RoadVitals

2013 Scion Iq

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
5
Latest Oct 27, 2020
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Nov 8, 2012
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2013 Scion Iq, most frequently naming the engine, airbags and body & structure categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 114 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine562.5%
  • Airbags112.5%
  • Body & structure112.5%
  • Steering112.5%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

AIR BAGS; AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

Nov 8, 2012
11,153 units potentially affected
The defect: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Scion IQ vehicles manufactured July 31, 2011, through October 12, 2012. The cable for the Occupant Classification System (OCS) may become damaged when sliding the passenger seat forward or backward.
The risk: If the cable for the OCS becomes damaged, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
The remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover on the OCS weight sensor cable. The recall began on December 20, 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Toyota Motor Engineering & ManufacturingView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed Oct 27, 2020

ROUGH IDLE AND ENGINE SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE IS AT TOYOTA DEALER AND DIAGNOSTIC HAS BEEN PERFORMED. DEALER HAS DETERMINED THE CAUSE TO BE INTERNAL CARBON DEPOSIT IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBERS. TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO COVER THE REPAIR IN THEIR WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM ZG8 BECAUSE MY VIN WASN'T PART OF THE ORIGINAL CREATION FOR THE PROGRAM ZG8. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ISSUE DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY ENGINE IS UNEXPECTEDLY SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 41063 MILES ON THE ENGINE AND UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME THE 5 YEARS OR 60,000 MILES NEW VEHILE LIMITED WARRANTY HAS PASSED THE 5 YEAR MARK. THE TOYOTA MECHANICS WILL BE FOLLOWING THE TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN: 0008-16 IN MAKING THE REPAIRS EVEN THOUGH TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY VIN IN THEIR WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM. I'M FORCED TO PAY $1761.75 OUT OF MY POCKET FOR THEIR ENGINE FLAW. I'M SO DISAPPOINTED WITH TOYOTA, THE WHOLE REASON I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE WAS BECAUSE I BELIEVED TOYOTA CARED ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS AND THAT THEY MADE A DEPENDABLE VEHICLE, APPARENTLY I'VE BEEN MISLED BY TOYOTA.

NHTSA ID
11366676
Incident
Oct 23, 2020
Mileage
40,800 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 26, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SCION IQ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED IN 2016 BY ADVANTAGE TOYOTA OF RIVER OAKS (1970 RIVER OAKS DR, CALUMET CITY, IL 60409, (708) 862-0700). THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN AN UNKNOWN RECALL. AFTER THREE WEEKS, THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE VALVE SPRINGS PER THE RECALL. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE ENGINE AND FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING. THE DEALER PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE AND KEPT THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE FOR ANOTHER WEEK. THE DEALER OBSERVED THAT THE ENGINE SHOOK AND WAS LOUD, AND THE RPMS REVVED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD CHECK THE VEHICLE ONE MORE TIME AND THEN CHARGE HER FOR ANY FUTURE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

NHTSA ID
11222698
Incident
Sep 1, 2016
Mileage
97,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 29, 2019

RECALLED FOR POSSIBILITY OF A VALVE SPRING BREAKING POTENTIALLY CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STOP WORKING WHILE UNDER DRIVING CONDITIONS. RECALL NOTICE INDICATED THAT THE TIME FOR REPAIRS WAS APPROXIMATELY 2 DAYS AND THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT VALDOSTA TOYOTA WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TIO THE DEALERSHIP ON 3-31-19 AND DROPPED OFF. IT WAS FINALLY FINISHED AND PICKED UP ON 4-20-19. THE REASONS THAT WE WERE GIVEN BY THE DEALERSHIP FOR IT TAKING SO LONG FOR THE REPAIRS WAS THAT THE TECHNICIAN DOING THE REPAIRS WAS CONTINUALLY NOT AT WORK. WITHIN A DAY AFTER PICKING THE VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALER THE ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE A CLICKING SOUND. IT WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THE CLICKING SOUND WAS NOT RELATED TO THEIR REPAIRS MADE UNDER THE RECALL, RATHER IT WAS BECAUSE THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND IT WOULD COST US $1940+ FOR IT TO BE REPAIRED. 5 DAYS AFTER PICKING THE VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALER THE ENGINE CONPLETELY QUIT AS THE VEHICLE WAS ABOUT TO TURN ONTO ANOTHER ROAD AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN.. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT APPEARED THE PROBLEM WAS THE FLY WHEEL, NOT RELATED TO THEIR REPAIR. THERE NEVER HAD BEEN ANY PROBLEM WITH THE PERFORMACE OF THIS VEHICLE AND ITS' ENGINE BEFORE VALDOSTA TOYOTA TOOK THE ENGINE APART TO MAKE THE RECALL REPAIRS. WE HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD THAT A NUMBER OF OTHER CARS ARE IN FOR NORMAL REPAIRS AND THAT THEY WILL GET TO OUR CAR WHENEVER THEY CAN. WE ARE CERTAIN THAT VALDOSTA TOYOTA EITHER DID NOT PROPERLY REPAIR THE ENGINE DURING THE RECALL REPAIRS OR THAT THEY DID FURTHER DAMAGE TO IT WHILE THEY WERE DOING THE REPAIRS.

