Toyota Auris: Engine Limp Mode and Poor Reliability

I have had repeated engine issues with my 2008 Toyota Auris 1.6RS which has to date only done 139 000 km. I have only serviced my vehicle at Toyota dealerships over the past 13 years.

The engine has gone into limp mode 5 times over the past 2 months whilst in Johannesburg traffic. This occurred after the last service in June 2021 during which the clutch was replaced. This was extremely stressful and dangerous and I was fortunate that I was not rear-ended. The car was taken to Motus Toyota Kempton Park on each occasion. The error codes suggested that there was an issue with the throttle position sensor/circuit. The throttle body was replaced at a cost of R14000. This did not rectify the issue, and the engine cut again while driving 2 weeks later. I was then advised that the engine control unit needed to be replaced as well as the battery (R8222). This still did not resolve the issue and the engine still cut while I was driving 2 days later. The car is currently at a regional diagnostic center.

I have notified Toyota SA in writing and have asked for a reimbur*****t of the costs incurred, as well as a full repair of the vehicle, as the 'identified repairs' performed thus far did not resolve the issue.

The reason I continued to service my vehicle at Toyota and initially obliged to foot the expensive bills was for the assurance of a quality service and reliability. I am exceptionally disappointed with the outcomes.

I am writing this post so that other Toyota drivers who have experienced similar problems may also come forward and know that they are not alone. I expected my Toyota to be relatively hassle free for at least 250-300 000 km. This is not the reliability I would expect from the brand.

An online search of Auris issues revealed similar experiences with other Auris drivers internationally. Why has this issue not been addressed by Toyota through a communication?

I will keep you posted of the status of the repairs.