Part of the Toyota Yaris Mk3 (2011–2020) guide: best and worst years compared.

Used car guide

2015 Toyota Yaris: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Toyota Yaris first registered in 2015: we looked at the 91,501 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

91,501MOTs of 2015 cars, done in 2023–2025
80%pass first time (all 2015 cars: 74%)
5,600typical miles a year
4.1×the usual rate for side repeaters

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2015 Toyota Yaris?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2015 Toyota Yaris than on all cars registered in 2015.

  • Side repeaters4.1× usual
    Toyota Yaris
    2.9% All 2015 cars
    0.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.1%, against 0.5% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

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

  • Front struts10× usual
    Toyota Yaris
    2% All 2015 cars
    0.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.1% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£400 our estimate

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

  • Suspension arm3.4× usual
    Toyota Yaris
    2.4% All 2015 cars
    0.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0.1% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Headlights1.7× usual
    Toyota Yaris
    3.2% All 2015 cars
    1.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 1.6% of all 2015 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.

Better than most

Coil springs: 1.3% here, against 4.3% of all 2015 cars. Shock absorbers: 2.2% here, against 4.6% of all 2015 cars.

Common 2015 Toyota Yaris MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2015 Toyota Yaris MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    29% 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.

  • Brakes
    19% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    15% 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
    13% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    7% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    2% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Known faults on the 2015 Toyota Yaris

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

  • Recalls on early cars

    Early cars had recalls for brake fluid leaks, power steering, rear hubs, airbags and suspension.

    At the viewing: Ask a Toyota dealer to confirm all recall work was done.

    Source: Auto Express: used Toyota Yaris Mk3 review

  • CVT automatic

    Automatic (not hybrid)

    The Multidrive automatic is rated as less reliable than the manual.

    At the viewing: If it’s an automatic, check it drives smoothly from a standstill and at low speed.

    Source: Auto Express: used Toyota Yaris Mk3 review

  • Corrosion behind the number plate

    The rear number plate trim can make the tailgate corrode.

    At the viewing: Look closely around the rear number plate.

    Source: Auto Express: used Toyota Yaris Mk3 review

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2015 Toyota Yaris

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the side repeaters? (Flagged at MOT 4.1× as often on the 2015 Toyota Yaris as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the front struts? (Flagged at MOT 10× as often on the 2015 Toyota Yaris as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the suspension arm? (Flagged at MOT 3.4× as often on the 2015 Toyota Yaris as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Toyota Yaris?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Toyota Yaris compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
20231,227Tyres 12%
202223,007Tyres 20%
202147,679Tyres 22%
202061,613Tyres 21%
201982,990Tyres 26%
201882,911Tyres 27%
201779,867Tyres 27%
201684,565Tyres 28%
201486,304Tyres 29%
201386,081Tyres 30%
201281,787Suspension 29%
201148,178Suspension 30%
201055,613Suspension 35%
200973,387Suspension 35%
200867,114Suspension 44%
200762,628Suspension 43%
200651,516Lights and electrics 47%
200549,445Suspension 48%
200440,526Suspension 50%
200334,635Suspension 51%
200227,082Suspension 54%
200121,235Suspension 58%
200010,640Suspension 60%
19993,208Suspension 60%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Toyota Yaris cars first registered in 2015. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score