2015 Scion FR-S
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2015 Scion FR-S has 18 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (28% of all complaints), specifically: vehicle started to stutter and having a loud knock from engine after sitting for 6 hours on a normal night, normal driving conditions, maintenance kept up including recent oil change... started to drive the vehicle and it had loud pinging and knocking became louder when i tried to accelerate once ge. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.
18
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.2x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
5 complaints- • VEHICLE STARTED TO STUTTER AND HAVING A LOUD KNOCK FROM ENGINE AFTER SITTING FOR 6 HOURS ON A NORMAL NIGHT, NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, MAINTENANCE KEPT UP INCLUDING RECENT OIL CHANGE... STARTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND IT HAD LOUD PINGING AND KNOCKING BECAME LOUDER WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE ONCE GE
- • WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE, IT STARTED MISFIRING, THROWING UP A FLASHING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND IT WAS ROUGH TO KEEP IT RUNNING. UPON TOWING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVING IT INVESTIGATED FOR THE ROOT CAUSE, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VALVE SPRINGS ON A CYLINDER ARE FAILING. THIS ISSUE IS IDENTICAL
- • I was driving 80 mph in the inner lane of a multi lane highway. Out of no where with no warning lights or sounds the car just lost all power, the steering felt like it locked and the car fell on it's face. I was almost hit by two different cars trying to get over to the shoulder and there was whit
“VEHICLE STARTED TO STUTTER AND HAVING A LOUD KNOCK FROM ENGINE AFTER SITTING FOR 6 HOURS ON A NORMAL NIGHT, NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, MAINTENANCE KEPT UP INCLUDING RECENT OIL CHANGE... STARTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND IT HAD LOUD PINGING AND KNOCKING BECAME LOUDER WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE ONCE GE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
STEERING
2 complaints- • CONTINUED...IT IS RIDICULOUS OF THIS IAB@NYPD.ORG TO IGNORE COMPLAINTS OF SUCH UNSAFE CARS AS THIS SMALL LITTLE CAR THAT THEY USE THAT I SAW TODAY WITH THE NYPD 101 OR NYPD 105 THERE THAT HAS REGULAR LIGHTS ON THE TOP OF THE CAR AND CAN BE USED FOR REGULAR POLICE WORK ALMOST AS STUPID AS THE NYPD HW
- • Steering wheel began clunking and locking up when turning. Had this issue on a previous FRS, Electronic Power Steering Motor Coupler had failed and needed replacement.
“CONTINUED...IT IS RIDICULOUS OF THIS IAB@NYPD.ORG TO IGNORE COMPLAINTS OF SUCH UNSAFE CARS AS THIS SMALL LITTLE CAR THAT THEY USE THAT I SAW TODAY WITH THE NYPD 101 OR NYPD 105 THERE THAT HAS REGULAR LIGHTS ON THE TOP OF THE CAR AND CAN BE USED FOR REGULAR POLICE WORK ALMOST AS STUPID AS THE NYPD HW”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
2 complaints- • I AM WRITING TO FILE YET ANOTHER COMPLAINT ABOUT AN UNSAFE NYPD CAR I SAW TODAY ON ROCKAWAY TNPK IN LAWRENCE, NY THERE OF THE 101 PCT OR THE 105 PCT. YES, HAVE ANY OF YOU SEEN THESE SMALL LITTLE CARS LIKE THE LAPD HAS? YES, THE LAPD HAS SMALL LITTLE VEHICLES LIKE THIS BUT THEY ARE USED TO JUST TRANS
- • I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND MY CAR BROKE DOWN. I ROLLED TO THE SHOULDER AND OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE FLAMES ARE THE ENGINE.
“I AM WRITING TO FILE YET ANOTHER COMPLAINT ABOUT AN UNSAFE NYPD CAR I SAW TODAY ON ROCKAWAY TNPK IN LAWRENCE, NY THERE OF THE 101 PCT OR THE 105 PCT. YES, HAVE ANY OF YOU SEEN THESE SMALL LITTLE CARS LIKE THE LAPD HAS? YES, THE LAPD HAS SMALL LITTLE VEHICLES LIKE THIS BUT THEY ARE USED TO JUST TRANS”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
2 complaints- • THE PASSAGER REAR CALIPER MALFUNCTION CAUSE THE BRAKE PAD FLY AWAY FROM THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE
“THE PASSAGER REAR CALIPER MALFUNCTION CAUSE THE BRAKE PAD FLY AWAY FROM THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
2 complaints- • I OWN A 2015 AUTOMATIC SCION FR-S. THE CAR HAS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND DOWNSHIFTS ARE VERY JERKY AND HARD. UPSHIFTS ARE FINE, BUT IN BOTH MANUAL MODE (PADDLE SHIFTS) AND IN AUTOMATIC MODE, COMING TO A STOP AND DOWNSHIFTING THROUGH THE GEARS RESULTS IN HARD, JERKY VIOLENT MOVEMENTS AND THE CAR FAILS
- • 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.
“I OWN A 2015 AUTOMATIC SCION FR-S. THE CAR HAS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND DOWNSHIFTS ARE VERY JERKY AND HARD. UPSHIFTS ARE FINE, BUT IN BOTH MANUAL MODE (PADDLE SHIFTS) AND IN AUTOMATIC MODE, COMING TO A STOP AND DOWNSHIFTING THROUGH THE GEARS RESULTS IN HARD, JERKY VIOLENT MOVEMENTS AND THE CAR FAILS”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 18 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: VEHICLE STARTED TO STUTTER AND HAVING A LOUD KNOCK FROM ENGINE AFTER SITTING FOR 6 HOURS ON A NORMAL NIGHT, NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, MAINTENANCE KEPT UP INCLUDING RECENT OIL CHANGE... STARTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND IT HAD LOUD PINGING AND KNOCKING BECAME LOUDER WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE ONCE GE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐STEERING: CONTINUED...IT IS RIDICULOUS OF THIS IAB@NYPD.ORG TO IGNORE COMPLAINTS OF SUCH UNSAFE CARS AS THIS SMALL LITTLE CAR THAT THEY USE THAT I SAW TODAY WITH THE NYPD 101 OR NYPD 105 THERE THAT HAS REGULAR LIGHTS ON THE TOP OF THE CAR AND CAN BE USED FOR REGULAR POLICE WORK ALMOST AS STUPID AS THE NYPD HW
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: I AM WRITING TO FILE YET ANOTHER COMPLAINT ABOUT AN UNSAFE NYPD CAR I SAW TODAY ON ROCKAWAY TNPK IN LAWRENCE, NY THERE OF THE 101 PCT OR THE 105 PCT. YES, HAVE ANY OF YOU SEEN THESE SMALL LITTLE CARS LIKE THE LAPD HAS? YES, THE LAPD HAS SMALL LITTLE VEHICLES LIKE THIS BUT THEY ARE USED TO JUST TRANS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BRAKES: THE PASSAGER REAR CALIPER MALFUNCTION CAUSE THE BRAKE PAD FLY AWAY FROM THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Scion FR-S — Year Comparison
How does 2015 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 18
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 1
- Crash reports
- 2
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2015 Scion FR-S