Used Car Expert Fault Guides tell you the common Toyota Avensis faults and wear items that can become problems and big bills for their owner.
Independent research indicated that using our fault guides to check a car before you buy it can save you an average of £300 in surprise bills and hidden problems.
That's because our Toyota Avensis fault guides are written so that anyone can understand them – even if you know nothing about cars and have no tools. For every common fault, we tell you what to look for, what it means and what it costs.
Select your Toyota Avensis fault guide:
Toyota Avensis (1997 - 2003) Fault Guide
Toyota Avensis (2003 - Present) Fault Guide
Toyota Avensis (1997 - 2003) Fault Guide
We know of 10 TOYOTA Avensis (1997 - 2003) faults which our fault check guide makes it easy for you to spot and avoid.
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1 engine faults
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1 suspension wear items or faults
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2 interior problems
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1 bodywork issues
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5 recalls
Here's an example fault on the TOYOTA Avensis (1997 - 2003)
What to look for:
Check the paperwork to see if the cam belt has been changed on schedule. On most engines the cam belt must be changed within 5 years or 60,000 miles. NB VVTI engines are chain driven so this is not an issue.
What it means:
If the cam belt and associated parts (such as water pump and tensioner) have not been changed, and the mileage is over these boundaries, the cam belt is likely to fail soon. Usually the engine has to be replaced or at least re-built after a cam belt failure.
What to do
Ensure that the cam belt is changed before the car is driven anywhere if it is coming close to its interval. Changing the belt will cost £180 on petrols and £280 on diesels.
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Toyota Avensis (2003 - Present) Fault Guide
We know of 14 TOYOTA Avensis (2003 - Present) faults which our fault check guide makes it easy for you to spot and avoid.
-
3 engine faults
-
2 suspension wear items or faults
-
1 interior problems
-
2 bodywork issues
-
6 recalls
Here's an example fault on the TOYOTA Avensis (2003 - Present)
What to look for:
Check the paperwork to see if the cam belt has been changed on schedule. On most of this vehicle’s diesel engines the cam belt must be changed within 5 years or 60,000 miles. The petrol engines have chains which do not wear.
What it means:
If the cam belt and associated parts have not been changed, and the mileage is over these boundaries, the cam belt is likely to fail soon. Usually the engine has to be replaced or at least re-built after a cam belt failure.
What to do
Ensure that the cam belt is changed before the car is driven anywhere if it is coming close to its interval. Changing the belt will cost £400.
Register to have full access to the TOYOTA Avensis (2003 - Present) fault guide.
Registered users also get access to our regional price guides, cars for sale email alerts, and many other benefits to help you buy a safe, reliable used car at a great price.