AI DamageToyota Scion TC: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Toyota Scion TC across 2 model years: 16 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 75% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 19% of all complaints
- 3 Suspension 13% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 6% of all complaints
- 5 Steering 6% of all complaints
- 6 Structure 6% of all complaints
- 7 Vehicle speed control 6% of all complaints
- Engine: 12 complaints (75% of all).
- Electrical system: 3 complaints (19% of all).
- Suspension: 2 complaints (13% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (6% of all).
- Steering: 1 complaints (6% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 16 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 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 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.
Additionally, the brake pedal went to the floorboard while depressed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that oil was leaking into the piston rings. The contact stated that an unknown code illuminated for the catalytic converter.
The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, she became aware of thick smoke coming from the exhaust. Additionally, the contact stated that she noticed that the vehicle was consuming and abnormal amount of engine oil. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming 5-quarts of oil every two weeks.
2008 Scion TC engine suffers from an engineering flaw with its Piston Rings, it suffers from excessive Oil Consumption. It started at 65k miles on the engine. Total disaster.
The contact stated that the trunk rubber seal had melted onto the bumper, causing the battery to drain and the electrical system to fail with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired.
Ive been going thru a lot of oil lately and i dont understand why, i have a friend that owns the same car and told me he was going thru the same thing and took the car to toyota and turns out they had a recall about oil consumption so they ended up rebuilding his engine or replacing it.
Now anyone like me coming into ownership of these vehicles are punished for something we had no knowledge of nor caused.I was driving my car today down a residential road when all of a suddthe car jerks and dies. It would restart after that.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other models of this make
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 2026-11-06.