Toyota 1.33 Dual VVT-i (1NR-FE)Lubrication
Hard cold starting and fault code P1604 on the 1.33 Dual VVT-i
Yes, on pre-2013 units: the same piston defect that sends oil consumption soaring can also cause increasingly difficult cold starts and fault code P1604, even before the oil consumption becomes obvious.[1]
Why this rating?
Medium severity: It can leave you stranded or get worse if ignored, without destroying the engine.
Frequency occasional: The same technical bulletin that documents the oil consumption notes that the units corrected from 2013 also eliminate the starting difficulties and code P1604, which confirms that this symptom existed before that date; however, none of our sources quantifies how many cars with oil consumption also went on to show this specific symptom, so we rate it as occasional rather than frequent.[1]
Symptoms
- Cold starting becomes harder and harder, with the starter motor turning for longer than normal.[1]Hard to start: other faults that cause it · Garage soon
- The engine fault warning light may come on with code P1604 stored in the control unit.[1]Engine warning light: other faults that cause it · Garage soon
Why it happens
It is the same ring wear that causes the oil consumption: as it loses compression and becomes fouled with carbon, the engine is harder to start from cold and the control unit may log code P1604.[1]
If it is not repaired: Increasingly difficult starting can end up leaving the car unable to start from cold, and brings forward the point at which the oil consumption demands a major repair.[1]
Affected cars and years
Linked to the same first series of the engine (before 2013) that suffers the oil consumption; documented as part of the same technical bulletin.[1]
| Version | Years | Codes |
|---|---|---|
| 1.33 Dual VVT-i (1NR-FE, first series, 2008-2013) | 2008–2013 | 1NR-FE |
Models fitted with the affected versions
Toyota
- Toyota Auris I2009–2012
- Toyota Auris II2012–2018
- Toyota Yaris II2009–2011
- Toyota Yaris III2011–2020
- Toyota iQ2009–2015
- Toyota Urban Cruiser2009–2014
- Toyota Verso-S2010–2017
- Toyota Corolla X2009–2013
How much it costs to repair
Includes: Diagnosis of the control unit and, if piston wear is confirmed, the same repair as for the oil consumption.[1]
There is no cost separate from that of the main fault (oil consumption): it is the same internal wear at an earlier stage.
Prices in Spain, including VAT. A workshop hour costs on average €38–66 at independent garages and €77–134 at dealerships in Spain, depending on the region and the brand. How we calculate costs
How to check for it before buying a used car
- If the car is hard to start from cold, ask for a code reading: a stored P1604 points to this factory defect.[1]
How to prevent it
- There is no prevention different from that already given for oil consumption: use the correct viscosity and do not ignore an increasingly difficult cold start.
Recalls, campaigns and claims
Technical campaignToyota · 2013 · Ref. EG-0095T-1112
Technical bulletin on oil consumption and starting difficulty
Revised pistons and rings for the 1.33 Dual VVT-i (1NR-FE) built before 2013, which also eliminate the cold-start difficulty and code P1604.[1]
What owners say
Frequently asked questions
Does code P1604 always mean the engine is using oil?
According to the source that documents this defect, it is linked to it on this engine: Toyota associates it with the same piston wear and corrected it with the same 2013 revision.[1]
Is it dangerous to keep driving if it is hard to start from cold?
It is not an immediate safety risk, but it is a sign that internal wear is progressing; it is worth having it checked before it leads to higher oil consumption.[1]
Does this symptom appear before or after visible oil consumption?
Our sources do not make this clear; the sensible approach is to watch for both at once, as they share the same cause.[1]
What can you do now?
We will put you in touch with a partner only if you authorise it in the form.
Other 1.33 Dual VVT-i faults
- Critical severityFrequency: CommonLubricationExcessive 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
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalClutchPremature clutch wear and MMT gearbox actuator faultsThe manual clutch has been reported worn prematurely on the Yaris, Auris and iQ with this engine, and the MMT automated gearbox can fail because of the actuator that operates it, with repairs of €900 to €1,800 according to a German source; we have not found equivalent prices in Spain.Appears at around 35,000 km
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Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- Toyota 1.33 1NR-FE: Typische Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German