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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Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Toyota Yaris IA has 64 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls across model years 2017–2019. The most reported issue area is ENGINE. 2017 drew the most complaints; 2018 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Toyota
- Model
- Yaris IA
- Model years analyzed
- 2017–2019 (3 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 64
- 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 (7 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ENGINE
- 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 64 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.
- 64 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 64 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
64 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.
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.
Read 14 more owner reports
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.
Our vehicle got recalled and we're worried for the safety of our kids in a small unstable 2019 Toyota Yaris
After shopping I tried to start my car. It did a lot of shuttering and the check engine and battery lights came on. It would not run. I called AAA and they said the battery was fully charged. When the AAA tow service came the car started and ran fine. When I got home I checked with my OBD II tool. The code was P0087 Fuel Rail/System Pressure - Too Low.
It was about 90+ degrees Fahrenheit on a Friday afternoon..(prior to this date my wife expressed concern that the car did not accelerate as quickly as she thought it should) we drove in to the parking area of the Mall...we were undecided where to park and stopped the car. We tried to restart the car but it would not start. It would try to crank but that was all. Since it was so hot we thought that the air conditioner might have drained the battery. We called the AAA and found that it was not the battery. He suggested that the TOYOTA DEALERSHIP was a few b locks away that we should have them do further testing....we wanted to at first go home but instead went to the dealership--the car failed to start at all in the doorway of the Service entrance..it would try to crank but that was all just a grinding sort of noise.......(We thought that TOYOTA would pay for our incidental expenses since the car was under warranty...so far we have received nothing but TOYOTA did pay for a car rental on the following Monday.....) The problem was a failed Fuel Pump as the service man pointed out the error message was for low pressure on fuel pump. This was serious if we were on the freeway or traveling home for some distance in remote areas..they obviously could be a collision or we would be stranded without any form of help..... The dealer explained the the fuel pump was replaced by an updated or modified model not the same one in the car...They kept the original pump.....
Unknown. Lights on dashboard came on. Check engine light came on. Car started jerking front and back while driving, accelerating, and braking.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA YARIS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LOU FUSZ TOYOTA (10725 MANCHESTER RD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63122) TO BE SERVICED FOR AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER'S RECALL TO RE-PROGRAM THE ENGINE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, THE KEYFOB FAILED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE PUSH TO START BUTTON FAILED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE CONTACT RECORD A VIDEO OF THE FAILURE EXPERIENCED SO IT COULD BE SENT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,833.
FROM JULY 2020 - JAN 2021, I EXPERIENCED MY VEHICLE CRANKING BUT NOT STARTING ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. I TOOK IT IN SEVERAL TIMES TO BE FIXED, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AND COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. HOWEVER, THE LAST TIME I PICKED IT UP FROM TOYOTA (PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED), IT HAPPENED AND I CALLED THE SERVICE ADVISOR OVER, AND HE EVEN TRIED TURNING IT, BUT IT WOULDN'T START. THE SOLUTION WAS THE KEY FOB. I INQUIRED HOW THEY KNEW IT WAS THE KEY FOB, BUT THEY DID NOT GIVE ME AN ANSWER. FEBRUARY 2021 IT STARTED TO HAPPEN AGAIN..BUT HAS NOT OCCURRED AS OF MARCH 2021. I THINK WHEN IT SHUTS OFF DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THEN MAYBE TOYOTA WOULD INVESTIGATE THIS MORE. THE SECOND PROBLEM THAT HAS HAPPENED INFREQUENTLY IN 2020 WAS MY BACKUP CAMERA BEING BLACKED OUT OR GLITCHY. AS OF FEBRUARY 2021, THIS WOULD OCCUR FREQUENTLY, HOWEVER INTERMITTENT AS WELL. I SHOWED THE SERVICE ADVISOR THE VIDEO OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY COULDN'T FIX IT IF THEY CAN'T REPLICATE IT. I CONTACTED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AGAIN TO ADDRESS THESE TWO PROBLEMS. I THINK 2019 TOYOTA YARIS IS A LEMON VEHICLE WITH NOT MANY SOLD, THEREFORE UNLIKELY FOR TOYOTA TO TAKE ACTION IF THERE IS NO CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT MANDATING THEM. PERHAPS IT MADE FINANCIAL SENSE SIMILAR TO THE FORD PINTO. I WOULD ADVISE MORE PEOPLE WITH 2019 TOYOTA YARIS TO POST HERE, SO NHTSA COULD INVESTIGATE, CALL TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE SO THEY CAN ACCOUNT FOR THE PROBLEMS, OR REACH OUT TO A LAWYER, BECAUSE YOU SHOULD NOT BE FIXING A NEW CAR TO THIS EXTENT...
