If you are considering buying a used Toyota Auris, there are several major reliability issues worth knowing about first. Our garage database tracks 5 known faults for this model, 4 of them rated high severity. Every one below is a repair bill a seller has good reason not to mention.
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Generation 1 of 23 known faults · 20 owner reports · 7 good notes
Toyota Auris Mk1 (E150) (2006 to 2012) problems
Engine/EmissionsHigh severity📝 Editorial
Electrolytic corrosion around cylinder liners causing head gasket seal failure
Rough guide
£1500-3000
Typical symptoms
coolant loss
overheating
heater blowing cold air
mayonnaise-like sludge under oil cap
Affected vehicles
Engines:
2.2 D-4D (AD Engine)
Typical mileage:
60000-120000 miles
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Engine/EmissionsMedium severity📝 Editorial
Piston ring design allows excessive carbon build-up, leading to severe oil consumption
Rough guide
£1000-2000
Typical symptoms
burning 1L of oil every 1000 miles
blue smoke on acceleration
carbon fouled spark plugs causing misfires
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.33 Dual VVT-i (1NR-FE)
Typical mileage:
50000-90000 miles
1 more owner report backs this up
April 2014A 2010 Auris 1.33 VVTI TR with 22,000 miles experienced carbon build-up inside its engine, attributed to low-grade petrol.
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Transmission/ClutchHigh severity📝 Editorial
MMT actuator and ECU failure causing the car to drop into neutral while driving or refuse to select gears
Rough guide
£600-1200
Typical symptoms
red cog warning light on dashboard
car suddenly drops into 'N' while driving
refuses to shift out of neutral when parked
Affected vehicles
Engines:
All MMT (MultiMode) Automatics
Typical mileage:
50000-90000 miles
1 more owner report backs this up
July 2018A 2008 Toyota Auris 1.6 TR with 98,000 miles experienced MMT automated manual transmission issues, dropping into neutral and refusing to engage gears.
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What owners report on the Mk1 (E150)
20 single reports, unconfirmed
One owner each, in their own words rewritten as a line, and not counted in our risk scoring. A fault joins the list above once a second report or an editorial source backs it.
Exhaust · September 2019A Toyota Auris hybrid had its catalytic converter stolen; replacement parts and anti-theft devices were unavailable.
Exhaust · August 2019Catalytic converters were stolen from Toyota Auris models using electric hacksaws, indicating a vulnerability to theft.
Cooling · April 2019A 2009 Toyota Auris required a new coolant pump in 2018, followed by a new rear brake calliper in 2019.
Engine · August 2017A Toyota Auris hybrid consumed one litre of engine oil every 2,000 kilometres, indicating excessive oil usage.
Fuel system · August 2017Fuel injectors failed on a 2009 Toyota Auris 2.0 D-4D, with Toyota attributing the issue to poor maintenance.
Interior · June 2017A first-generation Auris had uneven air conditioning, with the driver's side blowing cold and the passenger's side warmer, due to low refrigerant.
Suspension and steering · May 2017A 2011 Auris developed a knocking sound from the steering column when driving over rough surfaces, diagnosed as a faulty universal joint.
Bodywork · April 2017A 2011 Toyota Auris with 52,000 miles showed extensive rusting underneath, requiring monitoring at six-month intervals.
Gearbox and clutch · February 2017A 2012 Auris with 21,000 miles developed a leak from the near-side driveshaft, which was subsequently repaired under warranty.
Suspension and steering · June 2016A 2007 Toyota Auris 1.4 required a new steering column, incurring a repair cost of £1,000.
Gearbox and clutch · March 2016A 2007 Toyota Auris 1.6 T-Spirit experienced clutch and dual-mass flywheel failure at 27,040 miles.
Brakes · September 2015A 2007 Auris 1.6 petrol with 146,000 kilometres suffered a C1330 fault with its ABS/ESC Module, replaced free of charge by Toyota.
Brakes · May 2014An 8,500-mile, 20-month-old Auris had heavy corrosion on its front brake discs, likely to be replaced under warranty.
Bodywork · January 2014A 2007 Auris had its spare wheel well fill with water due to a one-way vent failure, costing £384 to fix.
