Half of all complaints arrive by 2 years of age, so 45.5% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Power Train, with 4 complaints, typically at 3.5 years.
Scion iM years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 11 | 5 | yes |
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 27.3% | covered | |
| 1 year | 45.5% | covered | |
| 2 years | 54.5% | covered | |
| 4 years | 72.7% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 81.8% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 90.9% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 54.5% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 45.5% 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 45% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Scion iM, the early trouble is Power Train and Unknown Or Other — reported at around 3.5 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Electrical System at 6 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 3.5 yrs | — | — | |
| Structure | — | — | — | |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 yrs | — | — | |
| Electrical System | 6 yrs | — | — | |
| Seats | 1 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Engine | 2 yrs | — | — | |
| Service Brakes | 4 yrs | — | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the iM's vehicle class.
| Same class as the iM | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Camry | 161 | 1983–2026 | |
| Honda Accord | 415 | 1981–2026 | |
| Dodge Challenger | 77 | 1981–2026 | |
| Toyota Prius | 109 | 2001–2026 | |
| Hyundai Elantra | 117 | 1992–2026 | |
| Nissan Altima | 148 | 1993–2026 |
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.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Scion iM reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 2.2 against 3.73 for the average car.
When do iM problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 2 years of age. The most reported system is Power Train, typically at 3.5 years, followed by Structure.
Will the warranty cover iM problems?
Mostly yes: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and 54.5% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 45% of the complaints here.
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