Here Are The Toyota Yaris Years To Avoid
We've identified five Toyota Yaris years to avoid. See which years — and why you should steer clear — so you can find the best used Yaris for your needs.
Toyota has the legendary reputation of producing affordable and reliable cars, and the subcompact hatchback Toyota Yaris is no exception. With its impressive simplicity and rock-solid reliability, the Yaris had the makings of a daily commuter car.
But despite the good things it brought to the subcompact segment, the Yaris wasn’t that of a best-seller, prompting its discontinuation in 2020.
The Toyota Yaris is an excellent pick if you’re looking for a reliable used car. With a 4.5 out of 5.0 reliability score from RepairPal, the Yaris is a hatchback that you can buy worry-free.
However, not all Yaris are created equal. Today, we’ve listed the Toyota Yaris years to avoid plus the model years you can safely buy.
Which Toyota Yaris Years to Avoid?
Below is a quick list of Toyota Yaris years to avoid due to reliability problems:
- 2007 Toyota Yaris
- 2008 Toyota Yaris
- 2009 Toyota Yaris
- 2010 Toyota Yaris
- 2012 Toyota Yaris
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2007 Toyota Yaris
Among all model years, the 2007 Yaris has the most number of complaints. With 399 NHTSA complaints and ten recalls, consider avoiding this Yaris year if you can.
The number one complaint about the 2007 Yaris is the peeling clear coat. Several owners reported that their vehicle’s clear coat has peeled off, usually starting from the roof down to the hood. This issue happened even after owners had their Yaris go through the usual clay bar, polish, and wax routine.
Another reliability issue this car has is the check engine light flashing for no reason. One report stated that the check engine light went on, and the gas pedal stopped working while driving on a highway. Shortly, the Yaris slowed down before he could engage the gas again. This issue happened at a low mileage of around 52,700 miles.
2008 Toyota Yaris
Although the 2008 Yaris has fewer complaints, its problems are more severe and at low mileage. For this reason, CarComplaints gave the 2008 Toyota Yaris the distinction as the worst model year.
The 2008 model suffered from peeling clear coats and paint like the previous year. Despite proper maintenance and storage, disappointed owners have reported severe peeling of the coat and paint. Furthermore, the peeling happened at such low mileage of 66,050 miles and required repainting.
THE MOST RELIABLE YEARS FOR THE TOYOTA YARIS
If you want to purchase a reliable commuter vehicle, get the most out of your investment. With two decades of models available, you need to search to find the Toyota Yaris’ most reliable years.
On top of that, Yaris owners also reported their vehicle losing control at highway speeds. One user claimed that the steering wheel jerked to the left, then he briefly lost control of the car and skidded as if driving on ice. It’s not a very widespread issue, but it’s obviously a huge safety risk.
2009 Toyota Yaris
At this point, the Toyota Yaris improved a lot as far as reliability goes - Car Complaints even gave the 2009 Yaris a “Seal of Awesome” award. However, it does have more complaints than the rest of the model years.
Unfortunately, the 2009 Yaris was not spared from the clear coat peeling problem. Although there were fewer reports, the problem was still present in this model year to owners’ dismay. Again, the usual problem areas where the peeling happened are the roof and hood.
Another reliability issue to look out for with the 2009 model is the noticeable vibration, especially when starting the engine. According to RepairPal, the problem may be caused by a faulty engine mount. In this case, an engine mount replacement is required.
2010 Toyota Yaris
In any other posts, the 2010 Yaris won’t make this list of Toyota Yaris years to avoid. But then again, it has 139 NHTSA complaints and nine recalls, as per Car Complaints. With this selection of highly reliable vehicles, a few issues (even minor) is all it takes.
Reportedly, the primary issue with the 2010 model year is the EPS (Electronic Power Steering) illuminating on its own. Happening at a low mileage of 20k miles, the EPS would come on at random times, and owners have no clue why.
Once again, the dreaded peeling coat problem appeared with the 2010 Yaris, although there are far fewer complaints now. Some people have spotted rust forming around the peeled coating to make matters worse.
2012 Toyota Yaris
As with the two previous model years, you can buy the 2012 Yaris and be satisfied with its general reliability. According to Car Complaints, the 2012 Toyota Yaris has 54 NHTSA complaints and five recalls.
As expected, the main complaint about this model year is a relatively minor one: uncomfortable front seats. One user claimed that the seats were so uncomfortable that it led to severe back pains. The user also added that the seats lacked lumbar support, which can be difficult for taller drivers.
In addition, the 2012 Yaris was affected by a widespread issue about airbags. Mainly, scores of owners have reported that the airbags fail to deploy during a crash.
Common Toyota Yaris Problems
The Toyota Yaris, while generally reliable, has been known to experience several issues across various model years:
- Speed control problems, particularly in the 2015 model, can lead to sudden acceleration or unresponsive brakes, posing a significant safety risk that could result in accidents and injuries.
- Manual transmission variants (2007-2010, 2012, and 2014) may develop excessive vibrations and rattling noises due to damaged engine mounts, making the vehicle difficult to steer.
- The 2010 model may experience an illuminated check engine light with error code P0713, indicating a faulty transaxle fluid temperature sensor, which requires repair of the transaxle wire harness.
- Automatic transmission issues are not uncommon, especially in the 2009 model. Symptoms include grinding noises, a burnt smell, and delayed or unresponsive shifting.
- Faulty airbag inflators in the 2008 model may explode, causing metal debris to shoot at passengers, prompting multiple recalls in 2016, 2017, and 2019.
- Steering malfunctions in the 2007 model can lead to sudden brake engagement and stiff steering, potentially resulting in serious accidents and injuries.Premature clear coat peeling, particularly in the 2007 model, can result in unsightly patches and expose areas prone to rust, potentially leading to costly repainting.
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Which Toyota Yaris Years are Safe to Buy Used?
There you have it, the worst Toyota Yaris years to avoid. On the flip side, here are the Yaris model years that you can buy with confidence.
2013 Toyota Yaris
The 2013 Toyota Yaris is a great option to buy used if you want something not so old or new. It has everything you could ever want from a reliable daily car - excellent mpg of 30 city / 37 highway, high-reliability scores, low ownership costs, and roomy interiors.
Toyota’s signature reliability is on full display here, and it’s a subcompact hatchback that you can drive till the wheels fall off. A used 2013 Yaris can be yours for the price range of $8,000 to $8,800.
2018 Toyota Yaris
As we have highlighted in our piece about the best value used Yaris models, the 2018 Yaris is your best bet when buying a used model. On top of its excellent reliability, fuel efficiency, and handy hatchback styling, the 2018 Yaris has more standard tech and safety features than segment competitors.
With a used 2018 Yaris, you get a reliable subcompact hatchback with just a few miles on the odometer for the base model’s average list price of $13,999.
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