Electrics · February 2013The HSD hybrid system in an Auris flattened its batteries if left unused for two to three weeks.
Bodywork · December 2012Auris models can suffer water leaks into the spare wheel well through one-way cabin vent flaps, which Toyota later modified.
Engine · November 2012The Auris lacks warning lights or bleeps for low oil levels, and in one instance, the low oil pressure system also failed.
Electrics · February 2012The power steering of a 25,000-mile June 2007 Auris diesel failed, requiring a new computer controller, supplied free by Toyota.
Engine · January 20122.2-litre diesel Auris models can experience DPF regeneration problems leading to overfuelling, potentially damaging piston rings and bores.
Electrics · January 2012Auris HSD models not driven regularly can lose 12v auxiliary battery capacity, requiring a trickle charger to maintain charge.
What owners like about the Mk1 (E150)
7 notes
The Toyota Auris front bumper achieved an Acceptable rating in ABI Thatcham damageability tests in late 2007.
The Auris hatchback received a 5-star NCAP rating in 2006, scoring 35 points with strong adult and child occupant protection.
The Toyota Auris was ranked the fifth most reliable 3-5 year old family car in a 2012 Warranty Direct claims analysis.
The Auris placed second in its class in the Small Family Car category of the 2012 UK JD Power Customer Satisfaction Survey.
The Auris offers a decent combination of ride and handling, potentially suiting some drivers better than a Golf or Civic.
The T180/SR180 2.2 diesel engine provides a quick yet soft driving experience.
The excellent hybrid version is considered the best option within the Auris range.
Generation 2 of 22 known faults · 11 owner reports · 1 good note
Toyota Auris Mk2 (E180) (2012 to 2018) problems
Engine/EmissionsHigh severity📝 Editorial
EGR cooler blockage leading to localized overheating and head gasket failure
Rough guide
£1200-2500
Typical symptoms
loud metallic 'death rattle' or shaking on cold start
unexplained coolant loss
misfire fault codes (P0300 series)
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.8 Hybrid (2ZR-FXE)
Typical mileage:
100000-150000 miles
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ElectricalHigh severity🏛️ Official recall
Intelligent Power Module (IPM) inside the inverter fails, causing the hybrid system to shut down
Rough guide
£2000-3000
Typical symptoms
'Check Hybrid System' warning on dash
sudden loss of motive power while driving
car enters limp mode
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.8 Hybrid
Typical mileage:
80000-150000 miles
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What owners report on the Mk2 (E180)
11 single reports, unconfirmed
One owner each, in their own words rewritten as a line, and not counted in our risk scoring. A fault joins the list above once a second report or an editorial source backs it.
Electrics · January 2020A 2013 Toyota Auris hybrid stopped at traffic lights and could not restart, with a preliminary check showing a flat battery.
Exhaust · August 2019A spate of catalytic converter thefts was reported from Toyota Auris models, which are easily cut off with electric hacksaws.
Gearbox and clutch · March 2019A 2017 Toyota Auris experienced clutch failure at 56,000 kilometres (35,000 miles) in Ireland.
Electrics · June 2018The intruder alarm of a 2016 Toyota Auris activated at night when using walk-away locking, but not with manual locking.
Suspension and steering · December 2017A 2014 Toyota Auris had a broken near-side front spring, possibly due to crossing speed cushions incorrectly.
Gearbox and clutch · September 2017A 2016 Toyota Auris experienced clutch failure at 6,000 miles, with the dealer attributing it to driver error and quoting £595 for repair.
Electrics · January 2017The Toyota Safety Sense system in a 2015 Auris frequently displayed warnings and disconnected in certain weather conditions or at night.
Electrics · August 2015Toyota issued an advisory for current sat-navs with Software Version 2.8.4al, requiring a free upgrade to fix nonsense directions.
Bodywork · July 2015An 11,000-mile 2013 Auris Excel developed a cracking noise from the front near-side, requiring re-welding of spot welds.
Electrics · April 2015The sat-nav in an Auris HSD occasionally confused its spoken directions for turning left and turning right.
Interior · June 2013The sat-nav screen of an Auris Excel model was difficult to see in bright sunlight, affecting usability.
