Scion Iq problems
The Toyota iQ is a city car manufactured by Toyota and marketed in a single generation for Japan (2008–2016); Europe (2008–2015); and North America (2012–2015), where it was marketed as the Scion iQ. A rebadged variant was marketed in Europe as the Aston Martin Cygnet (2009–2013).
Designed at the Toyota European Design and Development studio in Nice, France, the iQ is noted for its specialized engineering to maximize passenger space and minimize length. The design accommodates four occupants, although one of the seats has very little legroom and is not suitable for adults.
Following a concept presented at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, the production iQ debuted at the March 2008 Geneva Motor Show. Japanese sales began in November 2008 and European sales in January 2009. In 2008, the iQ was named the Japanese Car of the Year.
The name iQ, an initialism of the term intelligence quotient, recalls a competitor, the Smart Fortwo. The letters "iQ" also stand for "individuality", "innovation", "quality", a hint at its "cubic form" and also a "cue" for owners to embrace new types of vehicles and lifestyles.
The iQ reached the end of production in December 2015, and it was discontinued in Japan in April 2016.
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Scion Iq model years
Common Scion Iq problems
The Scion iQ, a small city car produced by Toyota, has faced several common problems based on complaints from its owners. One of the most significant issues is the car's size, which has been criticized for its small dimensions and limited space for passengers and cargo.
Another issue is the car's reliability, which has been a subject of debate among consumers and consumer reporting publications. While U.S. News based its reliability score on the J.D. Power predicted reliability rating of three-out-of-five, some other rating agencies evaluated the iQ lower.
The 2012 and 2013 Scion iQs have also faced a recall regarding a system cable for the front passenger airbags, which is an important safety concern.
The car's body and paint have also been a source of complaints, with the 2012 Scion iQ having the most overall complaints, particularly for paint issues. The most-reported problem is 'paint is peeling off,' with an average cost to fix of $600 and an average mileage of 41,000 mi.
Lastly, the car's fuel efficiency has been a topic of discussion, with some owners reporting noticeable oil usage, requiring frequent top-ups.
In summary, the Scion iQ has faced several common problems, including size limitations, reliability concerns, safety recalls, body and paint issues, and fuel efficiency concerns. Despite these issues, some owners have expressed satisfaction with the car's compact design and fuel efficiency, making it a suitable choice for those looking for a small city car.
Is Scion iQ a good car?
Slow, noisy, and uncomfortable, the iQ's few positives include exceptionally easy parking, and its very good 34-mpg overall fuel economy. The extremely tiny rear seats won't make anyone riding in the second row happy, and the numb and overly quick steering makes the iQ less-than-enjoyable to drive.
What is high mileage for Scion iQ?
1.3-liter, double overhead cam, four-cylinder engine with dual VVT-i. MILEAGE: 36 mpg (city), 37 mpg (highway).
How long will Scion iQ last?
Typically, a Scion iQ with excellent care and maintenance will survive around 200,000 miles, with the high mileage point at 150,000 miles and the good mileage point at 125,000 miles. The better you care for the system and drive well, the longer your Scion iQ will be able to survive on the road.
Is the Toyota iQ a good car?
Wonderfully agile, decently refined, easy to park and cheap to run, the iQ has a lot going for it. We ran one on our long-term fleet and loved it, because it's such a multi-talented city car, but as a new buy it was held back by Toyota's ambitious pricing.
Percentage distribution of complaints by Scion Iq years
We have researched Scion problems and analysed all the complaints filed against Scion Iq cars and compiled the top 4 most problematic Scion Iq model years:
Below you can see the percentage distribution of known problems by Scion Iq model years.
Distribution of the number of complaints by Scion Iq years
We've also compiled a chart for you with the number of complaints about Volkswagen Jetta cars of certain model years:
Scion Iq car problems categorized by type of issue
After analysing all complaints related to Scion Iq , it was concluded that the most common issues with these cars are:
- Engine problems
- Structure problems
- Air bags problems
- Vehicle speed control problems
- Unknown or other problems
The graph below shows statistics for all Scion Iq vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Distribution of the number of complaints where the accident occurred by Iq model years
A total of 7 complaints were registered in which the accident occurred. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
Distribution of the number of complaints with injuries by Iq model years
There were a total of 4 complaints that resulted in a injuries. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
The NHTSA has received 24 complaints about various vehicle components related to the Scion Iq . Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for Scion Iq vehicles.
List of Scion Iq complaints
Scion Iq 2012
- Date Of Incident: 2023-09-23
- Date Complaint: 2023-10-14
- VIN: JTNJJXB08CJ
- Components: AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: have a 2013 Scion IQ (auto/cvt). I had the 'check engine' and 'trac control' lights come on a few years ago.. I was driving on city streets. All I noticed was that the car didn't respond as it should when I gave it gas. ( nothing drastic ) I ran the codes. It said the gas pedal was the problem. I removed the pedal assembly. (it's easier to unplug it that way. I unplugged it and looked at the inside of the plug. All looked fine. Plugged the pedal back in and all was good then. (I'm sure I avoided a $500 bill ) Same problem just occurred a few years later. I didn't bother running the codes. I just unplugged/re-plugged the pedal. Saved another $500. Here's a scary one. I was driving the car the first light snow of the year. On a city street, going slow on level road. Just maintaining speed..... not slowing ..... not speeding up...... not turning. All of a sudden
Scion Iq 2012
- Date Of Incident: 2023-07-25
- Date Complaint: 2023-08-03
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- VIN: JTNJJXB08CJ
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: The contact owns a 2012 Scion iQ. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, another vehicle made a left turn, causing the contact to crash into the other vehicle; however, no air bags deployed. The contact was injured on her back and received medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the tow yard. The vehicle was deemed totaled by the insurance company. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,189.
Scion Iq 2012
- Date Of Incident: 2021-05-25
- Date Complaint: 2021-05-25
- VIN: Jtnjjxb05cj
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: The paint of the body is defective
Scion Iq 2012
- Date Of Incident: 2017-07-18
- Date Complaint: 2021-02-03
- Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING,ENGINE
- Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SCION IQ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT BLACK SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO RUDY LUTHER TOYOTA (8805 WAYZATA BLVD, GOLDEN VALLEY, MN 55426) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR COST. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DIM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Scion Iq 2013
- Date Of Incident: 2020-10-23
- Date Complaint: 2020-10-27
- VIN: JTNJJXB03DJ
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: ROUGH IDLE AND ENGINE SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE IS AT TOYOTA DEALER AND DIAGNOSTIC HAS BEEN PERFORMED. DEALER HAS DETERMINED THE CAUSE TO BE INTERNAL CARBON DEPOSIT IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBERS. TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO COVER THE REPAIR IN THEIR WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM ZG8 BECAUSE MY VIN WASN'T PART OF THE ORIGINAL CREATION FOR THE PROGRAM ZG8. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ISSUE DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY ENGINE IS UNEXPECTEDLY SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 41063 MILES ON THE ENGINE AND UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME THE 5 YEARS OR 60,000 MILES NEW VEHILE LIMITED WARRANTY HAS PASSED THE 5 YEAR MARK. THE TOYOTA MECHANICS WILL BE FOLLOWING THE TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN: 0008-16 IN MAKING THE REPAIRS EVEN THOUGH TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY VIN IN THEIR WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM. I'M FORCED TO PAY $1761.75 OUT OF MY POCKET FOR THEIR ENGINE FLAW. I'M SO DISAPPOINTED WITH TOYOTA, THE WHOLE REASON I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE WAS BECAUSE I BELIEVED TOYOTA CARED ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS AND THAT THEY MADE A DEPENDABLE VEHICLE, APPARENTLY I'VE BEEN MISLED BY TOYOTA.
