YearToAvoid

2020 Toyota Yaris Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Best The 2020 Toyota Yaris has a complaint index of 14, the lowest among the 15 model years with data, earning a Best verdict. It has just 9 complaints and one recall for a fuel pump issue, with no crashes, fires, or injuries reported.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
14/100
#13 of 15 Yaris years
Verdict
Best
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
9
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
0
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2017
rated Good
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
34.5
31 city / 39.5 hwy
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0

Top 2020 Toyota Yaris problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine5 (56%)
  2. Fuel System3 (33%)
  3. Other3 (33%)
  4. Electrical System2 (22%)
  5. Brakes1 (11%)
  6. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (11%)
  7. Seat Belts1 (11%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Owners describe unexplained warning lights along with a front passenger seat belt that would not securely fasten into the buckle at 6,000 miles.
  • Some owners report the engine oil level reading overfilled after an oil change performed to the manual's specified capacity, with no explanation from the dealership.
  • One owner described the engine shutting off unexpectedly at a stop light while accelerating to turn, requiring the vehicle to be put in park and restarted.
  • Several owners tied to recall 21V617000 reported waiting for the low-pressure fuel pump replacement part, saying the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable repair timeframe.
  • One owner reported the engine laboring to start followed by a dead battery, with a diagnostic scanner returning an engine coolant-related code.
  • One owner described abrupt braking on the highway and the collision-avoidance braking system activating unexpectedly while parking in a garage.
2020 Toyota Yaris complaints: complaints filed per month2Jun 2020Feb 2021Mar 2021Sep 2021Oct 2021Dec 2021Sep 2023Sep 2024
9 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2020 to Sep 2024; peak Dec 2021 (2).

2020 Toyota Yaris recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V617000Sep 27, 2021Fuel System31,307 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Yaris, Yaris Hatchback, and Yaris Sedan vehicles. An impeller within the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail.

    Risk: A fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 30, 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21TB05 and 21TA05.

2020 Toyota Yaris fuel economy and fuel cost

City
31 MPG
Highway
39.5 MPG
Combined
34.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$1,875
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2020 compared with other Yaris years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2018No verdict214133.5
2019Caution5026334
2020Best149134.5

All Toyota Yaris years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Toyota Yaris reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2020 Yaris ranks as the Best year among the 15 model years with data, with a complaint index of just 14 and only 9 complaints total.
Does the 2020 Toyota Yaris have any recalls?
Yes, one recall (21V617000) covers a low-pressure fuel pump impeller that may crack and deform. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
What is the top problem area for the 2020 Toyota Yaris?
Engine complaints make up the largest share at 56 percent of all complaints, followed by fuel system issues at 33 percent, mostly tied to the recall.
How does the 2020 Yaris compare to other Yaris years?
With a complaint index of 14 and rank 13 out of 15 worst-first, the 2020 Yaris has fewer reported problems than every other year except 2018, which was not given a verdict.
What fuel economy does the 2020 Toyota Yaris get?
The EPA rates it at 34.5 mpg combined (31 city / 39.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,875.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.