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2016 Scion Ia

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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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

Limited mileage data: 17 of 23 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

Engine complaints

8 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2022
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

Was getting off work. Started car and Engine system malfunction light, DSC malfunction light, TPMS System Malfunction light, Auto transmission malfunction light, and SCBS malfunction light all turned on. Car was not currently in motion when lights went on. Was in parking lot. Turned car off, and restarted, lights remained…

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Was getting off work. Started car and Engine system malfunction light, DSC malfunction light, TPMS System Malfunction light, Auto transmission malfunction light, and SCBS malfunction light all turned on. Car was not currently in motion when lights went on. Was in parking lot. Turned car off, and restarted, lights remained on. Drove vehicle 6.8 miles home, car was in limp mode. When at home used OBD2 scan tool and got codes P0847 C1031 U0401 B13D3 Cleared codes and unplugged 12 volt battery to reset system. Only engine system malfunction light remained. Parked car overnight and went to dealership next morning. Car drove on highway and car seemed fine. Dealership scan car and received code P0847, tech cleared code and test drove car. Problem can not be reproduced.

NHTSA ODI #11447451

126,000 miles · Mar 2, 2020
EngineUnknown Or Other

THE VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY SHUT ITSELF OFF IN THE ROAD FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT WILL DISPLAY ON THE DASH. HOWEVER, WHEN I PUT THE CAR BACK IN PARK AND RESTART THE ENGINE THERE ARE NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ON AND NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHATSOEVER. THIS CAR HAS BEEN LOOKED AT BY 3 CERTIFIED T…

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THE VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY SHUT ITSELF OFF IN THE ROAD FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT WILL DISPLAY ON THE DASH. HOWEVER, WHEN I PUT THE CAR BACK IN PARK AND RESTART THE ENGINE THERE ARE NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ON AND NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHATSOEVER. THIS CAR HAS BEEN LOOKED AT BY 3 CERTIFIED TOYOTA DEALERS AND NONE OF THE MECHANICS CAN ACCURATELY PINPOINT THE ISSUE. I AM CONCERNED THIS CAR WILL SHUT ITSELF DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND CAUSE A COLLISION. WORST EXPERIENCE WITH A CAR I'VE EVER HAD. SURPRISINGLY NEWER MODEL VEHICLE AND THIS DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE. THE CAR MAINLY SPUTTERS AND STALLS AT IDLE OR LOW SPEEDS. WE HAVE TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSES. NOTHING LEFT TO DO AT THIS POINT EXCEPT REPLACE THE CAR. I FEELS IT IS A DANGER TO MYSELF AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI #11315714

29,000 miles · Mar 22, 2019
Engine

WHEN AT A STOP THE ENGINE STARTS TO SHAKE LIKE IT'S ABOUT TO TURN OFF WE BOUGHT IT WITH 29000 MILES NOTICED IT A WEEK AFTER WE BOUGHT IT AND IT HAS DONE IT A FEW TIMES THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP COULDN'T FIND ANY CODES TO REMEDY IT. THE CHECK ENGINE DOES NOT COME ON BUT IT DOES SHAKE VIOLENTLY.IT HAS 35000 MILES NOW.I HAD THE THROTTL…

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WHEN AT A STOP THE ENGINE STARTS TO SHAKE LIKE IT'S ABOUT TO TURN OFF WE BOUGHT IT WITH 29000 MILES NOTICED IT A WEEK AFTER WE BOUGHT IT AND IT HAS DONE IT A FEW TIMES THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP COULDN'T FIND ANY CODES TO REMEDY IT. THE CHECK ENGINE DOES NOT COME ON BUT IT DOES SHAKE VIOLENTLY.IT HAS 35000 MILES NOW.I HAD THE THROTTLE BODY CLEANED AND IT STILL PUTTERS AT THE LIGHT. MOSTLY WITH THE A/C OFF

NHTSA ODI #11190968

76,000 miles · Mar 13, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED...FIRST THEY SAID BATTERY...WHILE DRIVING, INDICATING WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH START BLINKING (ABS, CHECK ENGINE, TRACTION, AND OTHERS), THEN THE ENGINE GOES INTO LOW HEAR AND STAYS UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON. DURING THESE EPISODES THE SPEED ODOMETER IS ERRATIC. ALSO WHEN IN THIS STATE, T…