Scion Iq 2012
- Date Of Incident: 2019-06-01
- Date Complaint: 2020-07-25
- VIN: JTNJJXB0XCJ
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: PAINT BEGAN PEELING ABOUT 13 MONTHS AGO AND NOW HAS BEGUN TO RUST IN THE OPEN METAL AREAS.
Scion Iq 2012
- Date Of Incident: 2020-07-07
- Date Complaint: 2020-07-08
- Crash: 1
- VIN: JTNJJXB0XCJ
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: I GOT INTO 2 ACCIDENTS IN 3 DAYS WHILE PARKING INTO OR OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THE FIRST ACCIDENT 07/04/2020, MY CAR WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. I PLACED THE CAR IN REVERSE AND SUDDENLY IT ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK. MY VEHICLE ONLY STOPPED AFTER CRASHING INTO THE CAR BEHIND ME. THE SECOND ACCIDENT HAPPEN 7/7/2020 WHILE PULLING FORWARD INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND BRAKES FAILED TO WORK AGAIN. I CRASHED INTO A CEMENT POLE WHICH STOPPED MY VEHICLE. I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY THESE 2 DANGEROUS ACCIDENTS OCCURRED? MY VEHICLE WAS JUST REPAIRED OVER A WEEK BC THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. THE MECHANIC SAID THE PROBLEM WAS FROM A CATALYTIC CONVERTER THAT WAS CLOGGED, SO HE REPLACED IT WITH A NEW OEM PART. THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS BLOWING HOT ALSO, SO THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE AIR COMPRESSOR IN CAR AT THE SAME TIME. I WISH TO FILE A REPORT BASED ON THE "SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION" DANGER.
Scion Iq 2012
- Date Of Incident: 2019-10-15
- Date Complaint: 2020-03-01
- VIN: JTNJJXB03CJ
- Components: STRUCTURE,ENGINE
- Summary: PAINT IS COMING OFF OF CAR IN DIFFERENT PLACES & TO MUCH OIL CONSUMPTION EVEN AFTER CHANGING EGR VALUE HAVE TO ADD OIL TO OFTEN.
Scion Iq 2012
- Date Of Incident: 2019-07-01
- Date Complaint: 2019-07-16
- VIN: JTNJJXB05CJ
- Components: STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: PISTON ARE BURNING A QT OF OIL PER 200 MILES OR LESS AND PAINT FLAKING ON CAR
Scion Iq 2013
- Date Of Incident: 2016-09-01
- Date Complaint: 2019-06-26
- VIN: JF1ZNAA15D2
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SCION IQ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED IN 2016 BY ADVANTAGE TOYOTA OF RIVER OAKS (1970 RIVER OAKS DR, CALUMET CITY, IL 60409, (708) 862-0700). THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN AN UNKNOWN RECALL. AFTER THREE WEEKS, THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE VALVE SPRINGS PER THE RECALL. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE ENGINE AND FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING. THE DEALER PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE AND KEPT THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE FOR ANOTHER WEEK. THE DEALER OBSERVED THAT THE ENGINE SHOOK AND WAS LOUD, AND THE RPMS REVVED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD CHECK THE VEHICLE ONE MORE TIME AND THEN CHARGE HER FOR ANY FUTURE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
Scion Iq 2013
- Date Of Incident: 2019-03-31
- Date Complaint: 2019-04-29
- VIN: JF1ZNAA15D2
