2016 Scion IA: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10823574 · 2016-02-01 (February 1, 2016)
I AM A 113 LB ADULT. WHENEVER I SIT ON A 2-INCH FOAM CUSHION IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF OUR SCION IA, THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" WARNING ILLUMINATES ON THE DASHBOARD. THE SEAT IS TOO LOW AND HARD FOR ME TO SIT COMFORTABLY WITHOUT THE CUSHION, AND I ALSO HAVE TO USE IT WHEN I DRIVE THE SCION IA. BUT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT BE OFF FOR PERSONS WEIGHING MORE THAN 85 LBS. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN A PASSENGER WEIGHING OVER 125 LBS SITS ON THE CUSHION. BUT IT MEANS THAT FOR PASSENGERS WEIGHING BETWEEN 85 LBS AND 125 LBS, THERE WILL BE NO AIRBAG PRO…
Owner-reported narrative. 24 miles reported. Look up ODI 10823574 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10983861 · 2017-05-06 (May 6, 2017)
MY DEALER LOST MY KEY, AFTER THE GAVE ME THE CAR AND I DROVE OFF TO COSTCO WITHOUT NOTICING I DIDN'T HAVE THE KEY, FOUND OUT THE CAR IS STARTING WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE CAR. DEALER KEPT WITH THE CAR WHILE TOYOTA CORP DECIDE HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM, THE GAVE ME A LOANER CAR WHILE THEY DO THE JOB.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10983861 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10994995 · 2017-06-13 (June 13, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SCION IA. WHILE AT A STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A STOP LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE OTHER VEHICLE LEFT THE SCENE OF THE CRASH. THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITH FORCE. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES AND PAIN TO THE NECK, BACK, AND LEGS. MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED TO DETERMINE IF THEY COULD INVESTIGATE THE IMPACT OF THE AIR BAGS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10994995 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11001922 · 2017-06-28 (June 28, 2017)
@ 9851 MILES, PICKED UP THE CAR FROM AN OIL CHANGE (IN NOV. 2016.) NOTICED A LIGHT SHAKING WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP AT STOP LIGHT. THE ISSUE CONTINUED RANDOMLY, AT FIRST NOT VERY OFTEN, THEN STARTED HAPPENING MORE AND MORE OFTEN AND BECAME MORE AND MORE INTENSE AT TIMES. CAR IS AT 18,029 MILES (6/28/17,) AND IT STILL CONTINUES TO RANDOMLY HAPPEN. HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT, NO SERVICE/ENGINE LIGHTS OR CODES. THE SERVICE MANAGER AND SERVICE ADVISOR WITNESSED THE PROBLEM IN THE SERVICE…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,851 miles reported. Look up ODI 11001922 at NHTSA ↗
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 11020378 · 2017-08-29 (August 29, 2017)
IS DIFFCULT TO BUY TIRES FOR THIS CAR BECAUSE OF THE DEALERS NEVER HAVE IN STOCK THIS SIZE TIRE TOYOTA DEALERS HAVE TO ORDER FOR YOU NEVER HAVE IN STOCK OTHER TIRE DEALERS HAVE TO ORDER FOR YOU ALSO MORE EXPENSIVE TO ORDER
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11020378 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 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 ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.