If you are considering buying a used Toyota Yaris, there are several major reliability issues worth knowing about first. Our garage database tracks 12 known faults for this model, 8 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 32 known faults · 10 good notes
Toyota Yaris Mk1 (1999 to 2005) problems
Transmission/ClutchHigh severity📝 Editorial
Loss of automatic clutch system fluid via the accumulator seals, leading to total loss of gear selection. This issue is not monitored by a warning light. Dealers have reportedly misdiagnosed this as an actuator or ECU fault, quoting much higher repair costs.
Rough guide
£344 (accumulator) - 1500 (misdiagnosed ECU)
Typical symptoms
Sudden inability to select gears
Car stuck in neutral
No warning light illuminated
Affected vehicles
Engines:
Freetronic semi-automatic transmission
Typical mileage:
Unknown miles
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Engine/EmissionsHigh severity📝 Editorial
Timing chains on the 1.0 VVT-i engine have been known to snap without warning, potentially due to dirty oil. This is a catastrophic engine failure.
Rough guide
£1500-2500+
Typical symptoms
Sudden engine cut-out
Engine will not restart
Loud metallic noise from engine bay prior to failure
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.0 VVT-i (1SZ-FE)
Typical mileage:
40000+ miles
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What owners like about the Mk1
10 notes
The Yaris replaced the Starlet, initially featuring a 1.0 litre 16v VVTi engine, with a 1.3 VVTi and automatic option added later.
The car measures 3,615mm in length, 1,660mm in width, and 1,500mm in height, offering compact dimensions.
The Yaris offers good repairability, low insurance, excellent steering, and handling, with a roomy interior and high seats for easy access.
This Yaris model demonstrated satisfactory performance in German TUV front offset crash tests, indicating good structural integrity.
The car achieved a very high safety score in Euro NCAP crash tests, earning a Four-Star-plus rating.
The Toyota Yaris was awarded the prestigious European Car of the Year title in 1999.
The 1.4 D4-D diesel engine, introduced in March 2002, offers good fuel economy and smooth power delivery.
The March 2005 Colour Collection edition featured metallic paint, fog lamps, alloy wheels, and colour-keyed interior trim with carbon detailing.
The 1.0-litre VVT-i Yaris was one of the most affordable cars to own in the UK, achieving over 50mpg combined.
The Yaris consistently ranked highly in reliability surveys, with few breakdowns and low average warranty repair costs.
Generation 2 of 37 known faults · 8 owner reports · 3 good notes
Toyota Yaris Mk2 (2005 to 2011) problems
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
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Transmission/ClutchHigh severity💬 12 owner reports, 2012 to 2018
The MultiMode Transmission (MMT) is prone to actuator and clutch failures, often resulting in the car dropping into neutral, refusing to select gears, or slipping. Repair costs are frequently very high, sometimes exceeding the car's value. A free software upgrade was available to improve gear changes and add a 'creeping mode'.
Rough guide
£2000-2740
Typical symptoms
Car drops into neutral unexpectedly
Refusal to select gears (especially 1st or reverse)
Slipping clutch, high revs without acceleration
MMT/heat clutch warning light illuminated
Affected vehicles
Engines:
All MMT (MultiMode) Automatics
Typical mileage:
22000-112000 miles
1 more owner report backs this up
August 2013A 2008 Yaris 1.4 D-4D with M/M transmission disengaged drive twice, but worked after a restart; a dealer reprogrammed it for £75.
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Engine/EmissionsHigh severity💬 3 owner reports, 2013 to 2019
Piston ring failure leading to excessive oil consumption and, in some cases, complete engine failure. This is a known design flaw in the 1.33 Dual VVT-i engine.
Rough guide
£1300-2500+
Typical symptoms
Very high engine oil consumption (e.g., 1 litre per 600-2000 miles)
Engine failure
Blue smoke from exhaust
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.33 Dual VVT-i (1NR-FE)
Typical mileage:
25000-90000 miles
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Water pump failures are common on the 1.0 3-cylinder engine, typically occurring around 3 years of age. This is also a known issue on other models sharing this engine (Citroen C1, Peugeot 107, Toyota Aygo).
Rough guide
£300-500
Typical symptoms
Growling noise from the engine bay
Engine overheating
Coolant leaks
Low coolant level
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.0 3-cylinder engine
Typical mileage:
30000-60000 miles
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The 1.33 6-speed manual gearbox models suffered from problems, possibly due to low friction oil used to meet CO2 targets. Older 1.3s with 5-speed boxes also experienced selector problems. One report of complete manual gearbox failure.
Rough guide
£1000-2000
Typical symptoms
Difficulty selecting gears
Crunching noises during gear changes
Gearbox failure
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.33 6-speed manual
Typical mileage:
40000-90000 miles
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SuspensionMedium severity💬 2 owner reports, 2018
Rear coil springs are prone to snapping. This is a common MOT failure point and can affect vehicle handling.
Rough guide
£150-300 per side
Typical symptoms
Loud clunking noise from the rear suspension
Uneven ride height at the rear
Harsh ride quality
Poor handling
Affected vehicles
Engines:
All variants
Typical mileage:
60000-100000 miles
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ElectricalMedium severity📝 Editorial
Ventilation well drains are prone to becoming blocked by leaves and debris, causing rainwater to flood the well and potentially damage the car's electrics.
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What owners report on the Mk2
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 · February 2018A 2010 Yaris 1.0 experienced an engine mounting failure at 40,000 miles, which also damaged the driveshaft bearings.
Exhaust · January 2017A 2010 Yaris D-4D with a DPF required frequent forced regenerations due to improper passive regeneration.
