ScioniQ2015Overview/scion/iq/2015/base/

2015 Scion iQ

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2015 iQ.

Transmission Automatic (variable gear ratios)

The 2015 Scion iQ operates via an automatic transmission with variable gear ratios and achieves EPA fuel economy ratings of 36/37/37 mpg, while requiring 3.7 quarts of 0W-20 or 5W-20 API engine oil. Reliability records for this model year show zero recalls and only one total owner complaint focused on air bags. This single issue ties the 2014 model for the lowest complaint count within the 2012-2015 history, positioning the 2015 year at the bottom of the complaint scale compared to the 17 complaints reported for 2012.

Model year2015201420132012

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3.7 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20 / 5W-20 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy36/37/37 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 51 · 295 CCA battery, OE oil filter 9030169011. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 51 · 295 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnOFFOEM · verified
Tire sizeP175/60R16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter9030169011 alt 04152YZZA7
Engine air filter1780140040
Fuel filter2321740011
Spark plug9091901275
Battery2880047090
Front wiper blades8522233241 alt 8521274010
Serpentine belt9091602670 alt 9091602681
Thermostat9091603147 alt 1632647020
Cabin air filter8856874040

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (variable gear ratios)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length120.1 in
Overall width66.1 in
Overall height59.1 in
Wheelbase78.7 in
Curb weight2127 lb
Track (front / rear)58.3 / 57.5 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)61/39

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined36 / 37 / 37 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the iQ of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

9.6–10.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.60 sec — 2012 Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2012Hatchback 1.3L I-49.60 sec17.50 sec94 hpFWD
2012Hatchback 1.3L I-49.60 sec17.40 sec94 hpFWD
2012Hatchback 1.3L I-410.80 sec18.10 sec94 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3.7 qt of 0W-20 / 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidToyota CVT fluid
Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantTOYOTA Super Long Life Coolant
Engine Coolant Capacity5.2
Engine Oil0W-20 · API · 5W-20
Engine Oil Capacity3.7 qt
Fuel Tank Capacity8.5 gallons
Power Steering FluidEPS

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs12 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts94 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts65 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts21 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts21 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts43.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel HubInstall a new nut and torque to 159.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)650-750 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerScion
Spark Plug Gap.039 - .043 in
Spark Plug Torque15 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity4.38-13.76 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity3.35-3.40 oz
Standard BCI Group Number51
Standard BCI Cranking Performance295 cca
Optional BCI Group Number35

Service checks

Pressure Test17 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
RPM44-50 at idle or fuel pump running rpm
Residual Pressure21 min after 5 min , fuel pump off psi
Engine Compressionpsi 131 - 174 / max variation14.2 psi

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque25
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque78
ABS Sensor Torque8.5 / NS
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.039 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for Replacement.709
Maximum Rotor RunoutMeasure the disc runout @ 10mm
Maximum Drum Diameter7.130

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
111 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9011 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Coat new bolts with the specified engine oil.

124.0 ft. lbs.24 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
390 degrees90 degrees
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
122 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9022 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs at 120,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 miFloor Mat (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels) · Windshield Wiper Blade (inspect)
Every 10,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning Condenser (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 20,000 miCabin Air Filter (clean)
Every 30,000 miBrake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 120,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2015 Scion iQ represents the tail end of its generation, with federal complaint data showing a clear downward trend from its 2012 peak (17 complaints) to just one in both 2014 and 2015. Recalls followed a similar arc, with the only two issued in 2012 and 2013, while 2014 and 2015 saw none—suggesting earlier issues were addressed or resolved. The sole 2015 complaint involved air bags, mirroring a broader industry concern but not indicating a model-specific pattern, as the data doesn’t specify root cause. Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) also declined from 114 in 2013 to 59 in 2015, reinforcing the model’s maturation. With no crash-related fire complaints and minimal safety issues reported, the 2015 iQ appears to be a stable, low-risk used purchase—assuming the air bag system has been verified as functional. This year stands out as a prudent choice within the generation.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
59
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Air Bags1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 59 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
Z3G_Dealer_Lette2022-12-14StructureDL: Toyota has received reports of paint peeling on certain vehicles with the original…
ZKG_Dealer_Lette2022-12-14StructureDL: Toyota has received reports of paint peeling on certain vehicles with the original…
Z2G_Dealer_Lette2022-12-14StructureDL: Toyota has received reports of paint peeling on certain vehicles with the original…
Support Program2022-05-18StructureDL: Toyota has received reports of paint peeling on certain vehicles with the original…
ZKG_Dealer_Lette2022-04-28StructureDL: Toyota has received reports of paint peeling on certain vehicles with the original…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific iQ. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2015 iQ take?

3.7 qt of 0W-20 API certified is preferred. 5W-20 API certified can also be used., per the factory manual.

Does the 2015 iQ have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the iQ get?

EPA figures are 36 city / 37 highway / 37 combined mpg.