THIS MORNING (11/19/2020) AT APPROXIMATELY 4:50AM I TURNED ON MY CAR AND SAT IN THE DRIVEWAY TO LET IT WARM UP. USUALLY WHILE IT WARMS UP I GET MY BLUETOOTH CONNECTED AND GET MY MUSIC GOING, BUT THIS TIME IT WOULDN'T CONNECT. I FIGURED MY HUSBAND HAD BEEN PLAYING AROUND WITH THE SETTINGS AGAIN SO I HAD HIM COME OUTSIDE TO LOOK AT IT. IT STILL WOULDN'T EVEN BRING UP OUR PHONES SO I SHUT THE CAR OFF, WAITED MAYBE 30 SECONDS AND TURNED IT BACK ON. THIS TIME IT BROUGHT UP OUR PHONES BUT STILL WOULDN'T CONNECT AND A MESSAGE POPPED UP ON THE SCREEN SAYING "UNABLE TO CONNECT- UNKNOWN ERROR". AT THIS POINT I SAID FORGET IT, I'VE GOT TO GET TO WORK. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT THE BACK-UP CAMERA WASN'T WORKING. FIGURED I'VE ALREADY GOT AN APPOINTMENT WITH TOYOTA IN THE MORNING SO I'LL BRING THAT TO THEIR ATTENTION AS WELL. BEFORE I MADE IT OUT OF TOWN I STARTED SMELLING A FAINT BURNING WIRE SMELL AGAIN. EVERY TIME I MENTIONED IT TO MY HUSBAND HE'D SAY HE COULDN'T SMELL IT SO I THOUGHT MAYBE I WAS IMAGINING IT. FINALLY MADE IT TO THE HIGHWAY WELL ON MY WAY TO WORK AND DECIDED TO TRY THE CRUISE CONTROL. GOT TO THE SPEED LIMIT, TURNED IT ON, DROVE FOR A FEW, GOT PARANOID ABOUT DEER AND DECIDED TO TURN IT OFF. IT DID NOT TURN OFF. I PRESSED THE OFF BUTTON AND IT ACCELERATED. TRIED THE OFF BUTTON AGAIN AND AGAIN IT ACCELERATED. TRIED THE DOWN BUTTON, ACCELERATED AGAIN. THOUGHT MAYBE THERE'S A CROSSED WIRE SO I TRIED THE UP BUTTON, YOU GUESSED IT. STARTED GOING FASTER. IT ALLOWED ME TO BREAK AND STOP SO I PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE CAR FOR A FEW MINUTES. WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON EVERYTHING WAS FUNCTIONAL AND WAS STILL FUNCTIONING AS EXPECTED AFTER WORK. TO BE CLEAR, I DID NOT TRY THE CRUISE CONTROL AGAIN.
THE CAR BROKE DOWN IN THE HEAT. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER VEHICLE STOPPED. THE VEHICLE COOLED OFF AFTER 1 HOUR IT STARTED. WE TOOK TO TOYOTA. THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A BATTERY. THEY REPLACED IT. THE BROKE DOWN ON THE SAME ISSUE 1 WEEK LATER. WE TOOK IT AGAIN TO TOYOTA. THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. WE TOOK IT HOME. IT BROKE DOWN AGAIN ON THE 09/01/2020. THE CAR HAS BEEN THERE SINCE TH 1ST OF THE MONTH. IT IS FUEL ISSUE PROBLEM AND THERE IS A LOT OF CARS OUT THERE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PARTS ARE ALL ON BACK ORDER NOW. THATS WHY IT IS TAKING SO LONG. THE PARTS ARE BACK ORDER UNTIL THE 24TH OF THE MONTH. WE ARE GOING TO REPORT THIS CAR HAS A LEMON.
Showing 20 of 64 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 64 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 64 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 64 NHTSA owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ENGINE. 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 (7 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: ENGINE (12 complaints); FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (12 complaints); ELECTRICAL 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.