CSR

Scion · NHTSA safety record

2013 Scion FR-S

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

179

Complaints

3

Crashes

3

Fires

1

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2013 Scion FR-S have filed 179 safety complaints with NHTSA between September 2012 and June 2026. The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 141 of them (79%). The typical failure was reported at 68,550 miles, the median across the 148 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 4 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (4)

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

18V772000 · November 1, 2018

The defect
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Subaru Impreza, 2012-2013 Impreza Stationwagon, 2013 Subaru BRZ, XV Crosstrek and Toyota Scion FR-S vehicles. The engine valve springs in these vehicles may fracture causing an engine malfunction or a possible engine stall.
The risk
An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Subaru will notify their owners. Toyota will notify the FR-S owners. Dealers will replace the valve springs, free of charge. The recall began December 26, 2018. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614, Toyota owners may contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-888-270-9371. Subaru's number for this recall is WTY-84.

Subaru of America, Inc. · up to 165,534 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

16V075000 · February 10, 2016

The defect
Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Toyota Scion FR-S vehicles manufactured March 13, 2012, to January 14, 2016 and equipped an automatic transmission and ignition key. Vehicles with a push-to-start button are not affected. In the affected vehicles, it may be possible to remove the ignition key without the transmission being in the "Park" position. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
The risk
If the key can be removed from the ignition when the transmission is not in the "Park" position, the vehicle could roll away increasing the risk of a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.
The remedy
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ignition key/transmission interlock wiring connections, correcting them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 7, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0E.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 25,706 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

13V123000 · April 9, 2013

The defect
Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
The risk
An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.
The remedy
Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC · up to 7,525 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

12V255000 · June 5, 2012

The defect
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2013 SCION FR-S VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 22, 2012, THROUGH MAY 14, 2012. THE OWNER’S MANUAL CONTAINS AN INACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTUAL OPERATION OF THE FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM. OTHER PORTIONS OF THE OWNER’S MANUAL, DESCRIBING THE AIR BAG SYSTEM, REQUIRE CLARIFICATION. AS SUCH, THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD (FMVSS) NO. 208, “OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.”
The risk
IF A USER READS AND FOLLOWS INACCURATE OWNER’S MANUAL INFORMATION, THIS COULD LEAD TO AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO A FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT UNDER CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS.
The remedy
TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND WILL MAIL CORRECTED INSERTS FOR THE OWNER’S MANUALS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 3, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-866-707-2466.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 1,156 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 179.

ENGINE 141 79%
POWER TRAIN 21 12%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 8 4%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 8 4%
STEERING 7 4%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 5 3%
AIR BAGS 3 2%
WHEELS 3 2%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2 1%
SERVICE BRAKES 2 1%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2 1%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 1%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2019 at 80.

2012 2019 2026
2012 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 33,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 SCION FR-S. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A SECOND VEHICLE. DURING THE CRASH, THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG DEFLATED WITH A FOUR INCH HOLE AFTER DEPLOYING. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FACIAL AND CHEST INJURIES, A FRACTURED STERNUM, AND A LUMBAR SPINE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000. *TT *TR

NHTSA complaint 11066117. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

fire · 3,350 miles

AFTER LEAVING A RESIDENCE, GETTING ONTO THE FREEWAY WITH NO ISSUES FOR ABOUT 1/4 MILE, SUDDENLY UPON GETTING ABOUT TO 50 MPH, I FELT A SHIMMY. I THOUGHT I HAD A FLAT TIRE. BUT I WAS SMELLING A BURNING SMELL PRETTY QUICKLY. I THOUGHT IT WAS FROM A POLLUTED SEMI TRUCK. BUT IT GOT STRONGER. SO, I DECIDED TO TAKE THE FIRST EXIT ANOTHER 1/4 MILE UP. I TURNED ON HAZARDS AND SLOWED TO 40 AND EXITED. UPON STOPPING I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND INSPECTED FIRST THE ENGINE, SEEING NO SMOKE AROUND IT. I THEN INSPECTED THE TIRES. ALL GOOD. SO I OPTED FOR A TOUCH TEST FOR OVERHEATED TIRE, TO SEE IF THEY WERE HOT. WHICH GIVEN I ONLY DROVE MAYBE 1.5 MILES TOTAL, OR 2, THIS SEEMED UNLIKELY. WHEN LEANING TO TOUCH

NHTSA complaint 10513321, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

fire · 70,000 miles

I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR J02 ENGINE VALVE SPRING SAFETY RECALL ON JAN 29TH, 2019 AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. TOOK THEM A COUPLE DAYS, BUT WHEN THEY FINISHED, THEY SAID THE CAR WAS GOOD AS NEW AND I COULD DRIVE IT NORMALLY. 2 WEEKS OF DAILY COMMUTE TO WORK WITH NO ISSUES, THEN ON FEB 17, 2019, I WAS DRIVING UP HIGHWAY 1 FOR A COUPLE HOURS, AS I CAME AROUND A TURN, I WAS GOING ABOUT 25MPH, I TAPPED THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN AS THE ROAD WAS SLOPING DOWNHILL WITH TWO HAIR PIN TURNS UP AHEAD. AS SOON AS I HIT THE BRAKE, I FELT THE REAR WHEELS GIVE WAY A LITTLE AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT BLINK (I WAS GOING 25MPH, NO REASON FOR TRACTION CONTROL TO ENGAGE). THOUGHT IT WAS A LITTLE WEIRD, SO I LET OFF THE

NHTSA complaint 11186327, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

fire · 50,000 miles

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM TOYOTA FOR VALVE SPRINGS. I HAD THE RECALL WORK DONE AT MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP (TOYOTA OF MARIN, CALIFORNIA). SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, ON MY WAY TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC TO HAVE THE REPAIR INSPECTED (DRIVING ON A PAVED ROAD ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AT SONOMA RACEWAY IN SONOMA, CA), I EXPERIENCED A BANG AND KNOCK IN THE ENGINE. I LOOKED IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SAW SMOKE. I LOOKED FORWARD AND SAW SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. I PULLED OVER AND A FIRE CREW HELPED PUT OUT THE FIRE BUT NOT BEFORE THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS DESTROYED.I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH TOYOTA. THEY INSPECTED THE CAR IN APRIL AND I AM AWAITING THEIR RESPONSE. THIS WAS A LIFE

NHTSA complaint 11204391, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
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

NHTSA complaint 11742856, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

crash · towed

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

NHTSA complaint 11706415, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
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

NHTSA complaint 11703673. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
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.

NHTSA complaint 11653904. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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.

NHTSA complaint 11644023. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

towed · 84,000 miles

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.

NHTSA complaint 11628526. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Scion FR-S

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2015 14 3

Other 2013 Scion models

Every Scion on this site — 13 vehicles, 28 recall campaigns and 1 open investigation .

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

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Independent developer and analyst