Toyota Yaris Problems by Year
NHTSA has 810 owner complaints and 23 safety recalls on file for the Toyota Yaris, across 15 model years (2006–2020). The 2007 model year has the most complaints (258). The most reported problem area overall is air bags.
Toyota Yaris years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Yaris year: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2007 Yaris: 258 complaints, 10 recalls
- 2008 Yaris: 218 complaints, 10 recalls
- 2009 Yaris: 92 complaints, 10 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2014 Yaris: 3 complaints, 1 recall
- 2018 Yaris: 4 complaints, 1 recall
- 2006 Yaris: 5 complaints, 5 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Toyota Yaris problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags problems | 367 | 12 | 105 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 72 | 12 | 26 |
| Electrical System | 70 | 12 | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 63 | 13 | 20 |
| Structure | 52 | 10 | 13 |
| Suspension | 52 | 10 | 4 |
| Steering | 39 | 8 | 9 |
| Seats | 37 | 5 | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 36 | 7 | 10 |
| Engine | 35 | 10 | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 32 | 4 | 7 |
| Power Train | 26 | 5 | 4 |
| Wheels | 21 | 9 | 11 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 19 | 5 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 16 | 6 | 1 |
| Visibility/wiper | 16 | 8 | 2 |
| Tires | 15 | 6 | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 14 | 4 | 1 |
| Visibility | 12 | 3 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 10 | 6 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 10 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 9 | 6 | 3 |
| Fuel System, Other | 7 | 4 | 2 |
| Equipment | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Interior Lighting | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Toyota Yaris problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
All Toyota Yaris model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Yaris | 10 | 1 | 5★ | Engine | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2019 Yaris | 26 | 3 | — | Electrical System | More complaints than other years |
| 2018 Yaris | 4 | 1 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2017 Yaris | 15 | 3 | 4★ | Air Bags | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2016 Yaris | 5 | 2 | 4★ | Air Bags | |
| 2015 Yaris | 15 | 4 | 4★ | Air Bags | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2014 Yaris | 3 | 1 | 4★ | Electrical System | |
| 2013 Yaris | 9 | 1 | 4★ | Air Bags | |
| 2012 Yaris | 35 | 5 | 4★ | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2011 Yaris | 25 | 3 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2010 Yaris | 90 | 9 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2009 Yaris | 92 | 10 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2008 Yaris | 218 | 10 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2007 Yaris | 258 | 10 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2006 Yaris | 5 | 5 | — | Air Bags |
More from Toyota: all Toyota models · Toyota VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Toyota Yaris years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2007 (258), 2008 (218), 2009 (92), 2010 (90), 2012 (35) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Yaris year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Toyota Yaris?
Air Bags, with 367 complaints across 12 model years.
How many recalls does the Toyota Yaris have?
23 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.