2014 Scion TC

Routine

Owners filed 20 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the unknown or other. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Unknown or Other7
111
Service Brakes5
301
Air Bags3
100
Electrical System2
101
Traction Control System1
000
Structure › Body1
000
Electrical System › Wiring1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic18E091000
Filed Sep 20, 2018544 vehiclesToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain Toyota Racing Development (TRD) brake kits, part numbers PTR09-21111 and PTR09-52080, sold by Toyota as an optional accessory for model year 2008-2015 Scion xB, and 2011-2016 Scion tC vehicles. Over time, the brake hoses in these kits may fatigue and fail.

Risk. Failure of a brake hose will reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Toyota will notify all known owners of the Scion xB and Scion tC vehicles upon which an involved optional TRD Brake Kit could have been installed. If the vehicle is equipped with one of the TRD brake kits, it will be replaced with a standard equipment brake kit, free of charge. The recall began November 16, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0U.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Unknown or OtherCrashFire1 injured
Filed Sep 29, 2025TX

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.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 13, 2022FL

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.

Service BrakesCrash
Filed Apr 22, 2021123,100 milesGA

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.

Service Brakes
Filed Jul 28, 2020SC

HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT RECALL

Service BrakesCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 6, 202080,000 milesWA

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.

Air Bags
Filed Feb 26, 2020CA

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

Service Brakes
Filed Jun 16, 201960,000 milesCA

MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBERJ0U NHTSA RECALL NUMBER18E091 I'VE BEEN WARNED ABOUT THIS RECALL FOR MY VEHICLES BRAKES, AND I NOTICED A LITTLE BEFORE I RECEIVED THIS WARNING THAT MY BRAKES ARE MAKING A STRANGE NOISE WHEN I BACK OUT OF MY GARAGE THAT SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM THE BRAKE HOSE. I'VE ALSO NOTICED ON THE FREEWAY IF I WAS TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES THAT IT SLIDES A LITTLE MORE THA I WOULD EXPECT AND MAKES A PRETTY BAD GRINDING NOISE.

Unknown or Other
Filed May 18, 201954,157 milesCA

I HAD AN INCIDENT OF SPONTANEOUS GLASS BREAKAGE OF THE MOONROOF ON MY 2014 SCION TC. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. I WAS IN A PARKED IN A PARKING LOT WITH THE IGNITION OFF. I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND SIMILAR TO THE SOUND OF A GUN SHOT. THE SOUND CAME FROM THE GLASS MOONROOF LOCATED BEHIND THE SUNROOF EXPLODING/SHATTERING. I WAS NOT DRIVING AND THERE WAS NO IMPACT THAT OCCURRED. THE EVENT WAS SPONTANEOUS AND HAPPENED OUT OF NOWHERE. BEING THAT I WAS STATIONARY THE GLASS IN THE MIDDLE DID NOT IMMEDIATELY FALL IN AND THE OUTSIDE EDGES HAD SHATTERED AND WHERE FORCEFULLY THROWN ON TO THE CAR AND SURROUNDING AREAS. THE MIDDLE WAS ODDLY BALLOONED/DOMED IN THE MIDDLE. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHICH WAS 2 MILES AWAY AND FROM THAT SHORT DRIVE THE CENTER OF THE GLASS BEGAN TO CAVE IN AND ALLOW GLASS TO ENTER INTO THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY ABOVE WHERE PASSAGES SIT IN THE BACK SEAT. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IN THE BACKSEAT WHEN THIS HAPPENED OUR DIRECTLY OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE AND WAS INJURED BY THIS. THROUGH FURTHER RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT TEMPERED GLASS CAN SPONTANEOUSLY BREAK. SOME OF THE CAUSES OF THIS TO HAPPEN INCLUDE BINDING OF THE GLASS IN THE FRAME, CAUSING STRESSES TO DEVELOP AS THE GLASS EXPANDS AND CONTRACTS DUE TO THERMAL CHANGES OR DEFLECTS DUE TO WIND. INTERNAL DEFECTS WITHIN THE GLASS SUCH AS NICKEL SULFIDE INCLUSIONS. DAMAGES ACCRUED DURING INSTALLATION. THERMAL STRESSES IN THE GLASS AND INADEQUATE GLASS THICKNESS TO RESIST WIND LOAD. I ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THER

Electrical SystemCrash1 injured
Filed Dec 21, 201845,000 milesTX

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

Air Bags
Filed Nov 19, 2018RI

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

Service BrakesCrash
Filed Sep 24, 201853,000 milesKS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SCION TC. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT STRUCK THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 53,000.

Unknown or Other
Filed Aug 31, 201895,200 milesCA

I WAS DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY, I HAD MY FRONT SUNROOF OPEN. WHICH I MOST DO, BUT ALL OF SUDDEN MY REAR SUNROOF SHATTER. GLASS WENT EVERY IN THE FRONT SEATS. WHEN I PULLED OVER TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPEN. THE REAR SUNROOF THAT IS STATIONARY WAS SHATTERED AND OUTER FRAME. IT WAS ALL BROKEN. I AM ATTACHING PICTURES ABOUT THE INCIDENT. NO OBJECT HIT MY CAR. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT JUST HAPPEN.

