RoadVitals

2006 Scion Tc Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
22
Latest Jan 22, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
14%
of 161 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Scion Tc submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Jan 22, 2025

The contact owns a 2006 Scion TC. The contact stated that after performing a vehicle inspection of the engine compartment, he became aware that the coolant reservoir was abnormally low; eventually finding a leak near the rear of the engine. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the cylinder head bolts resulting in a coolant leak. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: S-SB-0004-11. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 287,000.

NHTSA ID
11637794
Incident
Jan 22, 2025
Mileage
287,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 25, 2019

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION BETWEEN OIL CHANGES, I NEED TO CHECK THE LEVEL EVERY MONTH AND ADD OIL IF NEEDED. WHEN I TURN ON THE VEHICLE, THE RADIO TURNS ON ALONE OR TURNS ITSELF OFF, WITHOUT PRESSING THE BUTTON. THESE 2 COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS.

NHTSA ID
11203782
Incident
Jan 2, 2017
Engine
Filed Mar 15, 2019

OIL CONSUMPTION

NHTSA ID
11187147
Incident
Mar 12, 2009
Engine
Filed Jan 2, 2019

ENGINE BLOCK BOLTS ARE ATTACHED TO AN ALUMINUM BODY OF THE ENGINE CAUSING BOLTS TO BECOME LOOSE WITH TIME AND CAN NOT RETHREAD. CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK FROM BOLT AREA

NHTSA ID
11164514
Incident
Dec 6, 2018
Engine
Filed May 9, 2018

I CHANGE MY OIL EVERY 3000 OR LESS MILES WITH FULL SYNTHETIC AMSOIL 5W-20. I HAVE TO PUT IN 1/2 A QUART OF OIL FOR EVERY GAS FILL UP. I'M A HIGHWAY DRIVER THAT SETS CRUISE CONTROL AT 75. I DON'T DIVE CRAZY. 2007 HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, WHERE IS THE ONE FOR 2006?

NHTSA ID
11092673
Incident
Jan 1, 2016
Mileage
180,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 19, 2016

THIS CAR IS CONSTANTLY BURNING OIL. MY OIL PRESSURE LIGHT NEVER FAILS TO TURN ON SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 1000-2000 MILES AFTER EACH OIL CHANGE, AND I HAVE TO REFILL TO STOP THE LIGHT FROM COMING BACK ON.

NHTSA ID
10936209
Incident
Dec 1, 2014
Mileage
100,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 11, 2016

OIL CONSUMPTION!!! I'VE OWNED MY 2006 SCION TC FOR ABOUT 5 YEARS AND HAVE RECENTLY BEEN EXPERIENCING A HUGE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE. IT DIDN'T PHASE ME AT FIRST, ALTHOUGH NOW I NEED TO SET MY ODOMETER TO ZERO AND REFILL MY OIL EVERY 800 MILES. I BELIEVE IT IS CERTAIN INTERNAL PARTS THAT ARE CAUSING THIS PROBLEM, SUCH AS THE PISTONS AND THE PISTON RINGS . I'VE NOTICED THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR A LOT OF SCION TC'S LATELY, WHICH HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF THROUGH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM FOR THE MODEL YEARS OF 2007-2009. I'M TRYING TO PROVE THAT ISSUE IS ALSO AFFECTING THE 2006 MODEL YEAR TOO, AND WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT IF I COULD RECEIVE SOME HELP CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. I WILL UPLOAD A PHOTO OF AN OLD PISTON THAT SHOWS THIS EXACT PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10884153
Incident
Jan 20, 2014
Mileage
110,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Jun 18, 2016

ENGINE HAS SEVER OIL CONSUMPTION TO WHERE WE ARE ADDING A QUART OR MORE EVERY 1000 MILES OR SO IN BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. WORRIES ME TO WERE I CHECK EVERY WEEK JUST TO MAKE SURE THERE IS ENOUGH OIL. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT SORT OF THING. WHILE DRIVING OM STREETS OR HIGHWAYS, HAPPENS EVERY WHERE, AS YOU SHIFT AT A CERTAIN RPM (ABOUT 1500-2500-3000 ECT) THE CAR WILL HESITATE FOR A FEW SECONDS. WE ORIGINALLY THOUGHT IT WAS FROM THE A/C SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN THE SUMMER TIME BUT ONCE THE A/C IS OFF THE CAR STILL HESITATES. WE HAVE NOTICED WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES WITH THIS ISSUES BUT WE ARE THE ONLY YEAR THAT IS REPORTING THEM. WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MY ENGINE AND FUEL SYSTEM?! PLEASE HELP!!!!

NHTSA ID
10874956
Incident
Jul 27, 2012
Mileage
53,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 17, 2016
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 SCION TC. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AS IT SPREAD TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,594.