NHTSA ID
11204347
Incident
Mar 31, 2019
Mileage
24,250 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 11, 2018

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, STARTING AT 86K MILES. USING 7 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES, WITH A STARTING CAPACITY OF 3.8 QUARTS. THIS MEANS I'M DOING 2 COMPLETE OIL CHANGES EVERY 3K MILES. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS NORMAL FOR THAT CAR TO USE SO MUCH OIL. OIL LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT HALF WAY THROUGH MY LAST OIL CHANGE (1700 MILES) CHECK THE DIP STICK AND IT WAS COMPLETELY DRY.

NHTSA ID
11078531
Incident
Oct 21, 2017
Mileage
86,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structureEngine+1 more
Filed Mar 21, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported

(SEE SEATTLE POLICE) INC.# [XXX]) I WAS CROSSING DEXTER AVE. N. TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT CROCKETT ST. IMMEDIATELY I STRUCK A FORD EXPLORER GOING N/B ON DEXTER WHICH HAD JUST PULLED FROM THE CURB ABOUT 100' AWAY. MY CAR SUSTAINED FRONT END DAMAGE AND WAS DECLARED A TOTAL WRECK. THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE EXPLORER SUSTAINED UNKNOWN DAMAGE WHICH WAS REPAIRED. I SUSTAINED FOUR BROKEN RIBS AND CHEST INJURIES (HOSPITAL COSTS $18K+. CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY, I PURCHASED THE SMALL CAR PRIMARILY BECAUSE I WAS TOLD IT HAD 11 AIR BAGS AND WOULD BE SAFE IN AN ACCIDENT. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN THE ACCIDENT. MY INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. I THINK THE CAR WAS POORLY BUILT AND I WAS MISINFORMED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY CAR. IN MY ESTIMATION THE WHO VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT TRAVELED A COMBINED DISTANCE OF ONLY 100-150 FEET BEFORE IMPACT. TOYOTA HAS SENT ME A COPY OF THE DATA DOWNLOAD FROM THE IQ, BUT, NOT BEING AN ENGINEER, I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10574000
Incident
Feb 6, 2014
Mileage
1,758 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

Z3G_Dealer_Lette

STRUCTURE

DL: Toyota has received reports of paint peeling on certain vehicles with the original factory-applied Blizzard Pearl or Super White paint colors. These reports indicate that vehicles with these specific paint colors, applied during the vehicle manufacturing process, may experience paint peeling on exterior metal body panels. Although the original factory paint is covered by Toyota?s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers? ownership experience. Toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to the condition described above. The following information is provided to inform you and your staff of the program notification schedule and your degree of involvement.

ZKG_Dealer_Lette

STRUCTURE

DL: Toyota has received reports of paint peeling on certain vehicles with the original factory-applied Blizzard Pearl or Super White paint colors. These reports indicate that vehicles with these specific paint colors, applied during the vehicle manufacturing process, may experience paint peeling on exterior metal body panels. Although the original factory paint is covered by Toyota?s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers? ownership experience. Toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to the condition described above. The following information is provided to inform you and your staff of the program notification schedule and your degree of involvement

Z2G_Dealer_Lette

STRUCTURE

DL: Toyota has received reports of paint peeling on certain vehicles with the original factory-applied Blizzard Pearl or Super White paint colors. These reports indicate that vehicles with these specific paint colors, applied during the vehicle manufacturing process, may experience paint peeling on exterior metal body panels. Although the original factory paint is covered by Toyota?s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers? ownership experience. Toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to the condition described above. The following information is provided to inform you and your staff of the program notification schedule and your degree of involvement.

Support Program

STRUCTURE

DL: Toyota has received reports of paint peeling on certain vehicles with the original factory-applied Blizzard Pearl or Super White paint colors. These reports indicate that vehicles with these specific paint colors, applied during the vehicle manufacturing process, may experience paint peeling on exterior metal body panels. Although the original factory paint is covered by Toyota?s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers? ownership experience. Toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to the condition described above. The following information is provided to inform you and your staff of the program notification schedule and your degree of involvement

ZKG_Dealer_Lette

EQUIPMENT; STRUCTURE

DL: Toyota has received reports of paint peeling on certain vehicles with the original factory-applied Blizzard Pearl or Super White paint colors. These reports indicate that vehicles with these specific paint colors, applied during the vehicle manufacturing process, may experience paint peeling on exterior metal body panels. Although the original factory paint is covered by Toyota?s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers? ownership experience. Toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to the condition described above.

ZKG_Paint_Repair

EQUIPMENT

CSP: Customer Support Program ZKG - Paint Repair Process Operation Flow Chart

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Scion Iq by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2016000
2015100
2014100
2013Viewing510
2012171045.0

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.