Used car guide

2006 Toyota Yaris: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2006 Toyota Yariss, from 15,515 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

15,515MOT tests in 2025
54%pass first time (all 2006 cars: 57%)
5,100typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for headlights

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2006 Toyota Yariss than on all cars registered in 2006.

  • Headlights2.1× usual
    Toyota Yaris
    29.7% All 2006 cars
    14.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.4%, against 5.1% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Rigid brake pipes1.5× usual
    Toyota Yaris
    21.8% All 2006 cars
    14.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.7%, against 2.3% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Corroded fuel pipes10.2× usual
    Toyota Yaris
    8.2% All 2006 cars
    0.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Coil springs1.6× usual
    Toyota Yaris
    17.7% All 2006 cars
    11.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.4%, against 3% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Wipers1.7× usual
    Toyota Yaris
    7.5% All 2006 cars
    4.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.9%, against 2.9% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

Better than most

Track rod ends: 1.4% here, against 5.7% of all 2006 cars. Ball joint: 2.2% here, against 6.4% of all 2006 cars.

By area

The share of 2006 Toyota Yaris MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    48% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Suspension
    48% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    36% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    32% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Rust and bodywork
    17% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    16% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Looking at a Toyota Yaris?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20231,164Tyres 12%
202221,996Tyres 20%
202123,784Tyres 24%
202020,644Tyres 24%
201928,089Tyres 28%
201828,044Tyres 28%
201726,889Tyres 27%
201628,573Tyres 28%
201530,843Tyres 29%
201429,196Tyres 29%
201328,986Tyres 30%
201227,339Suspension 34%
201115,926Suspension 35%
201018,149Suspension 40%
200923,840Suspension 40%
200821,086Suspension 48%
200719,296Suspension 48%
200514,375Suspension 50%
200411,481Suspension 52%
20039,686Suspension 53%
20027,463Suspension 56%
20015,863Suspension 60%
20002,823Suspension 61%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2006 Toyota Yariss registered in 2006. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score