RoadVitals

2008 Scion Tc

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
86
Latest Feb 19, 2025
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Latest Feb 3, 2010
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
17
10 injuries, 1 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 86 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Scion Tc, most frequently naming the engine, body & structure and airbags categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 125 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
10V036000

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Feb 3, 2010
153,418 units potentially affected
The defect: SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.
The risk: A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.
SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS, LLCView on NHTSA.gov
10V035000

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Feb 3, 2010
271,417 units potentially affected
The defect: GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.
The risk: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATES TOYOTA AT 713-580-3300.
GULF STATES TOYOTA, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
09V223000

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Jun 15, 2009
27,080 units potentially affected
The defect: TOYOTA IS RECALLING 27,080 MODEL YEAR 2005 THROUGH 2010 PASSENGER CARS BUILT FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 TO MAY 4, 2009. THESE VEHICLES WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS."
The risk: INCORRECT LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE BEING OVERLOADED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND PROVIDE THEM WITH A NEW, ACCURATE LABEL TO BE INSTALLED OVER THE INACCURATE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-888-270-9371.
TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 86
Engine
Filed Feb 19, 2025

Burning oil bad

NHTSA ID
11643818
Incident
Nov 18, 2024
Filed Jul 8, 2019

SUNROOF / MOONROOF EXPLOSION. DRIVING 50 MPH ON FREEWAY AND WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT WAS MY MOONROOF EXPLODING. NOTHING HIT THE VEHICLE, IT JUST EXPLODED ON ITS OWN.

NHTSA ID
11230085
Incident
Jul 8, 2019
Mileage
155,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 4, 2019

ENGINE CONSUMES TOO MUCH OIL . HAVE TO REFILL THE OIL IN MY ENGINE ABOUT TWO TIMES IN BETWEEN OIL CHANGES.

NHTSA ID
11217977
Incident
Jan 4, 2019
Mileage
94,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 26, 2019

2008 - SCION - TOYOTA - BURNING OIL, BURNING A QUART OF OIL IN LESS THAN EVERY 800 MILES. CAR IS UP TO DATE WITH ALL MAINTENANCE. MECHANIC REFERRED US TO DEALERSHIP. TOYOTA ISSUED A TSB - 'SOME 2006 ' 2011 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2AZ-FE ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION. THE PISTON ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN CHANGED TO MINIMIZE OIL CONSUMPTION.' AND THAT 'P030# (CYLINDER # MISFIRE DETECTED) DTC MAY ALSO BE SET AS A RESULT OF OIL CONSUMPTION.' HOWEVER DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO EVEN TEST OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. SAYING WE ONLY HAD UNTIL AUG 2017. WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED OF SUCH ISSUES, NO LETTERS OR ANYTHING WERE SENT TO US. CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN REGISTERED AND OUR OWNER INFO HAS ALWAYS BEEN AVAILABLE TO TOYOTA. SO NOW WE ARE STUCK WITH DEFECTIVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
11191640
Incident
Mar 26, 2019
Mileage
100,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 15, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SCION TC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS CONSUMING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL, EVEN BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN SAFETY CAMPAIGN THAT EXPIRED IN JUNE OF 2015. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED IN JUNE OF 2015 AND WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE CAMPAIGN. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE NOTICE WAS PROBABLY MAILED TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER. THE CONTACT CONTESTED THAT THIS WAS NOT HIS FAULT. THE MANUFACTURER PROMISED THAT THEY WOULD RESEARCH THE MATTER, BUT THEY STILL WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIRS. WHEN THE CONTACT WENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE'S OIL CHANGED AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, HE WAS DENIED SERVICE BECAUSE THE VALVE GASKET COVER EXPLODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY. AS A RESULT, OIL SPILLED ALL OVER THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

NHTSA ID
11180302
Incident
Jun 1, 2016
Mileage
87,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Dec 28, 2018

TAKATA RECALL. MY FRONT TIRES WEARING FAST. WHEN I TOOK TO DEALER FOR SERVICE & ALIGNMENT, I WAS INFORMED THAT MY CAR HAS A ROW BAR THAT IS RUSTED AND FROZEN AND I WILL NEED TO REPLACE IT ($2,000 ESTIMATED). WHEN I DRIVE IT IN THE RAIN, THE CAR FLAILS ALL OVER THE LANE. I HAD TO STOP AND LET CARS PASS ME, I COULD ONLY DRIVE AT LOW SPEEDS AND I HAD TO PULL OVER 4 TIMES BEFORE GETTING HOME SAFELY. I FELT LIKE I WAS GOING TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD. VERY SCARED AND DANGEROUS. I CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR ON WET ROADS. ALSO, I'M HAVING TO BUY NEW TIRES EVERY 20,000 MILES IT SEEMS AND I'VE REGULARLY HAD THEM ROTATED. LAST TIME THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T ROTATE THEM BECAUSE THE ROD WAS FROZEN AND IT'S ONLY THE TC MODEL THAT HAS THIS PARTICULAR ROD.