Electrics · March 2015The indicator stalk switch failed on a 2009 Yaris T2 with only 1,689 miles, costing £181.50 to replace.
Engine · June 2013A 2010 1.4 D-4D Yaris consumed 1.4 litres of oil over 2,000 miles, indicating high oil usage.
Bodywork · June 2012The hatchback struts on a Yaris were prone to failure, requiring replacement for proper function.
Gearbox and clutch · June 2012A free software upgrade from Toyota dealers improved the Yaris MMT gear changes and added a creeping mode.
Electrics · May 2012A 2008 Yaris 1.3 SR developed a P0121 fault, which required a replacement wiring loom costing £500 to fix.
Fuel system · July 2011A report noted a corroding fuel filler pipe on a Yaris, indicating a potential rust issue.
What owners like about the Mk2
3 notes
The Yaris achieved a Five Star NCAP crash safety rating, announced in October 2006, for occupant protection.
The Yaris offers low insurance groups, ranging from 1E for the 1.0 T2 to 4E for the D-4D T-Spirit.
Toyota offers a kit to replace the turbocharger's oil feed and return pipes on the 1.4 D-4D engine.
Generation 3 of 33 known faults · 6 owner reports · 5 good notes
Toyota Yaris Mk3 (2011 to 2017) problems
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
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Engine/EmissionsHigh severity💬 6 owner reports, 2015 to 2018
The 1.4 D-4D engine with a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) is prone to regeneration problems, leading to the DPF filling with ash, rising sump oil levels (due to diesel dilution), and requiring frequent forced regenerations or DPF replacement. This may be exacerbated by the DPF's location or incorrect oil usage.
February 2015A 2011 Yaris D-4D at 70,000 miles suffered from rising sump oil levels, likely due to DPF regeneration issues.
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Engine/EmissionsHigh severity💬 2 owner reports, 2014 to 2017
Multiple reports of engine failures on the 1.4 D-4D engine, sometimes requiring a new short engine. Symptoms include white smoke and complete loss of power.
Rough guide
£2000-4000+
Typical symptoms
Engine failure
Lots of white smoke from exhaust
Sudden loss of power
Engine will not restart
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.4 D-4D
Typical mileage:
40000+ miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
What owners report on the Mk3
6 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.
Gearbox and clutch · May 2019A 2012 Yaris 1.33 SR experienced clutch thrust bearing failure at low mileage, costing £1,000 for replacement.
Electrics · July 2018The 'anti-trap' electric window mechanism on a new hired Yaris hybrid failed, trapping a passenger's arm.
Electrics · March 2018The satnav mapping on a 2017 Yaris Hybrid Excel sometimes showed overspeed warnings incorrectly and misplaced the car's location.
Electrics · August 2017The left-hand indicator stalk on a new 2017 Yaris hybrid did not self-cancel, requiring manual operation.
Engine · May 2017A 9,000-mile 2016 Yaris 1.3 CVT had hot starting problems, taking many turns to start after short stops.
Gearbox and clutch · February 2016A Multidrive S CVT gearbox briefly changed down and then up at constant speed below 40 mph, but the issue resolved itself.
What owners like about the Mk3
5 notes
The Toyota Yaris offers an enjoyable driving experience, making it pleasant to operate.
The Yaris features economical engines, with the hybrid variant being particularly fuel-efficient.
The Yaris comes well equipped as standard, providing good value for its features.
The Yaris provides plenty of room for rear passengers, ensuring comfort for all occupants.
The 2017 Yaris achieved a Five-star Euro NCAP rating, with strong scores for adult and child occupant safety.
Toyota Yaris service intervals: cambelt, chain and gearbox oil
An overdue cambelt is the most expensive thing a seller can fail to mention on a used Yaris. These are the figures UK specialists work to.
Timing chainChain
1KR-FE, 1.0 VVT-I
No fixed replacement interval
The same 998cc 1KR-FE chain-driven three-cylinder as the Aygo and Peugeot 107/Citroen C1, with no scheduled replacement. Chain stretch and cold-start rattle appear on examples with a poor oil-change history, because the oil-fed tensioner clogs when services are skipped. Otherwise a very durable unit.
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 Yaris buying questions
Is a used Toyota Yaris reliable?
The Toyota Yaris has 12 known faults in our database across 3 generations, 8 of them rated high severity. The most serious are gearbox (the MultiMode Transmission (MMT) is prone to actuator and clutch failures) and engine (the 1.4 D-4D engine with a Diesel Particulate Filter). 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 Yaris problems?
Three stand out. Gearbox: the MultiMode Transmission (MMT) is prone to actuator and clutch failures (typically 22000 to 112000 miles). Engine: the 1.4 D-4D engine with a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) is prone to regeneration problems (typically 18000 to 70000 miles). Engine: piston ring failure leading to excessive oil consumption and, in some cases, complete engine failure (typically 25000 to 90000 miles). The full list above is grouped by generation, with typical mileage and a rough repair cost for each.
Which Toyota Yaris years should I avoid?
No Toyota Yaris year is a write-off, but the Mk2 (2005 to 2011) carries the most serious faults: gearbox and engine. The Mk1 (1999 to 2005) and Mk3 (2011 to 2017) have 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 Yaris?
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 car drops into neutral unexpectedly, engine management light illuminated and very high engine oil consumption (e.g., 1 litre per 600-2000 miles). Read the MOT history for repeat advisories, then paste the advert into the free check, which reads it against all 12 known faults before you travel. Check a Toyota Yaris advert →
What is the real MPG of a Toyota Yaris?
Owners report 54.0 mpg on average across the Toyota Yaris engines with data, about 92% 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 2,133 owner submissions. Toyota Yaris 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 Yaris 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 Yaris 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.