Just Bought A Yaris - Anything I Should Watch Out For?

[siaco]

Hi everyone!

I have just bought my first Toyota, a Yaris 2004 model with a 1.4 diesel engine. It has just passed 19,000km (I know that is kind of low for a 2004 model, but the old couple which had it before me didn’t drive it that much. Lucky for me :)).

Anyways, I was wondering if there are some regular problems with this car which I should look out for. Is there anything that usually brakes? :o The reputation of Toyota is good, so I hope not to run into big problems in near future. I’m going to take this car to its 15,000 service this Monday too; anything I should ask them to double check? The warranty on this car lasts until this summer, so I’d like to fix as much as I can before that ;)

I live up in the cold Norway, and the only thing I have noticed so far is that this engine uses longer time to get hot than my old car did. But I guess that’s normal because this engine is smaller and uses diesel, in contrast to my old 2.2 petrol Audi/VW engine.

[Red Yaris 54]

Hello and welcome to TOC

A good choice of car ...............................our resident Yaris diesel guru Alan Bradley will hopefully be along soon to steer you in the right direction.

He lives in the frozen parts of Scotland and has the honour of owning a diesel Yaris :)

[siaco]

Can't wait untill our diesel guru Alan Bradley shows up. Not alot of answer so far, so I hope thats a sign of few commonly known problems :)

[alfiejts]

Well w've had ours from new in Dec 2000 and (touchwood) its been great.

I'm sure the experts will advise of any "common" faults, but I've had no issues.

One headlight levelling motor failed at 2-years old and was swapped under warranty. A side-light bulb blew too needing replacing a few years ago.

Apart from that and regular servicing, it's not put a foot wrong.

There was a rattle from the back for a while - which I eventually realised was the plastic supports/edges at the ends of the parcel shelf that needed their attachment screws tightening (a 2 minute job...).

At six years old and after 83,000km, its still on the original bettery, exhaust & brakes....

Hope yours is as good as ours has been. Enjoy.....

[Kev Mc]

Can't wait untill our diesel guru Alan Bradley shows up. Not alot of answer so far, so I hope thats a sign of few commonly known problems :)

Yeah, I had mine for 2 years & didn't have 1 problem. The only thing that seems to crop up more than anything else is the window seals, some people suffer a bit with them but apart from that you can count yourself unlucky if you suffer with many problems.

Welcome to the club too

[NathanM]

I bought an 04 diesel Yaris last year with around 15,000 miles (~24,000km)on the clock and so far I've done 12,000 miles (~19,000km) in her and there hasn't been a single problem plus i get about 75mpg

If I were you the only thing I would be slightly worried about is that she may have been sat idle for long periods, never a good thing for any car. Just do the usual checks on this make sure the Battery is holding charge ok, brakes aren't corroded etc. Providing she's been and will be looked after you should get many happy years of very happy motoring, enjoy :D