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: RECALLED FOR POSSIBILITY OF A VALVE SPRING BREAKING POTENTIALLY CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STOP WORKING WHILE UNDER DRIVING CONDITIONS. RECALL NOTICE INDICATED THAT THE TIME FOR REPAIRS WAS APPROXIMATELY 2 DAYS AND THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT VALDOSTA TOYOTA WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TIO THE DEALERSHIP ON 3-31-19 AND DROPPED OFF. IT WAS FINALLY FINISHED AND PICKED UP ON 4-20-19. THE REASONS THAT WE WERE GIVEN BY THE DEALERSHIP FOR IT TAKING SO LONG FOR THE REPAIRS WAS THAT THE TECHNICIAN DOING THE REPAIRS WAS CONTINUALLY NOT AT WORK. WITHIN A DAY AFTER PICKING THE VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALER THE ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE A CLICKING SOUND. IT WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THE CLICKING SOUND WAS NOT RELATED TO THEIR REPAIRS MADE UNDER THE RECALL, RATHER IT WAS BECAUSE THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND IT WOULD COST US $1940+ FOR IT TO BE REPAIRED. 5 DAYS AFTER PICKING THE VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALER THE ENGINE CONPLETELY QUIT AS THE VEHICLE WAS ABOUT TO TURN ONTO ANOTHER ROAD AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN.. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT APPEARED THE PROBLEM WAS THE FLY WHEEL, NOT RELATED TO THEIR REPAIR. THERE NEVER HAD BEEN ANY PROBLEM WITH THE PERFORMACE OF THIS VEHICLE AND ITS' ENGINE BEFORE VALDOSTA TOYOTA TOOK THE ENGINE APART TO MAKE THE RECALL REPAIRS. WE HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD THAT A NUMBER OF OTHER CARS ARE IN FOR NORMAL REPAIRS AND THAT THEY WILL GET TO OUR CAR WHENEVER THEY CAN. WE ARE CERTAIN THAT VALDOSTA TOYOTA EITHER DID NOT PROPERLY REPAIR THE ENGINE DURING THE RECALL REPAIRS OR THAT THEY DID FURTHER DAMAGE TO IT WHILE THEY WERE DOING THE REPAIRS.
Scion Iq 2012
- Date Of Incident: 2018-01-15
- Date Complaint: 2019-01-31
- VIN: JTNJJXB08CJ
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: THE PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE ENTIRE CAR. THE BODY SHOP SAID IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD ISSUE FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE, MODEL & COLOR. WHY WON'T TOYOTA DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT?
Scion Iq 2014
- Date Of Incident: 2018-08-16
- Date Complaint: 2018-08-18
- Crash: 1
- VIN: JTNJJXB01EJ
- Components: POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: ON AUG 16, 2018 @ 6:30 AM WHILE EXITING AT THE GARAGE IN MY APT HEADING TO WORK; I STARTED THE ENGINE OF MY CAR AND IT WAS OKEY. I STARTED TO DRIVE ON THE RAMP ON THE DRIVE WAY THE ENGINE STOPS. I REVERSED/ BACK UP AND STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN, WHILE ON THE RAMP AGAIN IT ACCELERATED AND NEVER STOP THOUGH BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE CAR WON'T STOP; SO I DECIDED TO CRASHED MY CAR AT THE CAR PARK ON THE SIDE STREET, BEFORE I REACH TO THE TRAFFIC LANE AND MIGHT CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT. I DAMAGED MY CAR ON THE DRIVER SIDE AS WELL AS THE CAR I CRASHED ON/ THE BUMPER, HEADLIGHT & FENDER WERE VISIBLY DAMAGED.
Scion Iq 2013
- Date Of Incident: 2017-10-21
- Date Complaint: 2018-03-11
- VIN: JTNJJXB04DJ
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, STARTING AT 86K MILES. USING 7 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES, WITH A STARTING CAPACITY OF 3.8 QUARTS. THIS MEANS I'M DOING 2 COMPLETE OIL CHANGES EVERY 3K MILES. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS NORMAL FOR THAT CAR TO USE SO MUCH OIL. OIL LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT HALF WAY THROUGH MY LAST OIL CHANGE (1700 MILES) CHECK THE DIP STICK AND IT WAS COMPLETELY DRY.
Scion Iq 2012
- Date Of Incident: 2017-10-05
- Date Complaint: 2018-01-10
- VIN: JTNJJXB09CJ
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: STARTING BACK IN OCTOBER TOOK CAR IN FOR OIL CHANGE, I WAS TOLD CAR HAD NO OIL. I BRING MY CAR IN FOR REGULAR OIL CHANGES, SO WAS NOT SURE WHAT WAS GOING ON, SO I DISMISSED IT... BROUGHT CAR BACK TODAY 01/10/18 HAD THEM CHECK THE OIL LEVELS AND THE CAR NEEDED 2 1/2 LITTER OF OIL... I WAS TOLD IT MIGHT BE THE PISTONS... PLEASE RECALL
Recalls Scion Iq
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 2 recalls for different components of the Scion Iq.You can explore the year of the Volkswagen Jetta you are interested in by selecting it from the list.
- Model: Scion Iq 2012
- Report Received Date: 2012-11-08
- Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Scion IQ vehicles manufactured July 31, 2011, through October 12, 2012. The cable for the Occupant Classification System (OCS) may become damaged when sliding the passenger seat forward or backward.
- Consequence: If the cable for the OCS becomes damaged, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
- Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover on the OCS weight sensor cable. The recall began on December 20, 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
- Model: Scion Iq 2013
- Report Received Date: 2012-11-08
- Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Scion IQ vehicles manufactured July 31, 2011, through October 12, 2012. The cable for the Occupant Classification System (OCS) may become damaged when sliding the passenger seat forward or backward.
- Consequence: If the cable for the OCS becomes damaged, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
- Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover on the OCS weight sensor cable. The recall began on December 20, 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Latest negative Scion Iq car reviews
Latest positive Scion Iq car reviews
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Vehicle year: 2015
Hi there! I hope you're doing well. I wanted to share my experience with my Scion IQ. I've noticed that my car has been getting around 27.5 mpg, which is a bit lower than the advertised 36/37 mpg. I'm a careful driver and don't make any sudden starts, so I was a bit surprised by this. I reached out to my dealer, Billion Motors in Sioux Falls, S.D., but unfortunately, the service manager wasn't very helpful. I'm a bit disappointed because I bought this car with the expectation of good mileage, but it hasn't quite lived up to that. Thanks for listening!
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Vehicle year: 2012
I stumbled upon this model at the dealership - it had low mileage and was reasonably priced. I've been thoroughly enjoying my driving experience with no issues so far. It's easy to get around and gets an impressive 38-40 mpg. I absolutely love my car! It's been three years and 80,000 miles and I still haven't had any problems. I've only had to do regular oil changes and replace the tires at 60,000 miles. Even at 132,000 miles in August 2021, it's still running great. I had to replace the serpentine belt at 110,000 miles and just recently did the brakes, but overall, I'm still in love with it!
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Vehicle year: 2015
If you are considering purchasing a 2012 Scion IQ up to 2013 JTNJJXB0#DJ025093, it is important to note that some of these vehicles were built with defective pistons. To avoid any unexpected expenses, we recommend ensuring that the seller can prove that the necessary repairs have been made. Toyota did issue a service bulletin S-SB-0032-13 regarding this issue, and while they did not recall the affected vehicles, they did offer a 'good will' gesture of $1900 towards the repair. While we understand that this may not have covered the full cost of the repair, we are glad to hear that the issue was resolved and that the car is now running smoothly. We appreciate your feedback and hope that you will continue to enjoy your Scion IQ.I drive 100 miles a day in the Dallas Metroplex. I have a sign on my car that says 'Beware of Toyotas with Defective Pistons.' Many people have seen it and some have even asked me about it. I have all the paperwork and a nice picture of the car with the sign in front of the new Toyota headquarters building. You can see the picture on my Facebook page. Although I still like the car, I will not be buying any more Toyotas because of the way I was treated. However, I am happy to report that my car is running fine after replacing the pistons at an out-of-pocket cost of about $2.5K. No other problems. Thank you for your interest.
