2016 Scion Ia problems

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2016 Scion Ia

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Common 2016 Scion Ia problems

The 2016 Scion iA is known for being the worst year among the Scion iA years to avoid, with several issues that left owners frustrated and disappointed. The most common problems reported by owners of this model include transmission failure, engine issues, and electronic glitches.

Transmission Problems:

Several owners have reported transmission failures, especially in the 2016 model. This issue has led to unexpected repairs and performance loss, making it a significant concern for potential buyers.

Engine Issues:

Engine problems have also been reported in the 2016 Scion iA, leading to performance loss and frustration for owners. These issues have resulted in significant repair costs and have contributed to the model's reputation for unreliability.

Electronic Glitches:

Electronic glitches have been a common complaint among owners of the 2016 Scion iA. These issues have affected various electronic systems in the vehicle, leading to frustration and additional repair costs.

Recalls:

The 2016 Scion iA has been subject to several recalls due to various issues. These recalls have included problems with the transmission, engine, and electronic systems, highlighting the model's overall reliability issues.

Key Fob Battery:

Some owners have reported that the key fob batteries in the 2016 Scion iA have died in less than a year. This issue can be inconvenient and may require replacement batteries more frequently than other vehicles.

Tires:

The tires on the 2016 Scion iA are special order and can be expensive. This can be a significant concern for owners who need to replace their tires frequently or unexpectedly.

Power:

Some owners have reported that the power in the 2016 Scion iA is weak, which can affect the vehicle's performance and overall driving experience.

Back Seat:

The back seat in the 2016 Scion iA has been criticized for being small, which can be a concern for owners who need to transport multiple passengers or larger items.

Fuel Economy:

Some owners have reported that the fuel economy in the 2016 Scion iA is not as good as advertised. This can be a significant concern for owners who are looking for a fuel-efficient vehicle.

In conclusion, the 2016 Scion iA is known for being the worst year among the Scion iA years to avoid, with several issues that have affected the vehicle's transmission, engine, electronic systems, and overall reliability. These issues have resulted in unexpected repair costs, frustration for owners, and a reputation for unreliability. Potential buyers should be aware of these common problems and consider other model years or vehicles if they are looking for a reliable and problem-free vehicle.

2016 Scion Ia engine

Is the 2016 Scion iA reliable?

How Reliable Is the 2016 Scion iA? The Scion iA has one of the highest reliability ratings among all vehicles: a 4.5 out of five from J.D. Power. A score of three is average.

Is the Scion iA safe?

Related: 2016 Scion iA, iM: First Drives

It also earned top ratings of good — on a scale of good, acceptable, marginal and poor — in the moderate overlap, side, roof-strength and head restraint tests.

Is the Scion iA a Mazda2?

It's been absorbed back into its parent company Toyota, which means, almost as soon as it began rolling off the assembly line, the Scion iA became the Toyota Yaris iA. If that's not confusing enough, the Yaris iA that was originally known as the Scion iA is really a Mazda2.

Is Scion iA made by Toyota?

Scion's first four-door sedan is actually built by Mazda. It's based on the new Mazda2 (not sold in the U.S.) and is powered by a 106-hp, 1.5-liter four-cylinder hooked up to either a six-speed manual or automatic.

2016 Scion Ia car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Scion Ia problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

  • Engine problems
  • Electrical system problems
  • Air bags problems
  • Power train problems
  • Service brakes problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 2016 Scion Ia vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

2016 Scion Ia complaints

The NHTSA has received 23 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2016 Scion Ia.

2022-08-28

STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2016-03-01
  • VIN: 3mydlbzv7gy
  • Components: STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: Very poorly wired and wires are spliced together which I a fire hazard
2022-01-14

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2021-11-12
  • VIN: 3MYDLBZV0GY
  • Components: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
  • Summary: 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.
2020-09-10

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2020-09-08
  • Crash: 1
  • VIN: 3MYDLBZV7GY
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SCION IA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THEY CRASHED INTO A WILD HORSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NO INJURIES AND NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT HAD NOT HEARD FROM THEM AS OF YET. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
2020-08-28

