repaired · 2020 Q1
Engine and engine cooling: engine
Risk. An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
2013 Scion FR-SProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 180 owner complaints about the 2013 Scion FR-S, most often about the engine. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 16V-075 the manufacturer reports only 58% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 31, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2013 Scion FR-S has problems
180 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
141Engine3 crash/fire/injury
21Power train
8Fuel/propulsion system
7Steering
5Engine and engine cooling
3Wheels
3Air bags
2Electrical system
2Vehicle speed control
109 other systems
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 141 | 3 |
| Power train | 21 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 8 | 0 |
| Steering | 7 | 1 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 5 | 0 |
| Wheels | 3 | 0 |
| Air bags | 3 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 |
| 9 other systems | 10 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2013 Scion FR-S recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2017 Q2
Electrical system: ignition
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…
no report yet
Other: labels
Risk. An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires.
no report yet
Other: owners/service/other manual
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…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Scion.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
74kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 120 engine complaints. 81% were reported before 100,000 miles.
11under 30k miles97under 100k miles23100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
8 owners mentioned a cost$6,975median
Middle half: $5,425 – $9,108
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2013 vs. every other FR-S year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the FR-S median. How we score
'13'14'15'16
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
In owners' words
What FR-S owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
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,…
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
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.
Own a 2013 FR-S?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.