2013 Scion Fr-s Problems

Severe Issues

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Scion Fr-s.

< older2014
Complaints
209
Crashes
3
Fires
3
Injuries
1
Fatalities
Recalls
4

Worst 2013 Scion Fr-s Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1140 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:71,951 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:2
#221 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:53,820 mi
#38 complaints

Fuel System

Avg mileage:51,261 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2013 Scion Fr-s.

Engine Problems
140
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
71,951
Transmission / Drivetrain
21
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
53,820
Fuel System
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
51,261
Steering Defects
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
50,760
Engine & Cooling
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
122,667
Airbags
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical Faults
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Headlight/Taillight Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Latches / Locks
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Body Structure
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Unintended Acceleration
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2013 Scion Fr-s. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2013 Scion Fr-s

4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~199,921 vehicles.

18V772000Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
~165,534 affected

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Subaru Impreza, 2012-2013 Impreza Stationwagon, 2013 Subaru BRZ, XV Crosstrek and Toyota Scion FR-S vehicles. The engine valve springs in these vehicles may fracture causing an engine malfunction or a possible engine stall.

16V075000Electrical System:ignition · Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch
~25,706 affected

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."

13V123000Equipment:other:labels
~7,525 affected

Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

12V255000Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual
~1,156 affected

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2013 SCION FR-S VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 22, 2012, THROUGH MAY 14, 2012. THE OWNER’S MANUAL CONTAINS AN INACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTUAL OPERATION OF THE FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM. OTHER PORTIONS OF THE OWNER’S MANUAL, DESCRIBING THE AIR BAG SYSTEM, REQUIRE CLARIFICATION. AS SUCH, THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD (FMVSS) NO. 208, “OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.”

Other Scion Fr-s Years

2013 Scion Fr-s — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2013 Scion Fr-s reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 2013 Scion Fr-s has 209 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash-related, and 4 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 140 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2013 Scion Fr-s?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (140 complaints, avg 71,951 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (21 complaints, avg 53,820 mi); Fuel System (8 complaints, avg 51,261 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2013 Scion Fr-s?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 69,514 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2013 Scion Fr-s?
NHTSA complaints for the 2013 Scion Fr-s include 3 crash-related reports, 3 fire reports, 1 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2013 Scion Fr-s have any recalls?
Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 199,921 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2013 Scion Fr-s?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 2013 Scion Fr-s shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Scion Fr-s reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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