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2012 Scion Iq

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 12 of 17 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Structure. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

17 reports
30,000 miles · Sep 17, 2017
Unknown Or Other

IN MANHATTAN WASEEM NASEEM AHMED AND YES IT MAHMOOD DID HEROINE,MARIJUANA AND ROBBERY CRIME ON THIS SCION2012 VEHICLE IN THE ABSENT OF OWNER CAR OWNER IN JUNE 2015 AND THAT CASE STILL NOT CLOSE THEY NEED BOTH OF THEM INFORMATION I AM READY TO GIVE THERE INFORMATION BCUZ I WANT TO REMOVE FLAG FROM MY CAR PLEASE.I HAVE NO OTHER CA…

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IN MANHATTAN WASEEM NASEEM AHMED AND YES IT MAHMOOD DID HEROINE,MARIJUANA AND ROBBERY CRIME ON THIS SCION2012 VEHICLE IN THE ABSENT OF OWNER CAR OWNER IN JUNE 2015 AND THAT CASE STILL NOT CLOSE THEY NEED BOTH OF THEM INFORMATION I AM READY TO GIVE THERE INFORMATION BCUZ I WANT TO REMOVE FLAG FROM MY CAR PLEASE.I HAVE NO OTHER CARS I NEED TO DRIVE IT.THEY DETECTIVE OF MANHATTAN'S SAID UNTIL YOU DIDNOT TELL YOUR BROTHER NAME OR INFO I DIDNOT REMOVE FLAG ON YOUR CAR.AND ALOT OF TIME I DROVE MY VEHICLE BUT I AM STILL SCARED IF SOMEONE KNOW THIS CAR HAS FLAG ON IT THEN WHAT HAPPENS AND NOW I WANT TO CHANGE ITS SOME PARTS WITH SAME MODELS JUNK CAR AND THEN I WILL DRIVE IT.

NHTSA ODI #11023848

26,000 miles · Jul 3, 2015
Unknown Or Other

DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR MAT ATTACHMENT HAS BROKEN OFF. THE PLASTIC ARMS HAVE SNAPPED AT THE END OF THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE FLOOR MATS NOW MOVE AROUND AND PRESENT A POSSIBLE SAFETY RISK IF THE FLOOR MAT BECOMES LODGED UNDER THE GAS PEDDLE.

NHTSA ODI #10731889

6,000 miles · Sep 28, 2013
EnginePower Train

WHEN COLD THE CV TRANSMISSION IN THE IQ WILL NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO PULL AWAY UP A STEEP HILL. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. THE ISSUE ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS COLD, IT WILL PULL THE SAME HILL WITH NO PROBLEM WHEN WARM. THE IQ HAS A CV TRANSMISSION AND IT FAILS TO ADJUST T…

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WHEN COLD THE CV TRANSMISSION IN THE IQ WILL NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO PULL AWAY UP A STEEP HILL. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. THE ISSUE ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS COLD, IT WILL PULL THE SAME HILL WITH NO PROBLEM WHEN WARM. THE IQ HAS A CV TRANSMISSION AND IT FAILS TO ADJUST TO A HIGH ENOUGH RPM TO PULL AWAY UP A STEEP (10%) GRADE. THE PROBLEM MANIFESTS AS EITHER NO OR VERY SLOW FORWARD PROGRESS (LESS THAN WALKING SPEED) EVEN WITH THE ACCELERATOR HARD DOWN. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE REP SEEMED UNCONCERNED ABOUT THE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10546045

1,500 miles · Mar 8, 2013
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SCION IQ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH OVER A ROAD BUMP, THE CONTACT TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING SYSTEM WAS NOT STABLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE DEALER PERFORMED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SCION IQ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH OVER A ROAD BUMP, THE CONTACT TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING SYSTEM WAS NOT STABLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE DEALER PERFORMED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING OVER A ROAD BUMP. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO FURTHER EXAMINE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500. UPDATED 3/28/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING HAD A QUICK OVER STEER, CREATING A DANGEROUS CONDITION, WHEN HAVING TO QUICKLY CHANGE DIRECTION WHILE TRAVELING.

NHTSA ODI #10502115

Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2013
Air BagsCrashInjury

THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT THAT ENDED IN A TOTAL LOSS. THE IQ WAS HIT BY AN F150 TRUCK AND NONE OF THE IQ AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE IQ WAS AT JOEMYERS TOYOTA ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT TO FIX THE SAFETY RECALL OF THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING. WE HAVE PAPERWORK FROM JOEMYERS TOYOTA IN HOUSTON, TX STATING THAT THEY CAR'S SAFETY R…

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THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT THAT ENDED IN A TOTAL LOSS. THE IQ WAS HIT BY AN F150 TRUCK AND NONE OF THE IQ AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE IQ WAS AT JOEMYERS TOYOTA ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT TO FIX THE SAFETY RECALL OF THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING. WE HAVE PAPERWORK FROM JOEMYERS TOYOTA IN HOUSTON, TX STATING THAT THEY CAR'S SAFETY RECALL CONCERNS WERE REPAIRED. THE IQ WAS SOLD TO US AS BEING SAFE BASED ON THE AMOUNT AND PLACEMENT OF THE AIRBAGS. THE DRIVER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED, TAKEN BY AMBULANCE AND STILL RECOVERING FROM A BRAIN INJURY. THE RESCUE WORKERS, DOCTORS,ATTORNEYS ETC SAID IF THE AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED THE INJURY TO THE DRIVER'S BRAIN WOULD NOT OF BEEN SO SEVERE. WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS THIS PROBLEM, THE DRIVER COULD HAVE DIED BASED ON THE IQ NOT BEING SAFE AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10499704

562 miles · Dec 17, 2012
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SCION IQ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A UNKNOWN SPEED, SHE CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE CHEST AND RIBS DUE TO STRIKING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER 12V528000 (AIR BAGS) AND CALLED TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SCION IQ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A UNKNOWN SPEED, SHE CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE CHEST AND RIBS DUE TO STRIKING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER 12V528000 (AIR BAGS) AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT ALL OF THE VEHICLES UNDER THE RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A BODY SHOP FOR REPAIRS. THE BODY REPAIR TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSORS WERE TOO LOW TO ACTIVATE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT DURING THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 562.

NHTSA ODI #10488990

5,000 miles · Oct 13, 2012
Structure

CLEANING FRONT OF CAR WITH A WET TERRY CLOTH...RUBBED PAINT RIGHT OFF THE FRONT NEAR HOOD EMBLEM. THANKS EPA FOR CRAP PAINT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10479981

Official recalls

1

12V528000 · Air Bags; Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Nov 8, 2012

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the cable for the OCS becomes damaged, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.

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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

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.

Consequence: If the cable for the OCS becomes damaged, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.

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.

Air Bags

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.

Consequence: If the cable for the OCS becomes damaged, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.