AI Damage2007 Scion TC: common problems
Owners of the 2007 Scion TC filed 117 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and visibility. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 117
- involving a crash
- 21
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 27% of all complaints
- 2 Visibility 19% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 14% of all complaints
- 4 Vehicle speed control 9% of all complaints
- 5 Air bags 7% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 7% of all complaints
- 7 Latches, locks, linkages 6% of all complaints
- 8 Powertrain 5% of all complaints
- Engine: 32 complaints (27% of all).
- Visibility: 22 complaints (19% of all).
- Structure: 16 complaints (14% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Vehicle speed control: 11 complaints (9% of all), 9 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 8 complaints (7% of all), 6 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 117 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 32 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 16 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 11 | 9 | 0 |
| Air bags | 8 | 6 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Wheels | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
While driving at unknown speeds, the brakes failed and the contact crashed into the rear of a trailer. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The driver sustained a sprain and bruises to the shoulder, neck, and hand, which required medical attention. A police report was filed.
As my car slightly went under the truck, the trucks rear passenger tires ram over the top of the passenger side of the hood and my air bags never deployed. As I was under the truck I somehow get out of it and spin out until the car is complete stopped.
My daughter was driving her car down the highway when the car went off the road and rolled at least 3 times her seatbelt did not lock her into place causing her to hit her head numerous time during the crash. She died at the scene of blunt force trauma to the head with over 15 cuts and bruises to her head and face.
My son was driving his 07 scion tc, exiting an interstate he lost traction in the gore area, overcorrected and impacted head first into guardrail then spun left impacting the same guardrail. Three had seatbelts on, one in rear did not and was ejected from vehicle.
Vehicle struck highway 99 center guard rail (at a 45 degree angle) on passenger front bumper traveling approximately 65 miles per hour (spin) then reversed spin slamming rear bumper of vehicle into same guard rail. Vehicle has front (driver and passenger) and side airbags, not one airbag deployed.
The door latch held up, the door had to be removed by the fire department. I keep my seat back pretty far, however my face hit the steering wheel hard enough to bend the top of the steering wheel and chin broke some of the plastic parts off the wheel and now missing part of my lip and have quite a few stitches in my…
Not to mention when I first purchased my scion I had spoke to them about my brakes grinding with in the first 1000 miles , they looked at it and told me everything has checked out. I have since dealt with the problem by allowing myself to be prepared ahead of time to stop.
-- police say it appears the four teenagers who were killed in a car crash in leicester were wearing their seat belts, as was the lone survivor. Leicester police chief jim hurley says neither alcohol nor drugs was a factor in the crash.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 3,192 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 9% most complained about).
On average one model year of the TC has 58 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 117, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2007 Scion TC?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, visibility, structure. Total complaints: 117. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: oil leak or consumption (21%), windows, sunroof (17%), smoke, burning smell, fire (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2007 Scion TC?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2007 Scion TC from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2007 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.