Toyota Yaris IA Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Toyota Yaris IA options? We analyzed 3 model years (2017–2019) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Toyota Yaris IA has 65 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls across model years 2017–2019. The most reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2017 drew the most complaints; 2018 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Toyota
- Model
- Yaris IA
- Model years analyzed
- 2017–2019 (3 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 65
- Safety recall campaigns
- 0
- Crash-related complaints
- 9
- Fire-related complaints
- 2
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2017 (31 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2018 (8 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Reliability signal
- Average
By model year
Toyota Yaris IA: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
AverageThe TOYOTA YARIS IA has 65 NHTSA complaints and 0 recalls on record. 9 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 65 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 0 federal recall campaigns
- 9 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Aug 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
0 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
No NHTSA recalls were found in our database for this model. Always verify open recalls using your specific VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2019. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 65 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
65 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
I am reporting a severe vehicle safety violation involving a Westlake tire on a 2018 Toyota Yaris rented through Turo (Claim 1060794). The vehicle host rented out the vehicle with a pre-existing, structurally ruptured tire sidewall bulge on the front passenger wheel. The host took a pre-trip photo documenting the failing tire with a gauge but failed to ground the vehicle, choosing instead to temporarily inflate it with air to mask the low-pressure warning light. The tire structurally failed during operation, forcing a replacement. A formal safety investigation is requested into this safety failure for deploying a non-roadworthy, structurally compromised vehicle onto public roads. TIRE SIZE 185/60R16
Over corrected, hit a tree, flipped car 2x landed upside down white smoke started filling in the car and went completely engulfed in flames within a few minutes.
This is a safety issue that needs to be addressed. I informed the Manufacturer , Yokohama, as soon as the incident occurred and had to be replaced by a tire shop. These tires can explode if they hit anything, on the side, at less than 2mph (two miles per hour).
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Yaris IA. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the Forward Collision Avoidance and TPMS warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that she depressed the brake pedal however, the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle stalled and stopped independently. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle after several attempts. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where unknown repairs where completed. However, the failure reoccurred while driving. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to start after several attempts. The contact jumpstarted the vehicle and the vehicle restarted as needed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local Pep Boys where it was diagnosed that the failure was associated to the engine control module. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle only had a power train warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 26,000.
I’m reporting a vehicle safety problem. My 2018 Toyota Yaris IA just had a mileage of 823 miles and was within the warranty time and had a brake system problem caused by the Toyota car quality problem. On August 22 (Sunday), 2021 about 1:00 pm I, with my wife, was going to drive my 2018 Toyota Yaris IA to my daughter’s house to see our five grandchildren as we did since April when we had covid 19 vaccine. When I started the car in my house parking lot, I was surprised to find several indicators of the brake system malfunction were on the car’s computer screen. Not only did the indicators still exist in the screen, I felt the car was shaking when I was driving about 30 feet. I immediately returned back to my house parking lot and found a new problem that the air conditioning didn’t work either. I decided not to drive this car. The next day, August 23 about 7:00 am, I drove to Oakton Sonoco Auto Service Center. There, Jim, the manager, found the same indicators of the brake system malfunction, he at once told me, “Your car just has 800 mileages and is under warranty. You should drive to the Toyota dealer immediately.” Then I drove to Ourisman Fairfax Toyota at about 7:25 am and told Mr. Carroll Hyman about the car problems. At about 4:00 pm he called me and said, “Mice bit and broke the wires to damage the wire system. Your car’s repairing can not have the warranty.” I asked, “Did you see the mice?” He answered, “Yes, the mice were in the wires close to the engine”. He didn’t mention whether the mice were alive or dead. If the mice were alive when he saw them, how could the mice be still there after about 18 hours including 20 minutes suffering heat, noise and vibration created by the working engine? If the mice were dead when he saw them, while I was driving several miles , the engine chatter and inertia of the moving body of the car already threw away dead mice into the road, how could he see them still there? His saying contradicts the facts.
