RoadVitals

2014 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 Sep 29, 2025
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.
7

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2014 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

  • Brakes832.0%
  • Electrical416.0%
  • Airbags312.0%
  • Other / unspecified312.0%
  • Steering28.0%
  • Suspension28.0%
  • Body & structure14.0%
  • Visibility14.0%
  • Driver assistance14.0%

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

Brakes

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

8
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Vehicle is not available for inspection upon request due to the vehicle being in an accident. As a result from the accident, the vehicle was a complete loss and beyond the point of repair. Without pulling the vehicle computer for operation list before accident occurred, it is specifically unknown what component or system failed and or malfunctioned. looking at pictures taken the night of and days after it seems like it was a steering/suspension, or possible wheel malfunction that was unable to keep the car under and in control to be brought to a full stop before the point of impact and accident occurred.

NHTSA ID 11690231 · filed Sep 29, 2025

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SCION TC. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18E091000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 20 MPH, WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT IT FAILED TO RESPOND, WHICH RESULTED IN HIM REAR-ENDING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. NO MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,100.

NHTSA ID 11413369 · filed Apr 22, 2021
All 8 reports naming brakes

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE HOUSING AROUND THE AIR CONDITIONER FILLS WITH WATER FROM CONDENSATION, THE DRAINAGE TUBE IS NARROW AND CLOGS, WHICH CAUSES THE WATER TO DRIP OUT OF THE HOUSING AND INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE INTERIOR WHERE IT SWAMPS THE CARPETING FROM FRONT TO BACK. I KNOW AC NORMALLY DOES NOT QUALIFY AS A SAFETY CONCERN BUT TO MY UNDERSTANDING THERE IS ELECTRIC WIRING THAT RUNS UNDER THE CARPET THAT IS CERTAINLY NOT DESIGNED TO BE UNDER AN INCH OF WATER AND THEN THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR HARMFUL MOLD TO DEVELOP FROM THE WET CARPET. THE DEALER WILL CHARGE TO CLEAR THE CLOG BUT THEY HAVE SINCE TOLD ME THERE IS A PERMANENT FIX (AN AC CASING WITH BETTER DRAINAGE) WHICH COSTS MORE THAN $2000 TO INSTALL. A SIMPLE SEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOWS TOYOTA HAS BEEN IGNORING THIS DESIGN FLAW AND THIS PROBLEM SINCE THE MODEL REDESIGN IN 2011. THEY HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WHICH CAN EFFECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE OCCUPANTS. I KNOW A NARROW TUBE DRAIN LINE SEEMS LIKE A MINOR THING BUT THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO HAPPEN IN MOST CARS. WHILE IT HAS BEEN A CONCERN FOR SCION TC OWNERS SINCE 2011. I DRIVE A 2014. THERE WAS PLENTY OF TIME FOR TOYOTA TO OFFER A BETTER CASING OR A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM OVER THE YEARS. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO TOYOTA AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING SINCE MY CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY DESPITE THAT MY CAR WAS IN FOR THIS TEMPORARY REPAIR SEVERAL TIMES WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY NEVER OFFERED THE PERMANENT FIX UNTIL NOW.

NHTSA ID 11473661 · filed Jul 13, 2022

WAS COMMUTING BACK TO WORK FROM LUNCH BREAK WHEN OUT OF NOWHERE I LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND BRAKING OF MY VEHICLE CRASHING INTO A STONE WALL BEFORE I COULD PULL MY EMERGENCY BREAK AFTER THE VEHICLE COULD NOT SLOW DOWN ON A CITY STREET IN MOTION

NHTSA ID 11162878 · filed Dec 21, 2018

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.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

MI VEHICLE IS IN MOTION THE BRAKES HAVE A SOUND AND THE AIR BAG IS TURN ON

NHTSA ID 11311554 · filed Feb 26, 2020

AIR BAG TURNS OFF RANDOMLY WITHOUT WARNING, LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING. ALSO VEHICLE IS DUE TO HAVE TRD BRAKES REPLACED.

NHTSA ID 11152602 · filed Nov 19, 2018

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.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 522 GOING 60MPH AT 11:30PM. THE HIGHWAY WAS SMOOTH AND HAD NO BUMPS THEN RANDOMLY THE WHEEL ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BROKE OFF THE CAR AND WENT FLYING. POLICE OFFICERS AND STATE TROOPERS LOOKED FOR THE WHEEL AND THEY COULDN'T FIND IT. LUCKILY I REMEMBERED IN DRIVERS ED THAT WHEN A TIRE BLOWS OUT (EVEN THOUGH THIS SITUATION IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT) YOU FIRMLY HOLD ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND HOLD IT STRAIGHT. THE CAR THEN STRAIGHTENED OUT AND STOPPED ONCE I RAN INTO THE RAILING.

