What Scion FR-S owners have reported to NHTSA, the service bulletins the manufacturer sent dealers, and any federal defect investigations, by model year. See Scion FR-S safety recalls or check your VIN.
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA, by the model year of the vehicle. A high count can also mean a popular year, so compare it with how many were sold.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injured | Deaths | TSBs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 |
| 2015 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 74 |
| 2014 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 107 |
| 2013 | 179 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 166 |
The vehicle systems named most often in Scion FR-S complaints (one complaint can name several).
In the owners’ own words, as filed with NHTSA. Unverified reports; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
On approximately May 27, 2026 I delivered my 2013 Scion FR-S (approx. 105,000 miles) to an authorized Toyota dealer for Safety Recall J02 (NHTSA 18V-772, engine valve spring replacement). I picked it up on June 3, 2026. Immediately the engine ran sluggish and the air conditioning, which had worked, stopped blowing cold. On June 7, 2026 - four days and only a few miles later - the engine spun a rod bearing and began knocking loudly. The vehicle is now inoperable. This recall requires removing and disassembling the engine and is widely documented to cause oil starvation and spun bearings when excess RTV sealant from reassembly clogs the oil pickup screen. My engine ran normally for years and f…
I am submitting this complaint to report a serious safety defect involving a complete loss of steering control in my vehicle, 2013 Scion FR-S. While driving and making a turn, the steering system failed entirely, leaving me unable to control the direction of the vehicle. I retained only braking and acceleration capabilities. There where no waring lights or mechanical indicators of potential or probable failure. As a result of this failure, I was involved in a collision with a nearby vehicle. Following the incident, I researched the issue and discovered a known failure point in the electric power steering (EPS) system, specifically related to the steering column EPS damper bushing. This app…
The car randomly shut off, i started it back up and it has a knock in the engine. Oil is super clean, and changed every 3k miles. I keep up with maintenance on my vehicle. I contacted Toyota and they had a Valve Spring Recall that leads to this very problem but somehow my vehicle isn't covered. I
The valve spring for my 2015 FRS completely broke and this was a known issue and recalls for my car and it is available for inspection
The car randomly shut off, i started it back up and it has a knock in the engine. Oil is super clean, and changed every 3k miles. I contacted Toyota and they had a Valve Spring Recall that leads to this very problem but somehow my vehicle isnt covered.
The contact owns a 2013 Scion FR-S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V772000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. The dealer and manufacturer informed the contact that the recall could not be performed because the engine in the vehicle was not the OEM part. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2013 Scion FR-S. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving 60 MPH, the engine warning light was flashing. The driver pulled to the side of the road, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that there was a fractured engine valve spring. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V772000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.
sometimes the car randomly stalls out during driving. usually off cold starts if i let it warm up for even 5 minutes it still will stall out sometimes. its not super common id say it does it once every 2 days maybe. the car is also misfiring and ive noticed a large loss of power from the car. it started back in june and i just havent really gotten it fixed yet. usually when im driving itll kind of just buffer and a check engine light is thrown on but it ends up going off after a couple drives.
Repair instructions and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about known issues. A TSB is not a recall, and the repair is usually free only while the car is under warranty; ask your dealer for the bulletin number.
DD: Toyota has worked with Carma Project, Inc. on a tagging program for Takata recalls in certain ?Zone A? areas in an effort to increase completions in higher risk locations. Carma uses license plate reading technology to determine if a vehicle may have an open recall. When a vehicle with an open recall is found, Carma drivers print out and place a tag on the vehicle they encounter advising the driver of the recall and the need to get the vehicle repaired. Carma recently changed its tagging platform, enabling it to offer expanded tagging through Carma ?affiliates? in more locations in the U.S
DD: Toyota has worked with Carma Project, Inc. on a tagging program for Takata recalls in certain ?Zone A? areas in an effort to increase completions in higher risk locations. Carma uses license plate reading technology to determine if a vehicle may have an open recall. When a vehicle with an open recall is found, Carma drivers print out and place a tag on the vehicle they encounter advising the driver of the recall and the need to get the vehicle repaired. Carma recently changed its tagging platform, enabling it to offer expanded tagging through Carma ?affiliates? in more locations in the U.S
TT: HVAC drain tube is found to be blocked/clogged.
TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE December 20, 2019: This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
TSB: Some vehicles may display a 22-digit request code when attempting to perform a navigation map update.
TSB: In the event that injector seal repair is required on vehicles equipped with a direct injection fuel system, a Special Service Tool Set is required to properly install the seal onto the injector. As new vehicle configurations have been released, several injector seal tool sets have been distributed to accommodate these new vehicles. There are a total of two injector seal tool sets for Scion models, located in the appropriate SST cabinets. Each kit contains multiple pieces as shown in the diagram below. The individual pieces must remain together to ensure these tools are used correctly. Re
TSB: In the event that injector seal repair is required on vehicles equipped with a direct injection fuel system, a Special Service Tool Set is required to properly install the seal onto the injector. As new vehicle configurations have been released, several injector seal tool sets have been distributed to accommodate these new vehicles. There are a total of two injector seal tool sets for Scion models, located in the appropriate SST cabinets. Each kit contains multiple pieces as shown in the diagram below. The individual pieces must remain together to ensure these tools are used correctly. Re
TT: In certain cases of leaking air conditioning systems, the root cause of the leak is inadvertently overlooked, causing a repeat repair. To improve customer satisfaction and repair A/C system leaks in one dealer visit, Toyota has developed a set of guidelines for evaluating A/C system components.
The rear combination lights on some 2013 ? 2014 model year FR-S vehicles may exhibit cracking from the upper surface of the lens. This can result from the trunk lid contacting the rear combination light housing if excessive force is applied to the trunk lid when closing. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to address this condition.
TT: During previous air conditioning service, leakage prevention agent (A/C stop leak) may have been added to the A/C system. Adding stop leak products to the A/C system is not a recommended or approved Scion repair process. During A/C service, moisture enters the A/C system, and can react with the previously added A/C stop leak, forming a gelatinous substance. The gel substance that forms can cause the A/C compressor to bind and or seize.
TSB: Some 2013 ? 2016 model year FR-S vehicles equipped with a manual transmission may exhibit an abnormal noise, such as a squeak, grind or groan type noise when the clutch pedal is depressed. APPLICABLE WARRANTY: This repair is covered under the Toyota Basic Warranty. This warranty is in effect for 36 months or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first, from the vehicle's in-service date. Warranty application is limited to occurrence of the specified condition described in this bulletin.
TSB: REVISION NOTICE October 14, 2016 Rev1: The Warranty Information section has been updated. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation public data (complaints, manufacturer communications, investigations), model years 2010 and later. Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA.
In complaints filed with NHTSA for model years 2013–2016, owners most often name: engine, power train, unknown or other. 201 complaints are on record.
No. A complaint is an unverified report from an owner. A technical service bulletin (TSB) is the manufacturer telling dealers how to fix a known issue; it is not a safety recall and is usually covered only under warranty. A recall is a formal safety action, and its repair is free.
File a vehicle safety complaint at NHTSA.gov. NHTSA reads every report, and patterns of complaints are what open defect investigations and, eventually, recalls.
