2008 Toyota Yaris
The Verdict
The 2008 Toyota Yaris has 215 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (107 complaints) and body (47 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 51/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Toyota Yaris, consider the 2014 model year which has 99% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2014 has 99% fewer complaints
View the 2014 Toyota Yaris dashboard →
Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution
About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
Car was in park, ignition off, with the keys removed. The gear shift could apparently move in this locked position and the vehicle rolled backwards with a 6 year old child in the car. The car was totaled after hitting a concrete base to a light fixture. A failure occurred that allowed the car to shift gears off and in park.
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Yaris. The contact stated that the vehicle unintendedly shifted from park by accidentally touching the gear selector with a knee or hand without the brake pedal being depressed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 190,000.
The rear subframe is cracked 3/4 way through. And there is a hole rusted through behind the tire. Just found it this week when replacing wheel bearing.
My brakes have failed me many times. I had to eventually get those change in the brakes still aren’t working completely correct
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Yaris. The contact stated while the vehicle was receiving routine maintenance, the mechanic stated that the chain sprockets on both camshafts were worn. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that there was no recall on the VIN. The failure mileage was 160,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Yaris. The contact stated while a friend was driving approximately 30 MPH, the rear axle fractured at the welds. The rear wheels went into the wheel well. There were no warning lights illuminated. There were no reported inquires. The contact stated that the rear axle was weak, had rusted, and then separated. The contact repaired the vehicle. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under recall. No additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 195,487.
A FRAME THAT HOLDS ENGINE IN VEHICLE IS ROTTED LOOKS LIKE SWISS CHEEZE IT SHOULD BE MADE OUT OF CAST IRON THATS A SAFETY ISSUE
Airbags did not deploy in passenger-side car accident. Neither passenger airbags nor driver airbags.
Vehicle is showing an evap canister, purge valve leak which is common across many Toyota`s of high mileage, I would get a faint smell of gas here and there and curious to know if this would be covered. Vehicle is still in great shape and runs strong. Please advise on next steps needed to have this taken care of.
My fiancee bought her 2008 Toyota Yaris on about the 26 Apr 2021. Right off she had brake failure pretty quickly after buying the car. Brake pads were suspected of failing. When the front tires were removed the calipers had built up thick rust on inside surface where the pads sit on both front calipers. The pads were pushed into the rotors heavily causing the driver side rotor to be damaged beyond acceptable limits. The right side rotor was turned successfully with enough rotor minimum thickness remaining. So the rust caused me to replace 1 rotor, both calipers and pads on front and rear brakes. The rust built up on the calipers threaded input and output brake fluid lines threaded attach points. This could have cause a fluid leak that could of been very dangerous leading to injury or death of occupants. I have not reported this to The Toyota dealership or anyone else. I didn't know I could report dangerous items that could be set for a safety recall by the NHTSA. As for the airbags, the driver airbag light stays on and passenger light comes on when 10 pounds of weight is sat in passenger seat. The belt is not latched. My driver seat belt is always latched when I drive. I weigh 130 but the light remains on. So, will the driver air bag inflator explode or fail due to the warning light illuminatimg. I was unaware of a recall for this and 3 others have not been repaired yet by previous owners. The third item is backseat seatbelt female receptical will not latch to the male end on 2 of the 3 seating positions. This is a real safety issue when we place children in the backseat. We can only take 1 child at each drive, so even adults riding in the backseat will be not buckled up, which is un-law and very dangerous causing severe injuries and even death in an accidental collision. I will take my Fiancee's 2008 Yaris to a Toyota dealership for the 4 recalls noted today by VIN,7/29/2021. Thanks, Richard Peavler
I WAS GOING 15-20 MPH ON ON RAMP TO THE FREEWAY AND ACCIDENTALLY VEERED RIGHT HITTING THE GUARD RAIL ON THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF THE CAR. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND MY SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK, RESULTING IN MY FACE HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL, BREAKING MY NOSE AND CUTTING MY LIP.
