Toyota Auris I vs Volvo V40 II: which is more reliable?
According to the MotorFiable Score, the Volvo V40 II (6.0/10) has fewer serious documented faults than the Toyota Auris I (5.9/10), mainly because of the faults in the rest of the car (suspension, brakes, electronics…).
| Item | Toyota Auris I | Volvo V40 II |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Compact | Compact |
| Years | 2006–2012 | 2012–2019 |
| MotorFiable Score | 5.9 out of 10 | 6.0 out of 10 |
| Engine score | 5.0/10 | 4.5/10 |
| Most recommended engine | 1.6 Dual VVT-i · Buy | Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina · With caution |
| Score for the rest of the car | 6.8/10 | 7.6/10 |
| Suspension | 8.4 out of 100 faults | 8.1 out of 101 faultMedium severity |
| Brakes | 7.8 out of 101 faultMedium severity | 7.2 out of 100 faults |
| Steering | 8.6 out of 101 faultMedium severity | 9.0 out of 100 faults |
| Gearbox and clutch | 7.9 out of 101 faultHigh severity | No documented faults |
| Electrical system | No documented faults | 8.6 out of 101 faultMedium severity |
| Headlights and lights | 7.5 out of 100 faults | 8.5 out of 101 faultLow severity |
| Electronics and infotainment | No documented faults | 9.3 out of 101 faultLow severity |
| Climate control | No documented faults | 9.6 out of 101 faultLow severity |
| Bodywork and interior | 8.9 out of 100 faults | 7.5 out of 101 faultLow severity |
| Airbags and safety | 7.9 out of 102 faultsCritical severity | 8.6 out of 101 faultCritical severity |
Scores out of 10: the higher, the fewer serious documented faults. How we calculate them
Main faults of the Toyota Auris I
Outside the engine
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalGearbox and clutchThe manual gearbox can wear and fail prematurelyFiches-auto.fr records nearly 30 accounts of manual gearbox faults on the first-generation Auris: bearings, synchromesh and selector linkages that fail, with symptoms such as grinding, jumping out of gear or the car being immobilised; the documented cases range from 60,000 to 118,000 km.Appears at around 60,000 km
- Medium severityFrequency: CommonBrakesThe rear brake discs wear and rust prematurelyPremature wear of the rear brake discs is, according to Spanish Wikipedia, the reason for most complaints about the first-generation Auris; Toyota replaced them free of charge at dealers in the affected cases. Fiches-auto.fr and gebrauchtwagenberater.de document the same pattern, with replacements at around 100,000-135,000 km.Appears at around 100,000 km
- Critical severityFrequency: RareAirbags and safetyThe driver's airbag Takata inflator can degrade and fragmentA European safety alert (Safety Gate, Rapex 26/2024) covers Auris cars built between 2006 and 2017 for the same Takata inflator defect that affected millions of cars of many makes worldwide: the propellant can degrade over time and release metal fragments when the airbag deploys. An official Toyota dealer inspects the vehicle free of charge if it falls within the affected batch.
In their engines
- Critical severityFrequency: Very frequent2.0/2.2 D-4DWarped cylinder head gasket and oil consumption on the 2.2 D-4DYes: the 2.2-litre block (2AD-FTV and 2AD-FHV D-CAT) has numerous documented cases of warped cylinder head gaskets and oil consumption or dilution in the Avensis, RAV4, Auris, Corolla Verso and Verso, with repairs that sometimes require replacing the engine.Appears at around 40,000 km
- Critical severityFrequency: Common1.33 Dual VVT-iExcessive oil consumption from piston wearYes: 1.33 Dual VVT-i (1NR-FE) units built before 2013 can use far more oil than normal because of a factory defect in the pistons, acknowledged by Toyota in a technical bulletin. In the most serious cases it ends in engine replacement. Toyota corrected it with revised parts from 2013.Appears at around 130,000 km
- High severityFrequency: Common1.4 D-4DTurbocharger failureYes: the 1.4 D-4D's turbo is documented as failing on the Yaris, Corolla, Auris and MINI One D, sometimes prematurely (one case at 15,000 km covered under warranty) and other times after seizing alongside high oil consumption.Appears at around 15,000 km
Main faults of the Volvo V40 II
Outside the engine
- Critical severityFrequency: RareAirbags and safetyDriver's airbag: recalls for gas generator and out-of-specification initiatorVolvo recalled small batches of V40s in 2016 and 2017 because the airbag might not deploy as it should.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalElectrical systemAlternator and 12 V battery failure on the Volvo V40According to the reports on fiches-auto.fr, there are battery and alternator faults, the latter cited at around 80,000-90,000 km. There is no known recall or official data.Appears at around 80,000 km
- Medium severityFrequency: RareSuspensionBroken shock absorber top mount on the Volvo V40According to fiches-auto.fr, there are 4 suspension cases, including a faulty shock absorber top mount at 144,000 km on a V40 T5.Appears at around 144,000 km
In their engines
- Critical severityFrequency: CommonD4/D5Auxiliary belt breakage that takes the timing belt with it (5-cylinder)Yes: on the 2.4/2.0 5-cylinder (D5244T/D5204, 2001-2016), several owners describe the auxiliary belt breaking and taking out or damaging the timing belt, with the engine destroyed. It happens in the S60 and XC60 between 74,000 and 119,000 km, and in one case not even the extended warranty covered it.
- High severityFrequency: Very frequent1.6 HDiTiming belt failure and premature wearOn the 8-valve 1.6 HDi/e-HDi 112/115 built between October 2010 and September 2011 the belt could break and leave the car stranded. PSA covered the repair and in 2014 preventively replaced the belt and crankshaft sprocket on those that had passed 120,000 km.
- Critical severityFrequency: Common1.6 EcoBoostCracked cylinder head from overheating, with fire riskYes: Ford acknowledges that a loss of coolant circulation can overheat the engine, crack the cylinder head and let oil escape onto hot areas, with a risk of fire. It has issued recalls in South Africa (2017-2018) and in the US/Canada (2013 and 2017); we have not found an identical campaign in Spain.