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Toyota2004–2016 Major issues documented

Toyota Daihatsu Boon: common faults & what to check

Thinking about buying a used Toyota Daihatsu Boon (2004–2016) in New Zealand? We've documented 7 known faults for this model spanning transmission, electrical, engine, and suspension. Each researched and verified before it's published. The most serious issues here are rated major. Every one is listed below with its symptoms and repair cost, and each has its own page with where to look and what to ask the seller. Free, no account needed.

Check this exact Toyota Daihatsu Boon

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

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7

Documented faults

Major

Most serious

$250–$600

Typical repair

5

Systems covered

Which Toyota Daihatsu Boon are you looking at?

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

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.

Which engine is in it? These cover every year of this model.

Start your free check on this Toyota Daihatsu Boon

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Toyota Daihatsu Boon

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Can't confirm for this car

Toyota Daihatsu Boon

Nothing has been narrowed yet, so nothing below is a claim about a particular car. Pick a year and an engine to see which faults apply.

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

matched on no vehicle context

What to look out for

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

  • Costly issue

    Test drive and feel for rhythmic vibration during light acceleration from rest.

    See why

    CVT K110 Belt Judder on Automatic

    The Toyota Passo K110 CVT develops shudder from belt and pulley wear on urban short-trip examples. Toyota CVTF FE specification must be used — incorrect fluid accelerates belt degradation.

    What you would notice

    • Rhythmic shudder or buzz during light acceleration from rest
    • CVT fluid darker than the correct clear pink Toyota CVTF FE specification

    Typically $600–$3,500 to put right.

  • Costly issue

    Check oil level and note consumption rate.

    See why

    1KR-FE Valve Stem Seal Oil Consumption

    The Toyota Passo KGC10/KGC30 1KR-FE 1.0 engine consumes oil from worn valve stem seals on high-mileage examples, producing blue smoke from the exhaust on startup after an overnight park. The small oil capacity of the 1KR-FE means even moderate valve stem seal leakage causes noticeable oil level drops between services.

    What you would notice

    • Blue smoke from exhaust on startup and deceleration
    • Frequent oil top-ups needed between regular service intervals

    Typically $500–$1,500 to put right.

  • Costly issue

    Inspect the boot for splitting.

    See why

    Front Lower Arm Ball Joint Wear

    Front lower arm ball joints wear causing clunking and handling imprecision.

    What you would notice

    • Clunking from front suspension over bumps
    • Imprecise handling feel when cornering

    Typically $250–$600 to put right.

  • Costly issue

    Check for pulling under braking.

    See why

    Brake Caliper Guide Pin Seizure

    Front brake caliper guide pins seize from corrosion causing uneven pad wear.

    What you would notice

    • Vehicle pulling to one side under braking
    • One front disc hotter than the other after moderate use

    Typically $150–$500 to put right.

  • Costly issue

    Scan for EPS fault codes.

    See why

    Electric Power Steering Column Motor Failure

    EPS column motor fails causing sudden or gradual loss of power assistance.

    What you would notice

    • Sudden loss of power steering with EPS warning light
    • Heavy steering requiring effort especially at low speeds

    Typically $600–$2,000 to put right.

  • Common issue

    Turn the steering wheel slowly from lock to lock — clunking at the same steering angle indicates worn top mount bearings.

    See why

    Front Strut Top Mount Bearing Clunking

    Front strut top mount bearings wear causing clunking when turning the steering wheel on this small car.

    What you would notice

    • Clunking from front struts when turning or over bumps
    • Clunking repeatable at the same steering angle each sweep

    Typically $250–$600 to put right.

See all 7 documented issuesEverything researched for the Toyota Daihatsu Boon.
Depends on which engine this Toyota Daihatsu Boon has — 7Each of these is documented for one particular engine. Pick the year and engine above to see which of them apply.
Engine, transmission & cooling3

01CVT K110 Belt Judder on Automatic

Test drive and feel for rhythmic vibration during light acceleration from rest.petrol2004–2016Transmission
Very commonTransmission $600–$3,500 to fix

Can't confirm for this car

The Toyota Passo K110 CVT develops shudder from belt and pulley wear on urban short-trip examples. Toyota CVTF FE specification must be used — incorrect fluid accelerates belt degradation.

Symptoms to notice

  • Rhythmic shudder or buzz during light acceleration from rest
  • CVT fluid darker than the correct clear pink Toyota CVTF FE specification

What to check

Test drive and feel for rhythmic vibration during light acceleration from rest. CVT fluid darker than the correct clear pink indicates degraded fluid.

Where to look: CVT gearbox in engine bay

Ask the seller

  • “Has the cvt k110 belt judder on been inspected or repaired?”

021KR-FE Valve Stem Seal Oil Consumption

Check oil level and note consumption rate.petrol2004–2016Engine
CommonEngine $500–$1,500 to fix

Can't confirm for this car

The Toyota Passo KGC10/KGC30 1KR-FE 1.0 engine consumes oil from worn valve stem seals on high-mileage examples, producing blue smoke from the exhaust on startup after an overnight park. The small oil capacity of the 1KR-FE means even moderate valve stem seal leakage causes noticeable oil level drops between services.

