Problems · NHTSA complaints

2020 Toyota Yaris problems

Owners filed 10 complaints about the 2020 Toyota Yaris with NHTSA between Jun 2020 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is engine (4).

Complaints
10
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine4
  2. Fuel system, gasoline3
  3. Service brakes2
  4. Forward collision avoidance2
  5. Vehicle speed control2
  6. Electrical system2
  7. Seat belts1
  8. Other / unknown3

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
20201
20216
20220
20231
20241
20250
20261

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

Engine

4 reports1 crash
“Brake assist failed at time of accident, it never came on. It does come on sometimes in the past when it shouldn’t. I was breaking because a car came to a complete stop in front of me, there was no warning and despite my best effort to brake the car still made contact with other car in front of me. I have not yet taken the car to a dealer. The car has not been inspected. No warning lights. However, in the past the car would stop randomly for no reason. Also it has a hesitation when you hit the gas.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 6, 2026Service brakes, Engine, Forward collision avoidanceCrash reportedODI 11769271

Fuel system, gasoline

3 reports1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Yaris. The contact received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V617000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer had been notified about the recall and the contact was informed that the parts were not yet available. The manufacturer had been notified of the recall. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 16, 2021Fuel system, gasolineODI 11444019

Service brakes

2 reports1 crash
“The vehicle do unnecessary abrupt breaking in the highway when the road are reduced due to reparation. In addition in two times, when I tried to park to my garage in the back of other vehicle the breaking system related to collision is activate. This area of my garage is an inclined drive way zone and I put the vehicle back to other. In occasions when I go out to my residence, I need to go thru a control system that content a electrical barrier (electric arm), and around 4 or 5 times, when I close to this area the car did a hard stop, and the collision red light turned on with a beep sound, the same indication when the car activate the breaking system in the highway and when I try to park in some times to my garage. The most critical issue is when hard stooping in the highway due to in these times the other vehicles claimed me why reason I stopping without any reason, and them are very close to collision the back of my car. When this happen the sound of the tires of my car can be ear clearly the hard stopping. I very disappointment and very scare this defect was and will be in danger my life, due to the dealer retailer that I buy my car don't found any issue…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 25, 2024Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11616413

Forward collision avoidance

2 reports1 crash

Vehicle speed control

2 reports
“i was at a stop light waiting for a left turn. there was a truck in front of me. the light turned green. the truck drove forward and was beginning to turn. there was a car space between me and the truck. i accelerated to turn and within a few seconds i felt the anti lock brakes activate, car stopped the engine shut off. i had to put the car in park and restart the engine. its a good thing there wasnt a car behind me.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 21, 2021Vehicle speed control, Unknown or otherODI 11433853

Electrical system

2 reports
“This 2020 Yaris is registered to me but driven by my daughter to her workplace less that 3 miles away. The first incident involved the engine laboring to start and when she came home, the battery was dead. I was able to re-charge the battery at home but 2 days later, the car would not start at home. I have an auto engine scanner that registered a P2610 code stating "an Engine Control Module, ECM/PCM Engine Off Timer Performance". The battery had been completely drained of its liquid. This is a safety hazard that could have stranded my daughter as she sometimes drives to Houston which is about 30 miles away. I researched this code and found that the NHTSA has previously issued notices on these problems. We need help getting it resolved.Car is available for inspection.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 13, 2023Electrical system, Unknown or other, EngineODI 11544389
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.