RoadVitals

2010 Scion Tc Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
20
Latest Mar 4, 2022
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
9
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.
2

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2010 Scion Tc, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Engine731.8%
  • Visibility418.2%
  • Brakes313.6%
  • Tires & wheels313.6%
  • Steering14.5%
  • Interior & seats14.5%
  • Fuel system14.5%
  • Airbags14.5%
  • Other / unspecified14.5%

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

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

7
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

My car is burning oil, like a quart per week I always maintain the oil level, not leaks I just want to know if Toyota can help me, I am a third owner of this car has 94000 miles

NHTSA ID 11455276 · filed Mar 4, 2022

Warranty Enhancement Program – ZE7 OIL Leak Certain 2007-2010 Scion tC Extension of Warranty Coverage for 2AZ Engine Oil Consumption Toyota is now announcing the part replacement phase of Warranty Enhancement Program ZE7 for vehicles exhibiting excessive engine oil consumption. Eligibility for part replacement under this Warranty Enhancement Program is dependent on a Toyota dealer performed engine oil consumption test in accordance with T-SB-0158-14(Toyota) and S-SB-0031-14 (Scion). My daughter was never notified of this issue and they will not honor this and they told me it would have to be reopened in order for them to fix it at no cost to my daughter. Toyota needs to reopen this and fix my daughters car. The two letters that went out went to the original owner and I was told they used the DMV database which clearly had they it would have shown the date of purchase and the letter would have made it to my daughter. How many others did not get their car fixed are there more on the road with this issue?

NHTSA ID 11449014 · filed Jan 26, 2022

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING DOWN A TOWN ROAD IN OUR COMMUNITY ON CAPE COD ON A CLEAR DAY. SUDDENLY WE HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT. IT SCARED THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF US BECAUSE IT WAS SO LOUD, LIKE AN EXPLOSION. WE PULLED OVER INTO A PARKING LOT TO INVESTIGATE WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THE SUNROOF OF THE CAR HAD COMPLETELY EXPLODED WITH SHATTERED GLASS STREAMING OFF THE BACK OF THE CAR. THANKFULLY, WE HAD THE CANVAS PART OF THE SUNROOF CLOSED. IF LEFT OPEN, WE WOULD HAVE HAD GLASS COMING DOWN ONTO OUR HEADS AND LAPS. THIS, FOR SURE, COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE SOUND ALONE, WAS TERRIFYING! IT SEEMED TO EXPLODE OUTWARD, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT SEEMED TO HIT THE ROOF. I DID SOME INVESTIGATING ABOUT TEMPERED GLASS AND REALIZED THAT IT IS NOT SO RARE OF AN OCCURRENCE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THE INCLUSIONS OF NICKEL SULFIDE OFTEN FOUND IN TEMPERED GLASS. IT SEEMS THAT NOBODY AT OUR DEALERSHIP HAS EVER HEARD ABOUT THIS. IT APPEARS, AFTER INVESTIGATING CASES ONLINE, THAT IT HAS HAPPENED MORE OFTEN THAN ANYONE REALIZES. IT IS TRULY A HAZARD. WHAT CAN BE DONE? IF YOU LIKE VEHICLES WITH SUNROOFS, DON'T DRIVE WITH THE CANVAS OPEN UNLESS YOU COMPLETELY OPEN THE SUNROOF TO THE AIR. OR, DON'T BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH A SUNROOF. OR, CHANGE THE WAY SUNROOFS ARE MADE??? *TR

NHTSA ID 10704113 · filed Apr 7, 2015

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD PRETTY MUCH IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE IN COLORADO, CLEAR BLUE SKY, NO TRAFFIC AND MY SUNROOF DEFLECTOR SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED INTO A MILLION PIECES. NO IMPACT, NO NOTHING! TEMPERATURE AROUND 65 DEGREES, NO WEATHER. TAKING IT TO DEALER UPON RETURN AS I WAS 200 MILES AWAY FROM HOME WHEN IT HAPPENED. UNKNOWN IF SCION/TOYOTA WILL COVER REPLACEMENT...IT'S OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE! *TR

NHTSA ID 10596953 · filed Jun 8, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

RIGHT FRONT BRAKE NOT RELEASING WORE BRAKE PAD DOWN TO NOTHING. DISCOVERED BRAKE OVERHEATING SOUNDED LIKE A WHEEL BEARING FAILING BUT MECHANIC DISCOVERED BRAKE NOT RELEASING. *TR

NHTSA ID 10637763 · filed Sep 20, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SCION TC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL FILLER TANK CAP WOULD DISLODGE WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REFUELED. ALSO, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD ABNORMALLY TRAVEL TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED AND WOULD FEEL SPONGY. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS A DELAY IN RESPONSE FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN BRAKING. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,486.

