The Lemon Index
201520172nd generation
Complaints only. Too few sold to score: 10,872 in the U.S. in 2016 (sales source), under the 20,000 a fair per-car score needs. Owners filed 4 complaints in its first 3 years.
4 owner complaints, first 3 years 32–33 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2016 Honda Fit 582016 Nissan Versa 382016 Hyundai Accent 53
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
No complaints for this year listed a mileage, so we can't say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 19V319000 (airbags) and 16V236000 (tires) done? Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Is the airbag light off, and were any airbag recalls done?
- Any rust or damage underneath, or doors and hatches that don't close right?
- Do all the lights, screens and power features work? Has the battery, alternator or any wiring been replaced?
- Toyota sent dealers 159 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “A battery in a stored vehicle is subject to conditions that can reduce its performance and life”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Toyota's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 4 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
Fixes owners look up most.
From 199 YouTube videos · 19.5M views · 2012–2019 Toyota Yaris
Most-watched topics
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Show 3 more
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2016 - 2022 Toyota Yaris / Mazda 2 Front brake pads replacementBrian Balatbat · 19K views · 2 videos
Before you buy, watch
2018 Toyota Yaris LE Review - Cheap, Reliable Transportation!Shooting Cars · 39K views
2014 Toyota Vios / Yaris Sedan FULL REVIEW (Interior, Exterior, Exhaust, Engine)PatrickReyesTV · 454K views
Toyota Yaris 2017 (ENG) - Test Drive and ReviewMarek Drives in English · 317K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2016 is the same generation.
Costs are the middle (median) of the dollar amounts people say out loud in these videos, so one wild number can't swing it. They aren't verified bills or sales; real prices depend on year, miles, condition and where you live. Tap Hear it to jump to the moment.
Problems Toyota told dealers about
Toyota sent dealers 159 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- A battery in a stored vehicle is subject to conditions that can reduce its performance and life
- While a vehicle is in inventory, the battery is subject to conditions that can reduce its…
- A battery in a stored vehicle is subject to conditions that can reduce its performance and life
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 2
- Airbags · recall issued 2019
The wire harnesses for the side air bag sensors located within the front doors may crack and corrode, possibly causing the non-deployment or improper deployment of the front seat side air bags and the curtain shield air …
- Tires · recall issued 2016
The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Yaris Liftback 5 HB FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota Yaris Liftback 3 HB FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1,800–$1,900 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 1.5L 4-cyl.
Every Toyota Yaris year. 2016 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 5 Toyota Yaris years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2016 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/toyota-yaris/?y=2016" title="Toyota Yaris reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="353" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/toyota-yaris/2016/">Lemon Index</a> (2016 Toyota Yaris reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2016 Toyota Yaris reliable?
We can't score it: only 10,872 were sold in the U.S. in 2016 (calendar-year sales), under the 20,000 we need for a fair per-car score. Owners filed 4 complaints with NHTSA in its first 3 years.
What are the most common 2016 Toyota Yaris problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are airbags (50%), body structure (50%) and electrical (25%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2016 Toyota Yaris have?
2 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Toyota Yaris get?
32 to 33 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2016 Toyota Yaris safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
Does the 2016 Toyota Yaris have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2016 Toyota Yaris cost in fuel a year?
About $1,800 to $1,900 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2016 Toyota Yaris have?
1.5L 4-cyl.
What Toyota Yaris year is better than the 2016?
Nearby, the 2013 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (about a quarter as many complaints as the average car).
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works