NHTSA ID 11316636 · filed Mar 6, 2020

WAS COMMUTING BACK TO WORK FROM LUNCH BREAK WHEN OUT OF NOWHERE I LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND BRAKING OF MY VEHICLE CRASHING INTO A STONE WALL BEFORE I COULD PULL MY EMERGENCY BREAK AFTER THE VEHICLE COULD NOT SLOW DOWN ON A CITY STREET IN MOTION

NHTSA ID 11162878 · filed Dec 21, 2018

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 522 GOING 60MPH AT 11:30PM. THE HIGHWAY WAS SMOOTH AND HAD NO BUMPS THEN RANDOMLY THE WHEEL ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BROKE OFF THE CAR AND WENT FLYING. POLICE OFFICERS AND STATE TROOPERS LOOKED FOR THE WHEEL AND THEY COULDN'T FIND IT. LUCKILY I REMEMBERED IN DRIVERS ED THAT WHEN A TIRE BLOWS OUT (EVEN THOUGH THIS SITUATION IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT) YOU FIRMLY HOLD ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND HOLD IT STRAIGHT. THE CAR THEN STRAIGHTENED OUT AND STOPPED ONCE I RAN INTO THE RAILING.

NHTSA ID 11316636 · filed Mar 6, 2020

STEERING WHEEL TURNS TOO EASILY TO HAVE A SAFE AMOUNT OF CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. THERE IS VERY LITTLE TRACTION WHERE THE TIRES MEET THE ROADS. I SPENT $700.00 ON COOPER TIRES THINKING THIS WOULD HELP, BUT STILL CAR SLIDES OVER THE GROUND. I CHECKED TO SEE IF THE TRACTION CONTROL WAS OFF BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CAR. I PAID CASH FOR MY CAR AND HAVE NO OTHER RECOURSE BUT TO KEEP IT. I HAVE NO MORE MONEY. SPECIFICALLY, WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION THERE IS VERY LITTLE STABILITY OR TRACTION ON THE ROAD, AND IT IS VERY SCARY. THIS KIND OF DRIVING WOULD BE NORMAL ON ICY ROADS, BUT SCION TC DRIVES LIKE THIS ON DRY ROADS IN WARM WEATHER. *TR

NHTSA ID 10939693 · filed Jan 4, 2017

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

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Vehicle is not available for inspection upon request due to the vehicle being in an accident. As a result from the accident, the vehicle was a complete loss and beyond the point of repair. Without pulling the vehicle computer for operation list before accident occurred, it is specifically unknown what component or system failed and or malfunctioned. looking at pictures taken the night of and days after it seems like it was a steering/suspension, or possible wheel malfunction that was unable to keep the car under and in control to be brought to a full stop before the point of impact and accident occurred.

NHTSA ID 11690231 · filed Sep 29, 2025

AIR BAG TURNS OFF RANDOMLY WITHOUT WARNING, LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING. ALSO VEHICLE IS DUE TO HAVE TRD BRAKES REPLACED.

NHTSA ID 11152602 · filed Nov 19, 2018

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

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WE WERE SITTING IN A PARKING LOT A HEARD AN EXPLOSION AND IT TURNED OUT THE BE THE GLASS ROOF ON THE CAR. THEY ARE FAULTY. *TR

NHTSA ID 10714206 · filed May 2, 2015

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WE WERE SITTING IN A PARKING LOT A HEARD AN EXPLOSION AND IT TURNED OUT THE BE THE GLASS ROOF ON THE CAR. THEY ARE FAULTY. *TR

NHTSA ID 10714206 · filed May 2, 2015

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

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

STEERING WHEEL TURNS TOO EASILY TO HAVE A SAFE AMOUNT OF CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. THERE IS VERY LITTLE TRACTION WHERE THE TIRES MEET THE ROADS. I SPENT $700.00 ON COOPER TIRES THINKING THIS WOULD HELP, BUT STILL CAR SLIDES OVER THE GROUND. I CHECKED TO SEE IF THE TRACTION CONTROL WAS OFF BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CAR. I PAID CASH FOR MY CAR AND HAVE NO OTHER RECOURSE BUT TO KEEP IT. I HAVE NO MORE MONEY. SPECIFICALLY, WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION THERE IS VERY LITTLE STABILITY OR TRACTION ON THE ROAD, AND IT IS VERY SCARY. THIS KIND OF DRIVING WOULD BE NORMAL ON ICY ROADS, BUT SCION TC DRIVES LIKE THIS ON DRY ROADS IN WARM WEATHER. *TR

NHTSA ID 10939693 · filed Jan 4, 2017

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 .