NHTSA ID
10836600
Incident
Feb 13, 2016
Mileage
186,594 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 3, 2016

LEAKING ENGINE COOLANT FROM BACK OF CYLINDER HEAD. TOOK CAR IN TO HAVE HEAD GASKET CHANGED WAS TOLD THE GASKET WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM WAS THE ENGINE BLOCK THAT THE THREADS IN THE ENGINE BLOCK WERE STRIPPED. WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT IT WAS A BIG PROBLEM AND IT WOULD COST BETWEEN 1500-1700 TO FIX THE HEAD BOLT THREADS. CONSIDER THE NUMBER OF CARS TRUCKS AND SUVS WITH THIS ENGINE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OR SOME TYPE OF OWNER ASSISTANCE FOR THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10823987
Incident
Jan 21, 2016
EngineFuel system
Filed Jul 21, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA SCION TC. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH LEAKED. AS A RESULT, THE CHARCOAL CANISTER WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,841.

NHTSA ID
10735567
Incident
Jul 17, 2015
Mileage
47,841 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 27, 2015

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

NHTSA ID
10702262
Incident
Dec 12, 2014
Mileage
130,900 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 27, 2015

MY CAR CONSUMES ABOUT TWO QUARTS OF OIL PER 1000 MILES. MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME THAT IT DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE LEAKING, IT COULD BE BEING BURNED THOUGH. I KEEP MY CAR RUNNING WITH FREQUENT OIL CHANGES AND GO THROUGH A GOOD AMOUNT OF OIL EVERY MONTH IN BETWEEN. MANY OTHER TC DRIVERS HAVE TOLD ME THEY HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE ALSO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10691005
Incident
Jan 1, 2011
Mileage
80,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Feb 2, 2015
1 injury reported

2006 SCION TC -BATTERY LIGHT ON -ENGINE TEMPERATURE INDICATOR NO WORKING -WHINING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE TRY TO JUMPSTART MAKES THIS BURNING SMELL AND WONT START STARTED SEEING SMOKES FROM JUMPER CABLES SO TURN EVERYTHING OFF NOW IT'S TOTALLY DEAD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10680486
Incident
Feb 1, 2015
Mileage
91,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 23, 2014

THE ENGINE SOUND INCREASED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. GOT BACK HOME CHECK THE OIL LEVEL IT WAS DRY. FOUND OUT THAT THESE SCIONS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH OIL CONSUMPTION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10627792
Incident
Aug 15, 2014
Mileage
112,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 14, 2014

TRD SUPERCHARGER WAS BOUGHT AND INSTALLED AT DEALER MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH PRODUCT BLOWN SUPERCHARGER AND ENGINE AND PAID FOR ANOTHER SUPERCHARGER OUT OF POCKET AFTER 7 SUPERCHARGERS AND 5 MOTOR BLOCKS CAR WAS PUT BACK TO STOCK AND WAS NEVER REIMBURSED FOR EITHER SUPERCHARGER AND ITEM WAS DISCONTINUED DUE TO MULTIPLE PEOPLE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS WROTE TO CORPORATE AND THEY STILL REFUSE TO REIMBURSE FOR MY PAID FOR EQUIPMENT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE EQUIPMENT REPAIRED AND EVEN HAD THE CAR FULLY REIMBURSED MINUS DEPRECIATION I'M ONLY ASKING FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF THE 2 UNITS THAT I PAID FOR THAT TOYOTA HAS TAKEN AWAY FROM ME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10564377
Incident
Jun 1, 2006
Mileage
7,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 19, 2013

SCION TC 2006 - TEMPERATURE WENT ALL THE WAY TO HOT ON THE GAUGE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR STARTED RUNNING ROUGH. TOOK THE CAR TO LOCAL SERVICE STATION. THEY TOOK THE HEAD OFF. SAID THE ENGINE BLOCK BOLTS ARE STRIPPED. MECHANIC IS CHARGING $3000+ TO FIX. SEE THIS ISSUE POSTED HERE AND ELSEWHERE ON LINE WITH THE 2006 SCION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10499269
Incident
Feb 3, 2013
Mileage
69,000 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Jan 7, 2013