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2019-05-06
  • VIN: 3MYDLBZVXGY
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: MY CAR HAS UNDER 60,000 MILES, I BOUGHT IT WITH ABOUT 28,000 ON IT AND IT HAS HAD INTERMITTENT ISSUES WITH THE DISPLAY. I WENT TO DEALERSHIP, WHO SAID THE WHOLE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM NEEDS REPLACED, WHICH IS ABOUT $1200 WITH PARTS AND LABOR. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE. IT CAUSES THE DISPLAY TO GO IN AND OUT, WHICH HAPPENS ALSO WITH THE BACKUP CAMERA.
2020-03-02

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2020-02-28
  • VIN: 3MYDLBZV4GY
  • Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
  • Summary: 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.
2020-02-27

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2020-02-26
  • Crash: 1
  • VIN: 3MYDLBZV3GY
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES AND I SLAMMED ON MINE AND THEN THE CAR BEHIND ME HIT ME AND I HIT THE CARIN FRONT OF ME. MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY WHEN HIT FROM BEHIND AND THEN I HIT CAR IN FRONT OF ME . MY CAR IS TOTALED. PLEASE FILE COMPLAINT AND GET BACK TO ME
2019-12-22

POWER TRAIN,AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2019-09-19
  • VIN: 3MYDLBZV2GY
  • Components: POWER TRAIN,AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES
  • Summary: TRANSMISSION WHINE AFTER USED CAR PURCHASE WITH 91K MILES. TOOK IT TO TOYOTA OF GREENVILLE FOR DIAGNOSTIC. NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO RALPH HAYES TOYOTA OF ANDERSON WHEW I PURCHASED AND THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. SINCE THEN THERE HAS BEEN A TRANSMISSION GRINDING AND SEVERE VIBRATION WHILE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ASKED FOR A BUY BACK. THEY DECLINED. I ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEIR LACK OF CARING AND UNDERSTANDING. TOYOTA CORPORATE DOES NOT CARE. DEALERSHIP KEEPS SAYING THIS VIBRATION AND BEHAVIOR IS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR. IT IS DANGEROUS NOW BECAUSE IT STALLS OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHEN PLACED IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. WHEN IT DOES GO IT LAUNCHES FORWARD. ALSO THE VIBRATION IS SO SEVERE IT WILL SHAKE THE TEETH IN MY MOUTH. I HAVE VIDEO ON MY PHONE OF THE TRANSMISSION ALSO HANGING UP IN GEAR AND THE DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA CORPORATE DID NOT SEEM TO CARE I HAD PROOF THE NEW TRANSMISSION IS FAULTY. ALSO, THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM KEEPS CRASHING AND WAS QUOTED ALMOST $2,000 TO FIX IT. THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT'S A COMMON PROBLEM BUT REFUSE TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE TO FIX IT. ON TOP OF IT ALL THE BRAKES ARE HORRIBLE AND THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND STILL ARE LOUD AND ACT LIKE THEY DON'T WANT TO STOP. WET CONDITIONS ALSO MAKE BRAKING MORE DIFFICULT. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THE PASSENGER SEAT IS SENSITIVE TO WEIGHT AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL TURN TO ON AND THE SEAT BELT WILL CHIME EVEN WHEN NO ONE IS IN THE SEAT. MY CELL PHONE CAN BE SITTING IN THE SEAT AND IT MAKES IT CHIME AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG ACTIVE.
2019-09-19

POWER TRAIN PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2019-07-28
  • Number Of Injuries: 2
  • Crash: 1
  • VIN: 3MYDLBZV0GY
  • Components: POWER TRAIN
  • Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SCION IA. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION ERRONEOUSLY DOWNSHIFTED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ABRUPTLY DECELERATE. DURING THE FAILURE, A LOUD GRINDING METAL NOISE WAS PRESENT UNDER THE VEHICLE AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR DISPLAYED. ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING, THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND CAUSED A SECOND VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK, BACK, AND SHOULDER INJURIES. IN A SEPARATE INCIDENT, THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD, NECK, AND SHOULDER INJURIES FROM WHEN THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY REDUCED SPEED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. LAKE CITY TOYOTA (12059 LAKE CITY WAY NE, SEATTLE, WA) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1909103427). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
2019-05-18

