2012 Scion IQ
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2012 Scion IQ has 23 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is body/structure problems (26% of all complaints), specifically: cleaning front of car with a wet terry cloth...rubbed paint right off the front near hood emblem. thanks epa for crap paint. *tr.
23
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.3x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
BODY/STRUCTURE
6 complaints- • CLEANING FRONT OF CAR WITH A WET TERRY CLOTH...RUBBED PAINT RIGHT OFF THE FRONT NEAR HOOD EMBLEM. THANKS EPA FOR CRAP PAINT. *TR
- • THE PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE ENTIRE CAR. THE BODY SHOP SAID IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD ISSUE FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE, MODEL & COLOR. WHY WON'T TOYOTA DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT?
- • PISTON ARE BURNING A QT OF OIL PER 200 MILES OR LESS AND PAINT FLAKING ON CAR
“CLEANING FRONT OF CAR WITH A WET TERRY CLOTH...RUBBED PAINT RIGHT OFF THE FRONT NEAR HOOD EMBLEM. THANKS EPA FOR CRAP PAINT. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
AIR BAGS
4 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SCION IQ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A UNKNOWN SPEED, SHE CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE CHEST AND RIBS DUE TO STRIKING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER 12V5
- • THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT THAT ENDED IN A TOTAL LOSS. THE IQ WAS HIT BY AN F150 TRUCK AND NONE OF THE IQ AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE IQ WAS AT JOEMYERS TOYOTA ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT TO FIX THE SAFETY RECALL OF THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING. WE HAVE PAPERWORK FROM JOEMYERS TOYOTA IN HOUSTON, TX ST
- • The contact owns a 2012 Scion iQ. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, another vehicle made a left turn, causing the contact to crash into the other vehicle; however, no air bags deployed. The contact was injured on her back and received medical attention. A police report was filed. The
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SCION IQ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A UNKNOWN SPEED, SHE CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE CHEST AND RIBS DUE TO STRIKING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER 12V5”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
4 complaints- • WHEN COLD THE CV TRANSMISSION IN THE IQ WILL NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO PULL AWAY UP A STEEP HILL. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. THE ISSUE ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS COLD, IT WILL PULL THE SAME HILL WITH NO PROBLEM WHEN WARM. THE IQ HAS A CV TRANSMI
- • STARTING BACK IN OCTOBER TOOK CAR IN FOR OIL CHANGE, I WAS TOLD CAR HAD NO OIL. I BRING MY CAR IN FOR REGULAR OIL CHANGES, SO WAS NOT SURE WHAT WAS GOING ON, SO I DISMISSED IT... BROUGHT CAR BACK TODAY 01/10/18 HAD THEM CHECK THE OIL LEVELS AND THE CAR NEEDED 2 1/2 LITTER OF OIL... I WAS TOLD IT
- • PAINT IS COMING OFF OF CAR IN DIFFERENT PLACES & TO MUCH OIL CONSUMPTION EVEN AFTER CHANGING EGR VALUE HAVE TO ADD OIL TO OFTEN.
“WHEN COLD THE CV TRANSMISSION IN THE IQ WILL NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO PULL AWAY UP A STEEP HILL. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. THE ISSUE ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS COLD, IT WILL PULL THE SAME HILL WITH NO PROBLEM WHEN WARM. THE IQ HAS A CV TRANSMI”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
3 complaints- • DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR MAT ATTACHMENT HAS BROKEN OFF. THE PLASTIC ARMS HAVE SNAPPED AT THE END OF THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE FLOOR MATS NOW MOVE AROUND AND PRESENT A POSSIBLE SAFETY RISK IF THE FLOOR MAT BECOMES LODGED UNDER THE GAS PEDDLE.
- • IN MANHATTAN WASEEM NASEEM AHMED AND YES IT MAHMOOD DID HEROINE,MARIJUANA AND ROBBERY CRIME ON THIS SCION2012 VEHICLE IN THE ABSENT OF OWNER CAR OWNER IN JUNE 2015 AND THAT CASE STILL NOT CLOSE THEY NEED BOTH OF THEM INFORMATION I AM READY TO GIVE THERE INFORMATION BCUZ I WANT TO REMOVE FLAG FROM MY
- • PISTON ARE BURNING A QT OF OIL PER 200 MILES OR LESS AND PAINT FLAKING ON CAR
“DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR MAT ATTACHMENT HAS BROKEN OFF. THE PLASTIC ARMS HAVE SNAPPED AT THE END OF THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE FLOOR MATS NOW MOVE AROUND AND PRESENT A POSSIBLE SAFETY RISK IF THE FLOOR MAT BECOMES LODGED UNDER THE GAS PEDDLE.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SPEED CONTROL
2 complaints- • I GOT INTO 2 ACCIDENTS IN 3 DAYS WHILE PARKING INTO OR OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THE FIRST ACCIDENT 07/04/2020, MY CAR WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. I PLACED THE CAR IN REVERSE AND SUDDENLY IT ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK. MY VEHICLE ONLY STOPPED AFTER CRASHING INTO THE CAR BEHIND ME. T
- • have a 2013 Scion IQ (auto/cvt). I had the 'check engine' and 'trac control' lights come on a few years ago.. I was driving on city streets. All I noticed was that the car didn't respond as it should when I gave it gas. ( nothing drastic ) I ran the codes. It said the gas pedal was the problem.
“I GOT INTO 2 ACCIDENTS IN 3 DAYS WHILE PARKING INTO OR OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THE FIRST ACCIDENT 07/04/2020, MY CAR WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. I PLACED THE CAR IN REVERSE AND SUDDENLY IT ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK. MY VEHICLE ONLY STOPPED AFTER CRASHING INTO THE CAR BEHIND ME. T”
— 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 23 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐BODY/STRUCTURE: CLEANING FRONT OF CAR WITH A WET TERRY CLOTH...RUBBED PAINT RIGHT OFF THE FRONT NEAR HOOD EMBLEM. THANKS EPA FOR CRAP PAINT. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SCION IQ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A UNKNOWN SPEED, SHE CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE CHEST AND RIBS DUE TO STRIKING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER 12V5
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: WHEN COLD THE CV TRANSMISSION IN THE IQ WILL NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO PULL AWAY UP A STEEP HILL. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. THE ISSUE ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS COLD, IT WILL PULL THE SAME HILL WITH NO PROBLEM WHEN WARM. THE IQ HAS A CV TRANSMI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR MAT ATTACHMENT HAS BROKEN OFF. THE PLASTIC ARMS HAVE SNAPPED AT THE END OF THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE FLOOR MATS NOW MOVE AROUND AND PRESENT A POSSIBLE SAFETY RISK IF THE FLOOR MAT BECOMES LODGED UNDER THE GAS PEDDLE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Scion IQ — Year Comparison
How does 2012 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
- 23
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 4
- Injury reports
- 3
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2012 Scion IQ