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Toyota: reliability & common problems

#2 of 24
Longevity rank#1 Tesla holds up to ~197k
~145k
Trouble-free mileageacross all body styles
734
Toyotas inspectedreal pre-purchase inspections
62/100
Average conditionall cars we check: 61/100



Based on 734 used Toyotas we inspected, they are in about average shape — average condition 62/100 vs 61 for all cars we check. Every number on this page comes from real pre-purchase inspections — cars people were about to buy and paid an independent inspector to go through point by point, engine to underbody, paint depth to error codes. Not owner surveys, not warranty statistics, not forum lore: what we actually found.

What we found

Most common faults

Oil leaks · Engine
48%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
36%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
28%
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
21%
Leaking or worn shock absorbers · Suspension
21%

Share of inspected Toyotas where each item was flagged.

How they score

Excellent 29% Good 28% Mediocre 25% Poor 19%
Hidden history

What the seller might not mention — how often we find it on Toyotas.

78%had a repainted or replaced panelall cars: 75%
4%showed structural repairall cars: 4%
17%had fault codes recently clearedall cars: 24%

Compare with another brand:

Cross-shopping? Toyota vs Honda · Toyota vs Ford · Toyota vs Chevrolet

How long does a Toyota last?

Across every Toyota body style we've inspected — sedans, SUVs and anything else pooled together — the average one's condition dips below decent (a 55/100 score) around ~145k miles. It ranks Toyota #2 of 24 brands we have enough data to rate; the longest-lasting, Tesla, holds up to ~197k. Shopping a Toyota near that mileage? Expect more wear ahead — see which makes give the best odds at your budget.



Good cars by mileage
0 25 50 75 100 0–20k mi: 100% in good shape (21 cars) 20–40k mi: 90% in good shape (61 cars) 40–60k mi: 82% in good shape (55 cars) 60–80k mi: 85% in good shape (89 cars) 80–100k mi: 59% in good shape (73 cars) 100–120k mi: 61% in good shape (103 cars) 120–140k mi: 45% in good shape (83 cars) 140–160k mi: 32% in good shape (85 cars) 160–180k mi: 32% in good shape (63 cars) 180–200k mi: 21% in good shape (34 cars) 200–220k mi: 22% in good shape (23 cars) 40k 80k 120k 160k 200k mileage when we inspected it
Good cars by age
0 25 50 75 100 1 years old: 100% in good shape (20 cars) 2 years old: 94% in good shape (36 cars) 3 years old: 89% in good shape (27 cars) 4 years old: 93% in good shape (30 cars) 5 years old: 90% in good shape (40 cars) 6 years old: 78% in good shape (41 cars) 7 years old: 72% in good shape (43 cars) 8 years old: 73% in good shape (41 cars) 9 years old: 54% in good shape (56 cars) 10 years old: 67% in good shape (51 cars) 11 years old: 62% in good shape (34 cars) 12 years old: 48% in good shape (40 cars) 13 years old: 33% in good shape (55 cars) 14 years old: 38% in good shape (40 cars) 15 years old: 31% in good shape (42 cars) 16 years old: 25% in good shape (28 cars) 2y 4y 6y 8y 10y 12y 14y 16y vehicle age when we inspected it

Share of Toyotas in good shape (scoring 60+/100) by mileage and by age when we inspected them (each dot ≥5 cars; rolled-back odometers excluded from the mileage curve). The dashed grey curve is all cars we check.

Is Toyota getting better?
▲ Newer Toyotas are holding up better 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 69% in good shape (age-adjusted; 59 cars, raw 64%) 69 2015–17: 73% in good shape (age-adjusted; 116 cars, raw 69%) 73 2018–20: 73% in good shape (age-adjusted; 70 cars, raw 79%) 73 2021+: 80% in good shape (age-adjusted; 16 cars, raw 94%) 80 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018–20 2021+

Share of Toyotas in good shape (60+/100) when inspected at the same age — 5–10 years old, age-adjusted — by model-year generation; the dashed line is the all-brand average. Compare every brand's trajectory →



Toyota models we've inspected
RAV4 54 cars · 79% good Prius 61 cars · 67% good Tacoma 52 cars · 65% good Highlander 41 cars · 64% good Corolla 113 cars · 61% good Sienna 48 cars · 56% good Tundra 56 cars · 55% good Camry 110 cars · 53% good Avalon 28 cars · 50% good 4Runner 70 cars · 47% good Land Cruiser 15 cars · profile soon Sequoia 14 cars · profile soon FJ Cruiser 12 cars · profile soon

Recently inspected:

2009 Toyota RAV-4 · 204k mi — flagged: low coolant / cooling system issues, oil leaks, signs of recent repair. Inspected Sep 30.
2021 Toyota Tundra · 67k mi — flagged: oil leaks, worn brake rotors, tires condition & wear. Inspected Sep 29.
The bottom line

Toyotas stay in decent shape longer than almost every other brand, holding until around 145,000 miles, so high mileage alone should not scare you off. The pattern that actually costs you is the engine: oil leaks on nearly half of them, then fuel-trim problems, live error codes, plus worn tires and leaking shocks. Get under the hood and on a scan tool first, then check the rubber and dampers. Hunt a 2021 or newer if you can; they come through in good shape more often. Treat leaks and tire wear as negotiation leverage, and walk if oil is already pooling.

FAQ
?
Is Toyota reliable?
57% of the 734 Toyotas we inspected scored 60/100 or higher, averaging 62/100 — they are in about average shape.
?
What are the most common problems with a used Toyota?
Across the Toyotas we inspected, the items we flag most often are oil leaks (48%), tires condition & wear (36%), active error codes (28%).
?
Are newer Toyotas more reliable than older ones?
Yes — comparing generations at the same age (5–10 years old), newer Toyotas hold up clearly better than the early-2010s ones.
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Based on 734 inspections · updated Oct 1, 2026