KNOWN FAULTS · Toyota

Known faults for the Toyota Avensis (II).

2003–2008 · Petrol / Diesel

Sources are not verified in real time and no entry confirms that your car is affected.

4 known faults with sources

Engines: 1.6 / 1.8 / 2.0 / 2.4 VVT-i (Petrol)

Applies if: Only the 1.8 VVT-i (1ZZ-FE), mainly before the facelift; Toyota changed the pistons in July 2005.

Oil consumption on the 1.8 VVT-i (1ZZ-FE)Engine

Engine / equipment: 1.8 VVT-i (1ZZ-FE): Corolla, Celica, MR2, RAV4 and Avensis
Period mentioned: Approx. 1998–2005
Symptoms: Oil must be topped up between changes (more than a litre every 1,600 km in bad cases), bluish smoke and fouled spark plugs; eventually misfires and a damaged catalytic converter.
Possible cause described: The piston rings on early engines stuck and let oil into the combustion chamber. Toyota changed the pistons in July 2005 and extended the engine warranty in the US.
Check for the garage: Measure consumption between two changes with the level set correctly and check the spark plugs and catalytic converter. If consumption is high, the lasting fix is new pistons and rings.
Cost cited in the source: No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Engines: 1.6 / 1.8 / 2.0 / 2.4 VVT-i (Petrol) · 2.0 / 2.2 D-4D (Diesel)

Applies if: Weak points of this model from inspections, breakdown statistics and recalls; anything specific to one engine is stated in the sheet.

Petrol oil consumption and 2.2 diesel head on the Avensis IIEngine

Engine / equipment: Toyota Avensis II (petrol and diesel)
Period mentioned: 2003–2009
Symptoms: Oil consumption that rises with mileage (especially the 1.8); hairline cracks in the 2.2 diesel head; cloudy xenon headlamps, worn drive shafts, instrument lighting out from a weak battery, dirty EGR, starter and alternator.
Possible cause described: Toyota ran an action for petrol engines with extreme oil consumption (some engines were replaced as goodwill; the dipstick carries a green dot) and a factory action for 2.2 diesel head cracks.
Check for the garage: Measure oil consumption and look for the green dot on the dipstick; on the 2.2 diesel, a combustion-gas test on the coolant.
Cost cited in the source: No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Engines: 2.0 / 2.2 D-4D (Diesel)

Applies if: Only the 116 hp 2.0 D-4D built until 2006 (1CD-FTV).

Injectors, dual-mass flywheel, turbo and EGR on the first 2.0 D-4D (1CD-FTV)Injection / turbo

Engine / equipment: First-generation 2.0 D-4D (1CD-FTV): Avensis, Avensis Verso, Corolla, Corolla Verso, RAV4 and Previa
Period mentioned: Approx. 1999–2006
Symptoms: Hard starting, hesitation and loss of power, black smoke; EGR (P0400) or turbo-control codes; flywheel noise.
Possible cause described: Denso injectors that fail often and can hardly be repaired, pump suction control valves (SCV), leaking injector seals and soot in the EGR; also the dual-mass flywheel and turbo. On the second generation (1AD, from 2006) the typical fault is different: head gasket and oil consumption.
Check for the garage: Read the codes, check the fuel filter and for air ingress, test the injectors and SCV valves and clean the EGR before replacing expensive parts.
Cost cited in the source: No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Engines: 2.0 / 2.2 D-4D (Diesel)

Oil consumption and head gasket on the 2.0 and 2.2 D-4DEngine

Engine / equipment: 2.0 D-4D (1AD) and 2.2 D-4D (2AD)
Period mentioned: 2005–2009
Symptoms: High oil consumption, coolant loss, overheating, smoke and clogged EGR and particulate filter.
Possible cause described: Carbon on the pistons causing oil consumption and head-gasket failures. Toyota had out-of-warranty support guidelines for engines built in 2005–2009 (up to 7 years and 180,000 km), now expired.
Check for the garage: Measure oil consumption, run a combustion-gas test on the coolant and check the EGR and particulate filter; check the engine repair history.
Cost cited in the source: No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.