MY TRACTION CONTROL GOES CRAZY EVEN WHEN THE WEATHER IS NICE. WHEN DRIVING THE TRACTION CONTROL WILL START BLINKING AND TURN OFF. MY SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM HAS AN ERROR AND MY SEAT BELT LATCH IS BROKEN. THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT BECAUSE ITS NOT AN ISSUE. MY CAR MAKES LOUD BEEPS WHEN I START. MY KEYLESS ENTRY HAS MALFUNCTIONED SINCE 2 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT IT IN DEC OF 2018. THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME TO "LOOK AT IT". IT SAYS THERE ARE NO KEYS IN THE VEHICLE WHEN I AM DRIVING. MY AIRBAGS ARE MALFUNCTIONING. IT IS NOT REGISTERING PEOPLE SITTING IN THE VEHICLE. WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT FLASHES THAT THE AIRBAGS ARE OFF. I WEIGHT 220LBS I AM MORE THAN ENOUGH TO SET THAT SENSOR OFF AND WHEN I DRIVE IT WILL NOT ENGAGE.
Read 14 more owner reports
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA YARIS IA EQUIPPED WITH TOYO TIRES, TIRE LINE: PROXES A27, TIRE SIZE: P185/60R/16, DOT NUMBER: (NOT PROVIDED). THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE TIRES LOSS AIR WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ADDED AIR TO TIRES. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS LIKE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19T004000 (TIRES). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,789. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
CRUISE CONTROL SPEED DOES NOT MATCH SPEEDOMETER TOYOTA ADMITS THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT THERE IS NO FIX. TOYOTA CASE #[XXX] PAT LOBB TOYOTA VISIT 8-24-19 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT PAT LOBB TOYOTA VISIT 9-3-19 TOYOTA OF PLANO VISIT 9-15-19
Vehicle has safety recall, vehicle may stall at high speed, Toyota dealership replace fuel pump after replacements check engine light came on same day, and after few thousand miles light also came on , never fix the problem, now they charged me $280.00 to do the diagnostic check engine light even though that i purchased extended warranty for 125,000 miles and they also want to charge me $930.00 for engine de carburetor and test again…Thanks
The contact owned a 2019 Toyota Yaris. The contact stated that while his wife was reversing out of the driveway, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated although the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle crashed into a tree and the neighbor's house. The paramedics, fire department, and police arrived and created a report. The contact's wife suffered bruising and body aches upon impact. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an impound lot. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.
The contact owned a 2019 Toyota Yaris. The contact stated that after his wife had arrived at her destination, a short time later she was made aware that the vehicle was on fire. Upon arriving on the scene, the contact's wife observed a fire originating in the engine compartment. Local emergency services were called and were able to extinguish the fire. A police and fire report was filed, but no injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 72,000.
Car driving with no one in front and brake assist went off on own. Also car driving and electrical system in car shut down and lost control of car. Then all dashboard lights came on, was able to regain control and pull in parking lot. Shut car off. Hooked up ODB. No codes. Then started car and ran fine. Had burning electrical smell.
2019 TOYOTA YARIS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO VEHICLE BEING HACKED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES IN HIS OPINION SOMEONE REMOTELY SHUTDOWN OR DISABLED THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 65MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. UPDATE 06/20/2023- CONSUMER IS REQUESTING PETITON AND HEARING. PETITION AND HEARING REQUEST DOCUMENT MAILED IN.
2019 TOYOTA YARIS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO ENGINE FAILURE.
2019 TOYOTA YARIS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO ENGINE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE DROVE ROUGH, ENGINE NOISES, AND EXPERIENCED ACCELERATION DELAYS. THE DEALER STATED THAT ALL THE LINES AND GDI ASSOCIATED WITH THE FUEL PUMP HAD CARBON BUILD UP. THE GDI LINS WERE FLUSHED. WHICH DID NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO BE FLUSHED EVERY SIX MONTHS, AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE OF 1200.00. THE CONSUMER STATED THIS WAS UNREASONABLE. THE DEALER ALSO ADVISED TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE 2 OR 3 TIMES A WEEK AT A HIGH SPEED RATE, IN ORDER TO FORCE OUT THE BUILD UP. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE VEHICLE WAS A LEMON.
I got new tires and took the car for an alignment. I am constantly having to slightly correct my steering wheel. One to three degrees to the left and right at any speed the entire time I am driving. It was setup for the diagnostic test and the technician came back in less than five minutes. To tell me that there is nothing wrong with my alignment and everything was at factory spec. So I told him to drive it and tell me that there is nothing wrong with my car. He came back looking shocked and said that was weird. Like driving on wet glass. So he started to ask me questions. My answers to the question were. I am the original owner, never been in an accident with the car or hit debris of any kind. Tires are brand new, no check engine or warning lights. Diagnostic scanner to the OBD port came back with no problems. Car had 25,000 miles on it at the time. I've been told it could be any of eight or nine problems or a combination of a few. Electric power steering, traction control, ABS, Tire pressure monitor, steering angle sensor, tie rod, ball joints, suspension. My question is, how does this happen with regular service and no warning detection system on board or service equipment finding anything ???
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Yaris. The contact initially stated that multiple attempts were needed to start his vehicle. When the vehicle would start, the transmission would hesitate upon the depression of the accelerator pedal with several unknown warning lights illuminated. Upon investigation underneath the hood, the contact discovered sticks and chewed wiring which he linked to squirrels. Since the initial discovery, the contact had seen squirrels entering and leaving the engine compartment on two separate occasions. The dealer had been notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and provided a case number. The contact ordered the parts to replace the wiring harness and air filter cover however, the vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 14,700.
I went to the dealership to get my safety recall fixed and i was informed that my safety recall cannot be fixed. This is a problem because I am risking my life every time I drive this car I want to know if getting a lawyer to resolve this issue is the best solution to getting this problem solved
Recall for dangerous issue (risk of crash due to faulty fuel pump) has been unresolved since mid 2021. Have contacted several Toyota dealerships who have said they aren’t able to repair fuel pump since a solution for recall hasn’t been issued yet. Contacted Toyota corporate to ask for rental car until a repair is confirmed and they stated they cannot guarantee a rental will be reimbursed and have no timeline for fuel pump solution. Have been unable to drive my car on highway for six months as it feels unsafe.
2019 TOYOTA YARIS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ISSUE WITH THE BATTERY. In early 2000 the battery went dead, and the car could not even be removed from the garage. Called the dealership and they were kind enough to send a tow truck, and the driver was able to get car on the truck and took it directly to the dealership. It was examined and a new battery was put in at no cost to me. TS THE CONSUMER STATED THE BATTERY WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS ON A RECALL LIST FOR ANOTHER FAILURE BUT, THERE WAS NO REMEDY.
Showing 20 of 65 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Toyota Yaris IA
These pages show model-year patterns across 3 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Toyota Yaris IA, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Toyota Yaris IA has 65 complaints on record across 3 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Toyota Yaris IA has 0 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 9 of the Toyota Yaris IA's 65 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Average) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Toyota Yaris IA vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Toyota Yaris IA vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Toyota Yaris IA has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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Toyota Yaris IA reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Toyota Yaris IA reliable?
Average. The Toyota Yaris IA has 65 NHTSA owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Toyota Yaris IA years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2017 (31 complaints), 2019 (26 complaints), 2018 (8 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Toyota Yaris IA problems?
Top reported issues: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (12 complaints); ENGINE (12 complaints); FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (12 complaints).
Does the Toyota Yaris IA have recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns are currently on record for the Toyota Yaris IA. Always verify with a VIN check as recalls can be added at any time.