RoadVitals

2016 Scion Ia Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Jan 14, 2022
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
35%
of 23 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2016 Scion Ia submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 14, 2022

Was getting off work. Started car and Engine system malfunction light, DSC malfunction light, TPMS System Malfunction light, Auto transmission malfunction light, and SCBS malfunction light all turned on. Car was not currently in motion when lights went on. Was in parking lot. Turned car off, and restarted, lights remained on. Drove vehicle 6.8 miles home, car was in limp mode. When at home used OBD2 scan tool and got codes P0847 C1031 U0401 B13D3 Cleared codes and unplugged 12 volt battery to reset system. Only engine system malfunction light remained. Parked car overnight and went to dealership next morning. Car drove on highway and car seemed fine. Dealership scan car and received code P0847, tech cleared code and test drove car. Problem can not be reproduced.

NHTSA ID
11447451
Incident
Nov 12, 2021
Engine
Filed Mar 2, 2020

THE VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY SHUT ITSELF OFF IN THE ROAD FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT WILL DISPLAY ON THE DASH. HOWEVER, WHEN I PUT THE CAR BACK IN PARK AND RESTART THE ENGINE THERE ARE NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ON AND NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHATSOEVER. THIS CAR HAS BEEN LOOKED AT BY 3 CERTIFIED TOYOTA DEALERS AND NONE OF THE MECHANICS CAN ACCURATELY PINPOINT THE ISSUE. I AM CONCERNED THIS CAR WILL SHUT ITSELF DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND CAUSE A COLLISION. WORST EXPERIENCE WITH A CAR I'VE EVER HAD. SURPRISINGLY NEWER MODEL VEHICLE AND THIS DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE. THE CAR MAINLY SPUTTERS AND STALLS AT IDLE OR LOW SPEEDS. WE HAVE TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSES. NOTHING LEFT TO DO AT THIS POINT EXCEPT REPLACE THE CAR. I FEELS IT IS A DANGER TO MYSELF AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID
11315714
Incident
Feb 28, 2020
Mileage
126,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 22, 2019

WHEN AT A STOP THE ENGINE STARTS TO SHAKE LIKE IT'S ABOUT TO TURN OFF WE BOUGHT IT WITH 29000 MILES NOTICED IT A WEEK AFTER WE BOUGHT IT AND IT HAS DONE IT A FEW TIMES THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP COULDN'T FIND ANY CODES TO REMEDY IT. THE CHECK ENGINE DOES NOT COME ON BUT IT DOES SHAKE VIOLENTLY.IT HAS 35000 MILES NOW.I HAD THE THROTTLE BODY CLEANED AND IT STILL PUTTERS AT THE LIGHT. MOSTLY WITH THE A/C OFF

NHTSA ID
11190968
Incident
Mar 20, 2019
Mileage
29,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 13, 2019

SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED...FIRST THEY SAID BATTERY...WHILE DRIVING, INDICATING WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH START BLINKING (ABS, CHECK ENGINE, TRACTION, AND OTHERS), THEN THE ENGINE GOES INTO LOW HEAR AND STAYS UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON. DURING THESE EPISODES THE SPEED ODOMETER IS ERRATIC. ALSO WHEN IN THIS STATE, THE REVERSE GEAR DOES NOT ENGAGE. WHEN THIS STARTED IT WAS A ONCE A MONTH PROBLEM, THEN WEEKLY, NOW IT HAPPENS DAILY/HOURLY. IT STARTED AT APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAY, MOST OF THE TIME AT STOPS AND LOWER SPEEDS BUT DOES HAPPEN ON FREEWAY TOO.

NHTSA ID
11186554
Incident
Mar 12, 2019
Mileage
76,000 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 19, 2018

WHILE DRIVING, INDICATING WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH START BLINKING (ABS, CHECK ENGINE, TRACTION, AND OTHERS), THEN THE ENGINE GOES INTO LOW HEAR AND STAYS UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON. DURING THESE EPISODES THE SPEED ODOMETER IS ERRATIC. ALSO WHEN IN THIS STATE, THE REVERSE GEAR DOES NOT ENGAGE. WHEN THIS STARTED IT WAS A ONCE A MONTH PROBLEM, THEN WEEKLY, NOW IT HAPPENS DAILY/HOURLY. IT STARTED AT APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAY, MOST OF THE TIME AT STOPS AND LOWER SPEEDS BUT DOES HAPPEN ON FREEWAY TOO.

