Toyota bB: common faults & what to check

Which Toyota bB are you looking at?

4 generation variants documented. Pick the shape you recognise: the faults, the servicing and the timeline below all narrow to it. Free, no account needed.

Petrol

4 variants documented

2000–2005NCP302000–2005NCP301.3 petrolPetrolDocumented issues3 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Mr.choppers via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

2000–2005NCP302000–2005NCP301.5 petrolPetrolDocumented issues3 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Mr.choppers via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

2005–2016QNC202005–2016QNC201.3 petrolPetrolDocumented issues2 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Mytho88 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.

2005–2016QNC202005–2016QNC201.5 petrolPetrolDocumented issues5 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Mytho88 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.

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.

Start your free check on this Toyota bB

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.

The checks worth doing on a Toyota bB before you hand over any money. Every documented fault is listed below, each with its own page.

• Serious issue

  Cold-start the engine and listen closely to the top of the engine for chain rattle during the first 10–20 seconds.

  See why

  3SZ-VE Timing Chain Stretch and Tensioner Failure

  The 3SZ-VE engine in the QNC20 bB uses a timing chain rather than a belt, but the chain and tensioner are known to stretch prematurely when oil changes are infrequent or the oil level is allowed to drop. A worn tensioner cannot maintain adequate chain tension, causing chain slap against the guide, variable valve timing errors, and ultimately timing skip that causes valve damage.

  What you would notice

  • Rattling or clattering from the top of the engine on cold startup, which may diminish after warmup
  • Check engine lamp with VVT or camshaft position error codes (P0011, P0016)
  • Rough idle or misfires on cold start
  • Loss of power and increased fuel consumption

  Typically $800–$2,200 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Pull ATF dipstick and check colour and smell — dark brown or burnt fluid means prolonged neglect.

  See why

  Automatic Transmission Solenoid Wear and Shift Degradation

  The 4-speed automatic gearbox fitted to QNC20 bB models develops solenoid and valve body wear over time, producing harsh or hunting gear changes and slip under acceleration. The relatively small transmission is stressed by city-cycle driving patterns typical of bB use cases and is particularly sensitive to ATF condition. Fluid that has never been replaced is a common finding on imported examples.

  What you would notice

  • Harsh or abrupt upshifts at low speed
  • Transmission hunting between gears in stop-start traffic
  • Jolt or delay when selecting drive from park or reverse
  • Slipping during acceleration without any mechanical noise

  Typically $400–$2,500 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Press each front corner down hard and release — more than one rebound bounce indicates a blown absorber.

  See why

  Front Shock Absorber Oil Leak and Strut Top Mount Wear

  Front shock absorbers on QNC20 bB models develop oil leaks from the damper shaft seal with age, reducing damping effectiveness. Strut top mounts and bearing plates also wear, causing clunking over bumps and imprecise steering. Given the typical age of bB imports entering NZ, both faults are common and frequently found together at pre-purchase inspection.

  What you would notice

  • Clunking or knocking from the front suspension over road irregularities
  • Vehicle bounces more than once after hitting a bump (failed damping)
  • Oil weeping or wet residue on the shock absorber body
  • Steering feels vague or wanders on uneven roads

  Typically $500–$1,200 to put right.

• Worth checking

  Check the dipstick level and colour and ask about oil top-ups.

  See why

  1NZ/2NZ oil consumption on high-km imports

  The first-gen bB uses Toyota's 1.3 (2NZ-FE) and 1.5 (1NZ-FE) engines — dependable, but on high-mileage JDM imports they can start using oil through worn rings or valve seals. It's usually a top-up-and-go issue rather than a failure, but a tiny engine run low on oil wears fast, so check the level and how often it needs oil.

  What you would notice

  • Oil low between services
  • Wisp of blue smoke on start-up
  • Burnt-oil smell

  Typically $200–$2,500 to put right.

• Worth checking

  Check the dipstick level and colour and ask how often it needs topping up.

  See why

  Oil consumption with age (K3/3SZ, QNC20)

  The Daihatsu-sourced engines in the second-gen bB can develop moderate oil use as they age, through hardened valve-stem seals and worn rings. It's a manageable, live-with-it issue on a cheap car but worth confirming, since these small motors don't tolerate running low on oil.

  What you would notice

  • Oil low between services
  • Blue smoke on start-up
  • Burnt-oil smell

  Typically $200–$2,500 to put right.

• Worth checking

  Be there for the first cold start and listen at the front of the engine for a rattle.

  See why

  Timing-chain tensioner rattle (K3/3SZ, QNC20)

  The second-gen bB switched to Daihatsu-built 1.3 (K3-VE) and 1.5 (3SZ-VE) engines with a timing chain. As with the Passo/Townace, the tensioner can weaken with age or neglected oil and give a brief cold-start rattle; a loud or persistent rattle means the chain kit is due before it damages anything.

  What you would notice

  • Short metallic rattle on cold start
  • Rattle worsening over time
  • Rough running if the chain is badly worn

  Typically $800–$1,800 to put right.

Toyota bB service schedule

What falls due, and at what distance, for each generation of the Toyota bB. 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.

What these repairs cost on other cars

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

• Timing Chain Replacement Cost

Other Toyota models