2013 Scion FR-S Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 141about this part
- Share
- 79%of 179 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 74,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 141 complaints about the engine of the 2013 Scion FR-S, 79% of the 179 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 74,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I took it in for the valve spring recall. I drove it for 8000 miles/9 months later. Car started knocking and stalled. Engine had a oil galley that got clogged, which cause oil starvation. Car ended up needing a new engine, dealership refused to cover the cost of the replacement. The car was being driven home on a residential street.”
NHTSA complaint #11324612, filed 2020-05, 89,000 miles“Driving to work, had a knock at around 3500 rpms. Knock progressively worsened. I pushed in the clutch to coast off the freeway and the car died. Engine oil PSI light momentarily illuminated. This happend within just a few thousand miles of having the valve spring recall performed. I will be towing the car to a toyota dealership after work”
NHTSA complaint #11218511, filed 2019-06, 96,000 miles“Had the recall j02 done on my 2013 Scion frs at 37,739 miles on the car and 1,000 miles later the car has a motor that has a bad rod due to oil not getting through. I have never had problems with this car until after the motor was worked on by the toyota dealership. Now they wont fix it. Driving the vehicle and the car just shut off. It was making a knocking sound right before that happened.”
NHTSA complaint #11205266, filed 2019-05, 38,851 miles“Took the car in to toyota dealer for a safety recall on the engine. Now it runs rough and the engine knocks all the time. The dealer says it is normal after the recall. It sounds like a diesel now and I am afraid to drive it. I own two of these and they both have the same problem.”
NHTSA complaint #11323377, filed 2020-05, 78,000 miles“The engine is making a rattling noise whenever I try starting the car and it dies after 30 seconds. The rattling noise started happening only after 2 months of buying the car. The noise specifically started happening after I was driving it from work and after taking a u-turn, a rattling noise just started growing louder and louder up until it just slowly died and I had to pull over to the side of the street.”
NHTSA complaint #11232198, filed 2019-07, 25 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10087902Jul 19, 2016Tt: this document provides some clarification of the timing chain removal and installation.
- 10086764Jul 19, 2016Tt: this document provides some clarification of the timing chain removal and installation.
- 10087870Jul 18, 2016Tt: customer may complain about an oil leak from the bottom of the oil pan. After a closer inspection you may find the leak is coming from the oil drain plug itself.
- 10086505Jul 18, 2016Tt: customer may complain about an oil leak from the bottom of the oil pan. After a closer inspection you may find the leak is coming from the oil drain plug itself.
- 10093994Nov 15, 2015Tt: the scion fr-s repair manual calls for the use three bond 1217g or equivalent (tb 1217h) when performing mechanical engine repairs on the fr-s fa20 engine. Toyota fipg 1207b…
- 10132574May 26, 2015SB: Flash reprogramming allows the ECU software to be updated without replacing the ECU. Flash calibration updates for specific vehicle models/ECUs are released as field-fix…
- 10134172Mar 9, 2015TechTip: Condition: This document provides some clarification of the timing chain Removal and Installation. Use this procedure in addition to the Repair Manual.
- 10109390Nov 17, 2014TT: The Scion FR-S Repair manual calls for the use Three Bond 1217G or equivalent (TB 1217H) when performing mechanical Engine repairs on the FR-S FA20 Engine. Toyota FIPG 1207B…
- 10061342Nov 17, 2014Summary to be provided on a future date.
- 10132743Jul 8, 2014Tech Tip: Starting with the 2010 Model Year, Scion began a gradual transition to the use of synthetic 0w20 viscosity engine oil. There are multiple benefits of this oil…
Engine: other model years
Other parts of the 2013 Scion FR-S
21 complaintsFuel system
9 complaintsOther or unknown
8 complaintsSteering
7 complaintsEngine cooling
5 complaintsAir bags
3 complaintsWheels
3 complaintsBrakes
2 complaintsElectrical system
2 complaintsVehicle speed control
2 complaintsElectronic stability control
1 complaintsExterior lighting
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2013 Scion FR-S
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology