2011 Toyota Auris electric: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2011 Toyota Auris electric?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2011 Toyota Auris electric than on all cars registered in 2011.

• Rigid brake pipes3.7× usual
  Toyota Auris

  20.9% All 2011 cars

  5.7%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.3%, against 1% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

  At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

• Sidelights2× usual
  Toyota Auris

  11.1% All 2011 cars

  5.5%

  Failed outright at MOT: 10.7%, against 4.8% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

• Horn5.8× usual
  Toyota Auris

  2.9% All 2011 cars

  0.5%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.9%, against 0.5% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

• Side repeaters2.5× usual
  Toyota Auris

  3% All 2011 cars

  1.2%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2%, against 0.8% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

• Steering rack3× usual
  Toyota Auris

  2.4% All 2011 cars

  0.8%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.4% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

  At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

Common 2011 Toyota Auris electric MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2011 Toyota Auris electric MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Brakes
  37% of testsRough price £150–£350

  At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

• Suspension
  32% of testsRough price £120–£400

  At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

• Tyres
  29% of testsRough price £70–£150

  At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

• Lights and electrics
  28% of testsRough price £10–£80

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

• Exhaust and emissions
  10% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

  At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for an engine warning light.

• Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
  7% of testsRough price £15–£250

  At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Known faults on the 2011 Toyota Auris electric

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

• Recalls: brake calipers, window wiring fire risk, suspension, accelerator

  All engines

  Recalls covered rear brake calipers that could come off (built Jan 2008), electric window wiring that could short and catch fire (built before Dec 2008), rear suspension (built Feb 2007 to Mar 2011) and the accelerator pedal.

  At the viewing: Ask a Toyota dealer to check the VIN for outstanding recalls.

  Source: Carbuyer: used Toyota Auris buying guide (2007-2012)

• Early clutch failure

  Manual gearbox

  Clutches can fail early, and some early gearboxes were replaced for noise.

  At the viewing: Check the clutch bites cleanly and the gearbox is quiet.

  Source: Carbuyer: used Toyota Auris buying guide (2007-2012)

• Jerky or stuck MultiMode automatic

  MultiMode automatic

  The MultiMode automatic (1.6 petrol and 1.4 diesel) is often jerky, and some refuse to change gear.

  At the viewing: Drive it in traffic and through all the gears.

  Source: Carbuyer: used Toyota Auris buying guide (2007-2012)

• Water in the spare wheel well

  All engines

  Water can collect in the spare wheel well, from the rear air outlets or tail-light seals.

  At the viewing: Lift the boot floor and look for water.

  Source: Carbuyer: used Toyota Auris buying guide (2007-2012)

• Weak handbrake and squealing brakes

  All engines

  The handbrake may not hold on a hill without adjustment, and brake dust can make the brakes squeal.

  At the viewing: Test the handbrake on a slope.

  Source: Carbuyer: used Toyota Auris buying guide (2007-2012)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2011 Toyota Auris electric

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

1. Have all the recalls been done? Can a Toyota dealer confirm from the VIN?
2. Any recent work on the rigid brake pipes? (Flagged at MOT 3.7× as often on the 2011 Toyota Auris electric as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the sidelights? (Flagged at MOT 2× as often on the 2011 Toyota Auris electric as on other cars the same age.)
4. Any recent work on the horn? (Flagged at MOT 5.8× as often on the 2011 Toyota Auris electric as on other cars the same age.)
5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?