Is the Toyota Yaris a safety car?

The Toyota Yaris is not the official safety car for major international motorsport series as of 2025. The Yaris line includes the GR Yaris, a high-performance variant used in rallying and circuit contexts, but it has not been designated as a safety car in the world’s premier championships.

Safety cars are selected by series rules and partnerships to ensure pace, reliability, and suitable equipment for on-track safety. In practice, the cars that lead races in top series come from brands such as Mercedes, Aston Martin, Porsche, Ford, Chevrolet, and BMW, with specific models varying by year and event. While the Yaris may appear in regional or promotional roles, it has not been part of the official safety-car lineup in the major circuits.

Understanding the role of a safety car

A safety car leads the field under caution, controls speed, and coordinates with race control to ensure drivers’ safety during incidents or hazards on track. It must be capable of sustained high speeds, rapid acceleration, effective braking, and often carries safety equipment and communications gear. The choice of vehicle is driven by performance, reliability, ease of modification, and sponsorship arrangements.

Because different series operate under distinct regulations and branding strategies, the exact specification of the safety car can vary from season to season. The goal is to provide a controlled pace that preserves safety while allowing track crews to address any hazards or repairs efficiently.

Common safety car models in major motorsport series

Below is a snapshot of vehicle archetypes that are frequently employed as safety/pace cars in high-profile competitions. The actual model and configuration can differ by series and year.

• Mercedes-AMG GT family


• Aston Martin DBX or Vantage


• Porsche 911 (various generations)


• Chevrolet Camaro (including performance variants)


• Ford Mustang GT


• BMW M5 or M3 (and related M models)

These examples illustrate the emphasis on high-performance, robust braking, and the ability to carry additional safety equipment. The presence of a particular model in a given season depends on contracts, circuit requirements, and marketing partnerships.

Has the Yaris appeared as a safety car in recognized series?

There is no widely documented instance of a Toyota Yaris being used as the official safety car in Formula One, the FIA World Endurance Championship, NASCAR, IndyCar, or the World Rally Championship as of 2025. Toyota’s safety-car deployments in major championships have not centered on the Yaris. That said, regional or promotional events could theoretically employ a Yaris as a pace car, but such uses would be event-specific rather than part of the sport’s standard safety-car lineup.

The Yaris, GR Yaris, and safety-car strategy

The Yaris nameplate remains a popular compact hatchback for road use, with the GR Yaris representing Toyota’s performance-oriented variant designed for rallying and refined track experiences. While the GR Yaris demonstrates Toyota’s performance engineering, it has not become a standard or official safety-car candidate in the world’s top motorsport championships. Series organizers typically favor larger, purpose-built or extensively modified vehicles tailored to safety and communications needs, along with branding commitments that align with the event’s sponsor and audience.

Summary

In short, the Toyota Yaris is not the official safety car in the world’s major racing series as of 2025. The safety-car roles in these championships are filled by other high-performance models from brands like Mercedes, Aston Martin, Porsche, Ford, Chevrolet, and BMW, with model choices varying by series and season. While the Yaris and its GR variant play important roles in road and rally contexts, they have not been adopted as the standard safety car across the sport’s top tiers.

Why is Toyota discontinuing the Yaris?

The Toyota Yaris was discontinued in many markets due to declining sales as consumers shifted to larger SUVs and a strategic shift by Toyota to focus on SUVs and hybrid/electric vehicles. In North America, the discontinuation was also because the last generation was a rebadged Mazda2, which wasn't selling well enough to justify continued production. For newer, globally available Yaris models, safety and emissions regulations made it too expensive to develop a new, affordable entry-level version. 
Reasons for discontinuation

• Declining small car sales: In North America and other markets, sales of small cars like the Yaris had been plummeting for years as consumer preference shifted towards larger vehicles, such as SUVs and crossovers. 
• Strategic company shift: Toyota decided to focus its resources on its SUV lineup and other fuel-efficient models, including hybrids and electric vehicles. The platform and some engines from the Yaris were adapted for use in other models, such as the Corolla. 
• Cost of new regulations: For newer generations, the cost of re-engineering the Yaris to meet new safety and emissions standards made it too expensive to produce as an entry-level, budget-friendly car. 
• Market-specific issues: In some regions, the Yaris faced tough competition from other models in its segment, leading to slow sales. In the US, the final Yaris was a rebadged Mazda2 that sold poorly compared to other models in the Toyota lineup, such as the Corolla. 
• Inability to justify investment: The low sales volume made it difficult to justify the investment in a new model generation, especially when compared to the performance of other Toyota vehicles. 