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2019-05-18
  • VIN: 3MYDLBZVXGY
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE
  • Summary: CAR TRUCK POPS OPEN RANDOMLE WILE DRIVING!
2019-03-22

ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2019-03-20
  • VIN: 3MYDLBZVXGY
  • Components: ENGINE
  • Summary: 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
2019-03-13

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2019-03-12
  • VIN: 3MYDLBZV2GY
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
  • Summary: 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.
2018-11-19

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2018-08-15
  • VIN: 3MYDLBZVXGY
  • Components: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
  • Summary: 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.
2018-10-11

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2018-09-07
  • Crash: 1
  • VIN: 3MYDLBZV8GY
  • Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
  • Summary: 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.
2018-10-09

SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2018-03-01
  • VIN: 3MYDLBZV7GY
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES
  • Summary: 2016 SCION IA. BRAKES MAKE LOUD NOISE WHEN APPLIED AFTER COLD START OR LONG PERIOD OF TIME ENGINE IS OFF. NOISE DISAPPEARS AFTER 3-5 BRAKE ATTEMPTS AND BRIEFLY SHOWS UP AGAIN AFTERWARDS. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS.
2018-08-28

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2018-07-29
  • Number Of Injuries: 1
  • Crash: 1
  • VIN: 3MYDLBV3GY1
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SCION IA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. UPON ACCELERATING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK (T-BONED) BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT'S OLDER SON SUSTAINED WHIPLASH, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AWAY FROM THE SCENE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
2018-06-20

SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2018-06-20
  • VIN: 3MYDLBZV1GY
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES
  • Summary: BRAKES MAKE LOUD NOISE WHEN APPLIED AFTER COLD START OR LONG PERIOD OF TIME ENGINE IS OFF. NOISE DISAPPEARS AFTER 2-3 BRAKE ATTEMPTS AND BRIEFLY SHOWS UP AGAIN AFTERWARDS.
2018-04-01

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2018-03-24
  • VIN: 3MYDLBZV8GY
  • Components: POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
  • Summary: 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.
2017-08-29

WHEELS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2017-06-14
  • VIN: 3MYDLBZV1GY
  • Components: WHEELS
  • Summary: IS DIFFCULT TO BUY TIRES FOR THIS CAR BECAUSE OF THE DEALERS NEVER HAVE IN STOCK THIS SIZE TIRE TOYOTA DEALERS HAVE TO ORDER FOR YOU NEVER HAVE IN STOCK OTHER TIRE DEALERS HAVE TO ORDER FOR YOU ALSO MORE EXPENSIVE TO ORDER
2017-08-03

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2017-04-22
  • Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
  • Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 SCION IA. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE WHILE STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DAVID WILSON'S TOYOTA OF LAS VEGAS (3255 E SAHARA AVE, LAS VEGAS, NV 89104 (702) 457-2000), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE NO LONGER OWNED THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE ACCELERATION ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,000. ...UPDATED 10/19/17 *BF UPDATED 12/12/2017*JS
2017-06-28

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2016-11-11
  • VIN: 3MYDLBZV1GY
  • Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
  • Summary: @ 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.
2017-06-13

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2017-05-26
  • Number Of Injuries: 2
  • Crash: 1
  • VIN: 3MYDLBZV7GY
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SCION IA. WHILE AT A STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A STOP LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE OTHER VEHICLE LEFT THE SCENE OF THE CRASH. THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITH FORCE. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES AND PAIN TO THE NECK, BACK, AND LEGS. MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED TO DETERMINE IF THEY COULD INVESTIGATE THE IMPACT OF THE AIR BAGS, WHICH DEPLOYED WITH EXTREME FORCE. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING ON A RESPONSE FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE MANUFACTURER CONCERNING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
2017-05-06

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2017-05-06
  • VIN: 3MYDLBYVXGY
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: MY DEALER LOST MY KEY, AFTER THE GAVE ME THE CAR AND I DROVE OFF TO COSTCO WITHOUT NOTICING I DIDN'T HAVE THE KEY, FOUND OUT THE CAR IS STARTING WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE CAR. DEALER KEPT WITH THE CAR WHILE TOYOTA CORP DECIDE HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM, THE GAVE ME A LOANER CAR WHILE THEY DO THE JOB.
2016-02-01

