AI Damage2016 Scion IA: common problems
Owners of the 2016 Scion IA filed 23 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. The maker issued 71 service bulletins for this year. We found 7 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 23
- involving a crash
- 6
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 71
- YouTube repair videos
- 7
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 35% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 30% of all complaints
- 3 Air bags 26% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 22% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 17% of all complaints
- 6 Vehicle speed control 13% of all complaints
- 7 Structure 4% of all complaints
- 8 Steering 4% of all complaints
- Engine: 8 complaints (35% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 9.
- Electrical system: 7 complaints (30% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 10.
- Air bags: 6 complaints (26% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 5 complaints (22% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
- Service brakes: 4 complaints (17% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
- manual, 6-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 23 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 | 8 | 1 | 9 |
| Electrical system | 7 | 0 | 10 |
| Air bags | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 5 | 1 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 25 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 28 |
| Tires | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Fuel system | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Visibility | 0 | 0 | 1 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 scion ia. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph, they crashed into a wild horse. The contact stated that no air bags deployed. The vehicle was towed and a police report was filed. The contact sustained no injuries and no medical attention was needed.
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
During the failure, a loud grinding metal noise was present under the vehicle and an unknown warning indicator displayed. On one occasion, while driving, the failure occurred and caused a second vehicle to crash into the rear of the contact's vehicle. The driver sustained neck, back, and shoulder injuries.
Very poorly wired and wires are spliced together which I a fire hazard
Drove vehicle 6.8 miles home, car was in limp mode. When at home used OBD2 scan tool and got codes P0847 C1031 U0401 B13D3 Cleared codes and unplugged 12 volt battery to reset system. Only engine system malfunction light remained. Parked car overnight and went to dealership next morning.
I went to dealership, who said the whole infotainment system needs replaced, which is about $1200 with parts and labor. It has been doing this with less than 30,000 miles on the car and has gotten worse. It causes the display to go in and out, which happens also with the backup camera.
The check engine light and battery light will display on the dash. However, when I put the car back in park and restart the engine there are no indicator lights on and no check engine light whatsoever.
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.
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 1,198 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 43% least complained about).
On average one model year of the IA has 8 complaints (3 years in the data). This year has 23, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air…
The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and…
- The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix…
The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and…
- To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used…
To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from…
- Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical…
Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal…
- Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal…
Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow…
- Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad…
Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can…
- Some 2005 – 2024 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a…
Some 2005 – 2024 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition…
- Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal…
Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination.
- TSB
Some 2010 ? 2022 model year Toyota vehicles may exhibit paint stains after the removal of Rapgard?. The paint stains may appear to be under the clear coat but are usually under wrinkles in the Rapgard?. The wrinkles…
- Techstream Smart Key Programming
- Pre-Delivery Service(PDS)
- Pre Delivery Service Checklist
NHTSA lists 71 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Scion IA?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, electrical system, air bags. Total complaints: 23. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: vibration (17%), warning lights, check engine (17%), knocking, grinding or other noise (13%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2016 Scion IA?
NHTSA lists 71 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 2016 Scion IA 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 2016 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 2026-11-04.