Toyota Yaris reliability

[suckerface]

I'm guessing that 90% of the people are like me; zero problems with the car so far, but want to know what to expect for what COULD go wrong. I'm at about 100k miles (purchased at 42k) and have done nothing besides fluid changes and performance upgrades.

[Kal-El]

129,000 miles. Not a single problem. Still functions as if it was new. Never seen anything like it and I worked at a dealership where I drove thousands of used cars. None had held up like the "cheap" Yaris.

My original brake pads are still 50%.
I'm on the original spark plugs - plan on changing them soon.

[suckerface]

+1 on the brakes and plugs. I swapped the plugs, just because, at 90k and am doing the brakes before winter fully hits, mostly as an excuse to upgrade some of the parts, not totally because they need it. AFAIK, the plugs and brakes are still from the factory.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by bronsin

How interesting that of some 22,000 people who have read this post, only some 200 have actually had anything to say about it!

Some of that might be because some people have already put the information on another thread...all of my info (except mileage and dates of most oil changes, and my recent tire and battery replacement) are on another thread started by Kal-El. I'm closing in on 231k and the only items other than 'routine' (oil(not as often as many of you)/filter/tires/battery/serp belt/clean rear brake drums/spark plugs/mirror cover stolen/each headlight bulb once and a couple of rear plate lights) have been the front wheel bearings at 110k and the alternator at 159k. I've averaged a bit over 75k for each set of 4 tires. Still original clutch, transmission, water pump, radiator, brakes (about 80% remaining/20% worn at 207k-208k), A/C condenser, engine (except the oil that goes in it,oil filters, and spark plugs at 207-208k), exhaust,etc. With my new tires, battery, and seat covers I found.....It almost feels like new. I agree with Kal-El. Mine has just been an amazingly reliable car....that also gets great gas mileage.

I would be reluctant to give up all the glove boxes, the reclining rear seat back, the keyed hatch release, two front wipers, and the hand crank windows.

[Idahotom]

This thread is pretty boring......my '08 is just like every other Toyota I've owned ('90 pickup bought new, worked hard for 245 K, zero problems. '89 All Trac 150K pd, 600 bucks and after 4 years of no problems sold it for 1K. More recently a '99 Rav 4 AWD with 150K that drives like new) and the Yaris shows every sign of continuing this trend. Simple, cheap to operate, and extremely reliable.

[Bluevitz-rs]

On my 3rd water pump. 120,000km. Does not like high rpm because it's the only time it leaks. If I drive hard once in a while I'll find a pink coolant line on the underside of the hood above the belt. When I drive normal is doesn't leak.

Only other thing was the weak factory clutch started slipping at 30,000km and was replaced with a Celica clutch under warranty. Water pumps were covered too.

[mkaresh]

Interesting observation on the water pump. Odd that the clutch went so early, good to hear they covered it--this isn't common with a clutch. Something other than the lining?

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by mkaresh

Interesting observation on the water pump. Odd that the clutch went so early, good to hear they covered it--this isn't common with a clutch. Something other than the lining?

Yeah, even before my clutch became 'high mileage' I'd heard (even though it can be hard to get used to) that the clutch in the Yaris would last a long time unless abused. Yarisworld member trini_per4mance got 448,000 miles out of his original clutch. Someone who works for Toyota told me (I don't know if this is true) that a contributing factor for long clutch life in the Yaris (and he was talking about the U.S.) is that it is the same clutch that is in the Scion tC and in the 4 cylinder Toyota Camry (for 2007 at least). If that is true, I wonder if Bluevitz-rs has the same stock clutch I do (possibly a less durable one?) as he has a 2005 and the Scion tC wasn't sold in Canada until 2010 (don't know about the Camry re Canada).

[Bluevitz-rs]

No the Echo clutches from '04-'05 were all soft. There were some problems with the pressure plate not clamping with enough pressure. I saw it when they took it out and it sill looked like brand new. Both the flywheel and the pressure plate still had the machining marks in them and was still shiny silver.

The Celica clutch is pretty much identical to the Echo except for a stiffer pressure plate.

And it is possible the Yaris clutch is the same as the TC because it's different than the Echo's. I've seen a side by side comparison.

[joe keeney]

around 37,000 run like new no trouble

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Bluevitz-rs

No the Echo clutches from '04-'05 were all soft. There were some problems with the pressure plate not clamping with enough pressure. I saw it when they took it out and it sill looked like brand new. Both the flywheel and the pressure plate still had the machining marks in them and was still shiny silver.

The Celica clutch is pretty much identical to the Echo except for a stiffer pressure plate.

And it is possible the Yaris clutch is the same as the TC because it's different than the Echo's. I've seen a side by side comparison.

Wow. Interesting.

[bigdoglover]

just had to replace the battery at just under 58,000 miles.

[bfe71730]

53000 on my wifes 09, it's been to the dealer once right after we bought it for bubbles in the window tint, no mechanical problems at all. always use full synthetic oil and k&n air filter. best mpg was 43, average high 30's.

[b20vteg]

just passed 5k on my '12, and got my oil changed. no problems so far. will report back @ 10k!

[yariseggvvti]

I got the yaris since 2007 until now. I just replace oil filer every 5k, trans oil every 15k, replace battery 45k, replace air flow sensor 50k. I still using original front brake pad with 72k. Fun to drive and avg 31mpg.

[yaris0985]

yaris 08-sedan ATX
many oil change
30 000-miles = air filter
60 000miles= air filter+ flush oil for tranny+ new coolant+spark plug
-front disk+pad / new drums+shoe
-new tire (summer tire)
-clean TB

just regular maintenance now the car have 72 000 miles

[fnkngrv]

Originally Posted by bigdoglover

just had to replace the battery at just under 58,000 miles.

If you ran the OEM battery up until recently on your 07 then you did pretty well with it. Batteries generally of course are measured in years and not mileage unless you are driving close to 100k miles a year and even then....

[kelevra]

Originally Posted by bronsin

Huh. Were the brake pads worn out? Ive never heard of changing the brake pads because a car isnt driven for long periods of time.

OK OK! I'll be honest! For the life of me I dont know why one would do that. As long as I got pad Im not changing them!

But maybe there is someting I dont know?

Sorry to write back almost a year later, been a bit busy elsewhere.
For 6 months through winter 09 the car sat with only a bit of driving around (family member). For 8 months of winter 2011, the same. I came back, begin driving it as normal (after a DIY syn oil and Toyota filter change), and the brakes were somewhat frozen, so I had the pads and rotors in the front replaced, it was sub-$200 so I really didn't care. Brakes work great btw.

Car now has 42K miles on 'er. Runs sweet. Thinking to change the orig coolant and auto tranny fluid at some point.