Electrical System
Filed Aug 19, 201849,000 milesAL

AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS, FIRST, THE PASSENGER DOOR BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY RESPOND TO LOCKING/UNLOCKING COMMANDS. NEITHER THE KEY FOB NOR THE SWITCH IN THE VEHICLE WOULD WORK, AND EVENTUALLY THE DOOR LOCK HAD TO BE MANUALLY OPERATED. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR BEGAN HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY CRASHES ACCORDING TO ONLINE DATABASES. NO DAMAGE TO EITHER DOOR HAS OCCURRED THAT COULD COMPROMISE ANY ELECTRICAL MECHANISM WITH EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS. A FRIEND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS 2007 TOYOTA 4RUNNER AND WAS TOLD THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS ARE KNOWN TO FAIL IN CERTAIN YEAR VEHICLES MADE BY TOYOTA. I AM PRETTY SURE THIS IS THE ISSUE WITH MY 2014 SCION TC NOW. I CAN UNDERSTAND THE PART FAILING ON HIS VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS ABOUT TEN YEARS OLD AT THE TIME, HOWEVER MY CAR IS ONLY 4-5 YEARS OLD. THE KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM ON MY SCION CURRENTLY ONLY OPERATES THE REAR HATCH, FOR NOW. I AM ONLY ABLE TO SECURE MY VEHICLE IF I MANUALLY LOCK BOTH DOORS, AND THEN PRESS LOCK ON THE KEY FOB TO ARM THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. I CANNOT ACCESS THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WITH THE KEY AS THERE IS NO KEY HOLE PROVIDED ON THAT SIDE. IF SO MANY OF TOYOTA'S DOOR ACTUATORS ARE FAILING LIKE THIS, THEY SHOULD RECALL AND REPLACE THE POORLY MANUFACTURED VERSIONS THEY INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLES SINCE THE PARTS ARE SO EXPENSIVE NOT TO MENTION LABOR. MY FRIEND ENDED UP TRADING HIS 4RUNNER AND LEFT THE TOYOTA BRAND ALTOGETHER. I HAVE ALWAYS PREFERRED

Electrical System › Wiring
Filed Dec 5, 201751,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SCION TC. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE "MAINTENANCE REQUIRED" AND ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA MOMENTUM IN FAIRFIELD, CALIFORNIA WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT RODENTS HAD DESTROYED THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SOY BASED CONSTRUCTION OF THE WIRES. THE WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT

Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 22, 201735,000 milesNC

HAVE YOU HAD ANY COMPLAINTS ON THE N5000 PLUS TIRES? WE BOUGHT A SET FOR MY 2014 SCION TC EARLY LAST YEAR AND AT ABOUT 18,000 MILES ONE OF THE TIRES BLEW THE SIDEWALL OUT. AROUND FEB 10, 2017, THE OTHER TIRE DID THE SAME THING. I HAVE WRITTEN NEXEN BUT HAVE NOT HEARD BACK. THESE TIRES ARE RATED AT 65,000 BUT THEY HAVE ABOUT 18,000 AND THEY HAVE WORN QUITE A BIT. I DONT UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN SAY A TIRE SHOULD GET AT LEASST THAT MANY MILES AND YOU DONT GET 1/2.

Traction Control System
Filed Jan 4, 2017TX

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

Air BagsCrash
Filed Jun 2, 201658,749 milesLA

MY SON WAS IN A WRECK OVER A WEEK AGO. HE LOST CONTROL AND RAN INTO THE SIDE OF A BRICK HOUSE. BOTH AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WOULD ASSUME ANY IMPACT SUCH AS THESE THE AIR BAGS WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED BUT THEY DID NOT. I HAVE PICTURES ATTACHED.

Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 8, 2016NC

MY 2014 SCION TC HAS A LITTLE OVER 19,000 MILES AND I NEED TIRES ALREADY. AT 15,000 THEY WERE ALREADY WEARING DOWN. THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR A SET OF TIRES. I HOPE THEY MAKE THE MANUFACTURE PULL THEM.

Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 30, 201513,500 milesNY

WATER DRIPS INTO PASSENGER FLOOR SPACE. BROUGHT IN FOR REPAIR THREE TIMES SINCE 9-07-2014 AND OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE 8-34-2014. SCION/TOYATA IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND STATED THAT IT IS BECAUSE OF SPIDERS BUILDING A NEST IN THE CONDENSER HOSE OF THE A/C UNIT. SCION/TOYOTA SAYS THAT THEY CAN CHARGE YOU $61 TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE EACH TIME IT OCCURS. NOTICE THAT IT OCCURRED BECAUSE WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS YOU CAN HEAR WATER RUSHING.

Structure › Body
Filed May 2, 201518,500 milesNC

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

20 of 20 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2006
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20166300Routine
201522300Routine
2014 — this page20110Routine
20139100Routine
20128200Routine
201129110Routine
201020200Routine
200960311Fatalities reported
200886321Fatalities reported
2007117269Fatalities reported
2006161535Fatalities reported
2005155432Fatalities reported

Compare every TC year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Sep 20, 2018. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.