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Scion IAModel year report

2016 Scion IA Problems

Complaints
23filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
29,000miles, 17 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
36 mpgcombined, 1.5L 4-cyl FWD · 32 city / 41 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2016 Scion IA (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 23 consumer complaints for the 2016 Scion IA. The part named most often is engine, with 8 complaints (35% of the total), followed by electrical system (7) and air bags (6). 17 of the complaints include a mileage, and 71% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 29,000 miles. Of all complaints, 6 involved a crash, 5 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 117 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine complaints overlap with 11 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 19 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Engine: “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”

NHTSA complaint #11190968, filed 2019-03, 29,000 miles

Electrical system: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #11186554, filed 2019-03, 76,000 miles

Air bags: “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”

NHTSA complaint #11311928, filed 2020-02, 48,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #11290769, filed 2019-12, 91,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

71% of the 17 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 12,000 and 66,000 miles.

24%0–1012%10–2535%25–506%50–7512%75–10012%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (17 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 29,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

2016201720186201920202022
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2016 Scion IA version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
iA FWD1.5L 4-cyl6-speed automatic324136$1,850
iA FWD1.5L 4-cyl6-speed manual314034$1,950

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2016 Scion IA in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 117 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 117 bulletins →

Other model years of the Scion IA

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20162329,0000—36—Falling

All Scion IA model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2016 Scion IA have?

NHTSA recorded 23 consumer complaints for the 2016 Scion IA as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2016 Scion IA is reported most often?

Engine is named most often, in 8 complaints (35% of the total), followed by electrical system with 7.

Has the 2016 Scion IA been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2016 Scion IA get?

The EPA rates the 2016 Scion IA (iA, 1.5L 4-cyl) at 36 mpg combined, 32 city and 41 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,850 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2016 Scion IA reported?

Among the 17 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 29,000 miles and the middle half falls between 12,000 and 66,000 miles; 71% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

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. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.