2016 Scion IA
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2016 Scion IA has 39 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (21% of all complaints), specifically: @ 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/.
39
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.5x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
8 complaints- • @ 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/
- • 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 C
- • 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
“@ 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/”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
7 complaints- • MY DEALER LOST MY KEY, AFTER THE GAVE ME THE CAR AND I DROVE OFF TO COSTCO WITHOUT NOTICING I DIDN'T HAVE THE KEY, FOUND OUT THE CAR IS STARTING WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE CAR. DEALER KEPT WITH THE CAR WHILE TOYOTA CORP DECIDE HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM, THE GAVE ME A LOANER CAR WHILE THEY DO THE JOB.
- • 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
- • 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 ERRAT
“MY DEALER LOST MY KEY, AFTER THE GAVE ME THE CAR AND I DROVE OFF TO COSTCO WITHOUT NOTICING I DIDN'T HAVE THE KEY, FOUND OUT THE CAR IS STARTING WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE CAR. DEALER KEPT WITH THE CAR WHILE TOYOTA CORP DECIDE HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM, THE GAVE ME A LOANER CAR WHILE THEY DO THE JOB.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
AIR BAGS
6 complaints- • I AM A 113 LB ADULT. WHENEVER I SIT ON A 2-INCH FOAM CUSHION IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF OUR SCION IA, THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" WARNING ILLUMINATES ON THE DASHBOARD. THE SEAT IS TOO LOW AND HARD FOR ME TO SIT COMFORTABLY WITHOUT THE CUSHION, AND I ALSO HAVE TO USE IT WHEN I DRIVE THE SCION IA. BUT
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SCION IA. WHILE AT A STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A STOP LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE OTHER VEHICLE LEFT THE SCENE OF THE CRASH. THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITH FORCE. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SUST
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SCION IA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. UPON ACCELERATING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK (T-BONED) BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT F
“I AM A 113 LB ADULT. WHENEVER I SIT ON A 2-INCH FOAM CUSHION IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF OUR SCION IA, THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" WARNING ILLUMINATES ON THE DASHBOARD. THE SEAT IS TOO LOW AND HARD FOR ME TO SIT COMFORTABLY WITHOUT THE CUSHION, AND I ALSO HAVE TO USE IT WHEN I DRIVE THE SCION IA. BUT”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
5 complaints- • 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 C
- • 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
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SCION IA. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION ERRONEOUSLY DOWNSHIFTED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ABRUPTLY DECELERATE. DURING THE FAILURE, A LOUD GRINDING METAL NOISE WAS PRESENT UNDER THE VEHICLE AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR DISPLAYED. ON ONE OCC
“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 C”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
4 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 SCION IA. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE WHILE STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DAVID WILSON'S TOYOTA OF LAS VEGAS (3255 E SAHARA AVE, LAS VEGAS, NV 89104 (702) 457-2000), BUT
- • BRAKES MAKE LOUD NOISE WHEN APPLIED AFTER COLD START OR LONG PERIOD OF TIME ENGINE IS OFF. NOISE DISAPPEARS AFTER 2-3 BRAKE ATTEMPTS AND BRIEFLY SHOWS UP AGAIN AFTERWARDS.
- • 2016 SCION IA. BRAKES MAKE LOUD NOISE WHEN APPLIED AFTER COLD START OR LONG PERIOD OF TIME ENGINE IS OFF. NOISE DISAPPEARS AFTER 3-5 BRAKE ATTEMPTS AND BRIEFLY SHOWS UP AGAIN AFTERWARDS. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS.
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 SCION IA. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE WHILE STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DAVID WILSON'S TOYOTA OF LAS VEGAS (3255 E SAHARA AVE, LAS VEGAS, NV 89104 (702) 457-2000), BUT”
— 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 39 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: @ 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/
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: MY DEALER LOST MY KEY, AFTER THE GAVE ME THE CAR AND I DROVE OFF TO COSTCO WITHOUT NOTICING I DIDN'T HAVE THE KEY, FOUND OUT THE CAR IS STARTING WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE CAR. DEALER KEPT WITH THE CAR WHILE TOYOTA CORP DECIDE HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM, THE GAVE ME A LOANER CAR WHILE THEY DO THE JOB.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐AIR BAGS: I AM A 113 LB ADULT. WHENEVER I SIT ON A 2-INCH FOAM CUSHION IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF OUR SCION IA, THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" WARNING ILLUMINATES ON THE DASHBOARD. THE SEAT IS TOO LOW AND HARD FOR ME TO SIT COMFORTABLY WITHOUT THE CUSHION, AND I ALSO HAVE TO USE IT WHEN I DRIVE THE SCION IA. BUT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: 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 C
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Scion IA — Year Comparison
How does 2016 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
- 39
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 8
- Injury reports
- 5
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2016 Scion IA