NHTSA ID 10494474 · filed Jan 23, 2013

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

DRIVING SURFACE WAS PAVED DRY TWO LANE ROUTE. SPEED APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES PER HOUR. LEFT REAR TIRE CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED. THE STEEL BELLED TREAD BECAME TOTALLY (100%) DETACHED FOR THE INTERIOR SIDE WALL OF TIRE. TIRE WAS BRIDGESTONE TURANZA (T0506) EL4PNZ 215/45ZR17. THIS IS THE SECOND TIRE IN LESS THAN A MONTH THAT HAS HAD A SIDE WALL FAILURE. I HAD ALREADY REPLACED A TIRE EARLIER IN THE SUMMER OF 2013 FOR SIDE WALL FAILURE. THREE OUT OF FOUR TIRES HAVE HAD SIMILAR FAILURES IN LESS THAN A YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID 10565150 · filed Feb 20, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT LEASED A 2010 TOYOTA SCION TC WITH YOKOHAMA S32A93201(NA) TIRES, SIZE 215/ 45 R17. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES WOULD CONTINUOUSLY LOSE AIR. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO ADD AIR TO THE TIRE WEEKLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SIDEWALLS OF THE TWO PASSENGER SIDE TIRES WERE CRACKED. THE MECHANIC TRIED TO SEAL THE TIRES BUT THE TIRES BLEW AS THE CONTACT DROVE HOME. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 11,000. UPDATED 9/4/13 *CN THE TIRES WERE REPLACED/REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID 10532363 · filed Jul 29, 2013

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

AT 70 MPH ON A STRAIGHT SECTION OF I-40, THE SCION TC 2010 UNEXPECTEDLY VEERED LEFT. DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO STEER RIGHT AS THE VEHICLE CONTINUED GOING LEFT FROM THE RIGHT LANE TO THE LEFT. THE STEERING WAS NOT RESPONSIVE, RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE GOING INTO THE MEDIAN SAFETY WIRES. THE VEHICLE IS TOTALED. *TR

NHTSA ID 10330578 · filed May 15, 2010

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

I PURCHASED MY SCION FROM MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP IN FEB OF 2015. ON THE 17TH OF MARCH WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE DRIVER SEAT MOVED FORWARD ON ITS OWN. THE SEAT HAD BECAME UNLATCHED FROM THE SEAT RUNNER UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT. I HAD TO ADJUST THE SEAT AND MADE SURE THAT IT LOCKED INTO PLACE. SINCE THEN THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED OVER AND OVER. I WOULD SAY AT LEAST 40 TIMES. THE SEAT WILL NOT LOCK INTO PLACE WHEN YOU SLIDE THE SEAT FORWARD OR MOVE IT TO PLACE ITEMS BEHIND IT AS WELL. IT WILL LOCK ON ONE SIDE OF THE SEAT RUNNER AT TIMES AND I HAVE TO ADJUST IT EACH TIME. THIS PROBLEM CAN BE A SAFELY ISSUE WHEN BRAKING HARD OR IN A ACCIDENT AS WELL. I HAVE SEEN RECALLS ON THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER MODELS OF THIS AUTO. I TALK TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT THEY SAY THERE IS NO RECALL OR REPAIR BULLETIN ON MY MODEL AT THIS TIME. UPDATED 09/08/15*LJ 10/5 MA UPDATED 12/16/2015*JS UPDATED 12/06/2017*CN

NHTSA ID 10736147 · filed Jul 23, 2015

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SCION TC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL FILLER TANK CAP WOULD DISLODGE WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REFUELED. ALSO, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD ABNORMALLY TRAVEL TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED AND WOULD FEEL SPONGY. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS A DELAY IN RESPONSE FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN BRAKING. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,486.

NHTSA ID 10494474 · filed Jan 23, 2013

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TRAVELING AT POSTED SPEED ON CURVED ROAD IN RAIN. APPLIED BRAKES COMING INTO THE TURN, BUT TIRES LOST TRACTION AND VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND SLID ONTO A DIRT EMBANKMENT WITH SHRUBS AND SMALL TREES. NEITHER THE FRONT OR SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND I HIT MY HEAD AGAINST THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE TIRES THAT ARE PROVIDED ARE SUITABLE FOR WET PAVEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID 10347456 · filed Aug 5, 2010

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Other / unspecified

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

DRIVING SURFACE WAS PAVED DRY TWO LANE ROUTE. SPEED APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES PER HOUR. LEFT REAR TIRE CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED. THE STEEL BELLED TREAD BECAME TOTALLY (100%) DETACHED FOR THE INTERIOR SIDE WALL OF TIRE. TIRE WAS BRIDGESTONE TURANZA (T0506) EL4PNZ 215/45ZR17. THIS IS THE SECOND TIRE IN LESS THAN A MONTH THAT HAS HAD A SIDE WALL FAILURE. I HAD ALREADY REPLACED A TIRE EARLIER IN THE SUMMER OF 2013 FOR SIDE WALL FAILURE. THREE OUT OF FOUR TIRES HAVE HAD SIMILAR FAILURES IN LESS THAN A YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID 10565150 · filed Feb 20, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .