2012 Scion IQ: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
17 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
36,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 17 complaints (35.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 11.8% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 11.8% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 5.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body | 6 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 1 |
Structure:Body: 6; Air Bags: 4; Engine: 4; Unknown Or Other: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Exterior Lighting: 1; Power Train: 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 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
2012: 2; 2013: 3; 2015: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 2; 2020: 3; 2021: 2; 2023: 2
Pattern summary
Structure:Body leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 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 10479981 · 2012-10-13 (October 13, 2012)
CLEANING FRONT OF CAR WITH A WET TERRY CLOTH...RUBBED PAINT RIGHT OFF THE FRONT NEAR HOOD EMBLEM. THANKS EPA FOR CRAP PAINT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10479981 at NHTSA ↗
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 10499704 · 2013-02-22 (February 22, 2013)
THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT THAT ENDED IN A TOTAL LOSS. THE IQ WAS HIT BY AN F150 TRUCK AND NONE OF THE IQ AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE IQ WAS AT JOEMYERS TOYOTA ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT TO FIX THE SAFETY RECALL OF THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING. WE HAVE PAPERWORK FROM JOEMYERS TOYOTA IN HOUSTON, TX STATING THAT THEY CAR'S SAFETY RECALL CONCERNS WERE REPAIRED. THE IQ WAS SOLD TO US AS BEING SAFE BASED ON THE AMOUNT AND PLACEMENT OF THE AIRBAGS. THE DRIVER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED, TAKEN BY AMBULANCE AND STILL RECOVERING FROM A BRAIN INJURY. THE RESCU…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10499704 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 10731889 · 2015-07-03 (July 3, 2015)
DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR MAT ATTACHMENT HAS BROKEN OFF. THE PLASTIC ARMS HAVE SNAPPED AT THE END OF THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE FLOOR MATS NOW MOVE AROUND AND PRESENT A POSSIBLE SAFETY RISK IF THE FLOOR MAT BECOMES LODGED UNDER THE GAS PEDDLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10731889 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11023848 · 2017-09-17 (September 17, 2017)
IN MANHATTAN WASEEM NASEEM AHMED AND YES IT MAHMOOD DID HEROINE,MARIJUANA AND ROBBERY CRIME ON THIS SCION2012 VEHICLE IN THE ABSENT OF OWNER CAR OWNER IN JUNE 2015 AND THAT CASE STILL NOT CLOSE THEY NEED BOTH OF THEM INFORMATION I AM READY TO GIVE THERE INFORMATION BCUZ I WANT TO REMOVE FLAG FROM MY CAR PLEASE.I HAVE NO OTHER CARS I NEED TO DRIVE IT.THEY DETECTIVE OF MANHATTAN'S SAID UNTIL YOU DIDNOT TELL YOUR BROTHER NAME OR INFO I DIDNOT REMOVE FLAG ON YOUR CAR.AND ALOT OF TIME I DROVE MY VEHICLE BUT I AM STILL SCARED IF SOMEONE KNOW THIS CAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11023848 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11061619 · 2018-01-10 (January 10, 2018)
STARTING BACK IN OCTOBER TOOK CAR IN FOR OIL CHANGE, I WAS TOLD CAR HAD NO OIL. I BRING MY CAR IN FOR REGULAR OIL CHANGES, SO WAS NOT SURE WHAT WAS GOING ON, SO I DISMISSED IT... BROUGHT CAR BACK TODAY 01/10/18 HAD THEM CHECK THE OIL LEVELS AND THE CAR NEEDED 2 1/2 LITTER OF OIL... I WAS TOLD IT MIGHT BE THE PISTONS... PLEASE RECALL
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11061619 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
12V528000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive | Air Bags
Reported: 2012-11-08 (November 8, 2012)
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Scion IQ vehicles manufactured July 31, 2011, through October 12, 2012. The cable for the Occupant Classification System (OCS) may become damaged when sliding the passenger seat forward or backward.
Consequence: If the cable for the OCS becomes damaged, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover on the OCS weight sensor cable. The recall began on December 20, 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA campaign record ↗