ON 08/28/2012 I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK WHEN I NOTICED THE RADIO WENT OUT. I EXITED THE FREEWAY. I MADE IT ABOUT 2 BLOCKS AND WAS AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR WOULDN'T ADVANCE. A POLICE OFFICER A FEW CARS BEHIND WAS ABLE TO PUSH MY CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAD MY CAR TOWED FOR SERVICE TO AN INDEPENDENT NON-TOYOTA MECHANIC. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW ALTERNATOR. GIVEN THIS WAS A NECESSARY REPAIR I WENT AHEAD AND HAD THE REPAIR DONE. THE CAR WAS RUNNING PRETTY WELL UNTIL 01/01/2013. ON 01/01/2013 I WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN I NOTICED THE HEATER STOPPED WORKING. THINKING NOTHING OF IT, I KEPT DRIVING. ON 01/04/2013 (ABOUT 75,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE) I WAS RETURNING FROM AN ERRAND (DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH) WHEN I NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD TURNED ON. I PULLED OVER AT A GAS STATION TO FILL UP AND CALLED AN INDEPENDENT NON-TOYOTA MECHANIC TO SEE IF I COULD BRING MY CAR IN. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO BRING MY CAR IN ON 01/05/2013. AFTER I PULLED OUT OF THE GAS STATION AND DROVE A FEW BLOCKS I NOTICED THE NEEDLE FOR THE THERMOSTAT WAS AT THE HOTTEST LEVEL POSSIBLE. THE NEXT MORNING I TOOK MY CAR IN, IT OVERHEATED IN THE 5 MINUTES IT TO ME TO ARRIVE TO THE SHOP. I WAS INFORMED THE ENGINE HAD STRIPPED HEAD BOLTS AND I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE . I CALLED TOYOTA/SCION AND THEY DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE EITHER THE ALTERNATOR OR STRIPPED HEAD BOLTS BEING AN ISSUE. THE REPRESENTATIVE, [XXX] SAID THEY WOULD OPEN UP A CASE AND I WAS GIVEN THE FOLLOWING CASE # 1301070610. I HOWEVER CAME ACROSS VARIOUS SCION/TOYOTA OWNERS ONLINE WHO HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH FOR "SCION STRIPPED HEAD BOLTS" WILL SHOW JUST HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD BY [XXX] THAT IF IN THE FUTURE SCION/TOYOTA RECOGNIZES THE ISSUE(S) I MAY RECEIVE A REIMBURSEMENT BUT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE FIX THAT I JUST CAN'T AFFORD. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10491663
Incident
Aug 28, 2012
EngineFuel system
Filed Oct 8, 2012

HEAD GASKET LEAKING FOUND 6 HEAD BOLTS LOOSE. INSTALLED NEW HEAD GASKET SET, NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD. PAID 2000 DOLLARS FOR REPAIRS, NOW HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. MAKES LOUD NOISE AND OVERHEATS. MECHANIC AND BAR AGENT ADVISED IT WAS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. HEADBOLTS CAME LOOSE AGAIN AND NOW I NEED NEW ENGINE. PREVIOUS TO THIS MY INSURANCE HAD PAID A TOTAL OF 5000 DOLLARS FOR SOME MECHANICAL AND BODY WORK. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR ALMOST SEVEN MONTHS NOW. CALLED TOYOTA MANUFACTURE COMPANY THEY TOLD ME THE ONLY WAY THEY WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE IF THEY CHARGED ME. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO AFFORD THE REPAIR AGAIN AND TO BUY A NEW ENGINE. I JUST NEED IT TO BE INSPECTED ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAD A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL FROM THE BUREAU OF AUTO REPAIR CONFIRM THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10479264
Incident
Sep 28, 2012
Mileage
81,910 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 26, 2011

THE ENGINE COVER IS CRACKED, THIS COVER HAS NEVER BEEN REMOVED FOR ANY TYPE OF REPAIR. WONDERING IF THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE CAUSED IT TO CRACK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10437310
Incident
Nov 26, 2011
Engine
Filed Oct 11, 2011

TOOK MY CAR TO THE SHOP FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND FOUND OUT THAT MY CAR WAS LEAKING COOLANT OUT OF THREE HEAD BOLTS ON BACK OF ENGINE BLOCK. THEY WERE STRIPPED OUT BECAUSE OF TOYOTA IMPROPER DESIGN OF THE BLOCK. 4 1/2" HOLE WITH 4" BOLT WITH ONLY THE BOTTOM 1 1/2" THREADED WHICH IS ONLY AN INCH TO INCH THREAD. POUR DESIGN FOR AN ALUMINUM BLOCK FOR THAT TENSILE STRENGTH. ITS AN 06 SCION TC THEY WANTED 6000 TO REPLACE BLOCK. EVEN CALLED CORPORATE BUT THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT SINCE ITS OUTSIDE OF POWERTRAIN WARRANTY WHEN THEY KNOW ITS A KNOWN ISSUE. THEY EVEN ISSUED A TSB OUT IN 3/2/2011. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE I HAVE SEEN MANY CASES ON THIS ISSUE AND TOYOTA IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THEIR PROBLEM AND THEIR POUR DESIGNS. SERVICE BULLETIN: S-SB-0004-11. *KB

NHTSA ID
10429474
Incident
Sep 28, 2011
Engine
Filed May 27, 2010

EXITING HIGHWAY, OIL LIGHT ON MY 2006 SCION TC FLICKERED ON. I PULLED OVER AND THERE WAS NO OIL ON THE DIPSTICK, ALL THERE WAS IS A BLACK GOOP. I REGULARLY CHANGE MY OIL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10332458
Incident
May 27, 2010
Mileage
70,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .