Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
60
Latest Mar 29, 2026
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.
16
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
2
Reports on file since Apr 3, 2009
What this page shows
Our database holds 60 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Scion Tc. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaints, most recent first
Showing 1–25 of 60 · page 1 of 3
ElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 29, 2026
sold a AS IS TRADE IN vehicle that had no warning lights on dashboard or window info on safety defective emmisons and ecm and has not been very helpful with my vehicle I have not been able to drive because of safety concerns with recent discovery of codes that showed after getting a new battery for my new way of commuteing to work and live daily activity like most with a car I laid 2,050.15 and was told many times at test drive that it was amazing running sports car and mentioned he only had to replace valve cover gasket before it was able to be sold and at time of payment with test drive only showing signs of low rpm and throttle idle on test drive so trusting that the owner was telling me the truth I purchased and drove car home I needed gas because fuel was empty and when I went to pump into tank I got major clicking of the handle like my new car wouldn't take fuel for some weird reason owner at dealership was called 5 mins after buying on auto lot to express major concern with pumping gas he again said vehicle was inspected with nothing of concern now finding that it is going to cost many thousands to repair emmisons system And fault codes with total programing with abs and to cost more than anyone can honestly afford now I'm drained of my savings and have no hope of finding a solution so my car isn't parked because of failure of hidden defects I would of never invested my whole savings on a car if information was shown for defective vehicle system parts.i want the owner to honor his misleading auto fraud and in anyway help with safety emmisons compromised part replacement so my vehicle I purchased will drive like promised at business or replace it with a vehicle that is safe for the road without hidden errors I am very emotionally distressed over finding a solution for this unexpected misfortune I've been experiencing life gets very difficult without assess to a safe vehicle it has cost me to much I shouldn't have to suffer for his fraudulent actions
NHTSA ID
11727740
Incident
Mar 1, 2026
ElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 28, 2026
I believe my emmisons had malfunctioning part # 77740-21011 called used auto sales agent 5 mins after purchasing on 3/1 because I was at gas station having unusual fuel pumping problems that made it very difficult to put gas in had a constant clicking happen and the dealer on the phone told me there was no issues with my new vehicle and after checking my warning lights to see if any were signaling and had no active warnings for service engine soon or maintenance so I believed him I drove home and within two days tried to replace my battery because cars battery looked old I disconnected the battery and on accident reset my whole car and with rpm being lo I checked with simple scan tool that I after a accidentall reset to better my battery lifespan noticed I had a entire system code read concerning emmisons I am having a Toyota, Lexus,scion technician visit tommrow to get better understanding because I cant afford to pay the 400 for basic test from Toyota.and it has been 4 weeks since it has been parked at my house because of uncertainty about error codes and if it is safe to drive feel like my purchase had dealer take of warning lights to show major emmisons defect and with the cost to have Toyota replace and have scions system reprogram so it relearns it will cost more than I paid for vehicle I have messaged who sold me vehicle at business in Bradenton since day one of purchase 3/1 and was sold to me as is without any window sticker explaining defects have called Toyota dealership at 3 locations including Sarasota to ask for scion specialist assistance to get my vehicle in driving condition and with my battery reset and it being incomplete until I find exactly why my vapor canister is throwing some unusual codes by experience tech .no insurance representative or manufacturer police with situation with vehicle and it's safety.with 34 calls to places that do low cost diagnostic tests I been told only person that can do what is needed to vehicle is Toyota dealer
NHTSA ID
11727625
Incident
Mar 1, 2026
Engine
Filed May 22, 2024
My scion TC is using an extreme amount of oil to where I am putting 2-3 quarts in the motor per week. The extreme usage of oil can cause the engine to blow up due to lack of oil staying in the engine. My oil light will flash after couple days indicating low oil. A dangerous situation that can happen is the engine stop working while I'm driving on an interstate and possibly cause a serious accident or even an engine fire. There was a Toyota bulletin on this issue back in 2015. My car was bought in 2013. According to Toyota, they claimed they had sent notice to the address listed under this VIN. We received no such notice and even requested Toyota prove they sent it, but they would not. When I asked them about this case in regard to this issue, they have mentioned Toyota would no longer deal with this because it was past the deadline. How can I be denied for a service bulletin if I never received the notice.