What is Toyota's safest vehicle?

The safest Toyota cars are models that receive top ratings from the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) and NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), such as the Toyota Highlander, Toyota Prius, and Toyota Camry. The Toyota bZ4X and Toyota Tundra crew cab are among the models with the highest "Top Safety Pick+" award from the IIHS for 2025. Many other models like the RAV4, Corolla Cross, and Sienna also earn high safety ratings. 
Top-rated models

• Toyota bZ4X: Earned the IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" award for 2025. 
• Toyota Highlander: Received the IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" award for 2024 and the NHTSA 5-Star Overall Safety Rating for 2023 and 2024. 
• Toyota Prius: Received the IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" award for 2024. 
• Toyota Camry: Recognized as an IIHS "Top Safety Pick" for 2024. 
• Toyota Tundra crew cab: Earned the IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" for 2025. 
• Toyota Corolla: Has been consistently recognized for safety, earning IIHS "Top Safety Pick" awards for various model years. 
• Toyota RAV4: Earned an NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating for 2024 and an IIHS "Top Safety Pick" award. 
• Toyota Sienna: Received the IIHS "Top Safety Pick" award for 2024. 
• Toyota Corolla Cross: Received a top-tier IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" award. 

How to choose the safest Toyota

• Check the latest ratings: Always check the most recent safety ratings from organizations like the IIHS and NHTSA for the specific model year you are interested in, as ratings can change. 
• Look for the highest awards: For the highest level of safety, look for vehicles that have received the IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" award. 
• Consider safety features: Many Toyota vehicles come standard with the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) suite, which includes features like pre-collision systems and lane departure alerts. 

What is the common problem with Toyota Yaris?

Common problems reported for the Toyota Yaris include issues with the automatic transmission (especially older models), power steering failure, air conditioning problems, and paint peeling, particularly on the roof and hood. Other frequently cited issues are engine and transmission problems, such as engine mounts, clutch slip, and rough idling. Some models have also been subject to significant recalls, including issues with airbag inflators and steering components.
 
This video discusses common problems and weaknesses of the used Toyota Yaris (I generation): 59sMasterCarsProYouTube · Jul 20, 2023
Powertrain 

• Automatic Transmission: Can slip or have issues shifting, especially in older models, sometimes linked to a lack of regular fluid changes. 
• Clutch: Slipping is a common issue, often indicated by high RPMs without corresponding speed, a burning smell, or a change in pedal height. 
• Engine Mounts: Some owners report vibrations from damaged engine mounts. 
• Rough Idling: Can occur due to dirty throttle bodies or injectors. Cleaning and replacing spark plugs can help. 
• Oil Consumption: Some older models, particularly pre-2015, may burn more oil than expected. 

Steering and suspension

• Power Steering: Malfunctions have been reported, leading to steering difficulties. 
• Steering Wheel: Some owners report a loose or vibrating steering wheel, or a noisy steering system. 
• Wheel Hubs: Noise, such as squealing, has been linked to faulty front and rear wheel hubs. 

Electrical and accessories

• Air Conditioning: Malfunctions, such as leaks or the system not turning on, have been reported. 
• Airbags: Faulty inflators have been the cause of a major recall. 
• Headlights: Malfunction of headlight beams has been noted. 
• Media Computer: Issues with the radio, GPS, and Bluetooth have occurred. 
• Alarm System: Problems with alarm malfunction have been reported. 

Body and paint

• Paint Peeling: A common problem is clear coat peeling, especially on the roof and hood. 
• Scratches: Scratches can appear on the dashboard, around door locks, and in the trunk. 

You can watch this video to learn about common problems of the Toyota Yaris iA: 59sSimple Mechanic AdviceYouTube · Dec 14, 2024

Are Toyota Yaris safe in a crash?

In tests of its functionality at the low speeds at which many whiplash injuries occur, the system demonstrated good performance, with collisions avoided or mitigated at all test speeds. In the frontal offset test, protection of both child dummies was good or adequate.