Symptoms to notice

  • Blue smoke from exhaust on startup and deceleration
  • Frequent oil top-ups needed between regular service intervals

What to check

  1. Check oil level and note consumption rate.
  2. Blue smoke from exhaust on startup after overnight park indicates valve stem seal wear.
  3. Check that oil level has not dropped significantly between standard service intervals.

Where to look: 1KR-FE cylinder head valve stem seals and valve guides

Ask the seller

  • “Has the 1kr-fe valve stem seal oil been inspected or repaired?”

03Throttle Body Carbon Fouling

Inspect throttle body bore for grey-black carbon deposits.petrol2004–2016Engine
CommonEngine $80–$300 to fix

Can't confirm for this car

1KR-FE throttle body butterfly and bore accumulate carbon causing rough idle and hesitation.

Symptoms to notice

  • Rough idle and hesitation from rest at light throttle
  • Occasional stalling when releasing throttle in traffic

What to check

  1. Inspect throttle body bore for grey-black carbon deposits.
  2. Note rough idle and hesitation.

Where to look: Throttle body on intake manifold

Ask the seller

  • “Has the throttle body carbon fouling been inspected or repaired?”
Electrical1

01Electric Power Steering Column Motor Failure

Scan for EPS fault codes.2004–2016Electrical
OccasionalElectrical $600–$2,000 to fix

Can't confirm for this car

EPS column motor fails causing sudden or gradual loss of power assistance.

Symptoms to notice

  • Sudden loss of power steering with EPS warning light
  • Heavy steering requiring effort especially at low speeds

What to check

  1. Scan for EPS fault codes.
  2. Test steering — heavy or inconsistent feel warrants investigation.

Where to look: EPS column motor and control unit

Parts involved: Steering rack.

Ask the seller

  • “Has the electric power steering column motor been inspected or repaired?”
Body, brakes, suspension & interior3

01Front Lower Arm Ball Joint Wear

Inspect the boot for splitting.2004–2016Suspension
CommonSuspension $250–$600 to fix

Can't confirm for this car

Front lower arm ball joints wear causing clunking and handling imprecision.

The front wheel of a car splayed outward with the lower control arm hanging down after a ball joint separation.Example of the part — not this vehicle

A separated lower ball joint: the control arm has dropped and the wheel has splayed out under the guard.

Elfix · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Symptoms to notice

  • Clunking from front suspension over bumps
  • Imprecise handling feel when cornering

What to check

Inspect the boot for splitting. If a workshop inspection is possible: With vehicle raised, lever the lower arm and check for ball joint play.

Where to look: Front lower suspension control arms

Parts involved: Ball joint.

Ask the seller

  • “Has the front lower arm ball joint been inspected or repaired?”

02Brake Caliper Guide Pin Seizure

Check for pulling under braking.2004–2016Brakes
CommonBrakes $150–$500 to fix

Can't confirm for this car

Front brake caliper guide pins seize from corrosion causing uneven pad wear.

Symptoms to notice

  • Vehicle pulling to one side under braking
  • One front disc hotter than the other after moderate use

What to check

  1. Check for pulling under braking.
  2. Feel for uneven wheel heat.
  3. Inspect guide pins.

Where to look: Front brake calipers

Parts involved: Brake disc and pads.

Ask the seller

  • “Has the brake caliper guide pin seizure been inspected or repaired?”

03Front Strut Top Mount Bearing Clunking

Turn the steering wheel slowly from lock to lock — clunking at the same steering angle indicates worn top mount bearings.2004–2016Suspension
CommonSuspension $250–$600 to fix

Can't confirm for this car

Front strut top mount bearings wear causing clunking when turning the steering wheel on this small car.

Symptoms to notice

  • Clunking from front struts when turning or over bumps
  • Clunking repeatable at the same steering angle each sweep

What to check

Turn the steering wheel slowly from lock to lock — clunking at the same steering angle indicates worn top mount bearings.

Where to look: Front strut top mount bearings both sides

Parts involved: Shock absorber / strut.

Ask the seller

  • “Has the front strut top mount bearing been inspected or repaired?”

What these repairs cost on other cars

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

Other Toyota models

Toyota Daihatsu Boon buyer questions

Is the Toyota Daihatsu Boon reliable?

Like any used car, it depends on the specific example and its service history. Across the 7 documented faults for the Toyota Daihatsu Boon, the recurring problem areas are transmission, electrical, and engine. A Toyota Daihatsu Boon 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 Daihatsu Boon?

We've catalogued 7 known faults for the Toyota Daihatsu Boon, covering transmission, electrical, and engine. All 7 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 Daihatsu Boon?

Most single repairs on the Toyota Daihatsu Boon fall between $250–$600 at NZ independent-workshop rates. Some of the 7 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 Daihatsu Boon?

Yes. A Toyota Daihatsu Boon 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.