2013 Scion FR-S problems & reliability
179 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Scion FR-S, alongside 4 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
1 complaint report injuries (1 injured).
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 141 | 79% |
| Power Train | 21 | 12% |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 8 | 4% |
| Unknown OR Other | 8 | 4% |
| Steering | 7 | 4% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 5 | 3% |
| Air Bags | 3 | 2% |
| Wheels | 3 | 2% |
| Electrical System | 2 | 1% |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 1% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Mileage when problems occurred
Half of the failures with a reported odometer reading occurred by 70,000 miles (middle 50% between 43,214 and 94,500 miles), based on 142 complaints that included mileage.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“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…”
Engine · filed Jun 8, 2026
“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…”
Steering · filed Dec 21, 2025
“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”
Engine · filed Dec 8, 2025
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
166 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2013 Scion FR-S. The 10 most recent:
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…
Dealer Messagea · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 5, 2023
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…
Dealer Message · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 5, 2023
TT: HVAC drain tube is found to be blocked/clogged.
S-TT-0117-20 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 11, 2020
TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE December 20, 2019: This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
S-S-0003-14_Obso · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 20, 2019
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…
S-TT-0113-18 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 6, 2018
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…
S-TT-0113-18 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 6, 2018
The rear combination lights on some 2013 ? 2014 model year FR-S vehicles may exhibit cracking from the upper surface of the lens. This can result from the trunk lid contacting the rear combination light housing if…
S-SB-0041-13 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 17, 2017
TSB: Some 2013 ? 2016 model year FR-S vehicles equipped with a manual transmission may exhibit an abnormal noise, such as a squeak, grind or groan type noise when the clutch pedal is depressed. APPLICABLE WARRANTY: This…
S-SB-0012-17 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 10, 2017
TSB: Some 2013 ? 2016 model year FR-S vehicles may exhibit a high pitch chirp or squeak noise from the high pressure Fuel Pump Assembly when the engine is fully warmed-up and idling. Follow the procedure in this…
S-SB-0007-16 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 10, 2016
TSB: Supersession Notice. Flash reprogramming allows the ECU software to be updated without replacing the ECU. Flash calibration updates for specific vehicle models/ECUs are released as field-fix procedures described in…
T-SB-0134-16 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 14, 2016
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2013 Scion FR-S has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2013 Scion FR-S?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.
- · Owners most often reported problems around 70,000 miles — budget accordingly if the car is approaching that mileage.