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2015-09-27
  • VIN: 3MYDLBZV8GY
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: I AM A 113 LB ADULT. WHENEVER I SIT ON A 2-INCH FOAM CUSHION IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF OUR SCION IA, THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" WARNING ILLUMINATES ON THE DASHBOARD. THE SEAT IS TOO LOW AND HARD FOR ME TO SIT COMFORTABLY WITHOUT THE CUSHION, AND I ALSO HAVE TO USE IT WHEN I DRIVE THE SCION IA. BUT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT BE OFF FOR PERSONS WEIGHING MORE THAN 85 LBS. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN A PASSENGER WEIGHING OVER 125 LBS SITS ON THE CUSHION. BUT IT MEANS THAT FOR PASSENGERS WEIGHING BETWEEN 85 LBS AND 125 LBS, THERE WILL BE NO AIRBAG PROTECTION. I USED THE SAME CUSHION IN OUR 2015 MAZDA 3, WITH NO PROBLEM; SO CLEARLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE LOCATION OR FUNCTION OF THE SENSORS IN THE SCION IA. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDED EITHER NOT USING ANY SEAT CUSHION OR PUTTING A WEIGHT UNDER THE CUSHION, BUT DID NOT RECORD MY COMPLAINT. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM, SO THE DATE I ENTERED BELOW IS THE FIRST DAY I RODE AS A PASSENGER IN THE CAR. BY THE WAY, I DON'T KNOW WHY THE 2016 SCION IA IS NOT A RECOGNIZED MODEL IN YOUR SYSTEM.

Negative 2016 Scion Ia car reviews

  1. Hazel Hermiston 2024-11-24

    In 2016, at 61,000 miles, I had to put $1,200 towards a fuel pump. Right after that, the stereo went out in just 4 minutes. It's frustrating that with electric cars, you can't top off your gas like you can with other Toyotas. To make matters worse, the charcoal canister clogged and cost $400 to replace. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this car.

  2. Vance Breitenberg 2024-10-27

    I purchased this car used a year ago with only 12,000 miles on it. Currently, it has 33,000 miles. Recently, I have been experiencing an electrical issue where the car loses power and all the dash warning lights come on, along with flickering headlights, when I accelerate after stopping. I took it to a Toyota dealership, but they were unable to identify the problem. Despite this, I am confident that the issue will be resolved soon and I will be able to drive my car without any concerns.

  3. Franco Crist 2024-10-13

    Hello there! If you're considering purchasing a car, I would like to share my experience with the Scion and Toyota Ia. In my personal experience, I have found these cars to be unreliable and cheaply made. Additionally, the tires for this car are quite unique and can be difficult to find, which can be frustrating. I have also noticed that the 'low rolling resistance' tires can make driving in damp conditions a bit tricky. I have had some issues with the Smart City Brake sensors, which can be a bit costly to repair. Overall, I would recommend doing some research and considering other options before making a purchase. Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts on this matter!

  4. Julius Lemke 2024-09-12

    I purchased the Scion iA in 2016 and initially loved it. While it is a compact car and doesn't have many luxury features, it seemed like a great value and had excellent gas mileage. Unfortunately, with less than 30,000 miles, it has developed a major transmission-related issue. The car intermittently experiences a loss of power, causing it to stall out or die in traffic, which is a major safety concern. Despite taking it to Dan Wolf Toyota of Naperville (IL), they have been unable to duplicate the problem and therefore refuse to fix the car. Although the car stalled while their porter was driving it, they still cannot pinpoint the issue. They have kept the car for a total of 3 weeks on two separate occasions. The last time the car died, I had to pay $160 to have it towed to them. Unfortunately, corporate will not allow them to replace the transmission for an intermittent problem. It's important for potential buyers to be aware of this issue. It's worth noting that the same car is now being sold under the Toyota brand as the Yaris iA.

