2008 Toyota Yaris Problems, Recalls & Reliability

289 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2008 Toyota Yaris, alongside 10 recall campaigns and 3 defect investigations. It scores 100/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Airbags leads the reports, typically around 64,500 miles.

Avoid this year if you can. The 2008 Toyota Yaris sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2011–2012, 2019.

289Complaints
100/100Trouble index
10Recalls
56,900Typical trouble mileage

Avoid

Where 2008 sits among all Yaris years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Airbags 108 complaints (37%) · typically ~64,500 miles
“Takata recall. My car is in the highest risk zone (zone a). I was notified by mail on 6/9/2016 but a remedy is still not available as of 12/6/2016.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 Yaris
Brakes & stability 35 complaints (12%) · typically ~55,100 miles
“The abs and brake light have been lighting up intermittently. The dealership said no codes show stored. I saw history of this complaint with sensor issues. Lights did not go on day of appointment. But did come on in the way home.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 Yaris
Electrical 21 complaints (7%) · typically ~57,600 miles
Speed control 20 complaints (7%) · typically ~54,200 miles
Suspension 16 complaints (6%) · typically ~75,000 miles
Engine 15 complaints (5%) · typically ~50,192 miles

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 181 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 56,900 miles. Half of those reports fall between 33,000 and 88,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (10)

AIR BAGS 19V741000 2019

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012…

Fix: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag…

AIR BAGS 17V006000 2017

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012 Toyota 4Runner, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, Yaris, Scion xB, Lexus ES350, GX460, IS-F, IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, and Lexus LFA vehicles originally sold, or ever registered,…

Fix: Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air…

AIR BAGS 16V340000 2016

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Scion xB and Lexus IS F, 2009-2011 Toyota Corolla and Corolla Matrix, 2006-2011 Toyota Yaris, Lexus IS250 and Lexus IS350, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, Lexus IS250C,…

Fix: Toyota will notify the Toyota and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag…

VISIBILITY 15V689000 2015

Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tundra, Sequoia, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Scion xB, 2008-2011 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4, 2006-2010…

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the switch, applying a lubricant if no abnormality is found. If abnormality is found, the PWMS circuit board will be replaced, free of charge. The…

AIR BAGS 14V168000 2014

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2008 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, 2008-2010 Highlander, and 2009-2010 Tacoma, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and General Motors Pontiac Vibe vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the steering column assembly contains electrical…

Fix: Toyota will notify the Toyota vehicle owners, and General Motors will notify the Pontiac Vibe owners. Toyota sent owners an interim notification letter in May 2014 to advise owners of the recall.…

SEATS 14V169000 2014

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Yaris vehicles manufactured August 22, 2005, through May 12, 2010, and 2008-2010 Scion xD vehicles manufactured April 4, 2007, through May 12, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the springs used for the seat…

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat rail, and replace it with a new one, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on July 3, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at…

VISIBILITY 12V491000 2012

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Camry, Camry Hybrid, RAV4, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Tundra, Sequoia, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Yaris, Scion xB, Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. The power window master switch assemblies in some of…

Fix: Toyota will notify its owners, and dealers will inspect the switch and apply a special grease that inhibits heat build up or replace any switch damaged by the defect, free of charge. Toyota owners…

EQUIPMENT 10V036000 2010

SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD…

Fix: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT…

EQUIPMENT 10V035000 2010

GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008…

Fix: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY…

EQUIPMENT 09V223000 2009

TOYOTA IS RECALLING 27,080 MODEL YEAR 2005 THROUGH 2010 PASSENGER CARS BUILT FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 TO MAY 4, 2009. THESE VEHICLES WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR…

Fix: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND PROVIDE THEM WITH A NEW, ACCURATE LABEL TO BE INSTALLED OVER THE INACCURATE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA…

Federal defect investigations

Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture EA21002 opened September 17, 2021 · still open

Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade,…

Model years named: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

Power Window Master Switch Fire EA12006 opened 2012, closed 2013

Led to recall campaign 12V491000.

Power Window Master Switch Fire PE12002 opened 2012, closed 2012

Technical service bulletins

151 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on body & structure and electrical — are on file for the 2008 Toyota Yaris. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2008 Yaris TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2007peak 43 in 20142024

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2008 Toyota Yaris reliable?

The 2008 Toyota Yaris drew 289 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 100/100, scored against the model's worst year (2008).

What are the most common 2008 Toyota Yaris problems?

The top reported problems for the 2008 Toyota Yaris are airbags (108 complaints), brakes & stability (35), and electrical (21).

At what mileage do 2008 Toyota Yaris problems show up?

Owners most often report 2008 Toyota Yaris problems around 56,900 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 33,000 and 88,000 miles.

Does the 2008 Toyota Yaris have recalls?

10 recall campaigns apply to the 2008 Toyota Yaris. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 2007 Yaris All Yaris years 2009 Yaris →
Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.