What owners like about the Mk2 (E180)
1 note
The Auris achieved a 5-star Euro NCAP Crash Safety Rating, with high scores for adult and child occupant protection.
Sellers rarely admit these faults outright
We track 13 specific phrases sellers use in adverts to soft-pedal these exact issues. Paste any Toyota Auris advert and we check it in seconds.
Toyota Auris service intervals: cambelt, chain and gearbox oil
An overdue cambelt is the most expensive thing a seller can fail to mention on a used Auris. These are the figures UK specialists work to.
Timing chainChain
2.0 D-4D, 2.0 D4D, 1AD-FTV
No fixed replacement interval
The 2.0 D-4D (1AD-FTV) is chain driven with no scheduled replacement, and the chain itself is rarely the failure point. This engine family's real reputation is head gasket failure and progressive oil consumption; Toyota ran piston-replacement campaigns that did not fully cure the oil burning. On an oil-burning example check the level religiously, because a low sump is exactly what starves the chain tensioner. Injector coking is also documented.
Hybrid transaxle (eCVT) fluid
60,000 miles
Toyota officially treats the WS transaxle fluid as sealed for life with inspection only and no scheduled change, but Toyota dealers and hybrid specialists both recommend a proactive drain and fill at 60,000 miles, within a 60,000-100,000 mile range, roughly halved for taxi or heavy stop-start use. It is about 4 litres of Toyota WS fluid and is cheap insurance for the motor-generators on a high-mileage hybrid. The absence of any fluid change on a 100,000-mile-plus example is worth noting, not treating as a fault.
Always confirm against the vehicle handbook. Intervals vary by engine, and several manufacturers revised theirs after failures in service.
Repair costs are typical UK ranges, not quotes. Actual cost depends on condition and garage.Data last verified: June 2026
Toyota Auris buying questions
Is a used Toyota Auris reliable?
The Toyota Auris has 5 known faults in our database across 2 generations, 4 of them rated high severity. The most serious are engine (electrolytic corrosion around cylinder liners causing head gasket seal failure) and engine (EGR cooler blockage leading to localized overheating and head gasket failure). None of them makes the car a bad buy on its own; the risk is a seller who knows and says nothing.
What are the most common Toyota Auris problems?
Three stand out. Engine: electrolytic corrosion around cylinder liners causing head gasket seal failure (typically 60000 to 120000 miles). Engine: EGR cooler blockage leading to localized overheating and head gasket failure (typically 100000 to 150000 miles). Gearbox: MMT actuator and ECU failure causing the car to drop into neutral while driving or refuse to select (typically 50000 to 90000 miles). The full list above is grouped by generation, with typical mileage and a rough repair cost for each.
Which Toyota Auris years should I avoid?
No Toyota Auris year is a write-off, but the Mk1 (E150) (2006 to 2012) carries the most serious faults: engine and gearbox. The Mk2 (E180) (2012 to 2018) has high-severity faults on record too. Year matters less than whether the specific car has had the known fixes, so check the history for them.
What should I check when viewing a used Toyota Auris?
Ask the seller about the engine and gearbox faults on this page and whether they have been fixed, with invoices. On the test drive watch for coolant loss, loud metallic 'death rattle' or shaking on cold start and red cog warning light on dashboard. Read the MOT history for repeat advisories, then paste the advert into the free check, which reads it against all 5 known faults before you travel. Check a Toyota Auris advert →
What is the real MPG of a Toyota Auris?
Owners report 48.6 mpg on average across the Toyota Auris engines with data, about 84% of the official combined figure. The gap between official and real-world economy varies a lot by engine, so the Real MPG page lists every engine and generation separately, from 2,018 owner submissions. Toyota Auris Real MPG by engine →
If you used to check the Honest John “Good & Bad” section before the site closed in 2026, this page is where that information now lives. We rebuilt the Toyota Auris owner-report history from the archived Honest John dataset, added our own research, specialist and owner-club sources and DVSA recall data, and we keep it free. Each fault above is badged with its source. The same data feeds our free advert check, which reads a listing against every known fault for the exact engine and year.
Knowing what a Toyota Auris goes wrong with is half of it. The rest is reading the advert and checking the car's history before you hand any money over.