Selling a dead or junk Scion iQ
The Scion iQ rides on a 78.7-inch wheelbase, and its NHTSA record is about as small as the car: 24 complaints filed by owners, counted as of October 10, 2026, and one recall campaign.
- US model years
- 2012-2015
- Complaints to NHTSA
- 24
- Year with the most complaints
- 2012 (17)
- Recall campaigns
- 1
- US drivetrain
- 1.3 L 1NR-FE four with a CVT
- Wheelbase
- 78.7 in
When a small car like this stops running, repairs can quickly outweigh its value. We buy whole non-running and junk cars. You sell the whole car as it sits, with free pickup anywhere in the US.
The iQ in brief
Toyota built the iQ at its Takaoka plant in Aichi, Japan. The production Scion iQ debuted at the 2010 New York Auto Show and was sold for model years 2012 to 2015. Wikipedia says the gas iQ in North America came only one way: a 1.3 L 1NR-FE four with a CVT automatic. Production ended in December 2015.
EPA data also lists an iQ EV. Wikipedia says production was to be limited to 100 units for fleet use in Japan and carsharing projects in the US, with a 50-mile range.
Complaints and the one recall
Most of the complaints are on the 2012, the first year: 17 of 24. Structure leads there with 6, then air bags with 4 and the engine with 3. The 2013 has 5 complaints, and 4 name the engine. The 2014 and 2015 iQ show one apiece, and those two are newer, so owners have driven them for a shorter stretch.
Recall 12V528 covers 2012-2013 iQs built July 31, 2011 through October 12, 2012. The cable for the Occupant Classification System can be damaged when the passenger seat slides. Dealers install a protective cover on the weight sensor cable. The campaign names only the iQ and counts 11,153 vehicles.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Crashes | Injuries | Recalls | Leading components |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 17 | 4 | 3 | 1 | Structure 6; air bags 4; engine 3 |
| 2013 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Engine 4; air bags 1 |
| 2014 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Service brakes 1 |
| 2015 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Air bags 1 |
Fix it or sell it?
Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and ask a Toyota dealer about 12V528 if it shows open. Then line up the repair estimate against the price of a running iQ of that year. A small gap between them points toward selling. Car doesn't run and what a junk car is worth cover both sides.
Selling the iQ whole
- Note the VIN, mileage and what's wrong.
- Get an offer online, or call (877) 421-6008.
- Let us know the iQ's location and if it rolls. Pickup is free anywhere in the US.
- Leave it complete, and say if anything's been removed.
- Give our driver the iQ title and a look at your ID. See after you sell for plates.
Questions people ask
- What is the Scion iQ recall?
- Recall 12V528 covers 2012-2013 iQs built from July 31, 2011 to October 12, 2012. The cable for the Occupant Classification System can be damaged when the front passenger seat slides. Dealers fit a guard over the sensor cable. Run your iQ VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Was there an electric Scion iQ?
- Yes, in small numbers. Wikipedia says iQ EV production was to be limited to 100 units for fleets in Japan and carsharing projects in the US, with a range of 50 miles. US deliveries began in March 2013.
- Will you buy an iQ that won't start?
- Yes. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, with free pickup anywhere in the US.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from one of these. Checked October 11, 2026.
- NHTSA complaints flat file (FLAT_CMPL.zip), Scion iQ, downloaded October 10, 2026 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA: Check for recalls by VIN nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 12V528: Occupant Classification System cable, 2012-2013 iQ nhtsa.gov
- EPA fuel economy data (model years, iQ and iQ EV) fueleconomy.gov
- Wikipedia: Toyota iQ / Scion iQ en.wikipedia.org