  5. Jayce Sanford 2024-02-23

    I have seen many other reviews that are similar to mine, and unfortunately, I have to agree that my experience with this car has not been great. I attempted to start a lemon law claim due to my transmission constantly blowing and loss of traction when raining, but unfortunately, I never received the paperwork back. My transmission broke after less than a year of owning the car, and even after a new transmission was installed, it happened again. Sierra Toyota (CA) informed me that it would be a recurring problem due to the vibrations of the car. Additionally, my center console fell through, and Toyota has yet to fix it, despite my regular servicing of the car. I almost crashed once in the rain when my car randomly spun out on the freeway (I informed them of this when I started my claim), and although they said it was probably my fault, I did crash a different time because my car lost traction on the freeway. The tires are difficult to obtain for this car because it is a special size that only Scion makes, but unfortunately, they are not of good quality. I would advise everyone against purchasing this car, especially if you have a family.

Positive 2016 Scion Ia car reviews

  1. Torrey King 2024-11-28

    Hi there! I'm so glad to hear that your car is still running smoothly even after all those miles! It sounds like you take really good care of it by keeping up with maintenance and using ultra gas. Your advice is really helpful for anyone looking to keep their car in great condition. Thanks for sharing!

  2. Keagan West 2024-11-26

    I recently purchased a Scion iA, which is known as a Mazda2 in the rest of the world. The Scion packaging came with all the amenities I wanted as standard, and I was thrilled to find one online with a 6-speed manual - an option that is becoming increasingly rare in the USA. The iA/2 is a blast to drive, with much better handling than my previous BMW i3. Despite its modest price tag, it is very well-built and comfortable on long trips, getting close to 40 mpg on the highway. I drove it from Colorado to the West Coast - a journey of about 1100 miles - right after I got it, and I absolutely loved it. While I would have preferred a hatchback to the sedan, the later hatchback versions of the car imported under the Yaris iA name only came with automatics, which would have killed the main appeal of this car for me. Although it's not the fastest car out there, I find the driving characteristics to be a lot of fun - you definitely have to keep the engine revved if you're in a hurry.

  3. Deon Kozey 2024-10-09

    This was a fantastic experience. I adore my car, but even more so, I appreciate the Naperville Toyota dealership. Scott, my salesman, was incredibly helpful and informative. He took the time to explain everything to me, and I never felt pressured to make a decision. I will definitely be returning and recommending this dealership to others.

  4. Trever Schimmel 2024-09-28

    It's such a lovely little car, and I absolutely adore it!

  5. Darrel Bosco 2024-09-14

    Overall, the car is a great value for your money.

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Additional sources

More sources of information about 2016 Scion Ia problems:

iA Issues And Problems | Scion IA Forum
iA Issues And Problems | Scion IA Forum
https://www.scioniaforum.com/forums/ia-issues-and-problems.105/

iA Issues And Problems · 2016 IA rough start, no acceleration · 2016 Scion IA TPMS Malfunction · 2016 Transmission failure causing injuries · 2017 yaris ia fuel ...

The Scion iA Years To Avoid - CoPilot
The Scion iA Years To Avoid - CoPilot
https://www.copilotsearch.com/posts/scion-ia-years-to-avoid/

Aug 22, 2023 ... Common Issues With The Scion iA · Transmission Problems: Several owners have reported transmission failures, especially in the 2016 model, ...

I'm starting to hate my ia | Scion IA Forum
I'm starting to hate my ia | Scion IA Forum
https://www.scioniaforum.com/threads/im-starting-to-hate-my-ia.3930/

Oct 8, 2016 ... 2016+ Scion iA / Toyota Yaris iA General... ... 2016+ Scion iA / Toyota Yaris iA General... ... iA Issues And Problems Scion iA / Toyota Yaris iA ...

Looking at a 2016 scion IA, concerns with long term reliability. : r ...
Looking at a 2016 scion IA, concerns with long term reliability. : r ...
https://www.reddit.com/r/askcarsales/comments/6zhwj0/looking_at_a_2016_scion_ia_concerns_with_long/

Sep 11, 2017 ... No firsthand experiences with iA, but I've bought an xD in '08 and rode it pretty freakin' hard for over 180K miles with exactly zero mechanical ...

2016 Scion iA Problems | Kelley Blue Book
2016 Scion iA Problems | Kelley Blue Book
https://www.kbb.com/scion/ia/2016/common-problems/

How reliable is the 2016 Scion iA? See the most common repairs performed and learn if your vehicle is at risk for major repairs in the next 12 months.

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