NHTSA ID
11590218
Incident
May 9, 2024
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 13, 2022
The contact owns a 2009 Scion TC. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, he slowed for a traffic light and the vehicle failed to shift out of third gear. The accelerator pedal was depressed and the vehicle revved without moving. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle occasionally slipped out of gear and failed to exceed 15 MPH while driving. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer who diagnosed that the transmission was locked in overdrive and that the transmission needed to be repaired or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
NHTSA ID
11469033
Incident
May 11, 2022
Mileage
150,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Mar 9, 2022
Crash reported
Just entered the interstate and was 2 miles from home when the car started shaking cause the car to make a sudden hard right across multiple lanes of traffic going down an embankment and hitting trees. Witness who saw the accident while traveling behind the car saw smoke coming from driver rear tire, then car began to shake and car abruptly went to the right and off the road. Highway patrol stated based on witness and driver accounts, the driver rear tire failed. The collision center states the interior portion of the driver read tire separated and failed. The entire tire separated clean.
NHTSA ID
11455951
Incident
Jan 12, 2022
Engine
Filed Sep 15, 2021
2009 Scion tC consumes to much engine oil due to bad pistons installed by manufacture and needs to be repaired before major engine problems occur. I also found out I’m not the only one having this issue. I’ve just purchased the vehicle.8
NHTSA ID
11433025
Incident
Aug 2, 2021
Engine
Filed Apr 7, 2021
THE BOLTS I. THE MOTOR MOUNT WORK THERE WAY OUT AND CAUSES COMPLETE TOTAL OF THE VEHICLE
NHTSA ID
11406912
Incident
Nov 2, 2020
Airbags
Filed Jun 13, 2019
Crash reported
I HAD A BAD MVA ACCIDENT ON 6/12/2019 @ 0815AM IN THE MORNING, A LADY T BONE ME WITH FAST IMPACTION, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY NOR THE SIDE AIR BAG CURTAINS DEPLOYED DURING THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRBAGS DID MALFUNCTION IN MY OPINON AND CAUSED ME TO HIT MY HEAD AND CHEST HARD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT THE ENTIRE TIME AS WELL. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE DRIVER HIT ME ON THE HIGHWAY. WAS A HARD IMPACT TO THE CAR. THE SENSORS APPEAR NOT TO BE WORKING CORRECTLY SINCE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THIS HARD IMPACTION.
NHTSA ID
11219831
Incident
Jun 12, 2019
Mileage
255,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 30, 2019
MY 2009 SCION TC HAS BEEN BURNING THROUGH OIL AT A FAST RATE CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO FILL IT UP WITH OIL EVERY WEEK. I STAY PRETTY LOCAL AND RARELY GO OUT OF TOWN WITH MY VEHICLE. IT IS CAUSING A VERY ROUGH IDLE IN MY CAR. I SAW THERE WAS A RECALL BUT IT HAS NOT GONE THROUGH WITH IT. BY THE LOOKS OF MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS MINE NEEDS TO BE FIXED. WITH NO OIL BEING IN A CAR IT CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO BLOW UP AND MY CAR IS CONSTANTLY GOING THROUGH OIL BEFORE EVERY 1000 MILES.
NHTSA ID
11204691
Incident
Apr 30, 2019
Mileage
73,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 30, 2018
I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR AIR PRESSURE CHECK.THEY TIRE SHOP SAID TIRES WERE EXTREMELY UNSAFE. BOTH FRONT TIRES HAD SIGNS OF DAMAGE. THEY WERE PURCHASED AT THE SAME TIME AND ARE 1 YEAR OLD NOT WORN DOWN. WERE THE TREAD AND SIDEWALL MEET, THE TREAD LOOKS LIKE ITS GOING TO PEEL OFF TOOK TIRE TO ANOTHER DEALER AND AND THEY SAID I HAVE NEVER SEEN A TIRE FAIL LIKE THIS. NO SIGN OF HEAT DAMAGE. I KEPT THE TIRES FOR FUTURE INSPECTION
NHTSA ID
11144269
Incident
Oct 30, 2018
Mileage
73,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 22, 2018
HELLO, BACK IN 2016 I GOT A LETTER IN THE MAIL THAT SAID THAT TOYOTA WAS HAVING THIS OIL PROBLEM WITH ITS VEHICLES BURNING TO MUCH OIL. THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO RUN A CERTAIN TEST ON YOUR VEHICLE AND MAKE YOU DRIVE IT 1200 MILES AND IF YOUR VEHICLE FAILED THEY WOULD COVER FIXING THE PISTON ISSUES THAT WERE A MANUFACTURED PROBLEM ON THERE PART. I WENT AND AT THE TIME MY VEHICLE WAS 131,049 MILES ON IT. THEY TOOK IT IN BUT CAME OUT SHORTLY AFTER SAYING MY ENGINE WAS NOT THE ENGINE OF MY VEHICLE MEANING IT HAD BEEN REPLACED. I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE WITH A CLEAN TITLE CHECKED THE CAR FAX AND THERE WAS NOTHING ON THIS VEHICLE STATING THAT THE ENGINE HAD ANY WORK ASIDE OF SMALL WORK LIKE OIL CHANGES. MY VEHICLE RAN FINE AND DID NOT BURN OIL AT THAT TIME, NOW IT'S AT ABOUT 160,000 AND IT'S BURNING A FULL QUART AT 300 MILES. I WENT TO INVESTIGATE AND LOOKED ONLINE TO CHECK MY SERVICES PERFORMED AND WHEN I LOOKED AT MY SERVICES IT SAID THAT TOYOTA JUST CHANGED THE FLOOR MATS IT DIDN'T SAY THAT I WENT IN THERE WITH THE ORIGINAL ISSUE OF THE BURNING OIL AND TO GET IT TESTED AND FIXED. IM REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS SEEING AS THERE SERVICE STATEMENT IS NOT ONLY UNTRUE BUT I'M NOT SURE IF THEY LIED TO GET OUT OF FIXING THE ENGINE IN THE FIRST PLACE. TOYOTA BENNETT SCION 1951 LEHIGH ST , ALLENTOWN , PA , 18103
NHTSA ID
11141832
Incident
Oct 27, 2016
Mileage
131,049 mi
Seat belts
Filed Sep 7, 2018
Crash reportedFire reported
AFTER A FRONT END COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE DRIVERS STEERING WHEEL AND KNEE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED PROPERLY. THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT TENSIONED THE DRIVERS SEATBELT BUT IGNITED A FIRE IN DRIVERS SIDE TRIM BEHIND THE DOOR PILLAR. THE FIRE MELTED THE INTERIOR TRIM PANELS AND SURROUNDING PLASTIC PARTS.
NHTSA ID
11128189
Incident
Sep 7, 2018
Mileage
72,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 8, 2018
HELLO- I RECEIVED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY LETTER AND WAS ADVISED IN THAT LETTER THAT I NEEDED TO TAKE MY VEHICLE IN FOR AN EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. I TOOK MY CAR AND THE LETTER FOR TOYOTA TO CHECK MY CAR. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT MY VEHICLE WAS CHECKED UNTIL LAST WEEK THAT MY CAR HAD NO ENGINE OIL. AT THAT TIME MY CAR WAS 2K MILES AWAY FROM A NEW OIL CHANGE. I THEN CALLED TOYOTA AND WAS ADVISED THAT TOYOTA SERVICE TECHNICIANS NEVER TESTED OR CHECKED MY VEHICLE BECAUSE MY CAR IS SALVAGED.
NHTSA ID
11118543
Incident
Jul 27, 2018
Airbags
Filed Dec 18, 2017
Crash reported1 injury reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 SCION TC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CHEST, NECK, AND SHOULDER INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.
NHTSA ID
11055329
Incident
Oct 3, 2017
Mileage
145,000 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Oct 3, 2017
Crash reported3 injuries reported
MY DAUGHTER AND SON WERE IN AN ACCIDENT AS A PASSENGER IN A SCION TC 2009 AND THE CAR ROLLED MULTIPLE TIMES AND BOTH THE FRONT AND BACK PASSENGER SEAT BELTS UNLATCHED AND THE PASSENGER CURTAIN AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY OR INFLATE. WITH THESE DEFECTS, MY DAUGHTERS LEGS WERE TRAPPED UNDER THE CAR AND SUSTAINED TRAUMATIC BONE DAMAGE IN WHICH HER PROGNOSIS AT THIS TIME IS UNKNOWN. HER LEFT ANKLE, THE TALUS, FIBULA, AND TIBIA WERE CRUSHED. CURRENTLY SHE HAD AN EX FIX ON HER LEFT LEG AND TWO PLATES AND PINS PLACED ON HER FIBULA, THE PHYSICIANS SAY SHE WILL NEVER WALK THE SAME AND SHE CURRENTLY IS UNABLE TO BEAR ANY WEIGHT ON EITHER FOOT DUE TO THE FRACUTES SUSTAINED FROM HER BEING EJECTED FROM THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE SEATBELT RELEASE AND THE FAILURE OF DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG.
NHTSA ID
11031640
Incident
Sep 18, 2017
Mileage
102,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 23, 2017
NO ACCIDENT BUT RECEIVED POTENIAL RECALL AND NOTICE OF A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST TAKATA AIRBAGS IN SCION CARS.
NHTSA ID
11019187
Incident
Aug 23, 2017
Engine
Filed Aug 14, 2017
THE CAR IS USING 8-10 QUARTS OF OIL A YEAR. THERE WAS A TOYOTA RECALL FOR EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, BUT THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THIS AMOUNT OF OIL CONSUMPTION IS NORMAL AND WITHIN SPECIFCIATIONS.
