Known Faults Database

Toyota Aygo problems, reliability and years to avoid

If you are considering buying a used Toyota Aygo, these are the common problems worth knowing about first. Our garage database tracks 8 known faults for this model, 1 of them rated high severity. Every one below is a repair bill a seller has good reason not to mention.

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Is the Toyota Aygo reliable?

The Toyota Aygo has 8 known faults in our database, 1 of them rated high severity. The most serious are gearbox (the MMT (Multi-Mode Transmission) automated manual gearbox is prone to various failures) and gearbox (premature clutch wear on the 1.0 petrol, with water reaching the clutch). None of them makes the car a bad buy on its own; the risk is a seller who knows and says nothing.

That is a count of the faults we hold, not a reliability score. Popular cars get written about more, and a newer generation has had less time to show its faults.

Which Toyota Aygo years should you avoid?

No year is a write-off on its own. What matters is which serious faults a given year and engine can have, and whether the car in front of you has had them fixed.

Years and engines with a serious known fault

  • 2005 to 2014, MMT Automated Manual Transmission: the MMT (Multi-Mode Transmission) automated manual gearbox is prone to various

Each one is set out in full below, with the symptoms, the typical mileage and a rough repair cost.

Generation 1 of 18 known faults · 8 owner reports · 5 good notes

Toyota Aygo Mk1 (2005 to 2014) problems

Transmission/ClutchMedium severity📝 Editorial

Premature clutch wear on the 1.0 petrol, with water reaching the clutch and causing surface corrosion. Some clutches lasted as little as two and a half years. Cars from the January 2009 facelift were built with a larger 190mm clutch, and a technical bulletin covered replacing the original 180mm clutch on earlier cars.

Rough guide
£600

Typical symptoms

  • Clutch slipping under acceleration
  • High biting point on the clutch pedal
  • Noise from the clutch in stop and go traffic

Affected vehicles

Engines:
1.0 VVT-i
Typical mileage:
unknown miles
1 more owner report backs this up
  • October 2016The clutch failed on a 2013 Toyota Aygo after only 8,000 miles of use on a small island.
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
Engine/EmissionsMedium severity📝 Editorial

The water pump on the 1.0 three-cylinder petrol is prone to leaking, with failures commonly reported from around three years old. Left unchecked, a leaking pump lets the coolant level drop and the engine can overheat.

Rough guide
£334

Typical symptoms

  • Coolant leaks or crusty coolant staining below the pump
  • Coolant level dropping between services
  • Temperature gauge climbing

Affected vehicles

Engines:
1.0 VVT-i Petrol
Typical mileage:
unknown miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
OtherMedium severity📝 Editorial

Water ingress into the boot and rear footwells, often via extractor vents, misfitted rear door/hatch seals, rear light seals, or pop-out rear windows on 5-door models. This can lead to damp carpets, mould, and electrical issues.

Rough guide
£200-600

Typical symptoms

  • Damp carpets in the boot or rear footwells
  • Mouldy smell inside the car
  • Condensation on interior windows
  • Water visible in the spare wheel well

Affected vehicles

Engines:
All variants
Typical mileage:
30000-80000 miles
1 more owner report backs this up
  • February 2016The rear light units of a 2012 Aygo required replacement six times due to water ingress.
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
Transmission/ClutchHigh severity📝 Editorial

The MMT (Multi-Mode Transmission) automated manual gearbox is prone to various failures, including jerky operation, slipping clutch, actuator failure, and complete loss of drive. Repairs are very expensive, often leading to the car being an economic write-off.

Rough guide
£1500-2500

Typical symptoms

  • Jerking or shaking during gear changes
  • Clutch slipping, especially under acceleration
  • Intermittent 'beeping' sounds from the gearbox
  • Loss of gear selection display or complete loss of drive

Affected vehicles

Engines:
MMT Automated Manual Transmission
Typical mileage:
50000-90000 miles
5 more owner reports back this up
  • October 2019The MMT actuator on a 2007 Toyota Aygo automated manual failed, following a clutch replacement in 2017 for £600.
  • July 2018A 2009 Toyota Aygo 1.0 MMT developed intermittent beeping, followed by clutch slipping during driving.
  • February 2018A 2011 Toyota Aygo MMT automated manual experienced mis-shifting and a slipping noise when accelerating.
  • June 2014The automated manual transmission of a 2007 Aygo MMT was jerking and shaking intermittently.
  • June 2014The automated manual transmission of a 2007 Aygo was jerking and shaking intermittently.
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SteeringMedium severity📝 Editorial

Reports of electric power steering failures occurring at 3-4 years old, requiring replacement of the power steering motor. While some failures may be user-induced (holding on full lock), it is a known expensive fault.

