Part of the Toyota Yaris Mk3 (2011–2020) guide: best and worst years compared.
2020 Toyota Yaris petrol: common problems and MOT failures
What MOT testers find on the petrol Toyota Yaris first registered in 2020 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 20,547 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.
What goes wrong more than usual on a 2020 Toyota Yaris petrol?
Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2020 Toyota Yaris petrol than on all cars registered in 2020.
- Wipers1.9× usualToyota Yaris5.8% All 2020 cars3.1%
Failed outright at MOT: 4%, against 2% of all 2020 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.
Rough price £15–£60 our estimateAt the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.
Common 2020 Toyota Yaris petrol MOT failures and advisories
The share of 2020 Toyota Yaris petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.
- Tyres19% 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.
- Brakes8% 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.
- Wipers, windscreen and mirrors7% of testsRough price £15–£250
At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.
- Lights and electrics5% of testsRough price £10–£80
At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
- Suspension3% 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.
- Seats and seatbelts2% of testsRough price £80–£250
At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.
Known faults on the 2020 Toyota Yaris petrol
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.
- Automatic (not hybrid)
CVT automatic
The Multidrive automatic is rated as less reliable than the manual.
At the viewing: If it’s an automatic, check it drives smoothly from a standstill and at low speed.
Corrosion behind the number plate
The rear number plate trim can make the tailgate corrode.
At the viewing: Look closely around the rear number plate.
Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2020 Toyota Yaris petrol
Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.
- Any recent work on the wipers? (Flagged at MOT 1.9× as often on the 2020 Toyota Yaris petrol as on other cars the same age.)
- Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?
Looking at a Toyota Yaris?
Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.
Other years
Every year of the Toyota Yaris compared
| Year | MOT tests | Most flagged |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | – | Too new for MOT data |
| 2025 | – | Too new for MOT data |
| 2024 | – | Too new for MOT data |
| 2023 | 1,199 | Tyres 12% |
| 2022 | 22,993 | Tyres 20% |
| 2021 | 47,677 | Tyres 22% |
| 2019 | 82,989 | Tyres 26% |
| 2018 | 82,903 | Tyres 27% |
| 2017 | 79,864 | Tyres 27% |
| 2016 | 84,554 | Tyres 28% |
| 2015 | 91,481 | Tyres 29% |
| 2014 | 86,278 | Tyres 29% |
| 2013 | 86,046 | Tyres 30% |
| 2012 | 81,787 | Tyres 29% |
| 2011 | 48,171 | Suspension 30% |
| 2010 | 55,604 | Suspension 35% |
| 2009 | 73,384 | Suspension 35% |
| 2008 | 67,114 | Suspension 44% |
| 2007 | 62,625 | Suspension 43% |
| 2006 | 51,516 | Lights and electrics 47% |
| 2005 | 49,444 | Suspension 48% |
| 2004 | 40,521 | Suspension 50% |
| 2003 | 34,635 | Suspension 51% |
| 2002 | 27,079 | Suspension 54% |
| 2001 | 21,226 | Suspension 58% |
| 2000 | 10,634 | Suspension 60% |
| 1999 | 3,208 | Suspension 60% |
Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Toyota Yaris cars first registered in 2020. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score