I HAVE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO GET MY CAR'S AIRBAG RECALL DONE AT MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THIS IS PROBABLY THE 4-6TH TIME I TOOK IT AND WAS EXTREMELY PATIENT WITH THEM GETTING IT TO BE REPAIRED. I CONTINUE TO GET THESE LETTERS IN THE MAIL THAT MY CAR STILL HAS A SAFETY RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS. THIS DEALER IS THE CLOSEST TO ME AND GOING ANYWHERE ELSE WOULD BE CAUSE AN INCONVENIENCE SINCE ITS ABOUT AN HOUR AWAY. I EVEN TOOK OFF WORK TO GET THIS DONE BUT IT WAS NEVER DONE. THE DEALER IS TOYOTA OF YORK OVER AT WHITEFORD RD. I CONTINUE TO DRIVE UNSAFE UNKNOWINGLY BECAUSE OF THEM NOT FIXING MY CAR LIKE THEY SHOULD HAVE THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN. RECALL ID: QNC7-IUA
HAD HIGHLAND TOYOTA REPLACE THE AIRBAGS UNDER THE TAKATA RECALL. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON PRIOR TO THIS REPAIR BUT AFTER THE REPAIR THEY HAD NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THE SRS WARNING LIGHT TO GO OUT. TOLD ME THEY HAD RESET IT AND TO DRIVE IT TO SEE IF IT WILL GO OUT ON ITS OWN IT NEVER HAS. SO HERE IT IS ABOUT 2 YEARS LATER AND STILL THE LIGHT IS ON. I KNOW I'VE SEEN OTHER ISSUES WITH THE SRS ON TOYOTAS COME TO LIGHT COULD THIS BE A RELATION TO THAT?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA YARIS. WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHUDDER LOST MOTIVE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO (ANDY MOHR TOYOTA 8941 E US HWY 36, AVON, IN 46123 (317) 713-8181) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL SENDER UNIT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER, THOMPSON'S HONDA 7050 S US HWY 41, TERRE HAUTE, IN 47802 (812) 232-1111, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL SENDER UNIT WAS AGAIN DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.
THE REAR AXLE BROKE AT THE WELD. DRIVING UNDER NORMAL SPPED AND DRIVING CONDITIONS, I NOTICED A STRANGE RUBBING SOULD COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AFTER I GOT HOME I NOTICED THE CLEARANCE ON REAR WHEEL AT TOP WAS MUCH LESS THEN OTHER SIDE, AFTER TAKING TO SHOP I WAS THEN INFORMED OF THE CRACKED/BROKEN AXLE. WHEN I RESEARCHED THERE WERE OTHERS WHO'S CAR'S HAD REAR AXLE'S THAT WERE BREAKING AT THE WELDS AROUND THE SAME YEARS 2007-2009 THIS COULD BE A POTENTIALLY DEADLY
IN THE PAST 8-9 MONTHS I HAVE HAD 2 SETS ( OF 4) TIRE SENSORS REPLACED. ALL OF THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING. IT WILL FIRST BLINK THEN DISPLAY A SOLID BLUE LINE. THE FIRST AND SECOND TIME THE SENSORS SHOWED THEY WERE NOT CONNECTING TO THE TIRES. TODAY THE LIGHT BLINKED, THEN WENT TO A SOLID BLUE WITHIN A FEW SECONDS. I HAD TO DRIVE OVER 50-60 MILES TO GET TO THE BIG O STORE.I STOPPED TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS ENOUGH AIR IN THE TIRES TO DRIVE THE 50-60MILES. ONE TIRE WAS 2 POUNDS LOWER THEN THE OTHER THREE. THE LOW TIRE WAS INCREASED TO MATCH THE OTHER THREE AND I CONTINUED TO THE BIG O STORE IN CORTEZ, CO. IT TURNED OUT THAT I WAS DRIVING APPX 2 HOURS WHEN THE SOLID BLUE LIGHT SUDDENLY TURNED OFF. 15ISH MILES LATER THE LIGHT BLINKED FOR 2-3. MILES AND THEN WENT SOLID AGAIN. AT THIS POINT I WAS APPX 2 MILES FROM THE