ToyotaCorolla2016Overview/toyota/corolla/2016/base/

2016 Toyota Corolla

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 Corolla.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (AV-S7)

The 2016 Toyota Corolla enters the record as a passenger car paired with a seven-speed automatic (AV-S7) transmission, returning EPA fuel economy of 28 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 31 mpg combined. Owner-reported reliability for the model year tallies 212 complaints — with air bags as the most-cited concern — alongside a single recall, a profile that sits well clear of the nameplate's worst year on file. Spanning 1990 to 2026, the Corolla's complaint history peaks at 1,533 in 2009 and bottoms out at 11 in 2026, a range that places the 2016 on the quieter side of the ledger without reaching the minimal levels recorded for the most recent model year. For researchers, that standing makes the 2016 a useful middle-of-the-road reference point in a long-running nameplate — a period when overall complaint volume had already receded from the 2009 spike but had not yet settled into the low single- and double-digit territory that defines the latest model years.

Model year202620252024202320222021202020192016

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy28/36/31 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 35 · 355 CCA battery, OE oil filter 90915YZZN1. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 35 · 355 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP195/65R16, P205/55R16, P215/45R17OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.0, 6.5, 7.0 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter90915YZZN1 alt 9030169011
Engine air filter178010T030
Spark plug9091901275
Front wiper blades852120R050 alt 8522202280
Serpentine belt9091602679 alt 90916A2016
Thermostat90916A3003 alt 9091603144
Cabin air filter8713907020 alt 8713950100

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (AV-S7)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length182.7 in
Overall width70.1 in
Overall height57.5 in
Wheelbase106.3 in
Curb weight2789 lb
Track (front / rear)59.8 / 59.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)61/39

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined28 / 36 / 31 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume98 cu ft
Cargo volume13 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Corolla of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.5–9.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.50 sec — 2016 S Plus Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2016S Plus Sedan 1.8L I-48.50 sec16.70 sec132 hpFWD
2016S Special Edition Sedan 1.8L I-49.80 sec17.50 sec132 hpFWD
2017iM 5-door Hatchback 1.8L I-49.10 sec17.20 sec137 hpFWD
2017XSE Sedan 1.8L I-49.50 sec17.40 sec132 hpFWD
2014LE Eco Plus Sedan 1.8L I-49.30 sec17.10 sec140 hpFWD
2014LE Eco Premium Sedan 1.8L I-49.50 sec17.40 sec140 hpFWD
2014S Premium Sedan 1.8L I-49.50 sec17.40 sec132 hpFWD
2014S Premium Sedan 1.8L I-49.70 sec17.40 sec132 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine SAE J1703 · DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 27.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidToyota FE CVT fluid
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3.0
Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity2.6
Brake FluidSAE J1703 · DOT 3
Clutch FluidDOT 3 · SAE J1703
Engine CoolantHOAT
Engine Coolant Capacity5.8

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs20 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug27.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs16 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts36.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel HubInstall a new nut and torque to 159.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)900-1050 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerToyota
Spark Plug Gap.039 - .043 (2) in
Spark Plug Torque15 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing10 degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance2 degrees

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity0.85-1.10 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity2.35-2.40 oz
Standard BCI Group Number35
Standard BCI Cranking Performance355 cca

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)44-50 @ idle or fuel pump running psi

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 25; Rear: 25 /; Front: 25; Rear: 26
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 79; Rear: 42 /; Front: 79; Rear: 42
ABS Sensor Torque7.5 / NS
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.039 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: .748; Rear: .295
Maximum Rotor RunoutFront: .002; Rear: .0059
Maximum Drum DiameterParking Brake: 9.030

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9015 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
136 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9036 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
130 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9030 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs at 120,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Floor Mat (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels) · Windshield Wiper Blade (inspect)
Every 10,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning Condenser (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 120,000 miBrake Vacuum Pump (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2016 Corolla recorded 212 consumer complaints, 1 recall, 2 investigations, and 268 technical service bulletins (TSBs), positioning it near the low‑end of the generation’s complaint arc after a sharp decline from the 2009‑2012 peak (e.g., 1,533 complaints in 2009). Compared with the surrounding years, 2015 (218 complaints, 1 recall) and 2017 (187 complaints, 3 recalls) show a similar modest complaint level, while recall activity remains minimal (1‑3 recalls) throughout the 2014‑2018 window. The most frequent issue categories in 2016 were Air Bags (32 reports), Power Train (13), Vehicle Speed Control (12), and Service Brakes (12), with 66 crash‑related complaints and only a single fire complaint, indicating no dominant systemic defect. Overall, 2016 sits in a downward trend of complaints and recalls after the early‑2010s surge, suggesting it is a relatively stable model year. **Takeaway: 2016 is a good year to consider for a used Corolla, given its low complaint and recall counts relative to the broader generation.**

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
268
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
212
Owner complaints
66 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 212 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags32
Power Train13
Vehicle Speed Control12
Service Brakes12
Unknown Or Other11
Air Bags,Seat Belts11
Tires7
Steering7

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

20V024000Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control ModuleReported 17/01/2020

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, and 2013-2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles. During certain crashes, the air bag electronic control… Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ECU and install a noise filter between the air bag control module and its wire harness, as necessary, free of charge…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 268 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
T-SB-0055-24 Rev22026-01-07Unknown Or OtherSome 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…
T-SB-0058-23 Rev12025-06-13Electrical SystemThe air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the…
T-SB-0035-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureAcid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to…
T-SB-0038-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureTo prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film…
T-SB-0039-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureThe condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Corolla. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2016 Corolla have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Corolla get?

EPA figures are 28 city / 36 highway / 31 combined mpg.