2013 Scion Fr-S problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (123) · Power Train (17) · Steering (7)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Scion Fr-S model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
148 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine 2018-11-01 · campaign 18V772000 · 165,534 vehicles
Defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Subaru Impreza, 2012-2013 Impreza Stationwagon, 2013 Subaru BRZ, XV Crosstrek and Toyota Scion FR-S vehicles. The engine valve springs in these vehicles may fracture causing an engine malfunction or a possible engine stall.
Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. Toyota will notify the FR-S owners. Dealers will replace the valve springs, free of charge. The recall began December 26, 2018. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614, Toyota owners may contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-888-270-9371. Subaru's number for this recall is WTY-84.
Electrical System:ignition 2016-02-10 · campaign 16V075000 · 25,706 vehicles
Defect: Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Toyota Scion FR-S vehicles manufactured March 13, 2012, to January 14, 2016 and equipped an automatic transmission and ignition key. Vehicles with a push-to-start button are not affected. In the affected vehicles, it may be possible to remove the ignition key without the transmission being in the "Park" position. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 11
Risk: If the key can be removed from the ignition when the transmission is not in the "Park" position, the vehicle could roll away increasing the risk of a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ignition key/transmission interlock wiring connections, correcting them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 7, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0E.
Equipment:other:labels 2013-04-09 · campaign 13V123000 · 7,525 vehicles
Defect: Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicl
Risk: An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.
Fix: Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2012-06-05 · campaign 12V255000 · 1,156 vehicles
Defect: TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2013 SCION FR-S VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 22, 2012, THROUGH MAY 14, 2012. THE OWNERS MANUAL CONTAINS AN INACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTUAL OPERATION OF THE FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM. OTHER PORTIONS OF THE OWNERS MANUAL, DESCRIBING THE AIR BAG SYSTEM, REQUIRE CLARIFICATION. AS SUCH, THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD (FMVSS) NO. 208, OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.
Risk: IF A USER READS AND FOLLOWS INACCURATE OWNERS MANUAL INFORMATION, THIS COULD LEAD TO AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO A FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT UNDER CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS.
Fix: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND WILL MAIL CORRECTED INSERTS FOR THE OWNERS MANUALS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 3, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-866-707-2466.
Service bulletins (166)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Air Bags 2023-07-05 · Dealer Messagea · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
dd: toyota has worked with carma project, inc. on a tagging program for takata recalls in certain ?zone a? areas in an effort to increase completions in higher risk locations. carma uses license plate reading technology to determine if a vehicle may have an open recall. when a vehicle with an open r
Air Bags 2023-07-05 · Dealer Message · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
dd: toyota has worked with carma project, inc. on a tagging program for takata recalls in certain ?zone a? areas in an effort to increase completions in higher risk locations. carma uses license plate reading technology to determine if a vehicle may have an open recall. when a vehicle with an open r
Visibility:defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:engine Coolant Hoses And Fittings 2020-12-11 · S-TT-0117-20 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tt: hvac drain tube is found to be blocked/clogged.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2019-12-20 · S-S-0003-14_Obso · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tsb: obsolete notice december 20, 2019: this bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
Fuel System, Gasoline 2018-02-06 · S-TT-0113-18 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tsb: in the event that injector seal repair is required on vehicles equipped with a direct injection fuel system, a special service tool set is required to properly install the seal onto the injector. as new vehicle configurations have been released, several injector seal tool sets have been distrib
Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:injectors 2018-02-06 · S-TT-0113-18 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tsb: in the event that injector seal repair is required on vehicles equipped with a direct injection fuel system, a special service tool set is required to properly install the seal onto the injector. as new vehicle configurations have been released, several injector seal tool sets have been distrib
Showing the 6 most recent of 166 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-06-08 · Engine“on approximately may 27, 2026 i delivered my 2013 scion fr-s (approx. 105,000 miles) to an authorized toyota dealer for safety recall j02 (nhtsa 18v-772, engine valve spring replacement). i picked it up on june 3, 2026. immediately the engine ran sluggish and the air conditioning, which had worked, stopped blowing cold. on june 7, 2026 - four days …”
2025-12-21 · Steering · 💥 crash“i am submitting this complaint to report a serious safety defect involving a complete loss of steering control in my vehicle, 2013 scion fr-s. while driving and making a turn, the steering system failed entirely, leaving me unable to control the direction of the vehicle. i retained only braking and acceleration capabilities. there where no waring …”
2025-12-08 · Engine“the car randomly shut off, i started it back up and it has a knock in the engine. oil is super clean, and changed every 3k miles. i keep up with maintenance on my vehicle. i contacted toyota and they had a valve spring recall that leads to this very problem but somehow my vehicle isn't covered. i …”
2025-04-10 · Engine“the car randomly shut off, i started it back up and it has a knock in the engine. oil is super clean, and changed every 3k miles. i contacted toyota and they had a valve spring recall that leads to this very problem but somehow my vehicle isnt covered. …”
2025-02-20 · Engine And Engine Cooling“the contact owns a 2013 scion fr-s. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 18v772000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the dealer was made aware of the issue. the m…”
2024-12-03 · Engine And Engine Cooling · 84,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 scion fr-s. the contact stated that while his daughter was driving 60 mph, the engine warning light was flashing. the driver pulled to the side of the road, and the vehicle stalled. the vehicle was towed to the residence. the vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that there was a fracture…”
2024-10-09 · Engine“sometimes the car randomly stalls out during driving. usually off cold starts if i let it warm up for even 5 minutes it still will stall out sometimes. its not super common id say it does it once every 2 days maybe. the car is also misfiring and ive noticed a large loss of power from the car. it started back in june and i just havent really gotten …”
2023-11-14 · Fuel/Propulsion System“ the fuel pump stopped working. i was driving to work on a busy highway and without any warning my car started slowing down. there were no warning lights or any indication of a problem. i pressed the gas pedal and no response from the motor. i pushed in the clutch and put my 4 ways on and luckily coasted to a spot i could pull off the road at. once…”
2023-08-29 · Power Train · 106,000 mi“the contact's son owns a 2013 toyota scion fr-s. the contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard a loud screeching sound located at the hood of the vehicle. the vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic that the clutch release bearing failed and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the deal…”
2023-05-30 · Engine“the engine suffered catastrophic failure 2,988 miles after the j02 saftey recall was performed by preston toyota of new castle, pa. i was travelling at highway speeds when the engine died and would not turn on. i lost all power brakes and could have wrecked and injured myself, others or worse, caused a fatality. the car was towed to a toyota dea…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.