2013 Scion FR-S Engine Problems
Owners have filed 141 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2013 Scion FR-S, 79% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 74,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “valve spring” (30% of reports).
- 141engine complaints
- 74,000median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $8,550typical repair cost reported by owners
- 58%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Valve spring: mentioned in 42 of 141 complaints (30%)
- Knocking noise: mentioned in 17 of 141 complaints (12%)
- Rod bearing: mentioned in 12 of 141 complaints (9%)
- Oil starvation: mentioned in 8 of 141 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2013 Scion FR-S at $8,550, and half of them between $4,550 and $9,550.
Based on 6 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2016–2020), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 120 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 141 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 2 a fire.
Scion FR-S engine complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Subaru Impreza, 2012-2013 Impreza Stationwagon, 2013 Subaru BRZ, XV Crosstrek and Toyota Scion FR-S vehicles. The engine valve springs in these vehicles may fracture causing an engine malfunction or a possible engine stall.
Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. Toyota will notify the FR-S owners. Dealers will replace the valve springs, free of charge. The recall began December 26, 2018. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614, Toyota owners may contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-888-270-9371. Subaru's number for this recall is WTY-84.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
On approximately May 27, 2026 I delivered my 2013 Scion FR-S (approx. 105,000 miles) to an authorized Toyota dealer for Safety Recall J02 (NHTSA 18V-772, engine valve spring replacement). I picked it up on June 3, 2026. Immediately the engine ran sluggish and the air conditioning, which had worked…
The car randomly shut off, i started it back up and it has a knock in the engine. Oil is super clean, and changed every 3k miles. I keep up with maintenance on my vehicle. I contacted Toyota and they had a Valve Spring Recall that leads to this very problem but somehow my vehicle isn't covered. I
The car randomly shut off, i started it back up and it has a knock in the engine. Oil is super clean, and changed every 3k miles. I contacted Toyota and they had a Valve Spring Recall that leads to this very problem but somehow my vehicle isnt covered.
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2013 Scion FR-Ss have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 141 owner complaints about engine for the 2013 Scion FR-S (79% of the 179 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2013 Scion FR-S engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 74,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2013 Scion FR-S?
Owners report a typical cost of $8,550 (half paid between $4,550 and $9,550), from 6 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2013 Scion FR-S?
The most frequent phrase is “valve spring”, in 42 of 141 complaints, followed by “knocking noise” (17).
See all 2013 Scion FR-S problems or engine problems across all FR-S years.