2016 Scion IA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
23 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
29,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 23 complaints (34.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 8 | 34.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 17.4% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 13.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 13.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 8 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Power Train | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Steering | 1 |
Engine: 8; Electrical System: 7; Air Bags: 6; Power Train: 5; Service Brakes: 4; Unknown Or Other: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Steering: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 6 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2022 | 2 |
2016: 1; 2017: 5; 2018: 6; 2019: 5; 2020: 4; 2022: 2
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11012571 · 2017-08-03 (August 3, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 SCION IA. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE WHILE STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DAVID WILSON'S TOYOTA OF LAS VEGAS (3255 E SAHARA AVE, LAS VEGAS, NV 89104 [phone removed]), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE NO LONGER OWNED THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE ACCELERATION ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,000. …
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11012571 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11102895 · 2018-06-20 (June 20, 2018)
BRAKES MAKE LOUD NOISE WHEN APPLIED AFTER COLD START OR LONG PERIOD OF TIME ENGINE IS OFF. NOISE DISAPPEARS AFTER 2-3 BRAKE ATTEMPTS AND BRIEFLY SHOWS UP AGAIN AFTERWARDS.
Owner-reported narrative. 28,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11102895 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11082332 · 2018-04-01 (April 1, 2018)
FOUR TIMES NOW( ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS) AFTER SHIFTING THE CAR INTO REVERSE THE ENGINE MADE HORRIBLE GRINDING SOUNDS AND THE CAR BEGAN TO LURCH VIOLENTLY AS I ATTEPMPTED TO BACK UP. IT EVENTUALLY STALLED OUT COMPLETELY. ON ONE OCCASION I WAS ABLE TO HAVE SOMEBODY SHIFT THE CAR INTO REVERSE SO I COULD LOOK UNDER THE HOOD WHILE THE CAR WAS GRINDING AND LURCHING. I SAW THE ENGINE START TO VIBRATE AND THEN DUMP FORWARD AND THEN REPEAT THAT CYCLE. I DO HAVE VIDEO OF THE EVENT ON MY PHONE BUT I AM NOT ABLE TO DOWNLOAD IT TO THIS LAP TOP.
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11082332 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11256685 · 2019-09-19 (September 19, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SCION IA. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION ERRONEOUSLY DOWNSHIFTED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ABRUPTLY DECELERATE. DURING THE FAILURE, A LOUD GRINDING METAL NOISE WAS PRESENT UNDER THE VEHICLE AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR DISPLAYED. ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING, THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND CAUSED A SECOND VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK, BACK, AND SHOULDER INJURIES. IN A SEPARATE INCIDENT, THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD, NECK, AND SHOULDER I…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11256685 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11290769 · 2019-12-22 (December 22, 2019)
TRANSMISSION WHINE AFTER USED CAR PURCHASE WITH 91K MILES. TOOK IT TO TOYOTA OF GREENVILLE FOR DIAGNOSTIC. NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO RALPH HAYES TOYOTA OF ANDERSON WHEW I PURCHASED AND THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. SINCE THEN THERE HAS BEEN A TRANSMISSION GRINDING AND SEVERE VIBRATION WHILE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ASKED FOR A BUY BACK. THEY DECLINED. I ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEIR LACK OF CARING AND UNDERSTANDING. TOYOTA CORPORATE DOES NOT CARE. DEALERSHIP KEEPS SAYING …
Owner-reported narrative. 91,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11290769 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11186554 · 2019-03-13 (March 13, 2019)
SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED...FIRST THEY SAID BATTERY...WHILE DRIVING, INDICATING WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH START BLINKING (ABS, CHECK ENGINE, TRACTION, AND OTHERS), THEN THE ENGINE GOES INTO LOW HEAR AND STAYS UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON. DURING THESE EPISODES THE SPEED ODOMETER IS ERRATIC. ALSO WHEN IN THIS STATE, THE REVERSE GEAR DOES NOT ENGAGE. WHEN THIS STARTED IT WAS A ONCE A MONTH PROBLEM, THEN WEEKLY, NOW IT HAPPENS DAILY/HOURLY. IT STARTED AT APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAY…
Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11186554 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11315714 · 2020-03-02 (March 2, 2020)
THE VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY SHUT ITSELF OFF IN THE ROAD FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT WILL DISPLAY ON THE DASH. HOWEVER, WHEN I PUT THE CAR BACK IN PARK AND RESTART THE ENGINE THERE ARE NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ON AND NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHATSOEVER. THIS CAR HAS BEEN LOOKED AT BY 3 CERTIFIED TOYOTA DEALERS AND NONE OF THE MECHANICS CAN ACCURATELY PINPOINT THE ISSUE. I AM CONCERNED THIS CAR WILL SHUT ITSELF DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND CAUSE A COLLISION. WORST EXPERIENCE WITH A CAR I'VE EVER HAD. SURP…
Owner-reported narrative. 126,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11315714 at NHTSA ↗