STORE. ONCE AT THE STORE, THE TIRES WERE CHECK AND ALL PRESSURES HAD REMAINED THE SAME. THE SENSORS WERE CHECKED AND THEY WERE ALL CONNECTING AND WORKING. I HEAR THAT ALTITUDE (6500-7000 FT) AND TEMPERATURE CAN AFFECT THE SENSORS (IT WAS BETWEEN 29 TO 31 DEGREE F.) I WAS DRIVING ON MOUNTAINOUS SEMI- WINDING CLEAR ROADS BETWEEN DURANGO AND CORTEZ CO. THIS HAPPENED BETWEEN 11:30AM-2:30PM. I WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 35-65- MPH ( FROM MANCO TO DURANGO TO CORTEZ, CO I AM GETTING READY TO DRIVE DOWN TO ALBUQUERQUE ( 3.5- 4 HRS) ON MANY 2 LANE ROADS AND DON'T WANT TO EXPERIENCE ANY CAR PROBLEMS ON ROADS WITH NO PLACE TO PULL OFF. PLEASE ADVISE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 TOYOTA YARIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE AN ILLEGAL TURN CAUSING THE CONTACT TO T-BONE THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INTERNAL CHEST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS IN THE TRAUMA UNIT FOR TWO DAYS. THE OTHER DRIVER DID NOT SUSTAINED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TOW LOT. THE CONTACT CALLED AUTONATION TOYOTA LEESBURG DEALER; (LOCATED AT 1 CARDINAL PARK DR SE, LEESBURG, VA 20175, (571) 357-3965) WHERE TWO PREVIOUS TAKATA RECALLS WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST RECALL PERFORMED WAS ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE AIR BAG AND LATER THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER TO CONTACT THE CORPORATE OFFICE OF TOYOTA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER: 1907232238. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 235,000.
I TOOK MY CAR IN TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN LONGVIEW WASHINGTON AND PRETTY MUCH THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO REPLACE BOTH AIRBAGS AND THEY ONLY REPLACE ONE AND THEN SAID THAT OH WE DON'T KNOW WHY THE AIRBAG LIGHTS NOT GOING OFF WHEN I DO BELIEVE THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TO ALSO I WAS TOLD BY THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN BREMERTON THAT IF MY FRIEND AND STARTED CLICKING TO TAKE IT IN AND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THAT TOO SO AND IT STARTS LEAKING AFTER I HAD IT IN THERE SO I THINK I NEED TO CHECK IT OUT AND THEY'RE NOT DOING IT PLEASE CONTACT ME AT THE [XXX] MY PHONE NUMBER IS [XXX] THANK YOU INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
BOUGHT CAR WITH 99K MILES. NOTED A CLUNK IN SUSPENSION. DECIDED TO FIX BY PROCESS OF ELIMINATION. TURNED OUT IT WAS A BROKEN BOLT THAT HOLDS THE CONTROL ARM INSIDE THE SUBFRAME WHICH IS NOT ACCESSIBLE FROM THE EXTERIOR. STEERING WAS VERY OFF AND THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT IS CLEARLY A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER: THE FRONT SUBFRAME WAS POORLY DESIGNED AND THE INNER BOLT THAT HOLDS THE LONG HORIZONTAL CONTROL ARM BOLT WAS IMPROPERLY WELDED OR THE INNER SUB FRAME WAS MADE SO WATER COULD GET IN AND RUST SAID BOLD/WELD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA YARIS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT IT WAS LEANING DUE TO A FRACTURED REAR AXLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
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