The 2016 Scion Ia has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 5 recurring issue clusters, led by “Brake noise after cold start.” Every Scion is another company's car in a hoodie, and the maintenance follows the donor. Most models (xA, xB, tC, xD, iQ, iM) are pure Toyota: 5,000-mile or 6-month service visits, oil every 10,000 miles on the 0W-20 cars (5,000 on early models), iridium plugs at 120,000, and famously little else. The FR-S is a Subaru boxer underneath and marches to Subaru's beat, with plugs at 60,000 and its own coolant schedule. The iA is a Mazda2 with Skyactiv service intervals. Parts and service remain easy through Toyota dealers, which is most of why used Scions make sense.
No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2016 Scion Ia.
SERVICE BRAKES
2 NHTSA complaints · 2018-06 → 2018-10
“2016 SCION IA. BRAKES MAKE LOUD NOISE WHEN APPLIED AFTER COLD START OR LONG PERIOD OF TIME ENGINE IS OFF. NOISE DISAPPEARS AFTER 3-5 BRAKE ATTEMPTS AND BRIEFLY SHOWS UP AGAIN AFTERWARDS. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS”
“BRAKES MAKE LOUD NOISE WHEN APPLIED AFTER COLD START OR LONG PERIOD OF TIME ENGINE IS OFF. NOISE DISAPPEARS AFTER 2-3 BRAKE ATTEMPTS AND BRIEFLY SHOWS UP AGAIN AFTERWARDS”
AIR BAGS
3 NHTSA complaints · 2018-08 → 2020-09
“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”
“I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES AND I SLAMMED ON MINE AND THEN THE CAR BEHIND ME HIT ME AND I HIT THE CARIN FRONT OF ME. MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY WHEN HIT FROM BEHIND AND THEN I HIT CAR IN FRONT OF ME . MY CAR IS TOTALED”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SCION IA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. UPON ACCELERATING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK (T-BONED) BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED”
POWER TRAIN
3 NHTSA complaints · 2018-04 → 2019-12
“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”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SCION IA. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION ERRONEOUSLY DOWNSHIFTED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ABRUPTLY DECELERATE”
“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”
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
6 NHTSA complaints · 2017-06 → 2022-01
“SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED...FIRST THEY SAID BATTERY...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”
“THE VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY SHUT ITSELF OFF IN THE ROAD FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT WILL DISPLAY ON THE DASH”
“@ 9851 MILES, PICKED UP THE CAR FROM AN OIL CHANGE (IN NOV. 2016.) NOTICED A LIGHT SHAKING WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP AT STOP LIGHT”
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES
2 NHTSA complaints · 2017-08 → 2018-10
“I WAS ABOUT TO PARK AT A BURGER KING STORE AT DELANO CALIFORNIA 93215 AND SLOWING DOWN WHEN MY SCION IA SPEED UP MORE AND KEPT ON RUNNING WHILE MY FOOT IS ALREADY ON THE BRAKE. SO I ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE STORE”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 SCION IA. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE WHILE STOPPED”
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 17, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 17, 2026.
We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.
Critical for safety and preventing major damage
0W-20 models (2011+ tC, iQ, iM): every 10,000 miles or 12 months with 5,000-mile checkup visits between. Earlier models: every 5,000 miles or 6 months. FR-S and iA: every 7,500 miles. Severe use halves all of these.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$120–$160
Shop
~$85–$115
DIY
~$25–$55
Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.
Every 5,000 miles or 6 months per the Toyota-pattern schedule; 7,500 on FR-S and iA.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.
Checked at every service visit.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.
Toyota's US guides list inspection only, no replacement interval; the FR-S schedule does replace it, around every 30,000 miles. Every 2 to 3 years is sound practice on any of them since fluid absorbs moisture with age.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$180–$200
Shop
~$125–$140
DIY
~$10–$25
DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.
Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently
Every 30,000 miles or 36 months across the lineup.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.
Iridium plugs at 120,000 miles on the Toyota-engine cars. FR-S: 60,000 miles, the big schedule difference on the Subaru boxer. iA: roughly 75,000 per Mazda practice. Note that 2005-2010 tC engines with oil-consumption habits can foul plugs early.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$390
Shop
~$200–$275
DIY
~$25–$100
Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.
Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort
Every 30,000 miles or 36 months on the Toyota schedule; sooner in dusty conditions.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.
Toyota Super Long Life: first change at 100,000 miles or 120 months, then every 50,000. FR-S uses Subaru coolant: first at 135,000 or 11 years, then every 75,000.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$330
Shop
~$200–$235
DIY
~$25–$60
Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.
Toyota WS fluid has no normal-schedule change; the factory book calls for it at 60,000 and 120,000 only under towing or heavy loads. FR-S automatics: every 60,000 miles or 5 years. A drain and fill around 60,000 is cheap insurance on any of them.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$330–$500
Shop
~$235–$355
DIY
~$60–$180
Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.
First inspection at 60,000 miles or 72 months, then every 15,000. All Scion engines are chain-driven; there is no timing-belt service on any model.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$195–$235
Shop
~$135–$165
DIY
~$20–$50
DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.
Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)
30 crashes 2010–2024
FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number
Owner-reported problem signals
Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.
6
complaints mentioning a crash
0
complaints mentioning a fire
Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.
How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.
This maintenance schedule for the 2016 Scion Ia reflects Scion's published service intervals. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.