Selling a Scion FR-S that won't run
The engine is the story on the Scion FR-S. By our October 10, 2026 count, NHTSA had 201 FR-S complaints, and 145 of them involve the engine. Of those, 135 are on the 2013, the first model year.
- Model years (EPA data)
- 2013-2016
- Complaints to NHTSA
- 201
- Complaints naming the engine
- 145
- 2013 complaints
- 179 (135 name the engine)
- Recall campaigns
- 7
- Engine
- 2.0 L FA20 flat-four
- Built at
- Subaru's Gunma plant, Ota, Japan
If yours is sitting with a dead motor, we buy whole non-running and junk cars. Sell the whole car as it sits, with free pickup anywhere in the US.
One generation, built by Subaru
Toyota and Subaru developed this 2+2 sports car together, and Subaru built it beside its own BRZ at the Gunma plant in Ota, Japan. Per Wikipedia, the FR-S runs the 2.0 L 4U-GSE/FA20 flat-four, backed by a 6-speed manual or the 6-speed A960E automatic. In North America it replaced the tC as Scion's sporty car and sold for model years 2013 through 2016. When Scion closed in August 2016, the FR-S became the Toyota 86 for 2017.
2013: nearly all the complaints
The 2013 has 179 complaints. After the engine's 135 come power train (11) and fuel and propulsion system (5). Wikipedia cites an October 2012 news report titled "Engine problems for Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ."
The recall to know about is 18V772. It is a Subaru campaign covering 2012-2014 Impreza, 2013 BRZ, XV Crosstrek and FR-S cars whose engine valve springs may fracture. Dealers replace the valve springs. That 165,534 figure counts the full campaign, Subaru models included, so it is not FR-S cars only. Among Scion years, NHTSA lists it only for the 2013.
The 2013 also had an owner's manual recall (12V255) for 1,156 early cars, fixed with a mailed insert.
2014-2016: 22 complaints in three years
The 2014 has 5 complaints, the 2015 has 14 and the 2016 has 3. The engine still leads on the 2014 and 2015, with 4 and 5.
Recall 16V075 runs across all four years. It covers FR-S cars with an automatic transmission built March 13, 2012 to January 14, 2016; dealers inspect and fix the wiring for the ignition key and transmission interlock. The campaign names only the FR-S and counts 25,706 vehicles. Under recall 14V828, dealers snug the bolts on add-ons Southeast Toyota fitted to 2014-2015 cars, 3,958 vehicles over several Toyota models. Recall 12V255 mailed owners an insert for the owner's manual, and 13V123, 16V236 and 16V420 are label recalls.
FR-S complaints by model year
We took these FR-S numbers from NHTSA complaint data pulled October 10, 2026. Recall campaigns are counted in each year they cover. A 2016 has had three fewer years than a 2013 to pick up reports.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns | Top components |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 179 | 3 | 3 | 4 | Engine 135; power train 11; fuel/propulsion 5 |
| 2014 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Engine 4; seat belts 1 |
| 2015 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 3 | Engine 5; steering 2; unknown or other 2 |
| 2016 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Fuel/propulsion, power train, engine (1 each) |
Twenty-two FR-S owners, out of 201 complaints, say a tow truck had to haul the car.
Rebuild the engine or sell the car?
First, run the FR-S VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup. On a 2013, look for 18V772; on an automatic of any year, look for 16V075. A Toyota service desk can tell you what's still open.
If the engine is already gone, price a rebuild or swap in writing and check it against what clean, running FR-S coupes like yours are listed at. Blown engine covers how to weigh it. A car with tuning parts, an aftermarket exhaust or a swapped intake has its own questions; modified or deleted explains what to tell a buyer.
Selling it whole
- Write down the VIN, mileage, transmission (manual or automatic) and what's wrong.
- Get an offer online, or call (877) 421-6008.
- Say where the FR-S is parked. A low coupe stuck in a tight garage, not rolling, calls for a certain truck. Pickup is free anywhere in the US.
- Keep it complete. Leave the wheels, exhaust and catalytic converter on, and list anything swapped or removed.
- Have the title ready, plus your ID, for the driver. See selling with no title if it's missing, and after you sell for plates.
Questions people ask
- Why does the 2013 FR-S draw far more complaints than the years after it?
- NHTSA's file doesn't say why. What it shows is 179 complaints on the 2013 against 22 on the 2014-2016 combined, with 135 of the 2013 complaints naming the engine. The later cars have also had fewer years in owners' hands to draw complaints. The 2013 is also the only FR-S year in valve spring recall 18V772.
- Is the FR-S the same car as the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86?
- Yes. Toyota and Subaru developed them together, and all were built at Subaru's plant in Ota, Gunma. When Scion closed, the FR-S was rebranded as the Toyota 86 for the 2017 model year.
- Is my 2013 FR-S in the valve spring recall?
- Some 2013 cars are. Recall 18V772 is a Subaru campaign that also covers the FR-S, and dealers replace the valve springs. Your FR-S VIN typed on nhtsa.gov/recalls will show any campaign still open on it.
- Will you buy a modified FR-S with a dead engine?
- Yes. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, with free pickup anywhere in the US. Mention any aftermarket parts on your FR-S in your offer request.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from one of these. Checked October 11, 2026.
- NHTSA complaints flat file (FLAT_CMPL.zip), Scion FR-S, downloaded October 10, 2026 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA: Check for recalls by VIN nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 12V255: owner's manual insert, 2013 FR-S nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 13V123: label (Southeast Toyota) nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 14V828: accessory bolts (Southeast Toyota) nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 16V075: ignition key and transmission interlock wiring nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 16V236: load capacity label nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 16V420: load capacity label nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 18V772: engine valve springs (Subaru campaign) nhtsa.gov
- EPA fuel economy data (model years and classes) fueleconomy.gov
- Wikipedia: Toyota 86 / Subaru BRZ / Scion FR-S en.wikipedia.org