Toyota Avensis
BMW-derived diesel (N47 basis), not developed by Toyota itself. Timing chain on the gearbox side — access for inspection is involved. Timing chain elongation possible at high mileage — atypical by Toyota standards.
Weakest Avensis diesel
82 kW BMW diesel in the Avensis — underpowered for the vehicle weight. Neither economical enough nor powerful enough.
Engine Weaknesses 7
Condensation water from the EGR system enters the throttle body and can cause engine stumbling, power loss, and in extreme cases engine failure.
Symptoms: Engine stumbling and hesitation; power drops; in extreme cases engine stall on the road
Toyota Verso models with the 1.6 D-4D from 2015–2018 have an elevated fire risk due to a faulty exhaust gas recirculation system. Dealers and workshops were called upon to inspect affected vehicles.
Symptoms: No driver warning before fire risk occurs; possible smoke developing under the bonnet
Isolated cases of timing chain failure have been reported on the N47-based 1WW at as little as 84,000 km. The N47 timing chain issue is well known from the parent engine used in BMW.
Symptoms: Sudden engine noise; engine stalls without warning; engine damage from valve-piston contact
The 1WW has direct injection only, with no port injection. Intake valves are not cleaned by fuel and carbon builds up from around 40,000 km. Toyota covers cleaning as a goodwill measure.
Symptoms: Power loss, rough idle, hesitation on acceleration, increased consumption, MIL light with heavy build-up.
Early 1WW engines (up to model year 2018) had a faulty engine management system that damaged ignition coils through incorrect actuation during start-stop operation. Toyota issued a software update and replacement coils as a remedy.
Symptoms: Misfires on individual cylinders, engine stumble, limp mode, fault code P030x (cylinder x misfire).
The 1WW (BMW diesel) in the Auris/Verso shows problems with active DPF regeneration during frequent short trips, according to auris-forum.de. The cooling system gets overloaded during regeneration and elevated coolant temperatures can occur.
Symptoms: DPF warning light, elevated coolant temperature during regeneration, sudden spike in fuel consumption
Oil loss on the 1WW 1.6 D-4D in the Verso is documented in toyota-forum.de. Various gaskets on the BMW diesel engine block can develop leaks and cause oil loss.
Symptoms: Oil spots under the car, dropping oil level, oil smell in the engine bay
Vehicle Weaknesses 11
Faulty airbag control units can store faults and keep the airbag warning light permanently illuminated. In the worst case a malfunction of the restraint system is possible.
The Avensis T270 suffers from insufficient underbody corrosion protection.
Surface rust on axles and floorpan appears as early as 4–5 years. Rust pockets form on suspension components and underbody cross-members, appearing earlier on vehicles from salt-treated roads.
The A/C compressor can fail with age, noticeable by a rattling noise at idle. Refrigerant loss through leaking hoses is also documented.
At higher mileage alternator failure occurs, leading to battery discharge and starting problems. The alternator is one of the most common breakdown points on this model.
Brakes wear above average, especially with frequent motorway use.
Shock absorbers and springs wear faster, especially on high-mileage estate examples.
Number plate lights and sidelights frequently fail at MOT. Headlights drift out of adjustment over time and illuminate unevenly.
Door seals become porous over time and cause pronounced wind noise above 90 km/h. Replacing the outer window seal resolves the problem permanently.
A metallic clicking from the steering shaft when turning is common on the T270. The cause is the steering shaft universal joint. Replacement costs approximately €305 plus labour; cheaper solutions using a modified shaft are available from around €55.
As on the T250, seat heaters and small interior electrical units can fail on the T270. Broken wiring in the movable driver's seat is a known cause. Repair requires seat removal and cable inspection.