SCION Complaints

THIS IS INTENDED TO REPORT A PROBLEM, NOT A ONE-TIME INCIDENT. THE SHIFT KNOB OF MY FR-S IS LOOSE ENOUGH TO ROTATE WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. I HAVE READ SEVERAL OTHER REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE ON ONLINE FORUMS DEDICATED TO THIS VEHICLE. I AM CONCERNED THAT IT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO PARTIAL MISALLOCATION OF FORCE FROM THE OPERATOR'S INTENDED SHIFTING DIRECTION INTO UNWANTED ROTATION OF THE GEAR KNOB. MISSING A GEAR, OR DELAYING OR CONFUSING THE ACTION MECHANICALLY CAN BE A HAZARD. FOR EXAMPLE, IT CAN BE CRITICAL TO MAKE A FAST AND CORRECT GEAR SHIFT WHILE MERGING INTO A TRAFFIC STREAM OR WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AGAINST OPPOSING TRAFFIC. THE LOOSENESS OF THE SHIFT KNOB, WHICH IN THIS CASE CAN ROTATE 5-15 DEGREES DURING A SHIFT ADDS AN UNWANTED AND ENTIRELY UNNECESSARY VARIABLE DURING OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. SCION/TOYOTA'S RESPONSE IS THAT THE ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT IS "NORMAL". A POINT WITH WHICH I THINK NO SELF-RESPECTING AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER WOULD CONCUR. NOTE: PROPER SHIFTING TECHNIQUE DOES NOT REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT ROTATING FORCE TO BE APPLIED TO THE SHIFT KNOB. NEVERTHELESS IT IS INEVITABLE THAT SOME DIFFERENTIAL FORCE BE APPLIED TO ONE SIDE OF THE KNOB WHILE SHIFTING THROUGH THE GEAR PATTERN. THEREFORE THE KNOB SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO RESIST THOSE FORCES IN ORDER TO DIRECT THE THRUST IN THE DIRECTION INTENDED BY THE OPERATOR. IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT THE DESIGN OF THE FR-S SHIFT KNOB AND INTEGRATED CAP DISCOURAGES TIGHTENING OF THE SHIFT KNOB ON ITS THREADS AS THAT WILL CAUSE THE CAP TO LIFT OUT OF THE BODY OF THE SHIFT KNOB. *TR

SCION XA 2006 WITH JUST 46000 (MOSTLY HIGHWAY!) MILES DID NOT PASS EMISSIONS TEST DUE TO DIAGNOSTIC CODES: P2401, P043E, PO43F, P2419, P2402 INDICATING 'EVAPORATION LEAK/EMISSION PROBLEMS. TOYOTA CUSTOMER RELATIONS STATED THE REPAIR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND REFUSED TO HELP ME WITH THE COST OF REPAIR - SEE CASE #: 1310120509. THE DEALER CHARGED ME $588.39 (AFTER A DISCOUNT OF $95.00 DIAGNOSTIC FEE) TO INSTALL 'CHARCOAL CANISTER, FUEL FILLER NECK, FUEL TANK FILLER HOLDER, & CHARCOAL FILTER SUB-ASSY.' THE FACT THAT IT IS STANDARD FOR A CAR WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES TO FAIL AN EMISSIONS TEST SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED IN COMPLIANCE WITH EPA STANDARDS. TOYOTA IS CHARGING CONSUMERS THE COST OF REPAIRING A DEFECTIVE EVAPORATION SYSTEM IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH EPA STANDARDS THEREFORE THE NHTSA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL OF THE DEFECTIVE PRODUCT(S) - SEE TSB #: EG047-06. UPDATED 02/04/14

THE HANDLE TO MY BACK TRUNK DOOR IS MADE OF SOME SORT OF PLASTIC AND LIVING IN THE SOUTH HAS POSSIBLY CAUSED IT TO START MELTING. IT HAS SLOWLY MELTED, DRIPPING TAR LIKE MATERIAL ONTO MY REAR BUMPER OF MY SCION XB. EVERY TIME I OPEN MY TRUNK, THE BLACK TAR MATERIAL WILL END UP ON MY HANDS AND I AM UNSURE OF HOW SAFE THIS PRODUCT IS TO MY HEALTH. *TR

MY SCION OVERHEATED,LOST OIL PRESSURE DUE TO WHATEVER DAMAGE THE OVERHEATING CAUSED AND I'VE HAD A LOW BATTERY CHARGE ALL THIS TIME BUT NONE OF THESE PROBLEMS WERE INDICATED BY ANY GAUGE OR LIGHT ON MY DASH. NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. *TR

LOSS OF VACUUM PRESSURE TO POWER BRAKE BOOSTER UNDER DECELERATION AT 10MPH AND UNDER. MY VEHICLE IS A 2012 SCION XB AUTOMATIC. THERE IS A SUDDEN LOSS OF VACUUM PRESSURE TO THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER DURING DECELERATION AROUND 10MPH WHICH CAUSE THE BRAKES TO BECOME LESS RESPONSIVE THE MOMENT THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTS, REQUIRING ME TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL A LITTLE HARDER TO CONTINUE STOPPING THE VEHICLE AT THE RATE I DEEM AS "SAFE". ISSUE IS WORSENED WHEN THE A/C IS RUNNING. THIS HAPPENS 1-20 TIMES W/O A/C AND 20-20 TIMES WITH THE A/C TURNED ON. THIS ISSUE IS DANGEROUS AND CAUSES ME TO NEARLY REAR-END VEHICLES AHEAD OF ME IF I AM NO PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO MY VEHICLE SPEED. *TR

WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT I HAD A REAR END COLLISION BY A FORD F250 INTO MY SCION XD THEN KNOCKING ME INTO A TOYOTA VAN IN FRONT OF ME. DRIVERS AIR BAG DEPLOYED. WHEN THE CAR CAME TO A STOP I WENT TO LAY BACK IN MY SEAT AND MY HEAD FELL BACK, THAT IS WHEN I NOTICED THE HEAD REST WAS MISSING. WHEN I LOOKED FOR IT WAS SITTING ON MY DASH. HEAD REST WAS IN LOWEST SETTING BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. *TR

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

THE REAR HATCH DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF IN MY HAND AND IS NOW DANGLING BY THE WIRES FOR THE TAG LIGHTS WHICH IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS IT MAY FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

DURING A ROUTINE DRIVE HOME, I DROVE OVER RAIL ROAD TRACKS AND THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITH BOTH FEET ON THE BREAK. I VERIFIED THAT THE FLOOR MAT WAS NOT STUCK ON THE PEDAL. I PLACED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE WAS STILL PEGGING. I ALSO TRIED TO DEPRESS AND RELEASE THE GAS PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES AND THAT DID NOT STOP THE ACCELERATION. IN ORDER TO KEEP FROM CRASHING, I HAD TO KEEP MY FEET FIRMLY ON THE BREAK. THIS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WAS OCCURRING FOR ABOUT A QUARTER MILE. I ATTEMPTED ONE FINAL CYCLE OF THE GAS PEDAL (DEPRESS AND RELEASE) AND THAT FINALLY STOPPED THE ACCELERATION. *JS

TO DATE, I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE REPAIRED THREE TIMES FOR THE SAME MALFUNCTION. I WORKED WITH MANUFACTURING AND SALES ORGANIZATIONS AND I HAVE FAILED TO RECEIVE SUBSTANTIATION BEYOND YOUR ORGANIZATION'S DUE DILIGENCE THAT MY VEHICLE IS SAFE FOR MY FAMILY. THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE FAILED TO DIAGNOSE THE SPECIFIC MALFUNCTION WITH MY VEHICLE (ELECTRICAL) AND SUBSEQUENTLY HAVE BEEN GUTTING MY VEHICLE PIECE BY PIECE DEVALUING IT.