Rough guide
£650-800

Typical symptoms

  • Heavy steering, especially at low speeds
  • Intermittent loss of power assistance
  • Power steering warning light on dashboard

Affected vehicles

Engines:
Electric Power Steering (EPS) system
Typical mileage:
30000-60000 miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
OtherMedium severity📝 Editorial

On 5-door models, the glue holding the rear pop-out windows to their hinges can fail, causing the windows to detach or fall out. This was subject to a recall in January 2019.

Rough guide
£200-400

Typical symptoms

  • Rear pop-out window feels loose or detached
  • Window falls out when opened or during driving
  • Increased wind noise from the rear

Affected vehicles

Engines:
5-door models
Typical mileage:
50000-100000 miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
Engine/EmissionsMedium severity📝 Editorial

The 1.0 VVT-i petrol engine can develop excessive oil consumption, often attributed to failing valve stem oil seals. This can lead to the oil warning light flashing during cornering and requires frequent oil top-ups.

Rough guide
£500-800

Typical symptoms

  • Frequent need to top up engine oil
  • Oil warning light flashing, especially during cornering
  • Difficulty getting an accurate dipstick reading
  • No visible smoke from the exhaust on startup

Affected vehicles

Engines:
1.0 VVT-i Petrol
Typical mileage:
70000-100000 miles
2 more owner reports back this up
  • April 2019A used 2007 Toyota Aygo with 85,000 miles consumed engine oil at approximately one litre per 1,000 miles.
  • October 2016A 2006 Toyota Aygo consumed approximately half a litre of engine oil every thousand miles, likely needing new valve stem oil seals.
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Engine/EmissionsMedium severity📝 Editorial

A whirring whine from the 1.4 diesel can be a failing timing belt tensioner. The water pump is driven by the same belt, so it is sensible to replace it at the same time.

Typical symptoms

  • Whirring or whining noise from the engine that changes with revs

Affected vehicles

Engines:
1.4 D-4D diesel
Typical mileage:
unknown miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →

What owners report on the Mk1

8 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.

  • Engine · October 2018A 2012 Toyota Aygo 1.0 Ice used a significant amount of oil, with the warning light flashing during cornering.
  • Engine · October 2016A 2006 Toyota Aygo started using engine oil at approximately 0.5 litres per 1,000 miles.
  • Bodywork · March 2016A March 2014 registered Aygo experienced repeated water leaks through its doors.
  • Electrics · September 2015The MirrorLink system in a 2015 Aygo was incompatible with iPhone models newer than the 4S, including 5, 5S, and 6.
  • Gearbox and clutch · April 2015The automated manual transmission in a 2006 Aygo developed a persistent 'beeping' sound during operation.
  • Engine · February 2013A 2009 Aygo suffered a mysterious engine fire after being parked for 30 hours, rendering the car a write-off.
  • Bodywork · July 2012Red paint on the plastic front bumpers of an Aygo was observed to be peeling off.
  • Brakes · February 2011A parking brake caliper seized, causing wear to the rear brake disc, pad, and clutch.

What owners like about the Mk1

5 notes
  • The Toyota Aygo was rated as the fourth most reliable car from 1997-2009 by Warranty Direct.
  • This small car offers impressive refinement, which is particularly noticeable when travelling at motorway speeds.
  • The interior quality feels improved compared to the original Aygo and is also hardwearing.
  • The 1.0-litre engine possesses a good character and proves to be very economical to operate.
  • Customisation packs make it simple to choose from the many options available for personalising the vehicle.

Sellers rarely admit these faults outright

We track 22 specific phrases sellers use in adverts to soft-pedal these exact issues. Paste any Toyota Aygo advert and we check it in seconds.

