Scion FR-S knocking problems

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 Dec 8, 2025 · Engine · FL

The car randomly shut off, i started it back up and it has a knock in the engine. Oil is super clean, and changed every 3k miles. I keep up with maintenance on my vehicle. I contacted Toyota and they had a Valve Spring Recall that leads to this very problem but somehow my vehicle isn't covered. I

Filed Apr 10, 2025 · Engine · GA

The car randomly shut off, i started it back up and it has a knock in the engine. Oil is super clean, and changed every 3k miles. I contacted Toyota and they had a Valve Spring Recall that leads to this very problem but somehow my vehicle isnt covered.

Filed Dec 9, 2022 · Engine · 115,000 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2013 Scion FR-S. The contact stated there was an abnormal clunking sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check oil warning light was illuminated while the vehicle was decelerating. The contact drove into a nearby parking lot. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the valve spring had fractured. The vehicle was repaired under the federal safety agency Campaign Number 18V772000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated that 115 miles after the repair there was a knocking noise coming from the engine compartment and the vehicle began to run rough. While driving at highway speeds the vehicle began to feel as if it was decelerating with the accelerator pedal being depressed. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer who diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the failure was coming from the bottom of the engine. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed back to the residence. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000.

Filed Nov 8, 2022 · Engine · CT

It is my belief that the valve spring on the engine broke, even after the recall work had been done. I was getting out of my car and heard, what sounded like, metal under tension popping really loudly. After that the engine made a rattling noise. In hindsight I should have known something was wrong, but I had an oil change at the dealer in 2 days and thought they would hear it. After the oil change they didn't say anything so I felt it was ok. On my way home from work the following day, less than 40 miles after the oil change, the car suddenly completely shut off while I was driving home on the highway. What saved my life was that I was getting off the highway in the right lane and was able to roll the car slightly off the highway. Had this been in any other lane I might have been in an accident. Trying to restart the car on the side of the road it had a terrible knocking noise and sounded like something was spinning freely. I had it towed to the dealer as they had just changed the oil thinking that was it. They "looked" at it a couple days later and said it was a spun bearing and that it was normal wear and tear. The car only has 103,000 miles on it and was driven normally, with regular maintenance. Upon retrieving the car the tow truck driver stated that's not normal to happen, and I noticed the car was in the same place as where I had it towed originally. The dealer never actually inspected or looked at the car and just made the spun bearing assessment without trying to start it, as the battery was dead from trying to restart on the highway. No one has since touched the car, and some research online shows that I am not the only person this has happened to. The recall stated that the valve springs could break while driving and the car would suddenly shut off with no warning. This is exactly what happened, while driving on the highway home. According to the dealer it is a spun bearing but that is not what it sounds like at all. It definitely sounds like a rod.

Filed Feb 3, 2022 · Engine, Transmission · NE

After completing the valve spring recall I got my car back and not 200 miles later the engine started to have rod knock. The Toyota dealership told me that there was now metal in my oil pan and I would need a new engine. This is not a unique issue, it has been happening to hundreds of other cars going through this exact recall, for years now.

Filed Aug 1, 2021 · Engine · CA

Toyota of El Cajon performed the J02 recall for engine valve springs on August 13, 2020 at 98, 448 mileage. Toyota of El Cajon performed service oil/filter change, coolant change, and multipoint inspection June 2021 (work order 356309). The engine of my 2013 Scion FR-S malfunctioned with a rod knock on July 13, 2021 at 105k mileage, eleven months after J02 recall performed. There were no warnings lamps, oil lights, or any messages prior to failure. The only symptom was the engine rod knock when the car starts. Toyota of El Cajon technician and shop floorman do not know the cause, yet they attempt to deny that this issue relates to the J02 recall. They said it would cost a "couple thousand" to take apart the engine to investigate the cause. They said it would be $9k out of my pocket to replace the short block and would be "terribly expensive". I towed my unfixed vehicle home through my insurance. Vehicle has not been inspected by manufacturer, police, insurance or others. I am contacting Toyota Corporate to create claim #. Engine failure after J02 recall is a well-known issue. There are several other cases of this happening and a Class Action lawsuit due to workmanship error and sealant. This issue should be fixed by the dealership/manufacturer without cost to consumer. The safety, reliability and reputation of the vehicle depends on it. Do the right thing!

Filed Jul 21, 2021 · Engine · CA

I started my car and immediately hears a knocking noise and I as drive or stay idled and rev my engine a bit I can hear the knocking noise as well.

Filed Mar 26, 2021 · Engine · 73,000 miles · WA

I was driving on the road near my house and the car started making a knocking noise so I pulled over and checked the oil and it was fine so I kept driving and it started getting worse so I had to tow the car home

Filed Jan 21, 2021 · Engine · 111,000 miles · CA

After seeing numerous toyota j02 (2018) valve train recall catastrophes, I declined the service. When the ca dmv required it for registration renewal, I waited until the deadline so the toyota mechanics would get more practice on other cars before servicing mine in january 2020 with 98k miles odometer. I thought the strategy worked, until november 2020 at 111k miles odometer. On my daily freeway commute, with a clatter and then a bang, a hole was blown in the side of the engine, out of which oil sprayed onto the cat producing billowing smoke, cel's, and then a low oil alert. By the time I got off the freeway, the engine still ran but was knocking. Puente hills toyota recovered a rocker arm that had somehow detached itself from its swivel, thrashed around inside the valve case, and then got ejected out through the valve cover. They insisted the failure was not covered under their service warranty, which was 12-months unlimited miles in print, for depraved reasons they additionally refused to put in writing. They, and other local shops, attempted to quote me to swap in a used engine, but now there's coincidentally a nationwide shortage of these engines, turning my car, which had run 98k miles flawlessly, into a total loss. The federal safety agency failed the public for forcing and then not rescinding a reckless recall decision, where the hazards of a specialized engine service performed by unspecialized dealership mechanics dwarfed the hazards of taking no action. In trying to prevent dozens of potential engine stalls, they caused hundreds of total loss engine failures. A level of systemic incompetence and corruption has also been exposed in the toyota dealerships of north america. I only hope the federal safety agency, toyota, class action lawyers, or someone can step up.