2012 Scion IQ Problems
- Complaints
- 17filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 30,000miles, 11 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns 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
- 37 mpgcombined, 1.3L 4-cyl FWD · 36 city / 37 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2012 Scion IQ (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2012 Scion IQ. The part named most often is body and structure, with 6 complaints (35% of the total), followed by air bags (4) and engine (4). 11 of the complaints include a mileage, and 64% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 30,000 miles. Of all complaints, 4 involved a crash, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 89 technical service bulletins for this model year. Body and structure complaints overlap with 17 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Air bags complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the sensor/control module-inactive and 5 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.
- Body and structure6 35%
- Air bags4 24%
- Engine4 24%
- Other or unknown3 18%
- Exterior lighting1 5.9%
- Seat belts1 5.9%
- Steering1 5.9%
Example complaints
Body and structure: “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?”
NHTSA complaint #11173297, filed 2019-01, 43,000 milesAir bags: “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. …”
NHTSA complaint #11549951, filed 2023-10Engine: “When cold the cv transmission in the IQ will not allow the vehicle to pull away up a steep hill. This has happened several times and represents a serious safety concern. The issue only happens when the car is cold, it will pull the same hill with no problem when warm. The IQ has a cv transmission and it fails to adjust to a high enough RPM to pull away up a steep (10%) grade. The problem manifests as either no or very slow forward progress (less than walking speed) even with the accelerator hard down. The dealership service rep seemed unconcerned about the issue.”
NHTSA complaint #10546045, filed 2013-09, 6,000 milesOther or unknown: “In manhattan waseem naseem ahmed and yes it mahmood did heroine,marijuana and robbery crime on this scion2012 vehicle in the absent of owner car owner in june 2015 and that case still not close they need both of them information I am ready to give there information bcuz I want to remove flag from my car please.I have no other cars I need to drive it.they detective of manhattan's said until you didnot tell your brother name or info I didnot remove flag on your car.and alot of time I drove my vehicle but I am still scared if someone know this car has flag on it then what happens and now I want…”
NHTSA complaint #11023848, filed 2017-09, 30,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
64% of the 11 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 5,000 and 62,000 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.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2012 Scion IQ version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iQ FWD | 1.3L 4-cyl | CVT | 36 | 37 | 37 | $1,800 |
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
- 12V528000Nov 8, 2012Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactiveCovers: Scion IQ 2012–2013
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.
Recall details for the 2012 Scion IQ → · Check a 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. 89 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 10230369Dec 14, 2022Body and structure. DL: Toyota has received reports of paint peeling on certain vehicles with the original factory-applied Blizzard Pearl or Super White paint colors. These reports indicate that vehicles with these…
- 10230368Dec 14, 2022Body and structure. DL: Toyota has received reports of paint peeling on certain vehicles with the original factory-applied Blizzard Pearl or Super White paint colors. These reports indicate that vehicles with these…
- 10230367Dec 14, 2022Body and structure. DL: Toyota has received reports of paint peeling on certain vehicles with the original factory-applied Blizzard Pearl or Super White paint colors. These reports indicate that vehicles with these…
- 10220158May 18, 2022Body and structure. DL: Toyota has received reports of paint peeling on certain vehicles with the original factory-applied Blizzard Pearl or Super White paint colors. These reports indicate that vehicles with these…
- 10211828Apr 28, 2022Body and structure, Equipment. DL: Toyota has received reports of paint peeling on certain vehicles with the original factory-applied Blizzard Pearl or Super White paint colors. These reports indicate that vehicles with these…
- 10211826Apr 28, 2022Equipment. CSP: Customer Support Program ZKG - Paint Repair Process Operation Flow Chart
- 10204546Oct 28, 2021Body and structure. DL: CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM ZKG Multiple Models and Model Years Vehicles Painted with Blizzard Pearl (070) or Super White (040) Paint Color Coverage for Peeling of Factory-Applied Paint
- 10204545Oct 27, 2021Body and structure. RL: CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM ZKG Multiple Models and Model Years Vehicles Painted with Blizzard Pearl (070) or Super White (040) Paint Color Coverage for Peeling of Factory-Applied Paint
- 10185779Dec 11, 2020Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). TT: HVAC drain tube is found to be blocked/clogged.
- 10181769Sep 14, 2020Equipment. TI: TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS Customer Support Program ZKG Multiple Models and Model Years Vehicles Painted with Blizzard Pearl (070) or Super White (040) Paint Color Coverage for Peeling of…
Other model years of the Scion IQ
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 5 | 40,800 | 1 | — | 37 | — | Not enough data |
| 2012 | 17 | 30,000 | 1 | — | 37 | — | Falling |
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2012 Scion IQ have?
NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2012 Scion IQ as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2012 Scion IQ is reported most often?
Body and structure is named most often, in 6 complaints (35% of the total), followed by air bags with 4.
Has the 2012 Scion IQ been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Scion IQ get?
The EPA rates the 2012 Scion IQ (iQ, 1.3L 4-cyl) at 37 mpg combined, 36 city and 37 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,800 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2012 Scion IQ reported?
Among the 11 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 30,000 miles and the middle half falls between 5,000 and 62,000 miles; 64% 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.