Toyota Yaris reliability by year
63 recalls and 852 owner complaints across 14 model years. Best year to buy: 2019. Year to avoid: 2007.
Worst model years to avoid → — the single year to avoid for every model line we track, ranked side by side.
Years to avoid — and why 4 flagged on the NHTSA record
Cleaner on the data: 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019 . Still verify the specific vehicle.
At-a-glance: every year color-coded
Each cell shows the last two digits of the model year and its 0–10 reliability score from NHTSA data. Click any year to see the full record. ★ best year · ✕ year to avoid.
Year-by-year reliability 14 model years · newest first
Common trouble spots across the Yaris aggregated across 14 model years
Common questions
What's the best year to buy a Toyota Yaris?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume and severity weighting, the 2019 Toyota Yaris scores 7.8/10 — the strongest in the 2007–2020 range. 26 complaints on file, 3 active recalls. Reliability scores reflect the federal complaint record, not subjective owner reviews.
Which Toyota Yaris year should I avoid?
The 2007 Toyota Yaris scores 4.0/10 — the weakest in the lineup. 296 owner complaints with NHTSA, 10 active recalls. That doesn't mean every 2007 is a problem — it means failure rates run higher than peer model years on the same platform.
Which years of the Toyota Yaris should I avoid?
On the NHTSA complaint and recall record, the model years to be most careful with are 2010 (high-risk ownership — reliability score 4.6/10 — below the segment average); 2009 (high-risk ownership — reliability score 4.4/10 — below the segment average); 2008 (high-risk ownership — reliability score 4.4/10 — below the segment average); 2007 (high-risk ownership — brakes: 37 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 45,000–75,200 mi). The cleaner years on the data are 2019, 2017, 2015, 2012, 2011. This is our read of the federal data, not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection of the specific vehicle.
How many years of the Toyota Yaris are tracked?
14 model years (2007 through 2020) with NHTSA records on file. Total across the lineup: 63 recalls and 852 owner complaints.
What's the most-reported problem on the Toyota Yaris?
airbags is the most-reported category — 355 complaints across 9 model years. Average shop repair runs about $1,100.