2013 Scion FR-S: excessive oil consumption

Filed Jun 8, 2026 · Engine · AR

On approximately May 27, 2026 I delivered my 2013 Scion FR-S (approx. 105,000 miles) to an authorized Toyota dealer for Safety Recall J02 (the federal safety agency 18V‑772, engine valve spring replacement). I picked it up on June 3, 2026. Immediately the engine ran sluggish and the air conditioning, which had worked, stopped blowing cold. On June 7, 2026 - four days and only a few miles later - the engine spun a rod bearing and began knocking loudly. The vehicle is now inoperable. This recall requires removing and disassembling the engine and is widely documented to cause oil starvation and spun bearings when excess RTV sealant from reassembly clogs the oil pickup screen. My engine ran normally for years and failed within days of the recall repair. The recall repair caused catastrophic engine failure. No crash or injury has occurred; the vehicle is parked to prevent further damage.

Filed May 15, 2020 · Engine · 89,000 miles · CA

I took it in for the valve spring recall. I drove it for 8000 miles/9 months later. Car started knocking and stalled. Engine had a oil galley that got clogged, which cause oil starvation. Car ended up needing a new engine, dealership refused to cover the cost of the replacement. The car was being driven home on a residential street.

Filed Apr 2, 2020 · Engine · 55,000 miles · CO

Valve spring recall performed on this vehicle may 2019. Car ran good for around 5000 miles but february 2020 I started hearing a small knock while driving around 55 MPH. Within 10 miles the knock was very loud. Car was towed to dealership who diagnosed knock and a destroyed bearing either in crank or the piston rods. Oil pan was dropped and found metal shavings and chunks in the oil pan as well as silicone pieces. Silicone is used as gasket material during the recall process. I still had used oil from last first oil change after the recall at home, and filtered that out with a fine mesh filter. Significantly more silicone was found in that oil. Even with all the silicone in the oil, the dealerships are claiming zero fault of the engine failure. This silicone is causing hundreds of engines to fail, and toyota will only take responsibility if the customer calls and complains for months. The denver field tech specialist inspected my car and said the recall was done properly and again there was no fault of toyota. People with failed engines due to the recall do not give up. Make toyota take responsibility. If even one piece of this silicone makes it past the oil screen and filter, it has potential to catastrophically fail your engine as it did with mine. Before you even take your car to a dealership, be sure to call toyota corporate and open up a case. Corporate will likely be the only ones willing to work with you for engine replacement.

Filed Jan 1, 2020 · Engine · 92,000 miles · CA

Took our 2013 scion fr-s to temecula valley toyota for j02 valve spring replacement recall. After about 6,000 miles of easy driving, fr-s began to run rough. This rough running was only intermittent and eventually subsided. Rough running engine returned along with what I considered a "rod knock". We immediately parked the vehicle and did not use it after first noticing the knock. Vehicle towed back to dealership who performed recall. Dealership informs us that the engine is "destroyed" (their words). Dealership claims rod bearing or bearings damaged due to "oil starvation". Dealership quotes us $17,000 to repair vehicle, including a replacement short block. We refuse dealership's offer and ask that they leave engine out of the vehicle. Dealership places engine back into our vehicle and sets the driver's side heads in the trunk with other various parts placed on the back seat (nice touch). We have vehicle towed back to our home. We located a subaru mechanic in our town, remove engine from vehicle, take engine to said mechanic who is going to inspect for damage, balance, rebuild, and install the engine back into our vehicle. Mechanic's cost = $6,400. Upon our partial teardown of engine I found, what I consider, an excessive amount of rubbery compound on the front case of the engine. I also found this same type of rubbery compound covering a substantial portion of the oil pick up tube screen. I do not know the condition of the oiling passages within the block. We found very little metallic material in the oil pan. I am suspicious that this rubbery compound made its way into the oil and clogged oiling passages. Dealership is denying all. My complaint?: dealership was over aggressive in their use of sealant, clogging oil passages and causing oil starvation to the bearings. Then, denying responsibility and quoting a high dollar amount to repair

Filed Apr 27, 2019 · Engine · 69,000 miles · OR

The vehicle (2013 scion fr-s, 69000 miles) was in a factory authorized service center [xxx] to have recall j02 (the federal safety agency recall campaign 18v772000) performed. We were notified that the car suffered a major engine problem following the recall service, but before the car was returned to us. The description of the circumstances involved indicated that the car was on a test drive following the completion of the recall service and required towing back to the service center. We were informed of this two days after its occurrence. A visual observation of the partially disassembled engine indicates likely oil starvation as the cause of the problem. At this point in time, the service center has retained the vehicle and parts pending a determination by toyota. At this point in time, the service center is of the opinion that a non-factory oil filter caused oil starvation. The oil filter had been installed on the car and functioning appropriately for approximately 3500 miles prior to the service. The oil filter was not replaced during the engine out service which required replacement of internal engine components. We were not notified during the 9 days that the service centered had possession of the car prior to the problem that there were any concerns related to the oil filter - the make and model of the oil filter has only become a point of discussion after oil starvation occurred. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Mar 5, 2019 · Engine · 120,000 miles · VA

Toyota dealership is not following recall procedure from toyota corp. And they refuse to disclose the technician's qualification/certifications. My car was dropped off at dealer for j02 recall, engine valve replacement. After the recall service, I received the car with multiple problems, exhaust leak, oil leak, engine knock. However, dealership is unable to diagnose the problems. Sealant was applied to wrong spots on the engine, causing oil leaks or blockage which could result in rod knock. Exhaust gaskets and other gaskets were not replaced, although, the repair manual says to replace them. The recall service quality is not being double checked by another technician, however, service manual clearly states " at least one associate (someone other than the individual who performed the repair) to verify the repair quality of every vehicle prior to customer delivery".

Filed Feb 26, 2018 · Engine · 42,000 miles · OR

Scion frs engine valve cover oil leak onto hot exhaust. While operating vehicle under normal conditions the vehicle started to fill the cabin with the smell of burning oil. After a few more minutes; smoke started to come out of the hood. Then after a short drive to find a place to park; the vehicle was producing substantially more white smoke out from under the hood while parked. Upon further inspection the driver side valve cover was leaking oil onto the top of the headers.

Filed Nov 16, 2016 · Engine · 52,000 miles · CA

Rod bearing failure causing sudden slowdown. Failure was due to factory defect of having too much sealant in between internal engine parts, causing oil starvation.