2002 Toyota Yaris GS 1.0 petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Near invincible car!

Faults:

Mostly just servicing. The exhaust has been replaced pretty much entirely by now, as for most wear and tear parts like brakes, suspension parts, etc. Never any real faults or breakdowns. The car is serviced on time and looked after well. Paint fade is horrific in some areas though. There is also rust starting here and there, but it is over 20 years old!

General Comments:

We have had this Yaris in the family a long time. We bought it on the strength of reliability and it has delivered that very well.

A very boring car, dull, cramped to be in and slow, but if you want a basic city run about that won't let you down, the Yaris is the car to have!

1.0 engine is slow but very economical.

OK to drive.

Seats are fine, ride is a bit harsh though.

Modern enough looking but starting to get dated, it is basically a 1990's car, but that is when Toyota were at their best in my opinion.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 18th July, 2023

22nd Jul 2023, 14:06

I wish they still made cars as simple and reliable as this. I cannot think of any 2023 car like it, not even from Toyota. Even the simplest cars now are hybrids filled with electrical tech I am not interested in.

2002 Toyota Yaris CDX 1.3 petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Excellent, fantastic, and super, super reliable

Faults:

Nothing has ever gone wrong with these Toyotas. They are bulletproof engines.

General Comments:

Yaris, wow, what a very very extremely reliable car. It never ever let us down. The only thing we replaced were tyres, battery, shock absorbers, and anti roll bar links. And also the A/C condenser.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 21st February, 2017

26th Feb 2017, 18:54

And also a few wheel bearings. That Yaris generation was the most reliable car; the next generation were less reliable.

2002 Toyota Yaris D-4D 1.4 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Amazing piece of engineering

Faults:

Sadly - Nothing has gone wrong with the Yaris so far.

General Comments:

What can I say, this little car is amazing. Since I have owned it, nothing has gone wrong (I think that is typical of most Japanese cars). Performance for a 1.4 turbo diesel is amazing, it cruises at 80 - 90mph on motorways, returning incredible 60 - 70mpg, even on normal roads it still gives me 50 - 55 mpg.

I am very impressed and happy with it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 26th July, 2006

2002 Toyota Yaris GS 1.0 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Best small car I have ever driven

Faults:

Absolutely nothing mechanically.

One very slight fault of premature wear and tear on the front seat facings.

General Comments:

It's generally an excellent small car for day to day use. Comfortable seating along with a good driving position, with positive power steering as well as a fantastic 16v engine, all add up to a fun drive.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 24th November, 2005

2002 Toyota Yaris VVTi 1.0 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Disappointing

Faults:

Mother Board blew on the radio.

Both speakers blew.

Brake light and head light blew.

Engine light came on.

Left passenger door has to be manually locked due to automatic locking failure.

Problem with steering, steering light came on.

Problem with fan belt.

Re-occurring problem with automatic windows.

All round electical problem.

General Comments:

Nice looking car.

Handles bends well. (when steering works)

Not very reliable.

Spacious inside.

Nippy little car.

Runs fairly well on petrol.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 11th October, 2005

13th Oct 2005, 08:24

I believe your Yaris is European made...

Those made from the beggining of 2004 are much better. Mine is one of those and I'm satisfied.

7th Nov 2005, 12:19

There is no doubt that a lot of people don't like the fact the Yaris is a quirky reliable as a swiss watch vehicle, You are one of them. You talk about problems unheard of. Good luck with your next French car.

5th Dec 2006, 10:37

Wow that's the first time I hear of so many problems on a "Japanese" car, but I'm not shocked. No car manufacturer is exempt from reliability problem not even Toyota so for all of you out there bashing North American vehicles on reliability, here is living proof that perfection doesn't exist.

In reply to 5th Dec 2006, 10:37

1st Jul 2015, 08:41

A car owner who lists things such as 2 bulbs blowing in 39000 miles as faults will never ever be happy with any car, excluding plastic ones that you pedal, of course.

Also, the drive belt problem was probably due to it needing replacing; again, not a problem, just normal servicing.

Speakers only blow when you have the music on at full blast for a long time, and this is also connected to the radio failure, maybe, but Toyota didn't make the radio.

North American vehicles can only dream of having the reliability of a Yaris.

26th Feb 2017, 18:58

Did you race that car? Never heard about blowing speakers on such radio unit, did you leak coffee on the radio? Your review sounds quite unrealistic. Steering light? What is that on a hydraulic power steering car. Seriously, had the same car with more miles and have not these issues. Even the light bulbs sound surprising. Or perhaps you got a flooded or crashed car.

10th Nov 2022, 14:57

Quite surprised there were a few unreliable Yaris's out there! Mine and everyone I knew who had one always say it was the most reliable car they ever had.