Scion models we see most
| Model | US model years | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| xB | 2004-2006, 2008-2015 | 2008-2015 xBs use the 2.4-liter 2AZ engine and were covered by Toyota's ZE7 excess oil consumption program. |
| tC | 2005-2016 | 2007-2010 tC coupes were also in program ZE7 for oil consumption from the same 2AZ engine. |
| xD | 2008-2014 | Dropped with the iQ and xB as Scion wound down, rather than moving into the Toyota lineup. |
| FR-S | 2013-2016 | 2013 FR-S coupes are in recall 18V772000 because engine valve springs can fracture and stall the engine. |
| iQ | 2012-2015 | A tiny three-door city car; Scion discontinued it before the brand itself closed. |
| iA | 2016 | A one-year Scion that continued as the Toyota Yaris iA from the 2017 model year. |
| iM | 2016 | Rebadged as the Toyota Corolla iM for 2017 when Toyota folded Scion into its own brand. |
Known Scion problems that end up at the scrapyard
Oil consumption in the 2AZ engine (2007-2010 tC, 2008-2015 xB)
Toyota's Warranty Enhancement Program ZE7 covered excessive oil consumption on these Scions, with parts replaced if a dealer oil-consumption test confirmed the problem. Coverage lasted 10 years from first use or 150,000 miles, so every eligible car has aged out. A Scion that needs oil between changes, or has already spun a bearing from running low, is a common junk car. source
Takata passenger airbag inflators in the xB
Toyota recalled 2008-2011 xBs (16V340000), then 2012 and 2014-2015 xBs in later rounds, to replace Takata front passenger inflators that can rupture and throw metal fragments. The remedy is free at any Toyota dealer. Check the VIN at NHTSA before driving an xB that sat for a while. source
Fracturing valve springs on the 2013 FR-S
Recall 18V772000, filed by Subaru because it built the engine, covers the 2013 FR-S along with some Imprezas, BRZs and Crosstreks. Valve springs can fracture, causing engine malfunction or a stall. A spring that already broke can damage the valvetrain, which turns a free recall into a much bigger repair. source
An orphan brand with Toyota parts underneath
Toyota announced in February 2016 that Scion would be phased out after the 2016 model year. The FR-S, iA and iM carried on as Toyotas; the iQ, xB and xD simply ended. That history is useful to a seller in two ways.
First, Scions are mechanically Toyotas (the FR-S is a Subaru-engined exception), so recalls and service bulletins for them come from Toyota. If your xB or tC has an open recall, a Toyota dealer handles it free. Second, the 2AZ four-cylinder in the second-generation xB and the tC is the same engine that landed in Toyota’s ZE7 oil-consumption program. A lot of tired xBs and tCs fit that description: a solid-looking car with an engine that drinks oil.
Why a cheap car often becomes a junk car
Scions were priced low when new and tend to be worth little once they pass 150,000 miles. One big repair settles it: a rebuilt engine, a new clutch on a manual tC or FR-S, or rust work on rear wheel arches and rockers after years of salted Chicago streets. If you’re not sure whether to fix it, sell it privately or junk it, our sell, junk or donate comparison walks through the math without guessing at prices.
Getting a Scion ready for us
Most Scions predate connected-car apps, so the data cleanup is short: delete paired phones from the head unit and remove any aftermarket dash cam or toll transponder. Leave every key, including the spare. If the car has been sitting on a street, move fast: a dead car on the public way can keep collecting tickets.
On paperwork, tell us what you have, whether that’s a title, a registration card, or only an ID and an old bill of sale. Illinois rules decide which papers work for a scrap sale, and we confirm on the call before booking the pickup. For other makes, see all brands we buy.
Selling a junk Scion: questions
Scion doesn't exist anymore. Can a Scion still be junked normally?
Yes. Toyota phased Scion out after the 2016 model year, but the cars are titled and registered like any other vehicle and Toyota still issues their recalls. For us it's simply a car: we look at the model, condition and completeness and make an offer.
My xB burns a quart of oil a week. Is it worth fixing?
On a 2008-2015 xB, Toyota's extended oil-consumption coverage has expired, so an internal engine repair is now entirely out of pocket. If the engine also knocks or the body has rust, selling it as a junk car is usually the cheaper path.