Hybrid reliability that genuinely delivers long-term
The Auris is Toyota's answer to the Golf and Focus, built at the Burnaston plant in Derbyshire from 2006 to 2019. It ranked sixth most reliable used family car in the 2023 What Car? survey, with Toyota placing fourth out of 30 brands overall. The hybrid version (from 2010) is especially strong in the UK market, commanding a premium over petrol equivalents but rewarding owners with significantly lower running costs and London ULEZ compliance.
We track 9 known issues across the Toyota Auris range, including 2 rated as safety-critical. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Toyota Auris? Enter the reg to see which of our 9 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
E150 (2006–2012) — Petrol options included the 1.3 Petrol, 1.4 Petrol, 1.4 Petrol, 1.6 Petrol, 1.8 Petrol, with 1.4 D-4D, 1.6 D-4D, 2.0 D-4D, 2.2 D-CAT on the diesel side. Our database flags 8 known issues on this generation, 2 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Subframe corrosion and structural weakness (£800–£2,000 to address).
The E150 Auris suffers from severe corrosion of the rear subframe mounting points and load-bearing structure within 30cm of suspension component attachments. MOT data shows this model fails at up to 26.9 times the fleet average for prescribed area structural failure, with suspension components becoming excessively corroded at 44.9 times the fleet average. The thin steel construction and poor rust protection in these areas leads to structural weakness that compromises vehicle safety. Later E150/E180 models have improved corrosion resistance but are not immune.
Structural failure of subframe mounting points can cause loss of vehicle control, particularly under heavy braking or cornering. Suspension components may detach from the vehicle body. Repair typically requires subframe replacement and welding work costing £1,500-£3,000. Cars with significant structural corrosion may be uneconomical to repair.
Inspect the wheel arches, sills, jacking points and door bottoms carefully. Press gently on sills to check for soft spots. Look underneath for corrosion on structural components. Check the MOT history for corrosion-related advisories or failures.
First-generation Auris models suffer from accelerated brake pipe corrosion, particularly affecting the rear brake lines that run along the corroding subframe. MOT data shows this model fails at 17.4 times the fleet average for brake pipe damage or excessive corrosion. The brake pipes are vulnerable to damage from debris and corrosion products falling from the deteriorating subframe above them, creating a cascading failure mode unique to this generation.
Brake pipe failure results in sudden loss of braking ability on the affected circuit. Even minor leaks allow air into the system, reducing braking effectiveness. Complete brake failure can occur without warning. Replacement of corroded brake pipes costs £300-£800 depending on how many sections require renewal.
Check brake disc condition for lipping or scoring. Test braking at moderate speed for pulling to one side or vibration through the steering wheel. Review MOT advisories for brake-related items.
Diesel Auris models suffer from diesel particulate filter blockage, particularly when used predominantly for short urban journeys that prevent the DPF reaching the temperature required for passive regeneration. The 1.4 and 1.6 D-4D engines are especially susceptible, with MOT data showing diesel variants fail emissions tests at
A completely blocked DPF prevents the engine from running properly and triggers limp mode. Professional DPF cleaning costs £300-£600, while replacement costs £800-£1,500. Cars that fail to complete regeneration cycles may suffer turbocharger damage from excessive exhaust back-pressure.
Ask about the car's typical usage — short urban journeys prevent DPF regeneration. Check for DPF warning lights and ask about any previous regeneration issues. A forced regeneration at a garage costs far less than a DPF replacement.
Diesel injectors on Auris models are prone to failure due to contamination from poor fuel quality and carbon build-up from DPF regeneration cycles. The high-pressure common rail system operates at up to 1,800 bar, making the injectors vulnerable to wear from contaminated diesel fuel. Failed injectors cause rough running, increased emissions, and can damage other engine components if left untreated.
Failed injectors cause poor fuel economy, increased emissions, and potential damage to the catalytic converter or DPF. Individual injector replacement costs £150-£300 per injector plus labour. Complete set replacement can cost £800-£1,200. Continuing to drive with failed injectors risks expensive damage to other emission control components.
Check for fuel smells around the engine bay and underneath the car. Look for staining or wetness around fuel lines and connections. Injector issues may cause rough running or misfires that are most noticeable at idle.
The nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) hybrid battery pack in second-generation Auris hybrids experiences capacity degradation after 100,000 miles, particularly in cars used predominantly for short urban journeys where the battery cycles frequently between charge and discharge states. Individual cell failure within the battery pack triggers warning lights and reduces fuel economy as the petrol engine runs more frequently to compensate.
Complete hybrid battery failure prevents the car from starting or causes it to run only on the petrol engine with severely reduced fuel economy. Replacement hybrid batteries cost £2,000-£3,000 including installation. Some specialists offer cell-level repairs for £800-£1,500, though this may only provide temporary resolution.
Check all electrical functions systematically: windows, mirrors, lights, infotainment, heated seats, air conditioning. Look for any warning lights on the dashboard. A diagnostic scan before purchase can reveal stored fault codes.
For the full breakdown of all 9 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Toyota Auris common problems page.
Based on 840k real DVSA MOT tests, the Toyota Auris fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is coil springs broken at 97x the fleet average, followed by headlight fault (88x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Toyota Auris MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 10k miles) typically costs £80–£120 at an independent garage.
See the full Toyota Auris service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Toyota Auris has some well-documented weak points, including 2 safety-critical issues that demand careful checking. The right example, properly maintained, can still be a sound purchase — but cutting corners on the pre-purchase inspection is not advisable. 2015-2018 Mk2 hybrid models are the sweet spot — the 1.8 hybrid is proven and efficient, the 2018 model achieves 90% MOT pass rate, and ULEZ compliance adds real-world value. Avoid the 1.6 D-4D diesel entirely. The 2006 model has the worst pass rate at 71%.
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific Toyota Auris, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 9 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 9 known Toyota Auris issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.