NHTSA ID
11152522
Incident
Aug 15, 2018
Mileage
40,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Oct 11, 2018
Crash reported

I WAS ABOUT TO PARK AT A BURGER KING STORE AT DELANO CALIFORNIA 93215 AND SLOWING DOWN WHEN MY SCION IA SPEED UP MORE AND KEPT ON RUNNING WHILE MY FOOT IS ALREADY ON THE BRAKE. SO I ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE STORE. IT ONLY STOP BECAUSE THE TIRE WHERE ALREADY UP. I TRIED TO REVERSE MY CAR BUT CANNOT MOVE ANYMORE.

NHTSA ID
11139656
Incident
Sep 7, 2018
Mileage
66,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 1, 2018

FOUR TIMES NOW( ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS) AFTER SHIFTING THE CAR INTO REVERSE THE ENGINE MADE HORRIBLE GRINDING SOUNDS AND THE CAR BEGAN TO LURCH VIOLENTLY AS I ATTEPMPTED TO BACK UP. IT EVENTUALLY STALLED OUT COMPLETELY. ON ONE OCCASION I WAS ABLE TO HAVE SOMEBODY SHIFT THE CAR INTO REVERSE SO I COULD LOOK UNDER THE HOOD WHILE THE CAR WAS GRINDING AND LURCHING. I SAW THE ENGINE START TO VIBRATE AND THEN DUMP FORWARD AND THEN REPEAT THAT CYCLE. I DO HAVE VIDEO OF THE EVENT ON MY PHONE BUT I AM NOT ABLE TO DOWNLOAD IT TO THIS LAP TOP.

NHTSA ID
11082332
Incident
Mar 24, 2018
Mileage
12,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 28, 2017

@ 9851 MILES, PICKED UP THE CAR FROM AN OIL CHANGE (IN NOV. 2016.) NOTICED A LIGHT SHAKING WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP AT STOP LIGHT. THE ISSUE CONTINUED RANDOMLY, AT FIRST NOT VERY OFTEN, THEN STARTED HAPPENING MORE AND MORE OFTEN AND BECAME MORE AND MORE INTENSE AT TIMES. CAR IS AT 18,029 MILES (6/28/17,) AND IT STILL CONTINUES TO RANDOMLY HAPPEN. HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT, NO SERVICE/ENGINE LIGHTS OR CODES. THE SERVICE MANAGER AND SERVICE ADVISOR WITNESSED THE PROBLEM IN THE SERVICE BAY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS "CHARACTERISTIC" OF THE VEHICLE (BUT DIDN'T HAPPEN FOR THE FIRST 9851 MILES,) AND I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD I PUT "BAD GAS" IN IT (ALTHOUGH IT'S BEEN DRIVEN 8,358 MILES SINCE IT STARTED AND THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS TYPES OF GAS FROM NUMEROUS GAS STATIONS PUT IN THE VEHICLE.) IT STILL HAPPENS RANDOMLY, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE AC IS ON OR OFF, HOW LONG IT BEEN DRIVEN, THE TYPE OF GAS THAT IS IN IT, OR WHAT THE TEMPERATURE IS OUTSIDE. MANUFACTURERS REP COULD NOT "RECREATE" THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, ARBITRATOR SAID THE 20 OR SO VIDEOS I RECORDED OF THINGS SHAKING IN MY VEHICLE WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN, WAS NOT "CREDITBLE EVIDENCE." I WOULD LIKE THE ISSUE I'M EXPERIENCING WITH MY CAR TO BE POSTED ON THE NHSTA WEBSITE UNDER PROBLEMS, JUST IN CASE OTHER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
11001922
Incident
Nov 11, 2016
Mileage
9,851 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .