NHTSA Complaint #10681817 — 2013 SCION FR-S

AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS OF SMELLING BURNT OIL IN THE CABIN, I DISCOVERED A SERIOUS OIL LEAK ON THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAS A BLOCK OFF PLATE ON THE RIGHT REAR CAMSHAFT AREA. IT IS A STAMPED STEEL PLATE HELD ON WITH THREE BOLTS AND SEALED WITH RTV. THE OIL WAS LEAKING AROUND THE BOTTOM BOLT AND DRIPPING ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE. SCION DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY TOLD ME THAT ALL THEY COULD DO WAS RE-APPLY THE SEALANT AND HOPE FOR THE BEST. THEY ALSO COMMENTED THAT IT WOULD FAIL AGAIN IN THE SAME PLACE BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN. I ORDERED AN AFTERMARKET COVER PLATE THAT INCORPORATES AN O RING INTO THE SEAL. THIS PLATE IS GUARANTEED NOT TO LEAK IF INSTALLED ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTIONS. WEB FORUMS INDICATE THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION EQUIPPED FR-S. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION VERSION HAS A PUMP IN PLACE OF THE BLOCK OFF PLATE. THIS IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD AND OWNERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BUY AFTERMARKET PARTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. SCION/TOYOTA (SUBARU) SHOULD DESIGN A PLATE THAT DOES NOT LEAK ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST PIPE. *JS