Toyota Approved Used Yaris Very Rusty

[Rebeca]

Hello,

I bought a Toyota approved 2006 Yaris 10 months ago. It has just failed the MOT as apparently it is very corroded. I can't believe that enough corrosion to make the car not fit for driving has happened in only 10 months, so I have to think that Toyota knowingly sold a rusty car.

I am currently waiting for a quote for the welding from Toyota. Also I can't understand why this is not covered by the 12 years corrosion warranty.

Any comments on this would be greatly appreciated!

[MEP's Yaris GS]

Hello,

I bought a Toyota approved 2006 Yaris 10 months ago. It has just failed the MOT as apparently it is very corroded. I can't believe that enough corrosion to make the car not fit for driving has happened in only 10 months, so I have to think that Toyota knowingly sold a rusty car.

I am currently waiting for a quote for the welding from Toyota. Also I can't understand why this is not covered by the 12 years corrosion warranty.

Any comments on this would be greatly appreciated!

10 months is a long time for body work to rot to the point its an MOT failure, it may well have been rusting for a while, but only now be bad enough to fail an MOT.

The anti perforation warranty is just that, so a hole needs to appear and go completely from one side of a panel to another, it does't cover surface rust, or rust that results in loss of structural integrity to the best of my knowledge.

My main concern is why its rusted in the first place, pervious accident damage etc. Our 2001 Yaris, with over 190k on the clock was still completely solid under neath when sold back in Jan this year, and we live on the coast (can see the sea from the house).

[Rebeca]

Hello Jonathan, thank you for your quick reply.

Yes, I agree that it must have been rusting for a while... My point is that when I bought it 10 months ago there had to be some rust already. So, when Toyota did the previous MOT check they must have seen at least the start of the rusting, and maybe it was a good moment to do something about it (instead of letting me find out 10 months later when it is badly rotten).

I've only driven 3000 miles in 10 months and the car has been quite well looked after in my hands.

I also agree that the level of corrosion needed to fail a MOT is not normal in a 8 year old car, so maybe it was damaged before. I thought the point in buying Toyota approved used cars was having the peace of mind that the car had been thoroughly checked.

And yes, Toyotas have the reputation of aging very well, exactly the reason why I bought one!

[FROSTYBALLS]

What areas are corroded?

[Rebeca]

Hello Frostyballs, thanks for your reply.

I am waiting for a detailed quote for the damage as the person that will do the welding was not around.

I'll post the details when I know more.

[Rebeca]

I got a quote of £280 for the welding. Toyota said that it looks like the bottom of the car has been hit with something and not repaired, and that's why the corrosion happened.

I didn't check any part of the car when I bought it because I thought "Toyota approved" meant they wouldn't sell a damaged car. Probably my own naivety to blame.

The garage said it will be ok after welding and corrosion shouldn't get worse... does anyone have any experience/opinion about this?

Thanks in advance for any comments!

[FROSTYBALLS]

After 10 months it would be difficult to prove whether the damage was there or not when the car was sold. Although, if the corrosion was that bad, one could assume it was - either way still difficult to prove.

Why not write to the dealer principal of your Toyota dealer, outline what has happened, and suggest that you're disappointed in the possibility the damage may have been there when you bought the car. Ask whether the dealer would be willing to make a goodwill contribution towards the cost of the welding.

Remain polite and to the point, and you may get some help.

[cobh18]

Treatment of the welded areas (and other rusty bits!) to inhibit future corrosion might be sensible: they should include for that.

[Rebeca]

Thank you for your replies. I will try doing as Frostyballs suggests and also will ask for the anti corrosion treatment.

In a previous check they also advice me that it will need brake discs soon as apparently they are damaged (poorly fitted pads at some point?) . The car was advertised as ex-demo.

I can't help thinking that the only use of the "Toyota approved" label is to overprice used cars and avoid thorough checks from the buyers :(

Anyway, thank you for the help.

[FROSTYBALLS]

Well it may have been an ex-demonstrator when it was a fair but younger - most dealers change their demonstrators with each registration change, so only keep the demonstrators for six months or so.

For example our local Hyundai dealer (our other car is an i20) have had demonstrators for the new i20 which was launched in January 2015. These are 64 reg. They have now being changed for 15 reg i20's, and the 64 reg ones are being sold as used, ex-demonstrators.

If it is the brake discs that need replacing, these are considered as being consumables (wear and tear items), much in the same way as brake pads are.

[MikeSh]

If it is the brake discs that need replacing, these are considered as being consumables (wear and tear items), much in the same way as brake pads are.

On some cars (like the Aygo) you get through discs almost as much as pads, but they are cheap. As far as I can see you (the OP) don't say what mileage the car has done, but at nine years it may even be finishing its second set of discs.