Do Toyota Corolla Seats Fold Down? 

The Toyota Corolla is one of the most popular modern car models in the world, and there’s a good reason why. Since Toyota began production in 1966, the Corolla has sold over 45 million units worldwide.

Being one of the most well-known car models globally, the Toyota Corolla accounts for 1 out of every 5 Toyotas sold. It’s an affordable model and very roomy with ample space to ferry whole families to and fro.

A lot of people have childhood memories of being in the back of a Toyota Corolla on some family trip or vacation. From its inception, Toyota has worked towards making daily travel comfortable, and there is no doubt that having foldable seats is part of that.

So do Toyota Corolla seats fold down?

Almost all Toyota Corolla models have seats that you can fold quite easily. With the exception of the standard base model (the pre-2000 models) and the sporty S series, any model you buy from the Toyota Corolla model will have seats that you can fold.

However, as popular as the Toyota Corolla is, it’s not one of the widest vehicles out there. The interior is perfect for transporting people, but there are times when you need to pick up large items from IKEA, for example. 

If you don’t want to rent a truck or pay for delivery, knowing how to fold down the backseat of your Toyota Corolla will be a lifesaver.

While this process might seem simple and basic, it might not be user-friendly. I decided to put together this article to help you figure out if your Toyota Corolla has foldable seats. 

I will look at the rear seat belt systems, then the push button systems, and finally the pull-down systems in the rest of this article. 

How Do You Fold Toyota Corolla Seats That Have A Lever System? 

I recommend reading your owner’s manual first before trying to fold your Corolla’s seats. This is because there are slight variations in the different models, so it’s not a one size fits all. 

However, I am going to give you the most common steps on how to fold Toyota Corolla seats. Hopefully, you won’t have to tweak this process too much.

Almost all models come with a simple latch release system inside the trunk of the car. This allows you to put down the seat with minimal effort, and it won’t take you more than a few seconds to fold the seats down. 

The following steps should be easy to replicate in your Toyota Corolla.

Step 1: Ensure that you remove all your personal items from the backseat of the car. This includes children’s car seats and any other temporary fixtures that you have in the backseat.

Step 2: The next step is to open the trunk and look for a pull lever. It’s usually located in the center at the back of each backseat.

Step 3: Now, you’ll need to pull each lever one at a time. This will disengage the locking mechanism for the back of the seat. Next, push each seat forward to fold it down. This will give you additional space for transporting long or oversized items.

How To Fold Down Toyota Corolla Seats With A String Or Strap System 

Some Corolla models come equipped with a folding system that uses a string or strap located at the rear seats. This system is not as common as the lever system, so you’ll need to verify with your owner’s manual.

If you don’t have access to your owner’s manual, simply look between the seats to check whether there are colored straps or strings on the seat part or on the backrest part. You can access these straps from the trunk of your car.

Once you’ve located the strings, all you need to do is pull on them while pushing the seat back simultaneously. This should fold your seat down. Duplicate the action for all the seats, and you’re good to go.

How Do You Fold Toyota Corolla Seats That Have A Knob/Push Button System? 

Some models come with a knob system or a push-button system. You’ll find this on most classical Toyota Corolla models, except for the pre-2000 models (the standard models).

To activate the folding system, all you need to do is to find where the buttons are. If you don’t have your owner’s manual, then you might need to go on the hunt for them. 

Usually, you’ll find them located on the top of the backseats where the headrests are, and they are typically two buttons, one on each end of the seat. In other models, the buttons will be close to the upper seat belt clip.

Once you’ve located the buttons, press them simultaneously or one by one. This should fold the seats quite easily.

How Do I Create Room If My Toyota Corolla Seats Don’t Fold Down? 

Like I’ve mentioned before, the pre-2000 Corollas don’t come with a folding mechanism. So if you own one of these classic models, you might need to temporarily remove the lower seat cushion to create more room.

To do this, you’ll need to push in the release lever and pull it up. Next, you’ll need to remove the two bolts holding the upper seat cushion and lift them up and out.

To remove the entire back seats, first, check your owner’s manual.

Tools you’ll need:

● Socket Set

● Combination Wrenches (box wrench)

● 10 mm flare nut wrench

Step 1: First, you have to remove the rear seat bottom. With the bottom out of the way, you will see the three bolts that hold the seat in place.

Step 2: Next, you’ll need to remove the bolt on the bottom of the seat. You’ll find this bolt located by the passenger side door. There will be another bolt on the bottom of the seat by the driver’s door. Remove this as well. The last bolt will be at the center of the back seat.

Step 3: Once all three bolts are removed, you can easily pull out the back seat now.

This should give you more room if you have an old Toyota Corolla model that doesn’t have foldable seats.

Final Thoughts 

Most modern Toyota Corolla models have foldable rear seats. This has many advantages in today’s world. 

Space is extremely important, and sometimes you don’t have the time or the money to look for a delivery vehicle for things you can easily carry in your Toyota Corolla.

Remember to always refer to your owner’s manual to see how you can fold your Toyota Corolla seats. If that is not available, try contacting Toyota; you should be able to get some assistance from them if none of the above information helps.