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SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED...FIRST THEY SAID BATTERY...WHILE DRIVING, INDICATING WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH START BLINKING (ABS, CHECK ENGINE, TRACTION, AND OTHERS), THEN THE ENGINE GOES INTO LOW HEAR AND STAYS UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON. DURING THESE EPISODES THE SPEED ODOMETER IS ERRATIC. ALSO WHEN IN THIS STATE, THE REVERSE GEAR DOES NOT ENGAGE. WHEN THIS STARTED IT WAS A ONCE A MONTH PROBLEM, THEN WEEKLY, NOW IT HAPPENS DAILY/HOURLY. IT STARTED AT APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAY, MOST OF THE TIME AT STOPS AND LOWER SPEEDS BUT DOES HAPPEN ON FREEWAY TOO.

NHTSA ODI #11186554

40,000 miles · Nov 19, 2018
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

WHILE DRIVING, INDICATING WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH START BLINKING (ABS, CHECK ENGINE, TRACTION, AND OTHERS), THEN THE ENGINE GOES INTO LOW HEAR AND STAYS UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON. DURING THESE EPISODES THE SPEED ODOMETER IS ERRATIC. ALSO WHEN IN THIS STATE, THE REVERSE GEAR DOES NOT ENGAGE. WHEN THIS STARTED …

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WHILE DRIVING, INDICATING WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH START BLINKING (ABS, CHECK ENGINE, TRACTION, AND OTHERS), THEN THE ENGINE GOES INTO LOW HEAR AND STAYS UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON. DURING THESE EPISODES THE SPEED ODOMETER IS ERRATIC. ALSO WHEN IN THIS STATE, THE REVERSE GEAR DOES NOT ENGAGE. WHEN THIS STARTED IT WAS A ONCE A MONTH PROBLEM, THEN WEEKLY, NOW IT HAPPENS DAILY/HOURLY. IT STARTED AT APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAY, MOST OF THE TIME AT STOPS AND LOWER SPEEDS BUT DOES HAPPEN ON FREEWAY TOO.

NHTSA ODI #11152522

66,000 miles · Oct 11, 2018
EngineUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed ControlCrash

I WAS ABOUT TO PARK AT A BURGER KING STORE AT DELANO CALIFORNIA 93215 AND SLOWING DOWN WHEN MY SCION IA SPEED UP MORE AND KEPT ON RUNNING WHILE MY FOOT IS ALREADY ON THE BRAKE. SO I ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE STORE. IT ONLY STOP BECAUSE THE TIRE WHERE ALREADY UP. I TRIED TO REVERSE MY CAR BUT CANNOT MOVE ANYMORE.

NHTSA ODI #11139656

12,000 miles · Apr 1, 2018
EnginePower Train

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…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11082332

9,851 miles · Jun 28, 2017
EngineUnknown Or Other

@ 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…

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@ 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 BAY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS "CHARACTERISTIC" OF THE VEHICLE (BUT DIDN'T HAPPEN FOR THE FIRST 9851 MILES,) AND I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD I PUT "BAD GAS" IN IT (ALTHOUGH IT'S BEEN DRIVEN 8,358 MILES SINCE IT STARTED AND THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS TYPES OF GAS FROM NUMEROUS GAS STATIONS PUT IN THE VEHICLE.) IT STILL HAPPENS RANDOMLY, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE AC IS ON OR OFF, HOW LONG IT BEEN DRIVEN, THE TYPE OF GAS THAT IS IN IT, OR WHAT THE TEMPERATURE IS OUTSIDE. MANUFACTURERS REP COULD NOT "RECREATE" THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, ARBITRATOR SAID THE 20 OR SO VIDEOS I RECORDED OF THINGS SHAKING IN MY VEHICLE WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN, WAS NOT "CREDITBLE EVIDENCE." I WOULD LIKE THE ISSUE I'M EXPERIENCING WITH MY CAR TO BE POSTED ON THE NHSTA WEBSITE UNDER PROBLEMS, JUST IN CASE OTHER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11001922

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.