NHTSA ID
11163889
Incident
Dec 21, 2018
Mileage
101,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 31, 2018

PURCHASED THIS CAR FOR MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER 2 MONTHS AGO. CAR RUNS LIKE A CHAMP. RECENTLY HAD TO ADD A QUART AND A HALF OF OIL THEN CHANGED THE OIL SATURDAY AND YESTERDAY THE CAR WAS 2 QUARTS LOW AGAIN. HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT EXCESSIVE OIL USE ON THESE VEHICLES, SAME YEAR YET TOYOTA HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL, WHY? WHEN READING COMPLAINTS, APPARENTLY IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM, DEFECT, WITH THE 08 TC IN WHICH INVOLVES THE PISTON RINGS. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE REPAIRS.

NHTSA ID
11123648
Incident
Aug 30, 2018
Mileage
172,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 14, 2018

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND THIS IS THE SECOND ENGINE THAT HAS BLOWN IN MY CAR. THE FIRST PROBLEM WAS WHEN THE PISTONS BLEW UP MY ENGINE AND NOW HERE WE GO AGAIN WITH THE PISTONS IN THE SECOND MOTOR. I CALLED SCION CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SPOKE WITH CAMILLE AND SHE BASICALLY TOLD ME I AM STUCK WITH THIS BAD MOTOR THAT I JUST HAD PUT IN ON APRIL 7, 2017.

NHTSA ID
11119925
Incident
Aug 10, 2018
Mileage
190,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

S-TT-0117-20

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:ENGINE COOLANT HOSES AND FITTINGS

TT: HVAC drain tube is found to be blocked/clogged.

ZE7 Phase 2 POL1

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Warranty Policy Bulletin: Toyota has received some reports where vehicles may exhibit excessive engine oil consumption. Toyota is now announcing the part replacement phase of Warranty Enhancement Program ZE7 for vehicles exhibiting excessive engine oil consumption.

ZE7_Warranty Pol

ENGINE

Warranty Policy Bulletin (POL14-12): Added the Short Block Release Authorization Flow Chart. Toyota has received some reports where vehicles may exhibit excessive engine oil consumption. Toyota is now announcing the part replacement phase of Warranty Enhancement Program ZE7 for vehicles exhibiting excessive engine oil consumption.

ZE7

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

WARRANTY POLICY BULLETIN (POL14-12): ADDED THE SHORT BLOCK RELEASE AUTHORIZATION FLOW CHART. TOYOTA HAS RECEIVED SOME REPORTS WHERE VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION. TOYOTA IS NOW ANNOUNCING THE PART REPLACEMENT PHASE OF WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM ZE7 FOR VEHICLES EXHIBITING EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION.

POL14-12

ENGINE; EQUIPMENT

WARRANTY POLICY BULLETIN (POL14-12): TOYOTA HAS RECEIVED SOME REPORTS WHERE VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION. TOYOTA IS NOW ANNOUNCING THE PART REPLACEMENT PHASE OF WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM ZE7 FOR VEHICLES EXHIBITING EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION.

ZE7_PHASE2 11/18

ENGINE; EQUIPMENT

"WPB: THE ENGINE IS COVERED UNDER THE TOYOTA NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY FOR 5 YEARS FROM THE DATE OF FIRST USE OR 60,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST). HOWEVER, TOYOTA IS ANNOUNCING A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM TO COVER WARRANTY WORK FOR PARTS REPLACEMENT TO ADDRESS EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION*. *NOTE: ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTS REPLACEMENT UNDER THIS WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM IS DEPENDENT ON THE RESULTS OF A DEALER PERFORMED ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. THIS WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES A PRIMARY AND SECONDARY COVERAGE EXTENSION TO THE VEHICLE’S “NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY” FOR REPLACEMENT OF PARTS RELATED TO EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION. IF THE CONDITION IS VERIFIED, WARRANTY WORK WILL BE PERFORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN UNDER THE TERMS OF THIS WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM."

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Scion Tc by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2016630—
2015223057.5
2014201053.1
2013910—
2012820—
2011291041.0
2010202046.5
2009603060.0
2008Viewing863054.0
20071172055.1
20061615162.4
20051554365.4

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.