Medium van with a decade of Toyota warranty
A medium panel van sharing its platform with the Peugeot Expert and Citroen Dispatch, but differentiated by Toyota's class-leading warranty of up to ten years. It appeals to owner-operators and small fleets who want Stellantis practicality backed by Toyota's reputation for dependability. It competes against the Ford Transit Custom and VW Transporter but at a lower price point.
We track 5 known issues across the Toyota Proace range, including 1 rated as safety-critical. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Toyota Proace? Enter the reg to see which of our 5 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
Gen1 (2013–2017) — Engine options included the 1.6 HDi, 2.0 HDi. Our database flags 5 known issues on this generation, 1 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Brake pedal anti-slip provision failure (£15–£30 to address).
Gen2 (2018–2023) — Engine options included the 1.5 BlueHDi, 2.0 BlueHDi. Our database flags 4 known issues on this generation, 1 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Brake pedal anti-slip provision failure (£15–£30 to address).
The brake pedal rubber pad degrades, becomes loose, or wears smooth at extraordinarily high rates on the ProAce, failing MOT tests at 36 times the national fleet average. This creates a serious safety hazard as the driver's foot can slip off the brake pedal during emergency braking, particularly in wet conditions or when wearing smooth-soled footwear. The issue affects all engine variants and appears to be related to the pedal pad material specification.
A worn or loose brake pedal pad can cause the driver's foot to slip during braking, potentially leading to loss of braking control and collision. This is particularly dangerous in emergency situations or adverse weather conditions. The vehicle will fail its MOT test and must not be driven until repaired.
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.
The constant velocity joint protective boots on the ProAce fail at significantly higher rates than the national average, with severely deteriorated boots appearing as early as 20,000 miles. The boots protect the CV joints from dirt and moisture ingress, and early failure leads to premature joint wear and expensive driveshaft replacement. This issue affects both inner and outer CV joints across all engine variants and appears to be related to boot material quality rather than design.
Failed boots allow dirt and water to contaminate the CV joints, leading to joint failure within 5,000-10,000 miles. A failed CV joint causes loss of drive to that wheel and can lock the wheel during driving, creating a serious safety hazard. Complete driveshaft replacement typically costs £200-400 per side.
Listen for clunking or vibration from underneath when pulling away or changing direction. Check for play in the driveshafts by rocking the car in gear with the handbrake on. Worn CV boots are a telltale sign — look for grease splatter around the inner wheel arch.
The hydraulic power steering system on first-generation ProAce models suffers from fluid leaks and pump failures at rates significantly above the fleet average. The most common failure points are the power steering pump seals and high-pressure hoses. Low fluid levels lead to pump damage and eventual steering failure, which poses a serious safety risk in a commercial vehicle carrying loads.
Complete power steering failure makes the vehicle extremely difficult to steer, particularly when loaded or at low speeds. This creates a serious safety hazard in emergency manoeuvres. Power steering pump replacement typically costs £300-500, while high-pressure hose replacement adds £100-200.
During the test drive, check the steering for excessive play, vibration or pulling to one side. Listen for groaning or whining when turning the wheel at low speed. Power steering fluid level and condition should be checked on hydraulic systems.
The ProAce suffers from engine management warning lights at nearly 5 times the national average, primarily related to diesel emissions system faults including DPF blockage, EGR valve problems, and NOx sensor failures. These issues are exacerbated by urban driving patterns common in commercial use, where the DPF cannot complete regeneration cycles. The problem affects both generations but is particularly prevalent on the 1.6-litre engines.
Emissions system faults can lead to DPF blockage requiring expensive cleaning or replacement. EGR valve failures cause poor running and increased fuel consumption. NOx sensor faults can trigger engine derating or prevent starting. DPF replacement costs £1,000-2,000, while EGR valve replacement typically costs £300-600.
Check for any engine warning lights on the dashboard. Ask about the car's MOT emissions history — repeated failures suggest underlying issues. A pre-purchase diagnostic scan is especially worthwhile to check for stored emissions fault codes.
The ProAce exhibits fluid leaks at rates significantly higher than the fleet average, with the worst affected being the 1.5-litre diesel engines failing at nearly 12 times the normal rate. Common leak sources include engine oil seals, power steering systems, brake fluid circuits, and coolant hoses. While often minor initially, these leaks can progress to safety-critical failures and environmental hazards if left unaddressed.
While many leaks start as minor seepage, they can progress to more serious failures. Engine oil leaks can cause environmental damage and reduce lubrication. Power steering leaks lead to system failure and heavy steering. Brake fluid leaks compromise braking safety. Coolant leaks can cause overheating and engine damage.
Check the oil level before the engine is started. Ask the seller how often they top up the oil between services. After a test drive, check the level again and look behind the car for blue or grey exhaust smoke under acceleration.
For the full breakdown of all 5 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Toyota Proace common problems page.
Based on 55k real DVSA MOT tests, the Toyota Proace fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a m... at 97x the fleet average, followed by light unit fault (31x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Toyota Proace MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 13k miles) typically costs £80–£120 at an independent garage.
See the full Toyota Proace service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Toyota Proace has some well-documented weak points, including 1 safety-critical issue 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. Post-2019 facelift models are the most reliable, benefiting from resolved early production issues and fewer safety recalls. The 1.5-litre 120bhp in Medium length offers the best balance of economy and payload. Avoid 2016-2017 first-year production which had the highest recall rate.
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 Proace, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 5 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 5 known Toyota Proace issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.