civic hatchback | 2019-20 | 78 (26 to 130) | 13.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Hyundai Elantra | 2020 | 103 (48 to 157) | 10.1 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for small cars: 60.5 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new Toyota Corolla
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current Toyota Corolla we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Toyota Corolla | No award | 79.6 (provisional) |
| 2026 | Toyota Corolla Cross | No award | 78.8 |
| 2026 | Toyota Corolla | No award | 74.9 |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 19.5 used-car score above.
International crash test results
Euro NCAP (2019)
ANCAP (2018)
International test results are for the same-generation model sold in those markets. Body structures are typically identical across regions. Euro NCAP vs IIHS explained.
Safety recalls for the Toyota Corolla
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
4 recall campaigns on the 2020 model year, covering air bags, fuel system, gasoline, seat belts, electronic stability control (esc).
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Air bags: sensor, occupant classification
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026.
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Fuel system, gasoline: delivery, fuel pump
Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021.
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Seat belts: rear/other, buckle assembly
Risk: In the event of a crash involving multiple impacts, the seat belt may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear seat belt assembly production dates, and replace the assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 7, 2020.
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Electronic stability control (esc)
Risk: Deactivation of the vehicle stability control system or a loss of braking assist increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the brake booster pump, free of charge. The recall began September 20, 2019. Toyota
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-04. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2020. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Toyota Corolla: Common Questions
Is the Toyota Corolla a safe car?
Yes, by the measure that matters most. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 58 per million registered vehicle years for the 2020 Toyota Corolla, 4% below the class average (60.5 for small cars). That earns a used-car safety score of 19.5 out of 100 and rank #155 of 181 used vehicles.
What is the Toyota Corolla driver death rate?
58 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 31 to 86. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Toyota Corolla died at a rate of 60 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2020 models.
How does the Toyota Corolla compare with other small cars?
The small cars class averages 60.5 driver deaths per million; the Toyota Corolla sits at 58. Among the 9 small cars compared above it ranks 7 by safety score; the top of that group is the Chevrolet Bolt with a death rate of 8.