NHTSA — Power Train Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
34,600 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Scion iA drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2016 Scion iA Owner Comments

problem #5

Nov 122021

iA

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Was getting off work. Started car and Engine system malfunction light, DSC malfunction light, TPMS System Malfunction light, Auto transmission malfunction light, and SCBS malfunction light all turned on. Car was not currently in motion when lights went on. Was in parking lot. Turned car off, and restarted, lights remained on. 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. Car drove on highway and car seemed fine. Dealership scan car and received code P0847, tech cleared code and test drove car. Problem can not be reproduced.

- Rosemead, CA, USA

problem #4

Sep 192019

iA

  • 91,000 miles
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. Since then there has been a transmission grinding and severe vibration while in drive or reverse. I called Toyota customer service and asked for a buy back. They declined. I also complained about the dealership and their lack of caring and understanding. Toyota corporate does not care. Dealership keeps saying this vibration and behavior is normal for this car. It is dangerous now because it stalls out intermittently when placed in drive or reverse. When it does go it launches forward. Also the vibration is so severe it will shake the teeth in my mouth. I have video on my phone of the transmission also hanging up in gear and the dealership and Toyota corporate did not seem to care I had proof the new transmission is faulty. Also, the infotainment system keeps crashing and was quoted almost $2,000 to fix it. They acknowledge that's a common problem but refuse to offer any assistance to fix it. On top of it all the brakes are horrible and they have been replaced and still are loud and act like they don't want to stop. Wet conditions also make braking more difficult. I would also like to say the passenger seat is sensitive to weight and the airbag light will turn to on and the seat belt will chime even when no one is in the seat. My cell phone can be sitting in the seat and it makes it chime and the passenger airbag active.

- Easley, SC, USA

problem #3

Jul 282019

iA

  • 30,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Scion Ia. On two separate occasions, while driving, the transmission erroneously downshifted and caused the vehicle to abruptly decelerate. 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. In a separate incident, the passenger sustained head, neck, and shoulder injuries from when the vehicle abruptly reduced speed. A police report was not filed. The cause of the failures was not determined. Lake city Toyota (12059 lake city way ne, seattle, wa) and the manufacturer were notified and provided case number: 1909103427). The failure mileage was 30,000.

- Everett, WA, USA

problem #2

Aug 152018

iA

  • 40,000 miles
While driving, indicating warning lights on dash start blinking (ABS, check engine, traction, and others), then the engine goes into low hear and stays until the vehicle is turned off and back on. During these episodes the speed odometer is erratic. Also when in this state, the reverse gear does not engage. When this started it was a once a month problem, then weekly, now it happens daily/hourly. It started at approximately 40,000 miles. This happens while driving on city streets and highway, most of the time at stops and lower speeds but does happen on freeway too.

- Salinas, CA, USA

problem #1

Mar 242018

iA

  • 12,000 miles
Four times now( on different occasions) after shifting the car into reverse the engine made horrible grinding sounds and the car began to lurch violently as I attepmpted to back up. It eventually stalled out completely. On one occasion I was able to have somebody shift the car into reverse so I could look under the hood while the car was grinding and lurching. I saw the engine start to vibrate and then dump forward and then repeat that cycle. I do have video of the event on my phone but I am not able to download it to this lap top.

- Stow, OH, USA

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