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Toyota Aygo recalls

Recall work is done by the manufacturer, and GOV.UK says you will not usually have to pay for it. These are the 13 DVSA recalls for the Aygo, newest first. They do not tell you whether this particular car has had the work: for that, put the registration into the free GOV.UK MOT history check, which shows a recall status where the manufacturer shares it, or ask a franchised dealer to check the VIN.

🏛️ June 2024Cars built December 2023 to January 2024

Audio Head Unit Replacement on Certain Aygo X

Affected vehicles are equipped with an audio head unit which has map data and speed limit information which are used as an input for the ISA (Intelligent Speed Assistance). Due to inappropriate software there is a possibility that the audio head unit display turns black and the unit stops working. If this condition occurs the rear camera image is not displayed during reverse manoeuvres and the ISA function does not work. As a result the vehicles do not comply with EU regulations and the risk of an accident increases.

Put right by: Replace the audio head unit.

DVSA R/2024/195349 vehicles affected in the UK
🏛️ October 2023Cars built September 2022 to August 2023

On affected vehicles there is a possibility that the DCM may not complete the shutdown process within a specific period of time when the ignition is turned off causing the DCM to not restart at the next ignition cycle and making the e-Call function unavailable. As a result the vehicles do not comply with relevant regulations.

On affected vehicles there is a possibility that the DCM may not complete the shutdown process within a specific period of time when the ignition is turned off causing the DCM to not restart at the next ignition cycle and making the e-Call function unavailable. As a result the vehicles do not comply with relevant regulations.

Put right by: The software of the DCM (Data Communication Module) will be updated via an Over the Air (OTA) wireless update.

DVSA R/2023/27927,327 vehicles affected in the UK
🏛️ April 2023Cars built August 2022 to September 2022

Certain transmission front suspension and battery terminal fixings may not be tightened correctly.

Certain transmission front suspension and battery terminal fixings may not be tightened correctly.

Put right by: Check and tighten all fixings to the correct torque.

DVSA R/2023/0595 vehicles affected in the UK
🏛️ November 2022Cars built February 2022 to April 2022

Possibility of a wrong brake pedal installed.

There is a possibility that the wrong brake pedal was installed.

Put right by: Inspect and if necessary replace Brake Pedal Support Assy.

DVSA R/2022/286414 vehicles affected in the UK
🏛️ November 2022Cars built March 2022 to May 2022

Curtain shield airbag straps that support proper airbag deployment might not have been routed correctly

There is a possibility curtain airbag straps may not have been routed in the correct orientation.

Put right by: Inspect the straps used to assist in curtain shield airbag deployment and correct any improperly assembled straps.

DVSA R/2022/288763 vehicles affected in the UK
🏛️ November 2022Cars built June 2022 to August 2022

Due to an improper lubricant used during the manufacturing process the improper lubricant might contaminate the vacuum check valve

Due to an improper lubricant used during the manufacturing process the improper lubricant might contaminate the vacuum check valve.

Put right by: Replace the VCV (Vacuum Check Valve) on the brake booster.

DVSA R/2022/311520 vehicles affected in the UK
🏛️ January 2021Cars built August 2020 to October 2020

Some rear inner seat belts may have incorrect stitching on the belt material

On affected vehicles some rear inner seat belts may have incorrect stitching on the belt material.

Put right by: Check seat belts and relace if necessary.

DVSA R/2020/3511,046 vehicles affected in the UK
🏛️ October 2020Cars built June 2020 to June 2020

It may not be possible to switch headlights from high beam to low beam or low beam to high beam

It may not be possible to switch headlights from high beam to low beam or low beam to high beam.

Put right by: Replace the Headlamp Units

DVSA R/2020/254106 vehicles affected in the UK
🏛️ January 2019Cars built February 2005 to December 2013

There is a possibility that the glue holding the glass on the rear door could detach

There is a possibility that the glue holding the glass on the rear door could detach.

Put right by: Inspect and repair or replace the rear window glass if necessary.

DVSA R/2018/31588,784 vehicles affected in the UK
🏛️ January 2019Cars built August 2011 to June 2016

An incorrect tooling setup during the manufacturing of the fuel tank may result in reduced wall thickness or small pin hole in the tank's bottom surface

An incorrect tooling setup during the manufacturing of the fuel tank may result in reduced wall thickness

Put right by: Check the serial number and replace the fuel tank if necessary.

