Toyota Yaris Cross Common Problems

The Yaris Cross is Toyota's smallest SUV. It is built in Japan on the same platform as the current Yaris hatch and has been sold here since November 2020 (XP210 series). Every engine is a 1.5-litre three-cylinder. The petrol M15A-FKS comes with a CVT and front-wheel drive. The hybrid M15A-FXE makes 85 kW combined through an e-CVT, in front-drive or AWD form, and the AWD adds an electric motor on the rear axle. Grades were GX, GXL and Urban, plus a hybrid-only GR Sport from late 2022. Toyota stopped taking petrol orders in December 2023, so later cars are hybrids, and a 2024 update brought an 8-inch screen. The car is too young for a clear pattern of mechanical failure. Most reported problems are flat 12-volt batteries, one early recall and refinement complaints.

Flat 12-volt battery (hybrid, 2020 to 2025)

Some Australian owners report a hybrid that would not unlock or start after sitting for a while. The hybrid still uses a small 12-volt battery to wake its computers and switch on the hybrid system. When that battery is flat the car will not go into READY, even though the big drive battery is fine. Some owners also point out that the 12-volt battery is smaller than the one in a conventional car.

Short trips, long spells parked and aftermarket dash cams or trackers wired in all make it worse. A jump start done the way the owner's manual describes will get it going. A new 12-volt battery costs roughly $250 to $500 fitted. If the car has gone flat more than once, have the battery tested and the car checked for a drain that continues after it is switched off.

Hybrid system shutdown on early cars (hybrid, built in 2020)

On some early hybrids, anti-corrosion oil was put on the transmission input damper incorrectly. That could bring on a warning light and then stop the hybrid system, so the car loses drive. Toyota recalled the affected Yaris and Yaris Cross hybrids built between October 2019 and September 2020, which was a small batch. Dealers replaced the damper free of charge, a job of about 8.5 hours. Any Yaris Cross in that batch would be one of the first delivered here. On a 2020 or early 2021 hybrid, ask a Toyota dealer to confirm the work was done.

Engine noise and harshness under load (1.5 three-cylinder, 2020 to 2025)

Reviewers describe the three-cylinder as loud, gruff and unrefined under hard acceleration, on steep hills and when merging, and owners say the same. Reviewers also note the hybrid's engine can cut in abruptly at around 40 km/h. The CVT holds high revs when you ask for power, so the engine sounds strained. At a steady 100 km/h it settles down, and some owners say the engine got quieter after running in.

This is how the engine and gearbox are designed, not a fault, so there is nothing to fix. A misfire, a check engine light, a rough or shaking idle once the engine is warm, or a knock is not normal and needs a dealer scan.

Tyre roar and wind noise at highway speed (all models, 2020 to 2025)

In the small number of owner reviews, noise is the area rated lowest. Reviewers note tyre roar on coarse-chip country roads and wind noise at highway speed, and some owners have fitted quieter tyres. The Urban's 18-inch wheels with low-profile tyres also make the ride sharper. One review called the suspension on the AWD Urban a little clunky over bumps.

Before buying, drive the car on coarse bitumen and check the tyre brand and tread, because worn or cheap tyres are louder. A set of quieter touring tyres costs roughly $600 to $1,200 fitted, depending on wheel size.

Recalls and safety

Recalls on the Yaris Cross include the early hybrid input damper above, and cars built from late April to mid October 2020 whose rear centre seatbelt anchor bracket had a sharp edge that could damage the belt in a crash. Dealers fixed that by fitting protective material. A small batch of GR Sport hybrids built from October 2022 to April 2023 had tyres that did not match their certification, and dealers replaced them. In June 2024 Toyota paused deliveries for a few days during a Japanese certification investigation. It said the Australian cars had been tested correctly and had no safety or performance issues, and deliveries resumed. Have a Toyota dealer check the VIN for open recalls, and see our recalls page.

Buying a used Toyota Yaris Cross? What to check

• 12-volt battery: Ask whether the car has ever gone flat and how old the 12-volt battery is. It should go into READY first time, even after sitting.
• Recall work: On a 2020 or early 2021 car, ask for proof that the hybrid damper and rear seatbelt recalls were done. On a GR Sport, ask about the tyre recall.
• Service history: Look for servicing every 12 months or 15,000 km. Toyota's extended hybrid battery cover can run to 10 years, and its terms have tied that to a yearly hybrid health check, so ask for the records and check Toyota's current terms.
• Hill and freeway drive: Drive up a hill and onto a freeway. Expect engine noise under load, but no misfire, jerking or warning lights.
• Tyres and noise: Drive on coarse bitumen and check the tyre brand and tread depth. Worn or budget tyres add to the road noise.
• Driver aids: Make sure no lane-keeping, pre-collision or blind-spot warnings stay on. Ask whether the windscreen has been replaced and the camera recalibrated.
• Screen and phone: Pair your phone. Cars before the 2024 update have a 7-inch screen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Later cars have an 8-inch screen, and recent ones connect wirelessly.
• Spare wheel: AWD hybrids carry a tyre repair kit, not a spare, so check the kit is there and not expired.

Before you pay, run a PPSR check for finance owing and write-off history, and work through our Toyota Yaris Cross buying checklist.

The verdict

A hybrid with Toyota service history is the pick. It is cheap to run and has no known pattern of major mechanical failure. Front-drive suits most buyers. The AWD adds grip on gravel and an independent rear end, but you lose the spare wheel. A 2024 or later car has the better 8-inch screen. Petrol cars, which could no longer be ordered after December 2023, are simpler but just as noisy. On a 2020 or early 2021 hybrid, confirm the damper and seatbelt recalls were done. Whatever the year, try it on the freeway first. If the engine and road noise bother you on a 20-minute drive, they will bother you on every trip.