Most common 2013 Scion iQ problems
Share of the 5 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Scion iQ complaints by model year
2013 Scion iQ recalls (1)
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
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.
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.
What 2013 Scion iQ owners say
Engine & cooling
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. …
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, [phone]). 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. …
2013 Scion iQ engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | CVT | FWD | 138 / 105 / 121 MPGe | 38 mi |
| 1.3L 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | 36 / 37 / 37 | — |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2013 Scion iQ a good car?
That is a low number of complaints for a car on sale this long. So far owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA.
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Scion iQ?
The engine & cooling — 5 complaints, 100% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the air bags (1) and body & structure (1).
How many recalls does the 2013 Scion iQ have?
There is 1 recall for the 2013 Scion iQ, the most recent from November 8, 2012 (sensor/control module-inactive). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do 2013 Scion iQ problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 41,000 miles; 60% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.