Used car safety, rank #164 of 188
Toyota Corolla hatchback Safety Rating (2020-23)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2020-23 Toyota Corolla hatchback, a small car, compared with its class and with the current model.
IIHS 2026 edition Β· 2021β2024 crashes. Results apply only to the model years and drivetrain shown. Read the new release and its limits Β· Browse the older edition. Prices and reliability from older model years have not been carried forward.
The 2020-23 Toyota Corolla hatchback has an IIHS driver death rate of 51 per million registered vehicle years against a small cars average of 79, which is 35% below the class average. That places it #164 of 188 used vehicles with a safety score of 17.4/100.
What the Toyota Corolla hatchback death rate means
At 51 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Toyota Corolla hatchback beats the small cars average of 79 by 35%. The 95% confidence interval is 9 to 93, so the upper end of the range overlaps the class average and the advantage is not certain.
The other-driver death rate of 46 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Toyota Corolla hatchback. Its 95% confidence interval is 13β79. It is no higher than the Toyota Corolla hatchback's own driver death rate. 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 hatchback highlighted. It ranks 5 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Honda Civic hatchback at a death rate of 28.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Civic hatchback | 2022-23 | 28 (3 to 52) | 36.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Mazda 3 2WD | 2020-23 | 46 (5 to 87) | 19.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Subaru WRX | 2022-23 | 51 (25 to 76) | 17.4 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Corolla hybrid 2WD | 2020-23 | 51 (24 to 79) | 17.4 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Corolla hatchback (this page) | 2020-23 | 51 (9 to 93) | 17.4 | n/a | n/a |
| Honda Civic | 2022-23 | 58 (33 to 83) | 14.0 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Corolla | 2020-23 | 71 (59 to 84) | 11.4 | n/a | n/a |
| Hyundai Elantra | 2021-23 | 80 (52 to 107) | 10.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Nissan Sentra | 2020-23 | 81 (60 to 103) | 10.3 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for small cars: 79 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new Toyota Corolla hatchback
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current Toyota Corolla hatchback 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 Cross | No award | 81.3 |
| 2026 | Toyota Corolla (Hatchback) | No award | 79.6 (provisional) |
| 2026 | Toyota Corolla (Sedan) | No award | 74.9 |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 17.4 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 hatchback
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.
8 recall campaigns on the 2023 model year, covering back over prevention, steering, service brakes, electric, equipment, air bags, electrical system.
-
Back over prevention: warnings, external/pedestrian alert
Risk: Insufficient pedestrian warning sounds may fail to alert pedestrians of a reversing vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will update the software for the pedestrian warning sounds, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 1, 2026.
-
Steering: column
Risk: A deactivated driver's air bag will not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly as necessary, free of charge.
-
Steering
Risk: A steering shaft that detaches can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the intermediate steering shaft, free of charge.
-
Service brakes, electric: software/programming
Risk: A loss of power brake assist can extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the skid control ECU software, free of charge.
-
Equipment: other, labels
Risk: A vehicle with an incorrect maximum capacity weight value may be overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GST will mail new labels to owners, free of charge.
-
Air bags: frontal
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the instrument panel as necessary, free of charge.
-
Steering: column
Risk: A deactivated driver's air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly, if necessary, free of charge.
-
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the instrument panel, if necessary, free of charge.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-16. 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 2023. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Toyota Corolla hatchback: Common Questions
Is the Toyota Corolla hatchback a safe car?
Yes, by the measure that matters most. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 51 per million registered vehicle years for the 2020-23 Toyota Corolla hatchback, 35% below the class average (79 for small cars). That earns a used-car safety score of 17.4 out of 100 and rank #164 of 188 used vehicles.
What is the Toyota Corolla hatchback driver death rate?
51 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 9 to 93. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Toyota Corolla hatchback died at a rate of 46 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2020-23 models.
How does the Toyota Corolla hatchback compare with other small cars?
The small cars class averages 79 driver deaths per million; the Toyota Corolla hatchback sits at 51. Among the 9 small cars compared above it ranks 5 by safety score; the top of that group is the Honda Civic hatchback with a death rate of 28.