Parts for your 2012 Toyota Vitz|yaris-Steering bushes

2012 Toyota Vitz/Yaris steeringbushes — are they actually used?

Short answer: No, separate steeringbushes aren’t a service item on the 2012 Toyota Vitz/Yaris (XP130 series). Technical sources including the Toyota Repair Manual and New Car Features (covering NCP131/NSP130), plus the Toyota Electronic Parts Catalogue under “Steering Gear & Link,” show a column‑assist electric power steering (EPS) rack‑and‑pinion that bolts directly to the front subframe without the traditional, replaceable “steering rack bushes” found on earlier generations. Aftermarket catalogues that offer rack bush kits for the prior XP90 Yaris do not list equivalent kits for the XP130, which backs up the factory documentation.

Why that matters: with the XP130’s column‑type EPS, Toyota engineered the steering gear and subframe interface to control noise, vibration and harshness without separate rubber rack bushes. Any isolation that does exist is built into the assembly or the subframe and isn’t supplied as a standalone bush. As a result, “2012toyotavitzyaris steeringbushes” aren’t a thing you replace during routine servicing.

What people often mean by steeringbushes on this model are actually other wear items nearby. If there’s play in the wheel, a knock over bumps, or vague on‑centre feel, the usual suspects are:

• Outer tie‑rod ends and inner tie‑rods (rack ends)
• Front lower control arm bushes (rear/hydraulic bush especially)
• Sway bar D‑bushes and link rods
• Strut top mounts/bearings
• Intermediate steering shaft joints/splines and column components

Practical servicing advice for a 2012 Vitz/Yaris with these symptoms is straightforward: inspect tie‑rods for axial and radial play, check the rack boots for damage, and look closely at control arm rear bushes for cracking or oil‑soak. Sway bar D‑bushes are cheap and commonly cause clunks. If free play seems to be inside the rack or at the column, follow the Toyota Repair Manual diagnosis for EPS (there are specific checks for column play and assist anomalies). The rack assembly itself is typically replaced as a unit if internal wear is confirmed.

Routine checks every 10,000–15,000 km (or annually) help: keep tyres matched and correctly inflated, avoid heavy kerb strikes, torque subframe and suspension fasteners correctly after any work, and get a wheel alignment after replacing any steering or suspension parts. That keeps the little Yaris steering tight and confidence‑inspiring without chasing non‑existent steeringbushes.

Does a 2012 Toyota Vitz/Yaris have steeringbushes I can replace?

No. The XP130 uses column‑assist EPS with the steering gear bolted to the subframe and no separate, serviceable rack bushes. If there’s play or noise, focus on tie‑rods, sway bar bushes/links, control arm bushes, and the intermediate shaft or column components.

What’s the likely cause of a clunk in the steering over bumps on a 2012 Yaris?

Most commonly it’s worn sway bar link rods or D‑bushes, followed by outer tie‑rod ends or the rear control arm bushes. Less often, the noise can stem from strut top mounts or slight play in the intermediate steering shaft. A lift, a pry bar and a careful check will usually pinpoint it.

How should the steering be serviced on a 2012 Vitz/Yaris if there are no steeringbushes?

Inspect inner and outer tie‑rods, rack boots, sway bar bushes/links and lower arm bushes at each service. Replace worn items, then perform a wheel alignment. If free play appears to be inside the EPS column or rack, use the Toyota diagnostic procedure—those components are generally replaced as assemblies.