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Toyota2006–2018 Critical issues documented

Toyota Auris E180: common faults & what to check

The E180 is the Toyota Auris built 2012–2018. It was sold here with the 1.5 petrol, 1.8 petrol, and 1.8 hybrid. Of the 5 faults documented for the Auris, 3 apply to this generation, each with its symptoms, what to inspect and a typical repair cost. Free, no account needed.

Check this exact Toyota Auris

  • Odometer history
  • Money owing
  • Reported stolen
  • Ownership history
  • Official NZ vehicle register data
  • NZ owned and operated

Type the plate for the free basics. The full record is a paid check from $13.49, one car at a time, no subscription.

No NZ plate yet, or buying in Australia? Pick the generation and engine and start a free check below. New to KickTyres? How the check works →

5

Documented faults

Critical

Most serious

$400–$4,500

Typical repair

18

Service milestones

You're looking at the E180

3 engine variants are documented for this generation. Pick yours to narrow further, or keep reading for the generation as a whole.

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Now narrow it to the engine

A 1.8 and a 2.4 of the same car do not fail the same way, so the faults below narrow to the engine as well as the year. Free, no account needed.

A 2013 Toyota Auris is the E180 generation (2012 to 2018).

Start your free check on this Toyota Auris

No plate needed. You get the risk score, the buyer's checklist and the guided inspection for the exact car you picked above — not the whole nameplate.

Toyota Auris E180Engine not picked yet

Pick the engine above first: the Auris came with 3, and without it the report has to show all of their faults. Pick the engine

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Can't confirm for this car

Toyota Auris · 2013

Narrowed to the year. No engine is recorded for this vehicle. Pick an engine to see which faults apply.

Tell us the engine, or check the engine code on the car, before relying on this.

  • No engine is recorded for this vehicle.

matched on year only

What to look out for

We have not documented any faults for the exact Toyota Auris you picked.

That is a gap in our research, not a clean bill of health — it does not mean this combination is trouble-free, and it is not a reason to skip the checks. Every one of the 5 faults documented across the Toyota Auris is still listed further down this page.

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Toyota Auris service schedule

The 3 engines a 2013 Toyota Auris was sold with, each with its own intervals. Pick your engine above to narrow this to one. These are the model’s intervals — the car’s own service book is the only thing that can tell you what has actually been done to it.

Second Generation (E180) · 2012–2018 · 1.8L (2ZR-FAE) - GX/GLX trim

Petrol

Due by distance

  1. 100,000 km

    A full transmission fluid service here helps the CVT unit last.

  2. 150,000 km

    Keep an eye on the ignition coils and spark plugs so it idles smoothly and uses less fuel.

  3. 200,000 km

    Assess the suspension bushings and struts, which usually reach their natural limit about now.

Second Generation (E180) · 2012–2018 · 1.8L (2ZR-FXE) - Hybrid/GX Hybrid trim

Hybrid

Due by distance

  1. 100,000 km

    This usually means a full check of the hybrid cooling system and the usual fluid changes.

  2. 150,000 km

    Review the spark plugs, and make sure the hybrid battery cooling fan intake has been kept free of dust.

  3. 200,000 km

    Time to flush the cooling system and check the drive belt tensioner.

Second Generation (E180) · 2012–2018 · 1.4L (1ND-TV) - D-4D Diesel trim

Diesel

Due by distance

  1. 100,000 km

    Check the suspension bushes in full, along with the condition of the turbocharger actuator.

  2. 150,000 km

    Check the alternator and the state of the fuel injectors.

  3. 200,000 km

    Cooling system parts such as the water pump get assessed for how much life they have left.

See all 3 issues for this oneDocumented for the exact year and engine you picked, including 1 rated critical.
Depends on the exact engine — 3 moreDocumented for a specific engine we could not confirm from what you picked. Check the engine code on the car.
Engine, transmission & cooling2

012ZR-FXE EGR/intake clogging, oil consumption and head gasket failure (Auris hybrid = Prius Gen 3 drivetrain)

Arrive for a stone-cold start.hybrid2012–2018EngineRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

02Super CVT-i / Multidrive shudder and hesitation from neglected fluid (JDM petrol CVT)

Drive the car from cold: shudder is usually worst in the first minutes.petrol2006–2018TransmissionRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller
Electrical1

01Hybrid traction battery (NiMH) degradation and end-of-life failure

On the test drive, watch the energy screen: a healthy pack charges and discharges smoothly, a dying one bounces between extremes within minutes.hybrid2012–2018ElectricalRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller
Other Toyota Auris engines and years2 documented issues that do not apply to the one you picked.
Engine, transmission & cooling2

01Sticky accelerator pedal / floor mat entrapment recall era (E150, 2006-2010 build)

petrol2006–2010Engine
RareEngine $0–$500 to fix

Does not apply

The Auris E150 was one of the eight European models in Toyota's January 2010 sticky accelerator pedal recall, covering cars built from October 2006 to early January 2010: the CTS-made pedal mechanism could wear and become slow to return or stick partially depressed, and the parallel floor-mat entrapment campaign covered unsecured mats trapping the pedal. Recalled cars had a precision steel reinforcement shim fitted free of charge. Important for NZ buyers: Japanese-market Auris used a different Denso pedal and were not recalled, so this mainly matters for UK-sourced imports and any car running cheap aftermarket floor mats. On any Auris of this era, confirm the recall status and never stack floor mats.

