Pre-purchase inspection checklist — 2015 Scion Iq
The 2015 Scion IQ generally holds up well, with minimal significant complaints and recalls. However, a minor airbag issue is present that any potential buyer should check. Overall, this model provides a reliable used car option with minimal known issues impacting its performance.
Known issues to inspect
Airbag deployment failure
How to check: Ensure the airbag warning light is not on
Test-drive walkthrough
- 01
Cold start
What to check: Engine starts smoothly without noises
Red flag: Unusual noises or struggles to start
- 02
First minute idling
What to check: Stable idle without vibrations
Red flag: Excessive vibrations or stalling
- 03
City driving
What to check: Smooth gear shifts without hesitation
Red flag: Hesitation or hard shifts in transmission
- 04
Braking
What to check: Responsive brakes without noises
Red flag: Squealing or delayed braking response
- 05
Highway acceleration
What to check: Acceleration is smooth and consistent
Red flag: Lagging or jerky acceleration
- 06
Turning
What to check: Steering is responsive and no noises
Red flag: Steering noise or loose feel
Questions for the seller
Use this exact phrasing.
- Has the airbag ever been repaired?
- Have there been any accidents?
- What regular maintenance has been performed?
- Are there any remaining recalls?
- Has the vehicle been inspected recently?
Documents to request
Don't sign anything until you have these.
- Maintenance records
- Accident history report
- Title and registration
- Recall completion proof
Generated by gpt-4o on 7/25/2026. Grounded in the NHTSA recall corpus and owner-complaint patterns for the 2015 Scion Iq.