Toyota Probox: Underbody, wheel-arch and tailgate corrosion on hard-worked coastal examples
Underbody, wheel-arch and tailgate corrosion on hard-worked coastal examples is a common body & rust fault on the Toyota Probox on the 2002 onward cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $300 to $2,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 6 documented faults on the Toyota Probox.
- Vehicle
- Toyota Probox
- Years
- 2002 onward
- System
- Body & Rust
What you are looking at
No photograph available
What goes wrong
The Probox/Succeed is a bare-bones commercial vehicle with basic underbody protection, so on high-mileage examples that have lived a working life in New Zealand's damp, coastal, salt-air conditions, rust is a real inspection item rather than a cosmetic afterthought. Owner and buyer guides flag paint peeling and rust forming in the wheel arches, along the sills and across the undercarriage, worsening quickly where there is no undercoating and in coastal areas. On a van used for deliveries or rural work the load floor, tailgate and rear arches take the most abuse. There is no rust-related recall for this model; severity ranges from surface bubbling to structural rot that can fail a WoF, so inspect thoroughly.
What you would notice
- Paint bubbling or blistering along wheel arches, sills and lower doors
- Flaking surface rust or scaling on the undercarriage and subframe areas
- Rust around the tailgate, load-floor edges and rear arches on vans
- Brown staining or holes visible when the underbody is inspected on a hoist
How to check it
Where to look. Wheel arches, sills, lower doors, tailgate, load floor and underbody
Inspect the wheel arches, sills, floor edges, tailgate and the full underbody, ideally on a hoist, pressing suspect areas to check whether rust is surface-only or has gone structural.
Pay extra attention to coastal-region cars and any without evidence of underbody protection.
Check that the car will pass a Warrant of Fitness, as structural corrosion in load-bearing areas is a WoF failure.
What it costs to put right
$300 to $2,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.
Ask the seller
- “Has the car spent its life near the coast or on rural/gravel work?”
- “Has any rust repair or underbody protection been done?”
- “When did it last pass a WoF, and were any corrosion advisories noted?”
- “Can I put it on a hoist to inspect the underbody?”
Now check the Toyota Probox you are actually looking at
Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.
Where this comes from
- carinterior.alibaba.com Toyota Probox reliability buying guide: rust appears quickly without undercoating, inspect rust in wheel arches and undercarriage especially in coastal areas
- xinshangmetal.com 'What are the common problems with Toyota Probox': paint peeling and rust formation noted as body issues
- moneysense.ca / grangerwarranty.com coverage of Toyota underbody corrosion susceptibility in salt/wet conditions
Toyota Probox buyer questions
Is underbody, wheel-arch and tailgate corrosion on hard-worked coastal examples serious on a Toyota Probox?
We rate it major and common on the Toyota Probox. The Probox/Succeed is a bare-bones commercial vehicle with basic underbody protection, so on high-mileage examples that have lived a working life in New Zealand's damp, coastal, salt-air conditions, rust is a real inspection item rather than a cosmetic afterthought. Owner and buyer guides flag paint peeling and rust forming in the wheel arches, along the sills and across the undercarriage, worsening quickly where there is no undercoating and in coastal areas. On a van used for deliveries or rural work the load floor, tailgate and rear arches take the most abuse. There is no rust-related recall for this model; severity ranges from surface bubbling to structural rot that can fail a WoF, so inspect thoroughly.
How much does it cost to fix on a Toyota Probox?
$300 to $2,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.
Which Toyota Probox years are affected?
Our research records this fault on the 2002 onward Toyota Probox. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.
How do I check for it before I buy?
Inspect the wheel arches, sills, floor edges, tailgate and the full underbody, ideally on a hoist, pressing suspect areas to check whether rust is surface-only or has gone structural. Pay extra attention to coastal-region cars and any without evidence of underbody protection. Check that the car will pass a Warrant of Fitness, as structural corrosion in load-bearing areas is a WoF failure. Look here: Wheel arches, sills, lower doors, tailgate, load floor and underbody