NHTSA ID
11015010
Incident
Jul 6, 2017
Mileage
89,418 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 27, 2017
ENGINE BURNS EXCESSIVE OIL. USE A QUART EVERY 500 MILES.
NHTSA ID
10981177
Incident
Jun 9, 2016
Mileage
115,000 mi
Filed Feb 21, 2017
MY SUN ROOF SHATTERED WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME ON CITY STREETS
NHTSA ID
10955720
Incident
Feb 18, 2017
Mileage
98,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Feb 2, 2017
THE MOONROOF ON MY SCION TC SHATTERED AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS AROUND ME AND I DID NOT SEE ANY LARGE OBJECTS HIT MY CAR. *TR
NHTSA ID
10949143
Incident
Feb 1, 2017
Mileage
135,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 10, 2016
WE ARE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH OUR 2009 TOYOTA SCION USING EXCESSIVE OIL. WE HAVE TO PUT A QUART OF OIL IN EVERY 1,200-1,500 MILES AS THE CAR IS USING EXCESSIVE OIL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE ENGINE WILL BLOW UP IF IT RUNS OUT OF OIL. THE OIL LIGHT HAS COME ON AND WE HAVE PUT OIL IN BUT THE LAST TIME WE CHECKED THE OIL, IT WAS LOW AND THE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. IN MAY OF THIS YEAR, THE CAR WAS PUT ON THE OIL CONSUMPTION PROGRAM. WE BROUGHT THE CAR BACK WITH 1,200 AND THEY SAID THE CAR PASSED THE PROGRAM. AFTER 1,500 MILES, THE CAR WAS A QUART LOW ON OIL SO WE TOOK IT BACK TO TOYOTA IN SUNNYVALE, CA. THEY ADDED A QUART OF OIL AND ADVISED US TO BRING IT BACK IN JANUARY FOR A SECOND OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. THE SERVICE ADVISOR AND THE TECHNICIAN WHO PUT TH EOIL IN BOTH AGREED THAT THE CAR IS BURNING OIL AND STATED THAT IT IS WITHIN TOYOTA'S GUIDELINES OF BURNING 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 1,200 MILES WHICH IS TOTALLY RIDICULOUS. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PUT IN A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1,200 MILES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE RESOLVED BY TOYOTA BY REPLACING THE PISTON RINGS IN THIS MOTOR.
NHTSA ID
10915172
Incident
May 16, 2016
Mileage
58,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 30, 2016
TAKATA RECALL GPS NAVIGATION LOCATOR FOR ONSTAR OR ANYTHING TO LOCATE MY STOLEN CAR
NHTSA ID
10899443
Incident
Aug 13, 2016
Fuel system
Filed Nov 16, 2015
I HAVE A TOYOTA SCION TC AND IT HAS BEEN CONSUMING OIL EVERY 1200 MILES NOW IT'S EVEN LESS MY ENGINE ALMOST STARTED TO LOCK UP BECAUSE THERE WAS NO AIR ON I DID THE OIL CONSUMPTION TEST THEY SAID I PASSED ON MY PAPERWORK IT HAS THEM ADDING OIL AND I ONLY DROVE 1100 MILES THAT'S NOT NORMAL THEY'RE TELLING ME THEY CANNOT FIX MY CAR AND THE NEXT TEST I TAKE IS GOING TO BE IN SIX MONTHS SO I HAVE TO ADD A QUART OF OIL FOR EVERY THOUSAND MILES
NHTSA ID
10790685
Incident
Sep 3, 2015
Tires & wheels
Filed Nov 3, 2015
Crash reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA SCION TC EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN PILOT SPORT A/S PLUS TIRES, SIZE 215/45/R17 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE TIRE WAS A REPLACEMENT TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA ID
10788107
Incident
Oct 11, 2015
Mileage
56,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 2, 2015
I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO THE PASSPORT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT MY VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ANY OIL IN IT. I WAS INFORMED THAT SIMILAR MODELS WERE EXPERIENCING "OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUES", AND I SHOULD DRIVE APPROXIMATELY 1200 MILES AND RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR FURTHER TESTING. AFTER COMPLETION OF THE TEST, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS IN FACT BURNING OIL EXCESSIVELY BUT TOYOTA WOULD NOT PAY TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED BECAUSE MY VIN # WAS SELECTED TO BE APART OF THE TOYOTA SERVICE PROGRAM. *TR
NHTSA ID
10703368
Incident
Jul 20, 2012
Mileage
46,481 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.
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