2014 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.
Social links
Common 2014 Scion Iq problems
The Scion IQ, produced by Toyota and sold in North America from 2012 to 2015, was an unconventional choice for those navigating urban landscapes.
One of the main issues that affected the Scion IQ was its continuously variable transmission (CVT), which was poorly calibrated.
Another challenge for the Scion IQ was its competition. With more spacious and affordable alternatives available in the market, the iQ struggled to attract and retain customers. The Fiat 500, for instance, generated more sales activity in its first ten months than the iQ did throughout its entire production run.
The Scion IQ's size was both a blessing and a curse. While it made the car nimble and easy to park, it also raised concerns about its stability and safety. Scion's Doug Murtha acknowledged this, stating, "Physics are physics, and they're nervous about driving a vehicle that size".
Reliability was another area where the Scion IQ faced challenges. While consumer reports and rating agencies had mixed opinions about the car's reliability, owners seemed generally satisfied with their compact city cars.
In summary, the Scion IQ faced several challenges during its production run, including a poorly calibrated CVT, outdated drum brakes, fierce competition, concerns about its size, and mixed opinions on its reliability. These factors contributed to the car's eventual discontinuation in 2015.
Is the 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.
Why did they stop making Scion iQ?
The main issues which had a negative impact on the iQ included its size, its more spacious competition, its more spacious and more affordable competition, and perhaps even the logo above its front grille. “Physics are physics,” Scion's Doug Murtha said, “and they're nervous about driving a vehicle that size.”
Is Toyota iQ reliable?
Toyota has an excellent reputation for reliability, though there are a few things to look out for with the IQ. The first concerns the gearbox, which can be hard to change gear, especially between second and third gear. If on your test drive it's hard to change gear, we'd recommend looking elsewhere.
Is the Scion a reliable car?
While the Scion brand may no longer be in production, it was a subsidiary of Toyota, a brand known for producing durable and reliable vehicles. This reliability has transferred well to the Scion xB, which boasts a generally solid track record of performance and minimal major issues.
2014 Scion Iq car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Scion Iq problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Power train problems
- Vehicle speed control problems
- Service brakes problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2014 Scion Iq vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2014 Scion Iq complaints
The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2014 Scion Iq.
POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2018-08-16
- 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.
Negative 2014 Scion Iq car reviews
Positive 2014 Scion Iq car reviews
-
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... Thanks for reading!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.
-
I usually drive alone, and I'm looking for a car that offers the best value, the best MPG, and zippy performance. I don't need a race car, but I want to be able to zip around town, take corners fast, and go up steep grades at 80+MPH when I feel like it. It's important to me that my phone works seamlessly with the car, including all its features like Pandora Radio, podcasts, online streaming news radio, and the navigation system. I also want a comfortable interior, the ability to use regular gasoline, and to be surrounded by airbags. Lastly, I don't want a car that looks like everyone else's. The Scion iQ is the only car that offers all of these features. I found that the Fiat couldn't handle the hills, gets 7MPG less, requires premium fuel, and costs more.
-
I was initially drawn to the iQ for its impressive gas mileage, but I quickly grew to appreciate this little car even more. When it came time to make a final decision, my wife asked our children, 'What car do you see your dad driving?' Their answer made it clear that the iQ was the perfect choice for me. Now, I'm happily driving a lovely purple iQ that I've customized with lowering springs, an anti-sway bar, fog lights, and a spoiler. I've also added a Pioneer AVIC Z140BH and an Injen Cold Air Intake. I absolutely adore my little iQ - it's peppy, handles like a dream, and I'm quite pleased with its gas mileage. I know it will only get better as I continue to break in the engine.
-
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.
-
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. Although I had some difficulty using this gesture towards purchasing the parts myself, I was ultimately able to have Toyota replace the pistons and they did cover the $1900. Since the repair, my car has been running smoothly and getting great gas mileage. While I did have some issues with Toyota's customer policies, I still enjoy my Scion IQ and would recommend it to others.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.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2014 Scion Iq problems:
Is the iq a reliable car? | Scion IQ Forums
Sep 15, 2018 ... ... scion/iq/reliability. Rostra makes an ... I bought my 2013 iQ in Feb of 2014 ... They have problems with oil consumption and the white ones have ...
2014 Scion iQ Problems | Kelley Blue Book
How reliable is the 2014 Scion iQ? See the most common repairs performed and learn if your vehicle is at risk for major repairs in the next 12 months.
How long can Scion IQ last? | Scion IQ Forums
Aug 4, 2014 ... I've been to 18 countries in the US Air Force and one common ... Never any problems with the engine ir transmission. ... Photos of the Scion iQ ...

Thoughts on buying a Scion iQ with 90k for 6k as a daily driver on ...
Sep 27, 2019 ... Had it since 2014 and had no issues except the doors wont auto lock Have to so it manually :( got 135k miles on it and has been from coast ...
2014 Scion iQ Repair: Service and Maintenance Cost
Get 2014 Scion iQ repair and maintenance costs, common problems, recalls, and more. Find certified Scion mechanics near you.
Miguel Olson 2024-10-08
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.
Jonathon O'Hara 2024-01-28
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 and there isn't much legroom, I found it to be a better fit for my needs. Although the backseats cannot be folded without removing the headrests, I still found it to be a more practical option. While the IQ claims to seat four, it's not very practical as there is no luggage room. Perhaps removing the backseats altogether would be a better option as they serve no real purpose.
Miller Gottlieb 2024-01-27
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.