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U.S. public vehicle records

Scion IQ problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

24 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

30,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2012 to 2015 model years. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.

This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 24 complaints (37.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior312.5%
Transmission and shifting28.3%
Braking behavior28.3%

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.

Engine
9
Structure:Body
7
Air Bags
6
Unknown Or Other
3
Vehicle Speed Control
3
Power Train
2
Steering
2
Exterior Lighting
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine9
Structure:Body7
Air Bags6
Unknown Or Other3
Vehicle Speed Control3
Power Train2
Steering2
Exterior Lighting1

Engine: 9; Structure:Body: 7; Air Bags: 6; Unknown Or Other: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Power Train: 2; Steering: 2; Exterior Lighting: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
8
25,000 to 49,999
4
50,000 to 74,999
2
75,000 to 99,999
3
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0008
25,000 to 49,9994
50,000 to 74,9992
75,000 to 99,9993
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 2

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 5 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.

2012
2
2013
3
2014
1
2015
1
2017
2
2018
3
2019
4
2020
4
2021
2
2023
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20122
20133
20141
20151
20172
20183
20194
20204
20212
20232

2012: 2; 2013: 3; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 3; 2019: 4; 2020: 4; 2021: 2; 2023: 2

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 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 10488990 · 2012-12-17 (December 17, 2012)

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 12V528000 (AIR BAGS) AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT ALL OF THE VEHICLES UNDER THE RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A BODY SHOP FOR REPAIRS. THE BODY REPAIR TECH…

Owner-reported narrative. 562 miles reported. Look up ODI 10488990 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10502115 · 2013-03-08 (March 8, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SCION IQ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH OVER A ROAD BUMP, THE CONTACT TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING SYSTEM WAS NOT STABLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE DEALER PERFORMED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING OVER A ROAD BUMP. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO FURTHER EXAMINE THE VEHICLE…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10502115 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10546045 · 2013-09-28 (September 28, 2013)

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 TRANSMISSION AND IT FAILS TO ADJUST TO A HIGH ENOUGH RPM TO PULL AWAY UP A STEEP (10%) GRADE. THE PROBLEM MANIFESTS AS EITHER NO OR VERY SLOW FORWARD PROGRESS (LESS THAN WALKING SPEED) EVEN WITH THE ACCELERATOR HARD DOWN. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE REP SE…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10546045 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11549951 · 2023-10-14 (October 14, 2023)

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 removed the pedal assembly. (it's easier to unplug it that way. I unplugged it and looked at the inside of the plug. All looked fine. Plugged the pedal back in and all was good then. (I'm sure I avoided a $500 bill ) Same problem just occurred…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11549951 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11338204 · 2020-07-08 (July 8, 2020)

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. THE SECOND ACCIDENT HAPPEN 7/7/2020 WHILE PULLING FORWARD INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND BRAKES FAILED TO WORK AGAIN. I CRASHED INTO A CEMENT POLE WHICH STOPPED MY VEHICLE. I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY THESE 2 DANGEROUS ACCIDENT…

Owner-reported narrative. 160,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11338204 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11120853 · 2018-08-18 (August 18, 2018)

ON AUG 16, 2018 @ 6:30 AM WHILE EXITING AT THE GARAGE IN MY APT HEADING TO WORK; I STARTED THE ENGINE OF MY CAR AND IT WAS OKEY. I STARTED TO DRIVE ON THE RAMP ON THE DRIVE WAY THE ENGINE STOPS. I REVERSED/ BACK UP AND STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN, WHILE ON THE RAMP AGAIN IT ACCELERATED AND NEVER STOP THOUGH BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE CAR WON'T STOP; SO I DECIDED TO CRASHED MY CAR AT THE CAR PARK ON THE SIDE STREET, BEFORE I REACH TO THE TRAFFIC LANE AND MIGHT CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT. I DAMAGED MY CAR ON THE DRIVER SIDE AS WELL AS THE CAR I CRASHED ON/ …

Owner-reported narrative. 10,310 miles reported. Look up ODI 11120853 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2012
1
2013
1
2014
0
2015
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20121
20131
20140
20150

2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 0; 2015: 0

Year-by-year records

Scion IQ model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
2012171Not available
2013510
201410-1
2015100