Half of all complaints arrive by 2 years of age, so 47.6% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Engine, with 8 complaints, typically at 2.6 years.
Scion iA years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 22 | 10 | yes |
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 9.5% | covered | |
| 1 year | 23.8% | covered | |
| 2 years | 52.4% | covered | |
| 3 years | 81% | you pay | |
| 4 years | 95.2% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 52.4% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 47.6% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 59% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Scion iA, the early trouble is Engine and Electrical System — reported at around 2.6 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2.6 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System | 2.4 yrs | — | — | |
| Air Bags | 2.8 yrs | 4 | — | |
| Power Train | 3 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Service Brakes | 2.3 yrs | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2.5 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Wheels | 1 yrs | — | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the iA's vehicle class.
| Same class as the iA | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Civic | 413 | 1981–2026 | |
| Ford Mustang | 315 | 1981–2026 | |
| Nissan GT-R | 9 | 2009–2026 | |
| Chevrolet Camaro | 204 | 1981–2026 | |
| Toyota Supra | 35 | 1981–2026 | |
| Nissan Sentra | 158 | 1982–2026 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Scion iA reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 2.2 against 3.73 for the average car.
When do iA problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 2 years of age. The most reported system is Engine, typically at 2.6 years, followed by Electrical System.
Will the warranty cover iA problems?
Mostly yes: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and 52.4% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 59% of the complaints here.
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