2013 Scion FR-S — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $13,000–$20,000. This is one of the more reliable vehicles in its class — here's what to watch for anyway.
Kestrel Take
The Scion-badged twin of the BRZ, mechanically identical and usually a touch cheaper because of the defunct brand name. Same light rear-drive fun, same reliability, same checks: the valve-spring recall, track abuse, and modification. A clean FR-S is one of the best cheap driver's cars going.
What we checked
Partly reconciled against public records, 2026-09-11
NHTSA holds 179 owner complaints for the 2013 Scion FR-S, across 4 recall campaigns.
A big number here usually means a lot of these were sold, not that it is a bad vehicle — popular models collect more complaints for the same rate of trouble. So the total on its own says little. What is worth reading is the shape of it. 82% of them are about one thing — the engine. That much concentration is a genuine pattern rather than background noise, and it is the first thing to check on any example you look at.
4 recall campaigns cover this model year. Recalls are repaired free, for any owner, with no time limit on most safety campaigns — but only if someone books it in. Ask the seller to show it was done, or have any dealer check the VIN; it takes them a couple of minutes and costs nothing.
Not written up yet: the fuel system (9 complaints). That group is in the public record and is not covered by the issues below. Treat it as something to ask about, not as absent.
Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.
Known Issues for the 2013 Scion FR-S
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.
Shares the 2013 valve-spring recall; verify it is closed on the VIN.
Repair cost: $0 recall
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the engine (146); 4 NHTSA recall campaigns on this model year.
Verify track history and inspect brakes, tires, clutch, and for oil-starvation.
Repair cost: Not yet priced
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the transmission and drivetrain (21), steering (7), the brakes (2).
Toyota services these; mechanically identical to the BRZ, so parts are no issue.
Repair cost: Not yet priced
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗Open valve-spring recall
- ✗Heavy track abuse
- ✗A hack modified build
- ✗Salvage title
Good Signs
- ✓Recall closed
- ✓Light, documented use
- ✓Healthy clutch
- ✓Adult-owned with records
Found a specific Scion FR-S?
This page covers what goes wrong on the 2013 Scion FR-S in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.
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Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for this year. It stops short of the verdict, because that needs the photos.
Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
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