DVSA R/2018/3169 vehicles affected in the UK
🏛️ June 2016Cars built September 2014 to October 2014

Steering column may fail unexpectedly

A component of the steering column may not be to specification and could fail. If this occurs there would be a loss of directional control.

Put right by: The manufacturer will contact keepers of affected vehicles and advise not to use the vehicle. Examine vehicles and on those with the affected component replace the steering column.

DVSA R/2016/149481 vehicles affected in the UK
🏛️ January 2015Cars built June 2013 to August 2013

Loss of control

The front shock absorber rod may have an internal fault which could cause it to break. This could have an adverse affect on the front suspension and the driver's ability to control the vehicle.

Put right by: On affected vehicles replace both front shock absorbers.

DVSA R/2014/1722,128 vehicles affected in the UK
🏛️ March 2014Cars built July 2013 to August 2013

Directional control may be lost

On subject vehicles there is a possibility that a wld on the rear axle may not be sufficient. In the worst case scenarios this could cause a break in connection between rear axle and the body. This could cause difficulty in controlling the vehicle.

Put right by: Owners of subject vehicles to be contacted by first class post (using DVLA records). Inspect subject vehicles and if fault found replace rear axle.

DVSA R/2014/0201,812 vehicles affected in the UK

Recall data published by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence v3.0. A recall listed here may not apply to every car of this model: the build dates and the registration check are what decide it.

Toyota Aygo timing chain, and service intervals

A timing chain has no change interval, which is not the same as lasting for ever. Listen for it on a used Aygo, and check the oil has been changed on time. These are the figures UK specialists work to.

Timing chainChain
1KR-FE, 1.0 VVT-I
No fixed replacement interval

Chain driven with no scheduled replacement. The weak point is the oil-fed tensioner: skipped oil changes sludge its feed orifice and the chain then rattles and stretches. Stretched chains are documented as early as 45,000 miles on neglected cars, with a repair around GBP 580 including the water pump. A cold-start rattle that persists needs immediate investigation.

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: September 2026

Toyota Aygo buying questions

What are the most common Toyota Aygo problems?

Three stand out. Gearbox: the MMT (Multi-Mode Transmission) automated manual gearbox is prone to various failures (typically 50000 to 90000 miles). Gearbox: premature clutch wear on the 1.0 petrol, with water reaching the clutch. Engine: the water pump on the 1.0 three-cylinder petrol is prone to leaking. The full list above is grouped by generation, with typical mileage and a rough repair cost for each.

Which Toyota Aygo years should I avoid?

No Toyota Aygo year is a write-off, but the Mk1 (2005 to 2014) carries the most serious faults: gearbox. 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 Aygo?

Ask the seller about the gearbox and engine faults on this page and whether they have been fixed, with invoices. On the test drive watch for jerking or shaking during gear changes, clutch slipping under acceleration and coolant leaks or crusty coolant staining below the pump. Read the MOT history for repeat advisories, then paste the advert into the free check, which reads it against all 8 known faults before you travel. Check a Toyota Aygo advert →

Are there any recalls on the Toyota Aygo?

The DVSA lists 13 safety recalls for the Toyota Aygo issued between 2014 and 2024. The most recent, from June 2024, is "Audio Head Unit Replacement on Certain Aygo X". Recall work is done by the manufacturer, and GOV.UK says you will not usually have to pay for it. This list is by model, so it cannot tell you whether one particular car has had the work: the free GOV.UK MOT history check shows a recall status from the registration where the manufacturer shares it, and a franchised dealer can check the VIN.

What is the real MPG of a Toyota Aygo?

Owners report 55.1 mpg on average across the Toyota Aygo engines with data, about 94% 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 616 owner submissions. Toyota Aygo Real MPG by engine →

Looking at a Toyota Aygo right now? Check the advert before you go and see it.

Where this Toyota Aygo fault data comes from

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 Aygo 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.

CarAdCheck is not affiliated with Honest John or Volkswagen Financial Services. What happened to Honest John, and where each feature lives now.

Before you go and see it

Knowing what a Toyota Aygo 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.

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