Toyota Yaris Reliability — Best and Worst Years by the Data

Quick answer

The 2007 draws 4.76 complaints per run and the 2017 1.09, a 4.4-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 6 years of age, so 77.2% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Air Bags, with 359 complaints, typically at 6.6 years.

Toyota Yaris years to avoid — and the best ones

FIG.01·Toyota Yaris — complaint rate by model year
Model year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Enough history?
2020	1.13	9	8	yes
2019	2.4	24	10	yes
2018	1	4	4	yes
2017	1.09	12	11	yes
2016	1	5	5	yes
2015	1.3	13	10	yes
2014	1	3	3	yes
2013	1.25	5	4	yes
2012	1.24	31	25	yes
2011	1.19	25	21	yes
2010	1.79	75	42	yes
2009	1.85	89	48	yes
2008	3.59	194	54	yes
2007	4.76	243	51	yes

ROWS 14·SOURCE NHTSA complaints, grouped by VIN production run

Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2007 Yaris asks a median $3,950, against $3,000 for a 2008, the next model year: 32% more, so the price shows no discount for its complaint record.

Among the 7 Toyota Yaris years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2007, 2008, 2009; the three worth hunting are 2017, 2011, 2012.

When it starts to break

FIG.02·Toyota Yaris — age at failure
Age at failure	Complaints	Running total	Warranty
0 years	56	7.8%	covered
1 year	47	14.4%	covered
2 years	60	22.8%	covered
3 years	61	31.3%	you pay
4 years	47	37.9%	you pay
5 years	78	48.8%	you pay
6 years	93	61.8%	you pay
7 years	61	70.3%	you pay
8 years	71	80.3%	you pay
9 years	65	89.4%	you pay
10 years	27	93.1%	you pay
11 years	11	94.7%	you pay
12 years	14	96.6%	you pay
13 years	8	97.8%	you pay
14 years	9	99%	you pay
15 years	7	100%	you pay

ROWS 16·SOURCE NHTSA complaints with incident dates

Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 22.8% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 77.2% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for few of the complaints here.

What actually fails — and at what age

On the Toyota Yaris, the early trouble is Vehicle Speed Control — reported at around 3.3 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Air Bags at 6.6 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.

FIG.03·Toyota Yaris — what fails and when
System	Complaints	Typical age	Crash	Fire
Air Bags	359	6.6 yrs	93	2
Service Brakes	85	4.7 yrs	23	—
Vehicle Speed Control	63	3.3 yrs	24	—
Electrical System	61	4.4 yrs	2	7
Structure	48	4.9 yrs	11	1
Suspension	47	7.6 yrs	2	—
Steering	37	5 yrs	8	—
Seats	37	6.5 yrs	4	—

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

6 models share the Yaris's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Corolla draws 5.16, the Lexus IS 1.31 and the BMW M3 1.49, against 2.57 for the Yaris.

FIG.05·Toyota Yaris — rivals in the same class
Same class as the Yaris	Complaints on record	Recall campaigns	Years built
Toyota Corolla	12,389	219	1981–2026
Lexus IS	47	118	2001–2026
BMW M3	565	78	1988–2026
Acura TLX	893	41	2015–2026
Ford Focus	22,576	138	2000–2026
Subaru WRX	290	17	2015–2026

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns

The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.

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Everything on the Toyota Yaris

Recalls68 campaigns Fuel economy35 mpg best Common problems854 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build DimensionsSize, weight, generations Cargo space16 cu ft Used prices912 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car2007–2026

Frequently asked questions

Is the Toyota Yaris reliable?

By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 2.57 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.

Which Yaris years should you avoid?

By complaints per production run, 2007, 2008, 2009. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2017, 2011, 2012. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.

When do Yaris problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 6 years of age. The most reported system is Air Bags, typically at 6.6 years, followed by Service Brakes.

Will the warranty cover Yaris problems?

Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 22.8% of reported failures fall inside it.

Is the Yaris more reliable than the Toyota Corolla?

Yes: 2.57 complaints per production run for the Yaris against 5.16 for the Toyota Corolla.

Complaint records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Rates, age-at-failure and warranty coverage computed by ForCar. Model years newer than 6 years are excluded from rankings — complaints accumulate for a decade (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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