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Vehicle year: 2013
UPDATE 12 FEB 2018 -- Hi there! Just wanted to share that I sold my iQ and I really miss it. However, I did end up buying a pre-owned Toyota Yaris for more backseat and cargo room. The Yaris is great, but it's not as refined as the iQ was. On the bright side, the cost of ownership and tires for a Yaris is less. // OLD iQ REVIEW: I bought a pre-owned base model in a lovely silver color. Even though it was a base model, it still came nicely equipped with stability and traction control, power windows and door locks, great AC, a fantastic stereo with speakers, 1 USB, 1 AUX, and 1 power port. My base model has hubcaps, but I actually prefer the way they look over the alloy wheels I've seen on other IQ's. There are pros and cons about this car, so let me start with the pros: It is one of the safest cars on the road, with 11 airbags, and it drives and handles great. The steering is quick and precise, and it can turn around in a very small space, making it easy to drive in traffic or parking lots. I don't have any trouble getting up to speed on highway on-ramps or passing vehicles when I need to. The engine is a 1.3L, which is plenty big. I'm not going to knock other cars in this class because I haven't driven them, but one car that's in the same class, but only has two seats, is sporting an engine almost half the size of the IQ, basically motorcycle size, and I don't think that's a viable option for a long-term vehicle. The 1.3L engine size has been commonly used around the world and has no issues. In fact, I actually belong to a Ford Festiva club in my area, and those were made with 1.3L engines back in the 80s and 90s that were less refined than the Toyota IQ engine. Anyone that knows about Festivas knows that they are one of the best basic utility cars ever made, and many are still on the road today running like champs (including mine); some with 300k plus on the odometer. The Scion IQ doesn't fall short in performance in my opinion. You won't be winning any races up the freeway ramp against bigger engine sports cars, but it performs very well and will get you to proper speed...Don't worry, nobody is going to blow your doors off. This car can make other drivers sweat while they try to pass you. On the highway, it doesn't want to cruise at 55mph... it wants to go 85mph smooth and quiet, so watch your speed! It has plenty of juice. The automatic CVT transmission performs great, revs low, is easy to use, and has a power option for climbing steep roads. In town, it also drives great and gets a lot of attention. They are not that common, and people tend to gather around them when parked. The interior is designed cool, and controls are easy to use. The computer readout on the left side of the dash can give the driver all sorts of data, including average mileage, a couple of trip odometers, eco on, clock, etc. Gas mileage for me has been better than the advertised 37 hwy and 37 city. I reset my trip odometer at every fill up and calculate my mileage mostly for fun, and in many cases, I get a little over 40mpg, which is a mix of city and city freeway. The CVT mentioned earlier is what makes this car perform so well. The one time I got less than 37mpg was a road trip to San Diego in which I drove a steady 75-80mph, steep hills, ac on, and averaged about 33mpg... still not bad! Cargo room is okay considering the size and length of this car. I mostly drive alone in it and just keep the backseats folded down to pick up packages, groceries, etc. The backseats are divided so you can fold one down if you have cargo and a back seat passenger. The car is really made for 3 adults and one small child or cargo. The front dash on the interior is offset to allow the front passenger to sit forward a little more if needed so an adult can ride in back. I have seen video reviews of 4 adults in the car, and actually, you could get a total of 5 in the car, but it's really a 3+1 car to be comfortable. Still, it's one of the smallest and best-made (Toyota) 4-seat cars in the world. ---- Cons: I really have no complaints, but here are a few cons to consider.The cargo space is limited if you need to transport large items other than mail packages and groceries. Although it doesn't come with a spare tire, it does have an electric air pump that plugs into the dash and slime to pump into the tire. I have not personally used this feature, but I did assist a lady in a new model Hyundai who had a flat tire and it worked perfectly, allowing her to seek out a tire repair or purchase. However, I would prefer to have a spare tire. The tires are wide and perform very well, but they are an odd size (P175/60R16) that only a few manufacturers make (Goodyear is the recommended tire). At the time of writing, the cost is approximately $153 each. Lastly, it's important to note that some drivers on the road who only use mirrors to change lanes might not see you due to the car's length. Overall, I absolutely love this car and I'm glad I purchased it. The Toyota quality also gives me confidence in its reliability. So far, I've only had one routine maintenance service at the Toyota dealer, and it was both fast and affordable.
