SCION Complaints

OUT OF NO WHERE; NO TREES, NO TRUCKS IN FRONT OF ME OR ANY OTHER VEHICLES, ON A CLEAR DAY, MY WINDSHIELD MADE A LOUD POP NOISE AND IT CRACKED FROM THE TOP PASSENGER SIDE EDGE TO THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. IT SLOWLY CREEPED ACROSS TO THE MID-LINE OF VISIBILITY ON THE DRIVER SIDE OVER THE NEXT 24 HRS. -- I WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL! *JS

VEHICLE'S REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR CONNECTORS GET CORRODED BY ROAD SALT, RESULTING IN FAILURE OF CAR'S COMPUTER TO REGISTER SPEED OF REAR WHEELS. THEREFORE, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM AND VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL MAY NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY IN SNOWY CONDITIONS. TOYOTA RELEASED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND CORRECTED THE DESIGN FLAW ON LATER SCION XB MODELS. (S-SB-0040-09 JULY 6, 2009). *TR

1. INCIDENT THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING THE 2008 SCION XB ALONE ON EAST-BOUND I-80, APPROACHING CARQUINEZ BRIDGE, VALLEJO, WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED WORKING. THE DRIVING SPEED WAS ABOUT 70 MPH. TIME OF THE INCIDENT WAS AROUND 12:45 A.M. ON DECEMBER 25, 2014. HE WAS DRIVING ON THE 1ST LANE, AND TO THE BEST OF HIS KNOWLEDGE, THERE WAS ONLY ONE COMPACT CAR PASSING NEARBY, WHEN THE CAR STOPPED ALL OF A SUDDEN . HE TRIED TO REACH OUT FOR A TOW TRUCK WITHOUT SUCCESS, BUT LATER ON HE REMEMBERED HE WAS AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER OF A CLASSIC MEMBERSHIP CARD REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF HIS MOTHER. BUT HE DID NOT HAVE THE CARD ON HIM AT THAT TIME, BUT GAVE HIS NAME TO AAA TO PROVE HE IS AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER. FINALLY, THE AAA TOW TRUCK ARRIVED ON THE SCENE AROUND 1:45 A.M. HE TOWED IT TO HOME, AND DAYS LATER HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC SHOP, EAST BAY AUTO LOCATED ON NORTH TEXAS STREET. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND SAID THE ENGINE GOT BROKEN AND THE CAR NEEDED REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE. 2. SCION SIDE ON FEB. 10, 2015, THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE RECEIVED A LETTER OF WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT NOTIFICATION FROM SCION. THE OWNER DID NOT TAKE AN INITIATIVE TO CALL SCION BEFORE RECEIVING THIS NOTIFICATION. THE NEXT DAY, THE VEHICLE OWNER CALLED SCION AND FILED A CLAIM FOR ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION. CASE #[XXX]. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP AT SCION ARRANGED FOR TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN VACAVILLE TO INSPECT AND DIAGNOSE SCION XB TO SEE IF THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS DUE TO EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

AFTER ENGINE WORMS UP, LET THE ENGINE IDLE AND STAYS AT 600 RPM FOR A FEW SECONDS, JUMP TO 1100 RPM THEN DOWN TO 600 AND 400, ENGINE SHAKES UP LIKE IS GOING TO STALL AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND VSC LIGHT COME ON. DEALER TOLD ME IS A CAMSHAFT GEAR DEFECT THAT WILL NOT CHANGE THE ANGLE FOR THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING(VVT). OTHER PARTS NEEDED TO BE CHANGE ARE OIL CONTROL VALVE AND CAMSHAFT VVT SENSOR. TOYOTA MUST ISSUE A RECALL FOR THESE, MORE THAN 250 CASES WERE REPORTS ON FT86CLUB.COM. SAME EXACT PROBLEM IS SHOWN ON THE SUBARU BRZ BECAUSE IS THE EXACT SAME CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SCION XD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS OF SMELLING BURNT OIL IN THE CABIN, I DISCOVERED A SERIOUS OIL LEAK ON THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAS A BLOCK OFF PLATE ON THE RIGHT REAR CAMSHAFT AREA. IT IS A STAMPED STEEL PLATE HELD ON WITH THREE BOLTS AND SEALED WITH RTV. THE OIL WAS LEAKING AROUND THE BOTTOM BOLT AND DRIPPING ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE. SCION DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY TOLD ME THAT ALL THEY COULD DO WAS RE-APPLY THE SEALANT AND HOPE FOR THE BEST. THEY ALSO COMMENTED THAT IT WOULD FAIL AGAIN IN THE SAME PLACE BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN. I ORDERED AN AFTERMARKET COVER PLATE THAT INCORPORATES AN O RING INTO THE SEAL. THIS PLATE IS GUARANTEED NOT TO LEAK IF INSTALLED ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTIONS. WEB FORUMS INDICATE THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION EQUIPPED FR-S. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION VERSION HAS A PUMP IN PLACE OF THE BLOCK OFF PLATE. THIS IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD AND OWNERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BUY AFTERMARKET PARTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. SCION/TOYOTA (SUBARU) SHOULD DESIGN A PLATE THAT DOES NOT LEAK ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST PIPE. *JS

I HAD BEEN HEARING CLUNKING NOISE FROM RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FOR A FEW WEEKS, THAT SEEMED TO BE GETTING LOUDER OVER TIME. MOST PROMINENT DURING BRAKING OR HITTING POTHOLES. FATHER LOOKED AT WHEEL WHILE I BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED WHEEL SHIFTING FORWARD/BACKWARD WITHIN THE WHEEL WELL ABOUT AN INCH WHEN STARTING AND STOPPING. TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL TIRE SHOP AND WAS TOLD BOLD ATTACHING LOWER CONTROL ARM TO BODY HAD CORRODED AND BROKEN OFF. SUGGESTED I TAKE CAR TO DEALER FOR REPAIR, AND MENTIONED THERE WAS A TSB ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 7 YEARS/100,000 MILES. DEALER REPAIRED VEHICLE AT MY COST ($422), SINCE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED (MILEAGE). I BELIEVE THIS PART SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY MY FATHER NOTICED THE WHEEL MOVEMENT OR THE WHEEL MAY HAVE COME OFF AT HIGHWAY SPEED. *JS

SALT AND SNOW CAUSES ERROR CODES C0210, REAR SPEED SENSOR RH CIRCUIT TO MALFUNCTION AND SHUTS DOWN THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. ALL SAFETY DEVICES ARE OFF WHEN SALT IS USED ON ROADWAYS. SALT AND SNOW CAUSES ERROR CODES C0215, REAR SPEED SENSOR LH CIRCUIT TO MALFUNCTION AND SHUTS DOWN THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. ALL SAFETY DEVICES ARE OFF WHEN SALT IS USED ON ROADWAYS. THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH 2008-2009 SCION XB, TOYOTA TSB S-SB-0040-09, JULY 6,2009 **THE CONNECTORS FOR THESE SENSORS ARE EXPOSED TO THE ENVIRONMENT, CAUSING NON DEPLOYMENT OF SAFETY DEVICES LEADING UP TO, AND DURING A CRASH** *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SCION XB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCHBACK HANDLE FRACTURED CAUSING THE OTHER FOUR DOOR LOCKS TO BECOME DISABLED. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE HOLES WHERE THE HATCHBACK HANDLE WAS FRACTURED AND THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,120.

2006 SCION TC -BATTERY LIGHT ON -ENGINE TEMPERATURE INDICATOR NO WORKING -WHINING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE TRY TO JUMPSTART MAKES THIS BURNING SMELL AND WONT START STARTED SEEING SMOKES FROM JUMPER CABLES SO TURN EVERYTHING OFF NOW IT'S TOTALLY DEAD. *TR