2015 Scion FR-S: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
14 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
32,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2015 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 14 complaints (35.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 14.3% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 14.3% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 14.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 7.1% |
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 | 5 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 1 |
Engine: 5; Power Train: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Steering: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System: 1; Seat Belts: 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 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 8 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 |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2015: 2; 2016: 3; 2018: 3; 2019: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10764743 · 2015-09-17 (September 17, 2015)
I AM WRITING TO FILE YET ANOTHER COMPLAINT ABOUT AN UNSAFE NYPD CAR I SAW TODAY ON ROCKAWAY TNPK IN LAWRENCE, NY THERE OF THE 101 PCT OR THE 105 PCT. YES, HAVE ANY OF YOU SEEN THESE SMALL LITTLE CARS LIKE THE LAPD HAS? YES, THE LAPD HAS SMALL LITTLE VEHICLES LIKE THIS BUT THEY ARE USED TO JUST TRANSPORT PEOPLE. THE NYPD AGAIN HAS ANOTHER UNSAFE VEHICLE BEING THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE BUT IT IS USED FOR CHASES AND FOR LIKE LAW ENFORCEMENT. YOU SHOULD SEE IT, IT IS LIKE A SMALL TWO DOOR VERY SMALL CAR WITH SCARY LOOKING SCARY ENOUGH LIGHTS LIKE TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10764743 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10764746 · 2015-09-17 (September 17, 2015)
CONTINUED...IT IS RIDICULOUS OF THIS [email removed] TO IGNORE COMPLAINTS OF SUCH UNSAFE CARS AS THIS SMALL LITTLE CAR THAT THEY USE THAT I SAW TODAY WITH THE NYPD 101 OR NYPD 105 THERE THAT HAS REGULAR LIGHTS ON THE TOP OF THE CAR AND CAN BE USED FOR REGULAR POLICE WORK ALMOST AS STUPID AS THE NYPD HWY UNIT CAR THERE WITH NO LIGHTS ON THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE THERE THAT COULD BE USED FOR CHASES ALSO. I MEAN HOW MANY TIMES IS THE NYPD GOING TO BE QUESTIONED OR REPORTED FOR HAVING UNSAFE VEHICLES PLUS THEY IGNORE ME AT [email removed]?????? WOW, I…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10764746 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10849620 · 2016-03-14 (March 14, 2016)
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND MY CAR BROKE DOWN. I ROLLED TO THE SHOULDER AND OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE FLAMES ARE THE ENGINE.
Owner-reported narrative. 7 miles reported. Look up ODI 10849620 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10861065 · 2016-04-23 (April 23, 2016)
BRAKE FAILURE ABS NOT FUNCTION
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10861065 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10938924 · 2016-12-31 (December 31, 2016)
THE SEAT BELT LATCH STICKS. DOESNT EASILY PRESS TO UNLATCH SEAT BELT. ON DRIVERS SIDE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10938924 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11115259 · 2018-08-01 (August 1, 2018)
VEHICLE STARTED TO STUTTER AND HAVING A LOUD KNOCK FROM ENGINE AFTER SITTING FOR 6 HOURS ON A NORMAL NIGHT, NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, MAINTENANCE KEPT UP INCLUDING RECENT OIL CHANGE... STARTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND IT HAD LOUD PINGING AND KNOCKING BECAME LOUDER WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE ONCE GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO STUTTER. I HAD NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS, NO OIL LIGHTS, NOTHING. MY VEHICLE THEN STARTED TO STALL OUT WHEN I HAD LARGE BIG RIG TRUCKS BEHIND ME WHILE AT A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION AT NIGHT TIME WITH LOW VIS…
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11115259 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11143977 · 2018-10-30 (October 30, 2018)
I OWN A 2015 AUTOMATIC SCION FR-S. THE CAR HAS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND DOWNSHIFTS ARE VERY JERKY AND HARD. UPSHIFTS ARE FINE, BUT IN BOTH MANUAL MODE (PADDLE SHIFTS) AND IN AUTOMATIC MODE, COMING TO A STOP AND DOWNSHIFTING THROUGH THE GEARS RESULTS IN HARD, JERKY VIOLENT MOVEMENTS AND THE CAR FAILS TO REV MATCH. I'VE LOOKED THE ISSUE UP AND MANY PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING FROM THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS MOST LIKELY A SOFTWARE ISSUE, EITHER WITH THE ECU BUT MOST LIKELY WITH THE TCM, THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER. MY DEALERSHIP DENIES THE PROBLEM AND REFLASH…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11143977 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11151574 · 2018-11-14 (November 14, 2018)
REVERSE LOCKOUT ON THE STICK SHIFT DOES NOT FUNCTION. DURING SHIFTING THE DRIVER CAN ACCIDENTLY PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE WHILE MOVING FORWARD OR PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE WHILE TRYING TO PUT IT INTO FIRST GEAR. THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME DURING THE SHIFTING PROCESS.
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11151574 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
14V828000 · Equipment
Reported: 2014-12-30 (December 30, 2014)
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner, Tacoma, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, RAV4, Scion FRS, and XB vehicles. The affected vehicles may have accessories installed by SET, such as running boards or other items, that were incorrectly installed. The accessory attaching fasteners were not tightened with the proper torque, possibly causing the accessory to detach from the vehicle.
Consequence: Accessories that detach from a vehicle may result in a vehicle crash and/or personal injury.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the affected bolts, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-14B.
NHTSA campaign record ↗16V075000 · Electrical System:Ignition | Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
Reported: 2016-02-10 (February 10, 2016)
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 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗16V420000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
Reported: 2016-06-09 (June 9, 2016)
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Camry and Highlander, 2015-2016 Toyota Tundra, Scion FR-S, and tC vehicles. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
Consequence: An incorrect label may lead an owner to overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
NHTSA campaign record ↗