What breaks most · 2013 to 2016 model years
Scion FR-S problems by year
Owners have filed 82 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Scion FR-S across model years 2013 to 2016. Three years stand out: 2013 for engine complaints, 2015 for brakes complaints and 2016 for fuel system complaints.
- Years to check closely: 2013, 2015, 2016
- Complaints on file
- 822013 to 2016, all trims
- Worst year
- 201369 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 24 fires · 1 injuries · 0 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 52kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 12Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 69 | 1 | 4 | Engine (48) | |
| 1 | 0 | 2 | Engine (1) | |
| 10 | 1 | 3 | Unknown or other (2) | |
| 2 | 0 | 3 | Fuel system (1) |
What fails on the 2013 Scion FR-S
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 70% |
48 | 0 | Shop engine parts for the 2013 Scion FR-S |
| Powertrain and transmissionTransmission parts | 17% |
12 | 0 | Shop all powertrain and transmission parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| SteeringPower steering pumps, racks and hoses | 6% |
4 | 0 | Shop steering parts for the 2013 Scion FR-S |
| Fuel systemFuel pumps and injectors | 6% |
4 | 0 | Shop fuel system parts for the 2013 Scion FR-S |
| Wheels | 4% |
3 | 0 | — |
| Air bags | 3% |
2 | 1 | Check recalls for air bags on NHTSA.gov |
| Speed control and throttleThrottle and pedal sensors | 3% |
2 | 0 | Shop all speed control and throttle parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Unknown or other | 1% |
1 | 0 | — |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
-
I had the j02 valve spring recall done and 2 weeks and roughly 80 miles later my engune developed a knocking noise and started losing power the dealership that performed the recall denied responsibility even after finding fipg sealent in my oil pickup
-
Reverse lockout on the stick shift does not function. During shifting the driver can accidently put the vehicle in reverse while moving forward or put the vehicle in reverse while trying to put it into first gear. This can happen at any time during the shifting process.
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 30, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Scion FR-S years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2013, 2015, 2016 carry the most filings on the Scion FR-S. The 2013 alone has 69 complaints, led by engine.
What is the most common Scion FR-S problem?
On the 2013 model year, the most-reported component is engine with 48 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Scion FR-S problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Scion FR-S complaints that include mileage is about 52,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.