2016 Scion IM
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2016 Scion IM has 17 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (29% of all complaints), specifically: transmission began slipping while on the highway less than 25 miles after service at toyota dealership. the clutch then degraded over less than 500 miles to the point where vehicle was barely drivable and did not transmit enough power to go up hills at all. toyota service tech test drove vehicle .
17
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.2x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
TRANSMISSION
5 complaints- • TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY LESS THAN 25 MILES AFTER SERVICE AT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THE CLUTCH THEN DEGRADED OVER LESS THAN 500 MILES TO THE POINT WHERE VEHICLE WAS BARELY DRIVABLE AND DID NOT TRANSMIT ENOUGH POWER TO GO UP HILLS AT ALL. TOYOTA SERVICE TECH TEST DROVE VEHICLE
- • PURCHASED MY 2016 SCION IM AND WAS GREAT FOR THE FIRST YEAR. IN 2018, THE CAR DEVELOPED A ROUGH IDLE, USUALLY AT A STOP LIGHT AND AFTER THE CAR WAS WARM. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND NOTHING WAS FOUND AS IT WAS NOT REPLICATED DURING THEIR TEST DRIVE. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ROUGH IDLE UNTIL THE
- • TRANSMISSION DOES QUIRKY THINGS. SOMETIMES IT GETS STUCK IN HIGH RPM'S AND DOESN'T WANT TO UPSHIFT. SOMETIMES IT WON'T ACCELERATE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GET THE RPM'S UP HIGH ENOUGH. THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SOMETIMES IT SLIPS
“TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY LESS THAN 25 MILES AFTER SERVICE AT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THE CLUTCH THEN DEGRADED OVER LESS THAN 500 MILES TO THE POINT WHERE VEHICLE WAS BARELY DRIVABLE AND DID NOT TRANSMIT ENOUGH POWER TO GO UP HILLS AT ALL. TOYOTA SERVICE TECH TEST DROVE VEHICLE ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BODY/STRUCTURE
2 complaints- • TAKATA RECALL- PURCHASE 2016 SCION IM BRAND NEW A FEW MONTHS AGO. I NOTICED A PAINT DETAIL ON THE TOP OF THE HATCHBACK DOOR INSIDE WAS DONE POORLY.
- • DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WINDOW MAKES A NOISE AS IT RUBS AGAINST SOMETHING INSIDE OF DOOR WHEN LOWERING OR RAISING WINDOW.
“TAKATA RECALL- PURCHASE 2016 SCION IM BRAND NEW A FEW MONTHS AGO. I NOTICED A PAINT DETAIL ON THE TOP OF THE HATCHBACK DOOR INSIDE WAS DONE POORLY.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
2 complaints- • I BOUGHT A NEW TOYOTA IM BUT IT WAS A BROKEN EVAPORATOR CORE. I WANT TOYOTA CHECK THE PLACE. I AM CLAIMING TO THE LEMON LAW ARBITRATION. THE MECHANIC WHO CHECKED SAID LOOKED LIKE IT WAS CRUSHED WHEN THE CAR WAS MAKING. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CHECK FURTHER INVESTIGATION SINCE IT WAS SOLD AS A BRAND
- • The vehicles car horn no longer works, this is safety manufacturer defect that should be reported and fixed by the manufacturer. I was driving the vehicle and could not honk to other vehicles thus creating a safety hazard.
“I BOUGHT A NEW TOYOTA IM BUT IT WAS A BROKEN EVAPORATOR CORE. I WANT TOYOTA CHECK THE PLACE. I AM CLAIMING TO THE LEMON LAW ARBITRATION. THE MECHANIC WHO CHECKED SAID LOOKED LIKE IT WAS CRUSHED WHEN THE CAR WAS MAKING. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CHECK FURTHER INVESTIGATION SINCE IT WAS SOLD AS A BRAND ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
2 complaints- • The horn on the vehicle began to operate intermittently and now it does not work at all. This is a major safety issue as I have several near misses with other drivers turning into my travel lane without signaling and nearly causing an accident. I have no way of preventing an incursion without the
- • Traction control turns off by itself Was not accelerate But I turned it off And restarted it it started to accelerate. But traction control is still turned off
“The horn on the vehicle began to operate intermittently and now it does not work at all. This is a major safety issue as I have several near misses with other drivers turning into my travel lane without signaling and nearly causing an accident. I have no way of preventing an incursion without the ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SEATS/RESTRAINTS
1 complaints- • THIS CAR HAS THE WORST BACKSEAT HEADREST. THEY'RE TOO HIGH AND TALK AND OBSTRUCT THE REAR WINDOW WHEN DRIVING. CREATES A TERRIBLE BLINDSPOT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BACK WINDOW. ACTUALLY GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT IN A PARKING LOT PULLING OUT OF MY SPOT. SINCE I DID NOT HAVE THE CLEAR VISIBILITY THE DRIV
“THIS CAR HAS THE WORST BACKSEAT HEADREST. THEY'RE TOO HIGH AND TALK AND OBSTRUCT THE REAR WINDOW WHEN DRIVING. CREATES A TERRIBLE BLINDSPOT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BACK WINDOW. ACTUALLY GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT IN A PARKING LOT PULLING OUT OF MY SPOT. SINCE I DID NOT HAVE THE CLEAR VISIBILITY THE DRIV”
— 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 17 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐TRANSMISSION: TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY LESS THAN 25 MILES AFTER SERVICE AT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THE CLUTCH THEN DEGRADED OVER LESS THAN 500 MILES TO THE POINT WHERE VEHICLE WAS BARELY DRIVABLE AND DID NOT TRANSMIT ENOUGH POWER TO GO UP HILLS AT ALL. TOYOTA SERVICE TECH TEST DROVE VEHICLE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BODY/STRUCTURE: TAKATA RECALL- PURCHASE 2016 SCION IM BRAND NEW A FEW MONTHS AGO. I NOTICED A PAINT DETAIL ON THE TOP OF THE HATCHBACK DOOR INSIDE WAS DONE POORLY.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: I BOUGHT A NEW TOYOTA IM BUT IT WAS A BROKEN EVAPORATOR CORE. I WANT TOYOTA CHECK THE PLACE. I AM CLAIMING TO THE LEMON LAW ARBITRATION. THE MECHANIC WHO CHECKED SAID LOOKED LIKE IT WAS CRUSHED WHEN THE CAR WAS MAKING. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CHECK FURTHER INVESTIGATION SINCE IT WAS SOLD AS A BRAND
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: The horn on the vehicle began to operate intermittently and now it does not work at all. This is a major safety issue as I have several near misses with other drivers turning into my travel lane without signaling and nearly causing an accident. I have no way of preventing an incursion without the
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Scion IM — 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
- 17
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 2
- Injury reports
- 4
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2016 Scion IM