The Scion FR-S is a compact car built from 2013 to 2016. Most were assembled in Japan — 100% of those on record. Engines offered: 4-cyl. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the FR-S is
The Scion FR-S is a compact car that Scion built from 2013 to 2016 — 4 model years. It has been offered with 4-cyl power. Its closest sibling in the Scion range: iQ.
Where the FR-S is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 176 FR-Ss on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | JF1 | 2013-2016 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Scion VIN decide which of these 1 lines your FR-S belongs to. What every character in a FR-S VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Scion FR-S adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Scion FR-S tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment FR-S owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Scion FR-S have? Power & range
The Scion FR-S is offered with 1 powertrain — 2L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 1 for the Scion FR-S, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-cyl | 2.0L · 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | RWD | Premium |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The FR-S by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Scion FR-S. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | FR-S | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 12 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 201 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $2,085/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 40 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Scion FR-S?
The FR-S is a compact car, built from 2013 to 2016. Engines offered: 4-cyl.
Where is the Scion FR-S made?
Across 176 cars in our records the split is: Japan (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
What is the Scion FR-S warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the FR-S reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific FR-S?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
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