2015 Scion Fr-s problems
The Toyota 86 and the Subaru BRZ are 2+2 sports cars jointly developed by Toyota and Subaru, manufactured at Subaru's Gunma assembly plant.
The 2+2 fastback coupé has a naturally-aspirated boxer engine, front-engined, rear-wheel-drive configuration, 53/47 front/rear weight balance and low centre of gravity; it was inspired by Toyota's earlier AE86, a small, light, front-engine/rear-drive Corolla variant widely popular for Showroom Stock, Group A, Group N, Rally, Club and drift racing.
For the first-generation model, Toyota marketed the sports car as the 86 in Asia, Australia, North America (from August 2016), South Africa, and South America; as the Toyota GT86 in Europe; as the 86 and GT86 in New Zealand; as the Toyota FT86 in Brunei, Nicaragua and Jamaica and as the Scion FR-S (2012–2016) in the United States and Canada.
The second-generation model is marketed by Toyota as the GR86 as part of the Gazoo Racing family.
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Common 2015 Scion Fr-s problems
The Scion FR-S, produced from 2012 to 2016, is a popular sports car known for its fun driving experience and reliability. However, like any vehicle, it has some common issues that potential buyers should be aware of when considering a used model.
One common problem is the premature failure of the clutch release bearing in the six-speed manual transmission, which can cause grinding when shifting from one gear to the next, especially in cold weather. If not addressed promptly, this issue can lead to damage to other parts of the transmission, such as the housing, pressure plate, and shaft.
Another issue is the oil drain plug's susceptibility to cracking due to overtightening, which can result in oil leaks and potential engine damage if the oil level is allowed to get too low. It's essential to have the oil changed by an experienced mechanic and check the condition of the oil drain plug when buying a used Scion FR-S.
Some FR-S models were equipped with defective valve springs, which could lead to complete engine failure if not addressed. It's crucial to check for any recalls or updates related to this issue and ensure that the car has extensive maintenance records to determine if new springs were installed.
Additionally, heavily modified models, especially those used for racing or with performance upgrades, may have accelerated wear and reduced long-term dependability. It's best to avoid cars with extensive modifications or a history of track use.
When inspecting a used FR-S, it's also advisable to look for signs of oil leaks, noisy clutch throw-out bearings in manual transmission models, and any evidence of bodywork or modifications. Checking for these common issues can help potential buyers make an informed decision and ensure they are purchasing a reliable and well-maintained vehicle.
2015 Scion Fr-s car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Scion Fr-s problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Engine problems
- Steering problems
- Service brakes problems
- Power train problems
- Unknown or other problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2015 Scion Fr-s vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2015 Scion Fr-s complaints
The NHTSA has received 13 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2015 Scion Fr-s.
STEERING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-04-01
- VIN: JF1ZNAA15F9
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: Steering wheel began clunking and locking up when turning. Had this issue on a previous FRS, Electronic Power Steering Motor Coupler had failed and needed replacement.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-09-25
- VIN: JF1ZNAA10F8
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
- Summary: Defective engine/motor failure spark plug popped out of engine along with coil. The service technician and service manager were shocked at the spark plug broken internally. I paid for spark plug replacement totaling approximately $1,200. Upon inspecting other parts of the motor it was determined the engine bay has coolant inside mixed with oil. The tech mention of engine over heating however the temperature gauge never reached overheating readings. If the engine overheated the temperature gauge failed to alert me while I was driving at any point and expressed this to the service advisor. My vehicle motor failed while I was engaged in driving on the freeway and turn off and on in the middle of flight and travelling at freeway speeds. I originally purchased vehicle at Long Toyota USA in El Monte, CA with zero to 15 miles brand new in 2015 it is less that 10 years and I never experienced a defective motor/engine. Today is October 21, 2022 and my vehicle is still at the Culver City Toyota dealership. When: September 25, 2022, towed vehicle to Culver City Toyota a dealer of Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc Where: Engine/Motor failure occurred in the middle of the 10 freeway at Robertson/Venice exit in Los Angeles, CA. I immediately was able to steer the car to the nearest exit there was a loud pop and then a very loud motor noise was heard. I paid the tow company to take the vehicle to the culver city Toyota to get it fixed. How: While driving. Preferred solution Assistance in replacing engine at no cost due to defects and failures and placing my life at risk while the car was in motion. I am not looking for monetary claims or any gains. I just want my car back fixed I already paid for the spark plugs as i mentioned above but this is a defective motor. All my services have been done through Toyota's trained service technicians I asked all the time for spark plug replacement and they always said it isn't due.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-07-28
- VIN: JF1ZNAA17F9
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: I was driving 80 mph in the inner lane of a multi lane highway. Out of no where with no warning lights or sounds the car just lost all power, the steering felt like it locked and the car fell on it's face. I was almost hit by two different cars trying to get over to the shoulder and there was white smoke pouring out of the exhaust making cars behind me swerve because they couldn't see. Had it towed to the Toyota dealership and they told me that basically the engine blew and that they have seen this on other Scion model years and those are recalled but mine isn't recalled
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2019-04-25
- VIN: JF1ZNAA11F9
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE, IT STARTED MISFIRING, THROWING UP A FLASHING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND IT WAS ROUGH TO KEEP IT RUNNING. UPON TOWING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVING IT INVESTIGATED FOR THE ROOT CAUSE, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VALVE SPRINGS ON A CYLINDER ARE FAILING. THIS ISSUE IS IDENTICAL TO THE ISSUES THAT ARE OCCURRING IN SAFETY RECALL J02, WHICH AFFECTS 2013 MODELS.
SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2019-04-21
- VIN: JF1ZNAA15F8
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: THE PASSAGER REAR CALIPER MALFUNCTION CAUSE THE BRAKE PAD FLY AWAY FROM THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2018-03-05
- VIN: JF1ZNAA14F9
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: REVERSE LOCKOUT ON THE STICK SHIFT DOES NOT FUNCTION. DURING SHIFTING THE DRIVER CAN ACCIDENTLY PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE WHILE MOVING FORWARD OR PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE WHILE TRYING TO PUT IT INTO FIRST GEAR. THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME DURING THE SHIFTING PROCESS.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2018-10-18
- VIN: 1F1ZNAA1BF8
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: I OWN A 2015 AUTOMATIC SCION FR-S. THE CAR HAS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND DOWNSHIFTS ARE VERY JERKY AND HARD. UPSHIFTS ARE FINE, BUT IN BOTH MANUAL MODE (PADDLE SHIFTS) AND IN AUTOMATIC MODE, COMING TO A STOP AND DOWNSHIFTING THROUGH THE GEARS RESULTS IN HARD, JERKY VIOLENT MOVEMENTS AND THE CAR FAILS TO REV MATCH. I'VE LOOKED THE ISSUE UP AND MANY PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING FROM THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS MOST LIKELY A SOFTWARE ISSUE, EITHER WITH THE ECU BUT MOST LIKELY WITH THE TCM, THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER. MY DEALERSHIP DENIES THE PROBLEM AND REFLASHES THE ECU ONLY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RESURFACE A WEEK LATER. THEY HAVE DONE AN OIL CHANGE AND IVE DONE A COOLANT FLUSH BUT NONE OF THESE THINGS HAVE SOLVED THE ISSUE. THE ISSUE IS BIGGER THAN JUST MAINTENANCE AND WILL MOST LIKELY REQUIRE A NEW TCM. ITS A SOFTWARE BUG, AND TOYTA DEALERSHIPS, AT LEAST WHERE I AM, REFUSE TO AWKNOWLEDGE IT.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2018-07-30
- VIN: JF1ZNAA19F8
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: VEHICLE STARTED TO STUTTER AND HAVING A LOUD KNOCK FROM ENGINE AFTER SITTING FOR 6 HOURS ON A NORMAL NIGHT, NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, MAINTENANCE KEPT UP INCLUDING RECENT OIL CHANGE... STARTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND IT HAD LOUD PINGING AND KNOCKING BECAME LOUDER WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE ONCE GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO STUTTER. I HAD NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS, NO OIL LIGHTS, NOTHING. MY VEHICLE THEN STARTED TO STALL OUT WHEN I HAD LARGE BIG RIG TRUCKS BEHIND ME WHILE AT A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION AT NIGHT TIME WITH LOW VISIBILITY DUE TO THE TIME, I WAS NEARLY HIT FROM BEHIND BY A SEMI-TRUCK AND WAS STUCK, STALLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION, I HAD ENOUGH TIME BEFORE BEING HIT AND ALSO HAVING THE RED LIGHT TURN ON ME IN MIDDLE OF A MAJOR INTERSECTION AT LEE ROAD AND NORTH ORANGE BLOSSOM TRAIL, TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE MULTIPLE TIMES, ENDED UP STARTING BUT HAD TO PUSH IT UP TO A GAS STATION ALONE AND ALMOST STRUCK BY ON COMING TRAFFIC DOING SO. I HAVE VIDEO OF THE ISSUE AND RECORDED AUDIO. MY VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT CENTRAL FLORIDA TOYOTA WON'T EVEN LOOK AT THE VEHICLE.
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2016-11-30
- VIN: JF1ZNAA16F8
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: THE SEAT BELT LATCH STICKS. DOESNT EASILY PRESS TO UNLATCH SEAT BELT. ON DRIVERS SIDE.
AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2016-04-04
- Crash: 1
- Components: AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: BRAKE FAILURE ABS NOT FUNCTION
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2016-03-10
- Fire: 1
- VIN: JF1ZNTA1XF9
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND MY CAR BROKE DOWN. I ROLLED TO THE SHOULDER AND OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE FLAMES ARE THE ENGINE.
STEERING,SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2015-09-17
- VIN: 123456
- Components: STEERING,SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE
- Summary: CONTINUED...IT IS RIDICULOUS OF THIS IAB@NYPD.ORG TO IGNORE COMPLAINTS OF SUCH UNSAFE CARS AS THIS SMALL LITTLE CAR THAT THEY USE THAT I SAW TODAY WITH THE NYPD 101 OR NYPD 105 THERE THAT HAS REGULAR LIGHTS ON THE TOP OF THE CAR AND CAN BE USED FOR REGULAR POLICE WORK ALMOST AS STUPID AS THE NYPD HWY UNIT CAR THERE WITH NO LIGHTS ON THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE THERE THAT COULD BE USED FOR CHASES ALSO. I MEAN HOW MANY TIMES IS THE NYPD GOING TO BE QUESTIONED OR REPORTED FOR HAVING UNSAFE VEHICLES PLUS THEY IGNORE ME AT IAB@NYPD.ORG?????? WOW, I KNOW THE LAPD USES THAT TYPE OF SMALL CAR THERE FOR LIKE BRINGING PEOPLE AROUND BUT THE NYPD AS I SAW WITH THE CAR TODAY WITH THE NYPD 101 OR NYPD 105 THERE ON ROCKAWAY TNPK THERE CAN BE USED FOR REGULAR POLICE USE THERE. WOW. A CAR THAT SMALL CAN BE USED FOR REGULAR POLICE BUSINESS??? THAT IS JUST AS BAD AS THE NYPD HWY UNIT CARS WITH NO LAMPS ON THE TOP OF THE VEHICLES USED FOR REGULAR CHASES ON HIGHWAYS.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2015-09-17
- VIN: 123456
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: I AM WRITING TO FILE YET ANOTHER COMPLAINT ABOUT AN UNSAFE NYPD CAR I SAW TODAY ON ROCKAWAY TNPK IN LAWRENCE, NY THERE OF THE 101 PCT OR THE 105 PCT. YES, HAVE ANY OF YOU SEEN THESE SMALL LITTLE CARS LIKE THE LAPD HAS? YES, THE LAPD HAS SMALL LITTLE VEHICLES LIKE THIS BUT THEY ARE USED TO JUST TRANSPORT PEOPLE. THE NYPD AGAIN HAS ANOTHER UNSAFE VEHICLE BEING THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE BUT IT IS USED FOR CHASES AND FOR LIKE LAW ENFORCEMENT. YOU SHOULD SEE IT, IT IS LIKE A SMALL TWO DOOR VERY SMALL CAR WITH SCARY LOOKING SCARY ENOUGH LIGHTS LIKE THE REGULAR NYPD CARS HAVE. OH, LORD, YOU CAN NOT USE THAT TYPE OF NYPD CAR IN LIKE CAR CHASES OR SOMETHING, IT HAS REGULAR LIGHTS ON THE TOP OF THE CAR THERE. THE LAPD HAS THEM BUT THE LAPD SAYS THEY ARE USED JUST FOR LIKE MOVING PEOPLE AROUND. YES, THE NYPD CAR HAS THIS SMALL CAR HERE AND IT HAS REGULAR LIGHTS AND ALL OF THAT ON THE TOP OF THE CAR. UNSAFE AGAIN OF THE NYPD. THE NYPD CAN BE CONTACTED AT 1-646-610-5000. ONE UNSAFE CAR AFTER ANOTHER WITH THE NYPD LIKE THE HWY PATROL CARS WITHOUT THE LIGHTS ON TOP.
2015 Scion Fr-s recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 3 recalls for different components of the 2015 Scion Fr-s.
- Manufacturer: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC
- Components: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
- Summary: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Camry and Highlander, 2015-2016 Toyota Tundra, Scion FR-S, and tC vehicles. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
- Consequence: An incorrect label may lead an owner to overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: SET will notify owners, and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
- Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
- Components: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
- Summary: 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.
- Manufacturer: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC
- Components: EQUIPMENT
- Summary: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner, Tacoma, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, RAV4, Scion FRS, and XB vehicles. The affected vehicles may have accessories installed by SET, such as running boards or other items, that were incorrectly installed. The accessory attaching fasteners were not tightened with the proper torque, possibly causing the accessory to detach from the vehicle.
- Consequence: Accessories that detach from a vehicle may result in a vehicle crash and/or personal injury.
- Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the affected bolts, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-14B.
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