AI Damage2014 Scion FR-S: common problems
Owners of the 2014 Scion FR-S filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and seat belts. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 80% of all complaints
- 2 Seat belts 20% of all complaints
- Engine: 4 complaints (80% of all).
- Seat belts: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
- manual, 6-speed
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 5 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Timing chain cover oil leak Oil pan cover oil leak Has been a persistent leak since I purchased the car in 2014. Iâve learned itâs an extremely common issue which the dealership wonât warranty. Itâs been a documented leak since 2015 and over $2500 to fix.
There was a recall but it was halted because after the recall , most recalled toyota frs still get stalled due to the sealants used . We have several (all toyota ) cars and this car in particular is just used 40 miles a month . Our restaurant is just a mile away from where we live .
The contact stated that the seat belt pretensioner failed to operate correctly as the passenger's and driver's door ajar warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 155,085.
Upon his visual inspection and by starting it up he heard a loud knocking. Then he informed me that it "pooped a rod bearing" and that I need a new motor. He mentioned a used motor goes for $5000. I was shocked to hear that I needed a new motor at 60,181 miles.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 14,282 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).
On average one model year of the FR-S has 50 complaints (4 years in the data). This year has 5, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2014 Scion FR-S?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, seat belts. Total complaints: 5. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (20%), oil leak or consumption (20%), seat belts (20%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2014 Scion FR-S?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2014 Scion FR-S from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2014 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.