Toyota Wish common problems: what to check before you buy
Credov's researched list of the 4 faults the Toyota Wish is known for (2000–2015), 3 of them serious or costly. Each one says what to look for when you check the car, so you can spot it before you buy. Not every car has these faults: they are the ones worth checking on this model.
Known problems on the Toyota Wish
Airbag control unit fault
Safety risk
2003–2015 · petrol · Interior and air con
What to look for: Check the airbag light comes on then goes out, and look for a 4363 recall sticker in the driver's door opening.
Why it matters: The MLIT notification records that electrical noise immunity of the airbag control unit was inadequately assessed, so noise from the vehicle's electrical components can damage an IC chip inside the unit in service and, in the worst case, deploy the airbags while the vehicle is moving. An airbag firing unprompted at speed is a crash cause in itself.
What to look for: Stalling coming to a stop, VSC and engine lights flashing on, or loss of power.
Why it matters: Codes are P1047 and other P104x/P26xx valve-lift codes; brake-booster and VSC codes can appear too, because the brake vacuum pump sits on the same unit. Repeat failures continued despite several Toyota bulletins. The fix is a new, rebuilt or used controller (the new part alone is over NZ$800). Left unrepaired this is a safety risk on top of the repair bill.
What to look for: Look for a 3055 recall sticker in the driver's door opening, and for hybrid warning lights while it sits in READY.
Why it matters: The MLIT notification records that the winding process for the inverter electric water pump coil was inadequate, so coil wire could be damaged; corrosion then breaks the wire, stopping the pump and producing a warning lamp or output-limited running, and a short between windings blows the supply fuse and leaves the car unable to be driven.
What to look for: Look around the catch in the driver's door opening for Toyota recall stickers, and photograph any numbers you find.
Why it matters: The instruction to apply a numbered sticker near the driver's door striker appears in the text of the Toyota recall notifications themselves, which makes it the one field marker a New Zealand dealer can read without a scan tool or a dealer account.
Got a question about a Toyota Wish? Ask Credov: a noise, a warning light, a part or how to fix it.
Also check on every car
On top of the faults above, every Credov inspection covers the basics: fuel smell, leaks or filler rust, engine oil leaks, power steering fluid leak, drive belt cracks or squeal, rust underneath: chassis and mounts, engine mounts, engine oil level and colour, coolant level, colour and leaks, head gasket failure signs, cold start: rattle, knock or smoke, rough or hunting idle, engine running hot on gauge, gearbox or diff oil leak, swapped gearbox without lvv and more.
Researched by Credov from manufacturer recalls and service bulletins, owner reports and workshop sources. Repair prices are typical ranges, not quotes. See also fault codes and repair costs.