Japan · NHTSA recalls & complaints
Scion VIN decoder
Scion was a brand that Toyota Motor Corporation launched in the United States in 2003. Toyota announced on February 3, 2016 that it would fold Scion into the Toyota brand: from August 2016 the 2017 models were sold as Toyotas, the FR-S became the Toyota 86, the iA became the Yaris iA and the iM became the Corolla iM, while the tC ended production in August 2016. Model year 2016 was Scion's last.
Enter all 17 characters to see the build details NHTSA holds and the recalls for that model year.
- 7 model pages
- 28 recall campaigns
- 2,243 owner complaints
- model years 2003–2016
- origin: Japan
| Country of origin | Japan |
|---|---|
| Region | Asia |
| NHTSA recall and complaint data | Yes, model years 2003–2016 |
| WMI codes in NHTSA vPIC | None decode to this brand |
| Model pages | 7 |
| Other model names in NHTSA data | 2 |
| Vehicle recall campaigns | 28 |
| Owner complaints | 2,243 |
| Complaints reporting a crash | 289 (12.9%) |
| Complaints reporting a fire | 52 (2.3%) |
| Complaints reporting an injury | 185 (8.2%) |
| Complaints reporting a death | 16 (0.7%) |
| Data updated | September 25, 2026 |
Scion's cars came from several factories. Toyota's VIN filing for the 2016 model year lists the tC and iM as built at Toyota's Takaoka plant in Japan. The iA was produced in Salamanca, Mexico, where it was also sold as the Yaris R. The FR-S, whose engine Toyota and Subaru developed jointly, was built by Subaru at its Gunma plant in Ota, Japan.
Used Scions are still common, and decoding one has a quirk: NHTSA's vPIC database has no separate Scion make. It lists models such as the Scion tC, Scion xB and Scion FR-S under the Toyota make, while NHTSA's recall data files them under SCION. Every Scion uses the 17-character VIN standard in force since model year 1981. For related brands, see Toyota, Lexus and Subaru.
NHTSA’s files hold 28 vehicle recall campaigns and 2,243 owner complaints for Scion vehicles from model years 2003 to 2016, summarised here on 7 model pages. The xB has the most complaints (1,047), followed by the tC (693) and the FR-S (201). Of those complaints, 289 report a crash, 52 a fire, 185 at least one injury and 16 at least one death; the figures count complaints, not people.
NHTSA’s vPIC database has no WMI records that decode to Scion, so this page has no WMI table; the VIN notes below explain which codes Scion uses.
Each model page lists NHTSA’s recall campaigns and owner complaints for that model name, by model year and component. Models are sorted by complaints; the data covers model years 2003–2016.
– means NHTSA has no records of that kind under the model name.
Other Scion models in NHTSA data
NHTSA also lists these Scion model names, but with no recall campaign and fewer than 25 complaints each, so they have no page of their own: iA, IC.
Which WMI codes appear on Scion VINs?
Scion never had WMIs of its own; its cars use the codes of whichever company built them. Toyota's 2016 filing assigns JTK to the tC and JTN to the iM. vPIC also lists two partner codes with the Toyota make: 3MY, registered to Mazda's plant in Salamanca, Mexico, where the iA was produced, and JF1, registered to Subaru, which built the FR-S.
| WMI | Manufacturer (NHTSA vPIC) | Country | Vehicle type |
|---|---|---|---|
| JTK | TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC | Japan | Passenger car |
| JTN | TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION | Japan | Passenger car |
| 3MY | MAZDA MOTOR MANUFACTURING DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V. | Mexico | Passenger car |
| JF1 | SUBARU CORPORATION | Japan | Passenger car |
How do you decode a 2016 Scion tC or iM?
Toyota's VIN coding system for the 2016 model year, filed with NHTSA in April 2015 (NHTSA Manufacturer Information Database file ORG12780), gives each position a single meaning:
| Position | Meaning | Scion tC | Scion iM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | WMI | JTK | JTN |
| 4 | Body type | J = 3-door liftback, 2WD | K = 5-door liftback, 2WD |
| 5 | Engine | F = 2AR-FE 2.5L L4 | A = 2ZR-FAE 1.8L L4 |
| 6 | Restraint devices | 5 | R |
| 7 | Series | C = AGT20L | J = ZRE186L |
| 8 | Line and make | 7 = Toyota Scion tC | E = Toyota Scion iM |
| 11 | Plant | J = Takaoka, Toyota Motor Corp. | J = Takaoka, Toyota Motor Corp. |
Position 9 is the check digit and position 10 the model year, G for 2016. Earlier Scions used different codes, so treat this table as a 2016 reference only.
Why does my Scion VIN decode as a Toyota?
NHTSA's vPIC database has no separate Scion make. It lists Scion models under Toyota with names such as Scion tC or Scion xB, so a decode shows Toyota as the make and Scion in the model name. NHTSA's recall data, however, uses SCION as the make.
When did Toyota stop selling Scion?
Toyota announced the end of Scion on February 3, 2016. Model year 2016 was the last; from August 2016 the FR-S, iA and iM were sold as the Toyota 86, Yaris iA and Corolla iM, and the tC was discontinued.
How do I find recalls for a Scion?
Search recalls under the Scion make with your model and model year; NHTSA files Scion recalls under SCION. Our recall lookup uses NHTSA's public data for US-market vehicles. To see whether one VIN still has an open recall, use NHTSA's VIN search or a Toyota dealer.
Does decoding a Scion VIN show its accident history?
No. It shows factory data such as body, engine, series, model year and plant. Accident, title and ownership records come from state agencies and licensed history providers, which this site does not connect to.
Brands mentioned in the notes above, then other Asian brands, each with its own VIN notes and WMI list.
- Toyota (66) Japan · 375 recall campaigns
- Lexus (80) Japan · 116 recall campaigns
- Subaru (20) Japan · 147 recall campaigns
- Acura (22) Japan · 117 recall campaigns
- Genesis (12) South Korea · 34 recall campaigns
- Honda (127) Japan · 363 recall campaigns
Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files and NHTSA vPIC, updated September 25, 2026.