Problems · NHTSA complaints

2011 Toyota Yaris problems

Owners filed 25 complaints about the 2011 Toyota Yaris with NHTSA between Sep 2013 and Mar 2023. The most-cited component is air bags (21).

Complaints
25
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags21
  2. Suspension2
  3. Electrical system1
  4. Wheels1
  5. Engine1
  6. Engine and engine cooling1
  7. Structure1
  8. Interior lighting1
  9. Other / unknown1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20131
20142
20150
201610
20176
20182
20192
20200
20211
20220
20231

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

21 reports2 crashes1 fire3 related recalls
“I FILED A CLAIM FOR THE AUTO AIRBAG SETTLEMENT IN 2017. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE AND WHEN I CONTACTED TOYOTA THEY STATED BOB BAKER DOES NOT EXIST ANYMORE. NO ONE HAS AN ANSWER. THANK YOU, AMPARO PEREZ-FLYNN”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 2, 2021Air bagsODI 11398800

Suspension

2 reports
“I HAVE TOYOTA YARIS SEDAN 2011. I BUY THIS CAR IN THE DEALER TOYOTA BAYAMON PR I FEEL THE CAR VERY SLIPPERY AND UNCOMFORTABLE. WHEN THE MECHANIC CHECK HE TELL ME THIS CAR DO NOT HAVE ABS ESC ECT. JUST HAVE 2 AIR BAGS IN FRONT. WHEN WE CHECK THE VIN SAID THIS CAR SUPPOSED HAVE ABS AND ALL SAFETY SYSTEM BUT WHEN WE CHECK NO HAVE NOTHING. JUST 2 AIR BAGS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 27, 2014SuspensionODI 10650351

Electrical system

1 report
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA YARIS. WHILE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS DEACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED DUE TO THE WEIGHT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BEING TOO HEAVY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 10, 2017Electrical system, Air bagsODI 10944152

Wheels

1 report1 crash1 fire
“HI, MY NAME IS [XXX] DO TO A CAR CRASHING INTO MY TOYOTA YARIS MY SON WAS DRIVING AND SOME CAR CRASH INTO HIM. HE GOT HURT AIRBAGS DID NOT WORK AT ALL WHEN THE ACCIDENT WAS VERY FATAL. ENGINE WAS ON FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO TAKE HIM OUT OF THE CAR UNCONSCIOUS AND THE WHEELS WHERE TWISTS. CAR WAS DESTROYED WAS UNBELIEVABLE HOW THE CAR WAS LEFT. CAR SHOULD BE RETURNED OR TAKEN OF MARKET. ITS NOT SAFE CAR. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 3, 2016Air bags, Wheels, EngineCrash reportedFire reportedODI 10892995

Engine

1 report1 crash1 fire

Engine and engine cooling

1 report
“THE FRONT END SHAKES AT A LOW SPEED TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC HE CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 10, 2014Suspension, Engine and engine coolingODI 10578823
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.