Skip to content
Emergency

Before you buy a used Toyota Auris (I).

2006–2012 · Petrol / Hybrid / Diesel · 4 engines

Taken only from Testigo's sourced sheets. Use it to question the seller and on the test drive: it does not confirm that any particular car is affected.

Toyota Auris (I), real photo of this generation
Rudolf Stricker · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo source

The essentials.

Typical faults by engine

The period and mileage are those mentioned by each sheet's sources. They are not a maintenance interval and do not predict that any particular car will fail.

1.33 / 1.4 / 1.6 VVT-i

Petrol

  • Period mentioned
    Approx. 2008–2013
    Mileage mentioned
    What the sheet says: The oil level drops between services (more than half a litre per 1,000 km and up to a litre or more), usually from 150,000–200,000 km; bluish smoke.

    Applies if: Only the 1.33 Dual VVT-i (1NR-FE).

1.8 Hybrid

Hybrid

1.4 D-4D

Diesel

2.0 / 2.2 D-4D

Diesel

  • Period mentioned
    2005–2009
    Mileage mentioned
    What the sheet says: 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.

Which engine has the fewest documented faults?

Documented faults and recalls by engine for the Toyota Auris (I)
EngineDocumented faultsRecalls
1.33 / 1.4 / 1.6 VVT-iPetrolFewest documented11 with conditions7
1.8 HybridHybrid21 with conditions7
1.4 D-4DDieselFewest documented17
2.0 / 2.2 D-4DDieselFewest documented17

According to the data we have, the engines with the fewest documented faults are: 1.33 / 1.4 / 1.6 VVT-i (Petrol), 1.4 D-4D (Diesel), 2.0 / 2.2 D-4D (Diesel).

By fuel type, the one with the fewest documented faults is: Petrol.

We only count the sourced sheets we have. An engine with fewer is not guaranteed to be more reliable: it may have been studied less or sold in smaller numbers.

Official recalls: ask before you pay

A recall existing does not mean this car is affected or that it is still outstanding: it depends on the chassis number, the market and the production date.

  1. Ask the seller for the chassis number (VIN): it has 17 characters, appears in the car's documents and can usually also be seen at the base of the windscreen.
  2. Ask an official Toyota dealer, or the brand's official website if it lets you check by chassis number, whether each recall has been done or is still outstanding for that VIN.
  3. Manufacturer recalls are normally carried out free of charge by the official service network. If one is outstanding, ask for it to be done before you close the sale.
Toyota airbag and seat-belt recalls (2003–2024)Airbags and seat belts

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

View full entry
Toyota brake recalls (2000–2025)Brakes

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

View full entry
Toyota fuel-system recalls (2002–2026)Fuel system

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

View full entry
Toyota electric and hybrid drive recalls (2012–2026)Electric powertrain

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

View full entry
Toyota wheel, axle and suspension recalls (2004–2026)Suspension and steering

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

View full entry
Toyota engine, transmission and software recalls (2002–2026)Powertrain and engine management

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

View full entry
Toyota electrical, lighting and electronics recalls (2004–2025)Electrical and electronic systems

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

View full entry

On the test drive: what to look and listen for

Taken from each sheet's symptoms and checks. You can tick off what you have already looked at: it is saved only in this browser.

0 of 5 checked

Engine

  • Look out for: Knocking or rattling on cold start, misfires (P0301–P0304), coolant loss and, eventually, a damaged head gasket.

    Ask them to check: Read the misfire codes, watch the coolant level and clean the EGR cooler, valve and manifold preventively; if coolant is lost with no visible leak, run a combustion-gas test.

  • Look out for: High oil consumption, coolant loss, overheating, smoke and clogged EGR and particulate filter.

    Ask them to check: Measure oil consumption, run a combustion-gas test on the coolant and check the EGR and particulate filter; check the engine repair history.

  • Look out for: The oil level drops between services (more than half a litre per 1,000 km and up to a litre or more), usually from 150,000–200,000 km; bluish smoke.

    Ask them to check: Check the history for oil top-ups or replaced pistons; measure consumption between two changes and check the spark plugs.

Injection / turbo

  • Look out for: Hard starting, rough idle, smoke and loss of power; noise or vibration from the flywheel when starting and releasing the clutch; oil consumption.

    Ask them to check: Read the codes, run an injector back-leak test and check the EGR. Listen to the flywheel at idle with the clutch released. Measure oil consumption.

High-voltage battery

  • Look out for: Hybrid battery cooling maintenance message, warning light with codes P0A80 or P0A7F, a noisy fan and less electric assistance; if ignored, the battery ages faster.

    Ask them to check: Clean or replace the filter and clean the fan before condemning the battery; keep the intake grille clear. At the garage, read the codes and, if needed, install the software Toyota specifies.

OBD codes worth looking for

If they let you read the fault memory with an OBD reader, these are the codes mentioned in this model's sheets:

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these Testigo sheets and their original sources. Sources are not checked in real time.

More Toyota buying guides

View the model pageAll buying guides