Fault File
All models / All cars / Small SUVs / Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

All generations and engines together · 5,856 MOT tests in the 2025 data

How this model wears

Toyota Yaris CrossClass average, all tracked models

Known issues

Measured

Computed from DVSA MOT results, all of Great Britain, 2025. Nothing here is opinion.

What testers flag

Share of tests where each item was recorded. The dark tick is the class average across all tracked models; bars are scaled within each group.

Faults with the car itself

The rows that judge the model rather than its keeper. 5,856 tests in this band.

A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
Advisory
6.9%class 2.1%
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
Fail
1.2%class 0.2%
Vehicles internal headlight adjuster altered to recheck lights
Advisory
0.5%class 0.1%

Wear, upkeep and luck

Tyres, pads and stone chips say more about how the car was driven and maintained than about how it was built.

A tyre seriously damaged
Advisory
11.8%class 13.1%
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
Advisory
11.4%class 18.8%
Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured
Advisory
3.5%class 7.0%
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
Fail
3.3%class 1.2%
Wiper blade defective
Minor
2.2%class 1.1%
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Fail
2.1%class 1.7%
Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt
Advisory
1.7%class 2.1%
A tyre seriously damaged
Fail
1.4%class 2.3%

Unconfirmed issues

Reported

Owner folklore from forums and the motoring press. Most of it never shows up in an MOT, which is why this section exists at all.

Creaks and knocks from the front suspension

Partly in the MOT data

Several owners describe a creak or knock from the front end, most noticeable turning the wheel at low speed, over speed bumps, or crossing rough tarmac. It ties in with the measured data, where suspension is the standout MOT fault category for this model, though most owner reports are noise rather than an outright failure. One owner reported the noise returning even after the front suspension assemblies were replaced, which suggests top mounts, anti-roll bar links or bushes rather than a single obvious part. A dealer check usually finds the cause; fixes range from a regrease to component replacement, roughly £150-400 a side.

Reported from around 20-40k miles · sources: Toyota Owners Club forum, JustAnswer UK

12V battery failure catching owners out

Emerging

The small 12V battery that runs the electrics (separate from the main hybrid pack) can fail or go flat with little warning, leaving the car needing a jump start or a new battery. Honest John logged a case on a 2021 car reported a couple of years into ownership. It's a known weak point across Toyota's hybrid range generally, since they share similar 12V battery hardware, though there's no manufacturer TSB or recall specific to the Yaris Cross for it. Replacement is a fairly cheap fix at around £150-250 fitted, but it's not covered once the standard warranty has run out.

Reported around 2-3 years old · sources: Honest John

Water leak into the boot on tow bar cars

Tow bar-fitted cars only

A water leak into the boot after heavy rain was traced to the tow bar wiring installation, where a sealing grommet in the rear quarter panel had either failed or been fitted incorrectly. Owners noticed damp carpet or a wet spare wheel well rather than any warning light. Toyota dealers resolved reported cases under warranty, so it's not a big money worry if caught early, but a car with a botched aftermarket tow bar fit could see it again once out of warranty.

Reported case from Feb 2022 · sources: Honest John

Firm ride on larger alloy wheel trims

Disputed

The Yaris Cross rides noticeably firmer than most small SUV rivals, and it gets worse on higher trims with larger alloys. Some owners are happy to trade comfort for the tauter handling, others find it uncomfortable on poor UK roads and it's a recurring theme in reviews and forum chat rather than something Toyota has changed. It isn't a fault that costs money to fix, but it's worth knowing before buying on a higher trim expecting a soft ride.

Most noticeable on 17-18in wheel trims · sources: Honest John

Viewing one? Ask this

Built from the two sections above.

Turn the wheel on full lock at walking pace and listen for creaks or knocks from the front. A clonk or creak points to worn suspension top mounts, bushes or anti-roll bar links, the most commonly reported issue on this model.
Drive over a few speed bumps and rough patches at low speed on the test drive. A squeak or knock from the front matches the suspension noise owners report from around 20-40k miles onward.
Ask when the 12V battery was last replaced, or check its date sticker if you can see it. A battery more than 3-4 years old on a hybrid is a common cause of a no-start, and it isn't covered once the warranty has run out.
If a tow bar is fitted, lift the boot floor and check the spare wheel well for damp, staining or a musty smell. Water can get in through the tow bar wiring grommet after heavy rain if it wasn't sealed properly on fitting.
Test drive on a rough road you know, not just a smooth dealer route, especially on cars with 17-18in wheels. The ride is firm from new on larger wheel trims; if it feels harsh on the test drive it won't settle in with age.
Read the full MOT history for repeated suspension advisories, not just the pass/fail line. Suspension is this model's standout MOT fault category, so the same advisory coming back year after year is worth a proper inspection, not a shrug.
Ask for service history and whether any parts were replaced under goodwill outside a formal recall. A dealer quietly swapping a 12V battery or suspension part for free is a sign the fault is known internally even without an official recall.

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