ToyotaCorolla2018Overview/toyota/corolla/2018/base/

2018 Toyota Corolla

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2018 Corolla.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (AV-S7)

The 2018 Toyota Corolla is a passenger car equipped with an AV‑S7 automatic transmission and an EPA‑rated fuel economy of 28/35 mpg city/highway (31 mpg combined). Its reliability headline records 133 total owner complaints, with air‑bag issues as the top complaint area and three recalls issued, figures that are far below the model’s historic peak of 1,533 complaints in 2009 and only slightly above the recent low of 11 complaints reported for 2026. Placing the 2018 Corolla in this context shows it sits at a favorable point in the nameplate’s long‑term complaint trend, indicating a step toward the improved reliability seen in later years.

Model year202620252024202320222021202020192018

Quick specs

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

Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy28/35/31 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses 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.

Tail / brake / turnINDICATOROEM · verified
Tire sizeP195/65R15, P205/55R16, P215/45R17OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.0, 6.5, 7.0 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter90915YZZN1
Engine air filter178010T030
Spark plug9091901275
Battery2880037130
Front wiper blades852120R050 alt 8522202280
Serpentine belt90916A2024 alt 90916A2016
Thermostat90916A3004 alt 9091603144
Cabin air filter8713950100 alt 8713907020

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 / 35 / 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.

9.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.90 sec — 2018 XSE Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2018XSE Sedan 1.8L I-49.90 sec17.50 sec132 hpFWD
2019SE 5-door Hatchback 2.0L I-47.40 sec15.80 sec168 hpFWD
2019XSE 5-door Hatchback 2.0L I-47.40 sec15.90 sec168 hpFWD
2019XSE 5-door Hatchback 2.0L I-47.50 sec16.00 sec168 hpFWD
2019SE 5-door Hatchback 2.0L I-48.30 sec16.40 sec168 hpFWD
2019XSE 5-door Hatchback 2.0L I-48.50 sec16.50 sec168 hpFWD
2019XSE 5-door Hatchback 2.0L I-48.60 sec16.50 sec168 hpFWD
2020SE Sedan 2.0L I-47.80 sec16.10 sec169 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs20 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts140.0 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts21 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts17mm
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts21 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts17mm
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts21 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts17mm

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub159.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerToyota
Spark Plug Gap.039
Spark Plug Torque15 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity0.88-1.15 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity2.37 oz

Service checks

Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum44.0 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum50.0 psi
RPM44.0-50.0 @ Idle rpm
Residual Pressure21.0.
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum44.0 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum50.0 psi
RPM44.0-50.0 @ Idle rpm
Residual Pressure21.0

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 25; Rear: 26
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 79; Rear: 42
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)
At 15,000 miCabin Air Filter (inspect)
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 (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · 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 2018 Toyota Corolla recorded 133 complaints and 3 recalls, positioning it among the lowest complaint years in the recent generation. Compared with 2017 (187 complaints, 3 recalls) and 2019 (200 complaints, 6 recalls), the 2018 model shows a modest decline in both metrics. Its top reported issue categories are Air Bags (18 complaints) and Fuel System, Gasoline (11 complaints), reflecting the most frequent complaint areas for that year. The vehicle experienced 25 crash‑related complaints and 5 fire‑related complaints, consistent with the lower overall complaint volume observed in 2018. Consequently, based on the data, the 2018 model offers a comparatively low‑risk purchase relative to its immediate predecessors and successors.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
183
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
133
Owner complaints
25 involved a crash · 5 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 133 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags18
Fuel System, Gasoline11
Air Bags,Fuel/Propulsion System9
Unknown Or Other8
Fuel/Propulsion System6
Service Brakes6
Vehicle Speed Control6
Seat Belts5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

19V503000Equipment:Other:LabelsReported 28/06/2019

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification… Remedy: SET will notify owners and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer…

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 183 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 2018 Corolla have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 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 / 35 highway / 31 combined mpg.