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2013 Scion FR-S

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

148 reports with mileage · 31 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 141 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports3 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

179 reports
36,266 miles · Jun 13, 2020
Engine

TOOK OUR 2013 FRS IN FOR THE J02 RECALL JAN 2019. IT TOOK THEM SEVERAL WEEKS TO COMPLETE. THEN SOON AFTER THAT, THERE WAS A STRONG BURNT RUBBER SMELL FROM THE FRONT. TOOK IT BACK IN TO HAVE THEM LOCATE THE SOURCE. THEY COULDN'T IDENTIFY WHERE IT'S COMING FROM AND TOLD ME THAT IT'S LIKELY SOME RESIDUAL THAT WILL EVENTUALLY BURNED…

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TOOK OUR 2013 FRS IN FOR THE J02 RECALL JAN 2019. IT TOOK THEM SEVERAL WEEKS TO COMPLETE. THEN SOON AFTER THAT, THERE WAS A STRONG BURNT RUBBER SMELL FROM THE FRONT. TOOK IT BACK IN TO HAVE THEM LOCATE THE SOURCE. THEY COULDN'T IDENTIFY WHERE IT'S COMING FROM AND TOLD ME THAT IT'S LIKELY SOME RESIDUAL THAT WILL EVENTUALLY BURNED OUT AND THEY RE-ASSURED US NOT TO WORRY. MY SON WAS IN COLLEGE SO DIDN'T DRIVE THE CAR MUCH. THE SMELL WAS DIMINISHING SO THOUGHT IT'S AS THEY TOLD ME. THEN SON GOT A JOB BUT WASN'T DRIVING MORE THAN 20 MILES ONE-WAY DAILY. SMELL STILL LINGERED. THEN THIS PAST MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, HE DROVE ~200 MILES NON-STOP WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE HWY. THANK GOODNESS HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER HAD IT TOWED TO CLOSEST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP.. WAS TOLD ENGINE SEIZED UP AND IT WILL COST $14K TO REPLACE IT!. CAR ONLY HAD ABOUT 36K MILES. CALLED DEALERSHIP THAT DID THE RECALL REPAIRS, THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED TO HAVE A FULL DIAGNOSTICS DONE - $2K - THEY THINK IT'S DUE TO LACK OF MAINTENANCE ON OUR PART EVEN THOUGH WE REALLY TOOK CARE OF THE CAR - CHANGING OIL REGULARLY (~6K MILES) CALLED TOYOTA HQ - THEY REQUESTED THE DEALERSHIP CRM TO CALL ME. NO ONE CALLED ME FOR 2 WEEKS. WENT INTO THE DEALERSHIP - INSTEAD OF THE CRM, THEY HAD ME TALKED TO THE SERVICE MGR - WHO TOLD ME I HAD TO HAVE ENGINE DIAGNOSED AGAIN. TOLD THEM IT'S OBVIOUS THAT EITHER THE RECALL DIDN'T FIXED THE PROBLEM OR THEIR REPAIR CAUSED THE PROBLEM. DON'T HAVE $2K JUST FOR DIAGNOSTICS I AM QUITE DISAPPOINTED THAT THE DEALERSHIP CRM DIDN'T WANT TO TALK TO ME ABOUT A PROBLEM THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED MY SON HIS LIFE

NHTSA ODI #11328693

88,353 miles · Jun 5, 2020
Engine

12/2019 I RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE VALVE SPRING REPLACEMENT ON MY 2013 FRS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS (12/20/2019 - 1/10/2020) UPON PICKING IT UP FROM DEALERSHIP AFTER RECALL REPAIRS IT WAS MAKING SQUEALING NOISE I THEN IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO AGGRESSIVELY DENIED ALL RESPONSIBILITY. E…

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12/2019 I RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE VALVE SPRING REPLACEMENT ON MY 2013 FRS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS (12/20/2019 - 1/10/2020) UPON PICKING IT UP FROM DEALERSHIP AFTER RECALL REPAIRS IT WAS MAKING SQUEALING NOISE I THEN IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO AGGRESSIVELY DENIED ALL RESPONSIBILITY. ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HWY. AND NOW IT WILL NOT START. NOTE: ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL IS STILL WORKING, BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR ARE GOOD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11327350

89,000 miles · May 15, 2020
Engine

I TOOK IT IN FOR THE VALVE SPRING RECALL. I DROVE IT FOR 8000 MILES/9 MONTHS LATER. CAR STARTED KNOCKING AND STALLED. ENGINE HAD A OIL GALLEY THAT GOT CLOGGED, WHICH CAUSE OIL STARVATION. CAR ENDED UP NEEDING A NEW ENGINE, DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT. THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN HOME ON A RESIDENTIAL STR…

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I TOOK IT IN FOR THE VALVE SPRING RECALL. I DROVE IT FOR 8000 MILES/9 MONTHS LATER. CAR STARTED KNOCKING AND STALLED. ENGINE HAD A OIL GALLEY THAT GOT CLOGGED, WHICH CAUSE OIL STARVATION. CAR ENDED UP NEEDING A NEW ENGINE, DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT. THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN HOME ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11324612

76,000 miles · May 13, 2020
Engine

IN 3/20/20 I TOOK MY 2013 SCION FR-S TO GET THE RECALL THAT TOYOTA WAS OFFERING. I HAD TO DO THE SAFETY RECALL BECAUSE WITHOUT IT I COULD NOT GET MY REGISTRATION RENEWED. AFTER ABOUT THREE WEEKS OR SO I TOOK A TRIP THAT REQUIRED ABOUT FOUR HOURS OF DRIVING TOO AND BACK. AFTER DRIVING ALMOST FOUR HOURS MY CAR STOPPED AND NEVER TU…

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IN 3/20/20 I TOOK MY 2013 SCION FR-S TO GET THE RECALL THAT TOYOTA WAS OFFERING. I HAD TO DO THE SAFETY RECALL BECAUSE WITHOUT IT I COULD NOT GET MY REGISTRATION RENEWED. AFTER ABOUT THREE WEEKS OR SO I TOOK A TRIP THAT REQUIRED ABOUT FOUR HOURS OF DRIVING TOO AND BACK. AFTER DRIVING ALMOST FOUR HOURS MY CAR STOPPED AND NEVER TURNED BACK ON. AFTER TOWING MY CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP THEY TOLD ME THAT MY ENGINE HAD KNOCKED AND BASICALLY MY ENGINE BROKE AND THAT I NEEDED A NEW ONE. NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR BEFORE THE RECALL BUT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL SYSTEM WHICH AN EMPLOYEE ACTUALLY TOLD ME NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT COULD BE A PROBLEM IN A COUPLE YEARS BUT THAT COULD NOT HAVE CAUSED MY ENGINE TO STALL OUT AND BREAK. I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF THE SAFETY RECALL FOR THE VALVE SPRINGS IN A SCION FR-S WAS THE CAUSE AND IF SO I COULD GET A RECALL FOR MY ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11324353

78,000 miles · May 5, 2020
Engine

TOOK THE CAR IN TO TOYOTA DEALER FOR A SAFETY RECALL ON THE ENGINE. NOW IT RUNS ROUGH AND THE ENGINE KNOCKS ALL THE TIME. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS NORMAL AFTER THE RECALL. IT SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL NOW AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. I OWN TWO OF THESE AND THEY BOTH HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11323377

75,752 miles · May 5, 2020
Engine

TOOK THE CAR IN TO TOYOTA DEALER FOR A SAFETY RECALL ON THE ENGINE. NOW IT RUNS ROUGH AND THE ENGINE KNOCKS ALL THE TIME. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS NORMAL AFTER THE RECALL. IT SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL NOW AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11323373

57,000 miles · May 2, 2020
Engine

SO I TOOK MY FR-S TO GET A RECALL BACK IN DECEMBER AND FOLLOWING THAT MY CAR HAD RATTLING NOISES AND AN OIL LEAKAGE THAT THE DEALERSHIP COVERED. AFTER A MONTH THEY GAVE ME MY CAR BACK AND IT SOUNDED FINE. HOWEVER, I CONTINUED HEARING THAT RATTLE NOISE JUST SOFTER, BUT TWO MONTHS LATER THE FOLLOWING OCCURRED TO ME. WHILE DRIVING …

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SO I TOOK MY FR-S TO GET A RECALL BACK IN DECEMBER AND FOLLOWING THAT MY CAR HAD RATTLING NOISES AND AN OIL LEAKAGE THAT THE DEALERSHIP COVERED. AFTER A MONTH THEY GAVE ME MY CAR BACK AND IT SOUNDED FINE. HOWEVER, I CONTINUED HEARING THAT RATTLE NOISE JUST SOFTER, BUT TWO MONTHS LATER THE FOLLOWING OCCURRED TO ME. WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AN ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. AFTER I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY I PULLED OVER AND PLENTY MORE LIGHTS IN THE HEADGEAR TURNED ON AND I TURNED OFF MY CAR AND AFTERWARDS IT WOULD NOT TURN ON COMPLETELY AND MADE A RATTLING NOISE. I HAD TO TOW MY CAR BACK HOME.