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Vehicle year: 2012
These cars are really strong. My kid was hit by a Chevy Colbalt at 35 MPH and it held up great. The Chevy looked like it hit a pole, but the IQ only had minor damage to the right front. I would totally recommend this car.
Are you having problems with your Scion Iq?
Jermain Bernier 2024-11-27
Vehicle year: 2015
I found the editor's comment about larger cars at the same price quite amusing. After all, the whole point of this car is its small size. Personally, I love zipping around in a tiny car like this. However, I do wish it had a bit more zip to it. Additionally, the fuel economy isn't much better than my Mazda CX-5 SUV, which is a shame. At startup, the engine sounds like there are loose marbles inside, and it can make other uninspiring noises from time to time. Unfortunately, the brake pedal also makes a loud, annoying clicking noise (although Toyota assures me that this is normal). It doesn't offer a lot of features for the money, but the tiny size is definitely a plus point.
Collin Ratke 2024-10-20
Vehicle year: 2013
I found the editor's comment about larger cars at the same price quite amusing. After all, the whole point of this car is its small size, which is perfect for people like me who want a zippy little car to get around in. However, I have noticed that it doesn't quite have the zip I was hoping for, and the fuel economy isn't much better than my Mazda CX-5 SUV. At startup, the engine sounds like there are loose marbles inside, and it can make other uninspiring noises from time to time. Additionally, the brake pedal makes a loud, annoying clicking noise (although Toyota assures me that this is normal). While it may not offer a lot of features for the money, the tiny size is definitely a plus point.
Miguel Olson 2024-10-08
Vehicle year: 2014
The comment by the editor that there are larger cars at the same price is hilarious. The whole idea about this car is being small. People like me want a tiny car to zip around. Only problem is that the car doesn't zip very much. And for a tiny car the fuel economy is not much better than my Mazda CX-5 SUV. The engine sounds like there are loose marbles inside at startup, and also makes other uninspiring noises from time to time. The brake pedal makes loud annoying clicking noise (normal noise, according to Toyota). It doesn't offer a lot of features for the money. The only good thing about it is the tiny size.
Judson Kuvalis 2024-09-06
Vehicle year: 2013
I bought this IQ with the expectation of great MPG, but unfortunately, I only averaged about 27mph. After doing some research on Google, I found that others had the same issue. It's disappointing that a tiny car like this can't achieve better fuel efficiency. I ended up returning the car with only 100 miles on it and was quite frustrated. Instead, I opted for a Prius C. While the back seats do touch the front seats, which can be a bit uncomfortable, I appreciate the extra space it provides. It's worth noting that you need to remove the headrests to fold the back seats, but overall, it's a functional feature. Although the IQ's back seats don't offer much storage space, I understand that they're there to accommodate up to four passengers. Perhaps it would be better to remove them entirely if they're not useful.
Lucio Pfeffer 2024-04-27
Vehicle year: 2013
For a small car, it may not have the zip or exceptional fuel economy that you would expect. Additionally, it does not have rear disc brakes or any fancy features to justify its 'premium' compact branding. The engine can make a terrible noise and sound like it has valve problems, but it usually quiets down when warmed up, which may give some doubt to its long-term reliability. The steering wheel can make scraping sounds, and the brake pedal can make loud and annoying clicking sounds. However, it is important to note that Toyota technology and quality are not present in this car.