The 2014 FR-S is a lightweight sports coupe with Subaru's FA20 boxer engine — fun to drive but notorious for valve spring failures, cricket chirp noises from throw-out bearings, and oil starvation issues under high lateral G-forces. The platform is mechanically sound otherwise, but early model years (2013-2016) bear the brunt of the valve spring recall and engine rebuild scenarios.
Valve Spring Failure Leading to Engine Damage
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 30,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Check engine light with misfire codes (P0300-P0304), Rough idle or stumbling under load, Metallic rattling from valve train at cold start, Catastrophic failure: bent valves, damaged pistons, scored cylinder walls
Fix: Toyota issued TSB and extended warranty coverage (to 10yr/150k mi) for valve spring replacement on 2013-2016 models. If springs break and damage occurs, you're looking at head gasket replacement (8-12 hrs) or full engine rebuild (20-30 hrs) depending on extent. Many shops rebuild short blocks with aftermarket forged internals while they're in there.
Estimated cost: $3,500-8,000
Throw-Out Bearing Chirp / Clutch Release Noise
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 20,000-60,000 mi
Symptoms: High-pitched cricket chirp when clutch pedal is at rest (disappears when pressed), More pronounced in cold weather, No functional clutch issues, just annoying noise
Fix: OEM throw-out bearing design flaw — requires transmission removal to replace bearing and clutch assembly. Most owners live with it until clutch needs replacement anyway. Clutch job on this platform is 6-8 hrs labor due to boxer layout and tight transmission tunnel.
Estimated cost: $1,200-1,800
Oil Starvation Under Track / Spirited Driving
Occasional · high severity
Symptoms: Rod knock or bearing noise after autocross/track days, Low oil pressure warning during sustained high-G cornering, Spun bearings discovered during oil changes (metallic debris in filter)
Fix: FA20 oil pickup design allows oil to slosh away from pickup under hard cornering, starving the engine. Not a daily-driver issue but deadly for track use. Prevention requires aftermarket oil pan baffle or Killer B Motorsports oil pickup. If damage occurs, you're rebuilding: rod bearings minimum (16-20 hrs) or complete short block (25-35 hrs).
Estimated cost: $4,000-9,000
Transmission Mount Failure
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking when shifting, especially 1st to 2nd, Excessive shifter vibration at idle, Visible movement of transmission when rocking car in gear
Fix: Rear transmission mount tears or separates from bushing. Requires lift and transmission support — 2-3 hrs labor. OEM part is adequate; many go with stiffer aftermarket mounts (Whiteline, Perrin) but expect more NVH.
Estimated cost: $250-450
Fuel Pump Failure (High-Pressure)
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Hard starting, especially when hot, Loss of power under acceleration, Stalling at idle or during deceleration, P0087 code (fuel rail pressure too low)
Fix: High-pressure fuel pump (in-tank) fails, often without warning. Requires dropping fuel tank (3-4 hrs). OEM Toyota part is recommended over aftermarket — this is not an area to cheap out.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200
Crankshaft Position Sensor Intermittent Failure
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: No-start condition, cranks but won't fire, Intermittent stalling while driving, P0335 or P0340 codes (crank/cam position sensor correlation), Usually fails when engine is hot
Fix: Sensor mounted low on block, exposed to heat and road debris. Replacement is straightforward (1-1.5 hrs) but diagnosis can be tricky if intermittent. Always use OEM Denso sensor — aftermarket units fail quickly.
Estimated cost: $200-350
Owner tips
Check service records for valve spring TSB completion — if not done and car is under 150k mi, get it done under extended warranty before it grenades.
If you track or autocross the car, install an oil baffle/improved pickup before your first event — rod bearing replacement is 10x the cost of prevention.
Keep an eye on oil consumption — FA20 engines can burn 1 qt per 1,000 mi when driven hard, which Toyota considers 'normal.' Check level every fillup.
The direct-injection system carbon-fouls intake valves by 60k-80k mi — budget for walnut blasting service every 50k mi ($300-500).
Great driver's car if you avoid the early valve spring grenades and respect the oil starvation risk — buy a 2017+ if you can, or verify TSB completion and add an oil baffle if tracking. Otherwise solid and cheap to own for a RWD sports coupe.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
Fitment notes: Battery located in engine bay; Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 share same specification
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Every control module on the 2013-2016 Toyota Scion FR-S — where it lives, replacement time, and what it takes to program a replacement. Modules marked dealer / factory tool won't work after a part swap alone — budget for programming.
⚠️ Optional equipment; sensor calibration may be needed
Back Monitor Camera ECU (CAMERA ECU)0.5 hr R&Rno coding
📍 Rear cargo area, near liftgate
⚠️ Optional equipment; plug-and-play replacement
Aftermarket tool coverage varies by software version and vehicle build — treat "aftermarket tool" rows as "usually possible" and verify against your tool maker's coverage list before promising a customer. Spot a wrong location or hour? Tell us — corrections ship fast here.
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2014 Toyota Scion FR-S 2.0L H4 and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years.