Symptoms to notice

  • Accelerator pedal feels rough, notchy or slow to spring back
  • Pedal catching on the edge of the floor mat
  • Engine revs hanging after you lift off the throttle
  • Unsecured or doubled-up driver's floor mats

What to check

With the engine off, press the accelerator pedal through its full travel several times and let it snap back - it should return instantly and smoothly every time. Lift the driver's floor mat: it should clip to the floor anchors and sit clear of the pedals. For a UK-sourced car, ask Toyota NZ or a dealer to run the VIN for outstanding recall work (recall rectification is free even now).

Where to look: Accelerator pedal assembly in the driver's footwell

Ask the seller

  • “Is this car a Japanese import or UK import?”
  • “Has the VIN been checked for outstanding recalls?”
  • “Was the accelerator pedal recall work done - is it stamped or on the Toyota service record?”

02Clutch wear/slip and notchy manual gearbox (E150)

petrol2006–2012Transmission
OccasionalTransmission $1,200–$2,200 to fix

Does not apply

UK and European owner data flags clutch slipping and outright clutch failure as one of the recurring Auris E150 complaints, along with baulky or notchy manual gearshifts. Causes range from normal friction wear (accelerated by city driving) to clutch actuator and release bearing problems and old gearbox oil that was never changed. It is a full clutch kit replacement when it goes, and on an import with no service history there is no way to know how much clutch is left except by testing. The gearbox itself is robust once fresh oil is in it.

Symptoms to notice

  • Engine revs rising without the car accelerating, especially in 4th/5th gear up a hill
  • Burning smell after hill starts or towing
  • Clutch biting point very high near the top of pedal travel
  • Notchy or crunchy shifts into 2nd or 3rd, worst when cold
  • Judder pulling away from a stop

What to check

On the test drive, in 4th gear at about 50 km/h, floor the accelerator: if revs flare but speed doesn't build, the clutch is slipping and you should budget a full replacement. Feel where the clutch bites - high engagement means it is worn. Work through every gear including reverse, cold and warm. Ask whether the gearbox oil has ever been changed.

Where to look: Clutch and gearbox between engine and front wheels; test from the driver's seat

Parts involved: Clutch.

Ask the seller

  • “Has the clutch ever been replaced, and at what mileage?”
  • “Does it ever crunch going into 2nd or 3rd?”
  • “Has the gearbox oil been changed?”

Toyota Auris faults in detail

Narrowed to the Toyota Auris · 2013. Each of these has its own page: the symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller and what the repair costs. Free, no account needed.

2ZR-FXE EGR/intake clogging, oil consumption and head gasket failure (Auris hybrid = Prius Gen 3 drivetrain)Critical · EngineHybrid traction battery (NiMH) degradation and end-of-life failureMajor · ElectricalSuper CVT-i / Multidrive shudder and hesitation from neglected fluid (JDM petrol CVT)Major · Transmission

What these repairs cost on other cars

Some of the Toyota Auris’s documented faults are repairs other models share. Each page lists the documented NZ cost for every model it affects.

Other Toyota models

Toyota Prado64 documented faultsToyota RAV463 documented faultsToyota Hilux59 documented faultsToyota Avanza5 documented faultsToyota Sienna5 documented faultsToyota Yaris Sedan5 documented faults

Toyota Auris buyer questions

Is the Toyota Auris reliable?

Like any used car, it depends on the specific example and its service history. Across the 5 documented faults for the Toyota Auris, the recurring problem areas are engine, electrical, and transmission. A Toyota Auris with a full service history and no signs of the issues listed on this page can be a sound buy but each one needs to be checked individually before you commit.

What are the most common problems with a used Toyota Auris?

We've catalogued 5 known faults for the Toyota Auris, covering engine, electrical, and transmission. All 5 are written out in full on this page, with the symptoms to notice, what to inspect, and typical repair costs for each. Free to read, no account needed.

How much do repairs cost on a Toyota Auris?

Most single repairs on the Toyota Auris fall between $400–$4,500 at NZ independent-workshop rates. Some of the 5 documented faults cost less and a few cost considerably more, and no one car needs them all. Knowing which ones to look for before you view is what lets you negotiate the price down or walk away.

Should I get a pre-purchase inspection on a Toyota Auris?

Yes. A Toyota Auris inspection focused on its known weak points is the single best way to avoid an expensive mistake. KickTyres gives you a guided, model-specific inspection plus a market valuation and negotiation figure for $24.90 far less than the cost of missing one of the faults on this page.