NHTSA ODI #11323075

105,092 miles · Apr 4, 2020
Engine

FACTORY SAFETY RECALL J02 WAS PERFORMED ON THIS FRS MAR 19, 2018. MILEAGE WAS 90283. ENGINE VALVE SPRING REPLACEMENT. AT SIMI VALLEY TOYOTA. AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP. ON APRIL 2 2020 WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY LOUD METAL KNOCKING STARTED, THEN VEHICLE STALLED ON ROAD WAY. AN AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SPECIALIST LISTENED TO THE ENGINE AN…

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FACTORY SAFETY RECALL J02 WAS PERFORMED ON THIS FRS MAR 19, 2018. MILEAGE WAS 90283. ENGINE VALVE SPRING REPLACEMENT. AT SIMI VALLEY TOYOTA. AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP. ON APRIL 2 2020 WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY LOUD METAL KNOCKING STARTED, THEN VEHICLE STALLED ON ROAD WAY. AN AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SPECIALIST LISTENED TO THE ENGINE AND SAID IT SOUNDS LIKE A BROKEN VALVE KNOCK. CURRENTLY THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO A SHOP FOR REMOVAL OF ENGINE TO START REPAIR WORK. MILAGE IS 105092. LESS THAN 15,000 MILES FOR A REPAIR FLAW TO APPEAR. 24 MONTHS SINCE REPAIR WORK WAS DONE TO SATISFY FACTORY RECALL OF DEFECTIVE VALVE SPRINGS.

NHTSA ODI #11320226

55,000 miles · Apr 2, 2020
Engine

VALVE SPRING RECALL PERFORMED ON THIS VEHICLE MAY 2019. CAR RAN GOOD FOR AROUND 5000 MILES BUT FEBRUARY 2020 I STARTED HEARING A SMALL KNOCK WHILE DRIVING AROUND 55 MPH. WITHIN 10 MILES THE KNOCK WAS VERY LOUD. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHO DIAGNOSED KNOCK AND A DESTROYED BEARING EITHER IN CRANK OR THE PISTON RODS. OIL PAN WA…

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VALVE SPRING RECALL PERFORMED ON THIS VEHICLE MAY 2019. CAR RAN GOOD FOR AROUND 5000 MILES BUT FEBRUARY 2020 I STARTED HEARING A SMALL KNOCK WHILE DRIVING AROUND 55 MPH. WITHIN 10 MILES THE KNOCK WAS VERY LOUD. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHO DIAGNOSED KNOCK AND A DESTROYED BEARING EITHER IN CRANK OR THE PISTON RODS. OIL PAN WAS DROPPED AND FOUND METAL SHAVINGS AND CHUNKS IN THE OIL PAN AS WELL AS SILICONE PIECES. SILICONE IS USED AS GASKET MATERIAL DURING THE RECALL PROCESS. I STILL HAD USED OIL FROM LAST FIRST OIL CHANGE AFTER THE RECALL AT HOME, AND FILTERED THAT OUT WITH A FINE MESH FILTER. SIGNIFICANTLY MORE SILICONE WAS FOUND IN THAT OIL. EVEN WITH ALL THE SILICONE IN THE OIL, THE DEALERSHIPS ARE CLAIMING ZERO FAULT OF THE ENGINE FAILURE. THIS SILICONE IS CAUSING HUNDREDS OF ENGINES TO FAIL, AND TOYOTA WILL ONLY TAKE RESPONSIBILITY IF THE CUSTOMER CALLS AND COMPLAINS FOR MONTHS. THE DENVER FIELD TECH SPECIALIST INSPECTED MY CAR AND SAID THE RECALL WAS DONE PROPERLY AND AGAIN THERE WAS NO FAULT OF TOYOTA. PEOPLE WITH FAILED ENGINES DUE TO THE RECALL DO NOT GIVE UP. MAKE TOYOTA TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. IF EVEN ONE PIECE OF THIS SILICONE MAKES IT PAST THE OIL SCREEN AND FILTER, IT HAS POTENTIAL TO CATASTROPHICALLY FAIL YOUR ENGINE AS IT DID WITH MINE. BEFORE YOU EVEN TAKE YOUR CAR TO A DEALERSHIP, BE SURE TO CALL TOYOTA CORPORATE AND OPEN UP A CASE. CORPORATE WILL LIKELY BE THE ONLY ONES WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ODI #11320047

130,000 miles · Mar 25, 2020
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2013 TOYOTA SCION FR-S. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER WITH AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN. THE CONTACT PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO JOE MYERS TOYOTA LOCATED AT (19010 NORTHWEST FWY…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2013 TOYOTA SCION FR-S. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER WITH AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN. THE CONTACT PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO JOE MYERS TOYOTA LOCATED AT (19010 NORTHWEST FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77065) WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS STILL PENDING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ODI #11319262

Official recalls

4

18V772000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Nov 1, 2018

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. Toyota will notify the FR-S owners. Dealers will replace the valve springs, free of charge. The recall began December 26, 2018. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614, Toyota owners may contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-888-270-9371. Subaru's number for this recall is WTY-84.

16V075000 · Electrical System:ignition; Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch

Feb 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 & remedy

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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:ignition

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.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch

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.

13V123000 · Equipment:other:labels

Apr 9, 2013

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."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.

Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

12V255000 · Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual

Jun 5, 2012

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.”

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF A USER READS AND FOLLOWS INACCURATE OWNER’S MANUAL INFORMATION, THIS COULD LEAD TO AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO A FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT UNDER CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS.

Remedy: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND WILL MAIL CORRECTED INSERTS FOR THE OWNER’S MANUALS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 3, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-866-707-2466.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.