2013 Scion FR-S Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

141Engine complaints

78.8%Of all 179 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE141 · 78.8%

POWER TRAIN21 · 11.7%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM8 · 4.5%

Unspecified / other8 · 4.5%

STEERING7 · 3.9%

Share of the 179 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2013 Scion FR-S overview page.

What owners report

“MY VEHICLE HAD THE J02 RECALL PERFORMED ON 1-22-2019. SIX MONTHS LATER (ONLY 2,000 MILES LATER ON THE CAR) THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE BEGAN TO HAVE…”NHTSA complaint 11339655 — filed 07/16/2020

“ON JUNE 28TH I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON A RAINY DAY. WHILE TAKING A CURVE THE CAR LOST TRACTION CAUSE THE TRACTION LIGHT TO…”NHTSA complaint 11331414 — filed 06/29/2020

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SCION FR-S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE AN ABNORMAL TAPPING NOISE…”NHTSA complaint 11329646 — filed 06/18/2020

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2013 Scion FR-S have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2013 Scion FR-S: 141 of 179 complaints on file (78.8%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2013 Scion FR-S have in total?

179 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 3 involved a crash, 3 involved a fire, 1 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.