2015 Scion TC

Routine

Owners filed 22 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train5
000
Air Bags4
303
Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly2
000
Visibility/Wiper2
000
Structure › Body2
000
Service Brakes2
100
Electrical System2
000
Unknown or Other1
000
Suspension1
000
Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Clockspring/Spiral Cassette1
000

3 safety recalls

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.

Equipment › Other › Labels16V420000
Filed Jun 9, 20164,253 vehiclesSoutheast Toyota Distributors, Llc

Defect. Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Camry and Highlander, 2015-2016 Toyota Tundra, Scion FR-S, and tC vehicles. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."

Risk. An incorrect label may lead an owner to overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. SET will notify owners, and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.

Suspension › Rear15V228000
Filed Apr 17, 2015114 vehiclesToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2015 Toyota Scion tC vehicles manufactured December 3, 2014, to January 30, 2015 and equipped with accessory coil springs as part of an optional Release Series 9 trim package. During installation of these coil springs, the rear suspension components may not have been properly tightened.

Risk. If the rear suspension components were not properly tightened, the rear suspension arms may detach, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the bolts, nuts, rear suspension arms, and rear suspension member sub assembly, free of charge. The recall began on June 12, 2015. Owners may contact Scion customer service at 1-866-707-2466.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Clockspring/Spiral Cassette
Filed Jun 24, 2026130,000 milesTX

The contact owns a 2015 Scion TC. The contact stated that the air bag warning light remained continuously illuminated while operating the vehicle. The contact stated that when the air bag warning light was illuminated, the horn was inoperable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. However, an independent mechanic informed the contact that the failure might be associated with an inoperable clockspring. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

Power Train
Filed May 31, 2023NC

Whining noise is heard when the clutch petal is released. Noise is coming from the input shaft bearing. Common failure on this model. Mechanic confirmed that is the issue. If the bearing completely fails could leave the car stranded and cause more damage to other transmission components. No warning lights but noise is very loud.

Electrical System
Filed Apr 13, 2022NY

Over the past 4-5 years, 2015 scion tc has had numerous electrical issues. Both driver and passenger electric door locks do not work. Head and tail lamp lights burn out frequently. Seems like a grounding issue? Car failed to start August 2021 due to electrical problems. 3rd party mechanic fixed the issue. Toyota Dealer-installed automatic start fails multiple times before starting car. Basic electrical mechanisms for a car made in 2015 should not be broken/failing. 2019 Air Conditioner wouldn't drain. Had to investigate and personally drain the tubes behind the passenger and driver side-pannels behind center counsel. The entire draining system for the cars air conditioner had clogged. 2015 Exterior Vinyl Pillars on sides of windshield started to fade. Brought it to Westbury Toyota and they said the sun caused it. I didn't even have the car for 6 months yet....

Suspension
Filed Jul 12, 2021CA

Rear suspension components were loose on vehicle. My car was purchased with rear trd coilovers installed at factory. Suspension components were improperly tightened according to Toyota dealership who serviced my vehicle. Purchased car stock and never had suspension work done in the past. This is similar to NHTSA campaign 15v228000 recall on same car year/manufacturer/model/edition (2015 Scion tC release series 9.0) but my VIN was not part of the 114 out of the 2000 cars sold.

Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Filed Apr 16, 202185,000 milesLA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SCION TC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED AND SEATED IN THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND LIKE A SHATTERED GLASS. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND BECAME AWARE THAT THE CENTER SUN ROOF GLASS HAD SHATTERED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN ROOF HAD SHATTERED WITHOUT IMPACT OR INCIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

Power Train
Filed Mar 5, 202119,345 milesCA

TRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP, 50/50, IT SEEMS TO BE DOING A HARD DOWNSHIFT 2-1 BEFORE THE STOP. IT'S SCARY AND FEELS LIKE YOU GOT REAR ENDED. THERE IS ALSO A CLICK NOISE WHEN THE DOWNSHIFT HAPPENS. TOOK IT TO TOYOTA AND HAD A TRANSMISSION DRAIN AND FILL, WHICH THEY SAID THE FLUID WAS AS CLEAN AND THE COMPUTER HAS NO STORE CODES. THE RESET THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AND THE ISSUE HAS RETURNED, IT SHOULDN'T HAVE THESE ISSUES AT 19K MILES! ALSO THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES GOING INTO TRAFFIC, WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE IT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT GEAR TO BE IN. I WISH TOYOTA WOULD READ THE OTHER PEOPLE'S COMMENTS WHO HAD THE SAME ISSUES WITH THIS U760E TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. I'M WORRIED FOR THE LONGEVITY AND I FEEL I WASTED MONEY TRYING TO DO A TRANSMISSION SERVICE WHICH WAS SUGGESTED BY TOYOTA AND THAT DIDN'T FIX A THING.

Electrical System
Filed Mar 5, 202133,999 milesCA

TRANSMISSION DOES A HARSH/JERK DOWNSHIFT WHEN COMING TO A STOP. IT DOES IT RANDOMLY, USUALLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP SLOWLY. IT'S NOT SAFE, FEELS LIKE THE CAR LURCHES INTO 1ST. TOYOTA RESET THE COMPUTER AND IT WAS OK FOR A BIT BUT CAME BACK. I'M THINKING IT'S THE SOFTWARE OF THE CAR. TOYOTA SAID IT'S A LEARNING TRANSMISSION, BUT SOMETHINGS WRONG. IT'S SCARY TO DRIVE IN TRAFFIC, AND ONLY HAVE 33K MILES. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS CHANGE BY TOYOTA LAST YEAR WITH THE WS AND IT HAS NOT FIXED THIS ISSUE. I'M WORRIED THE CAR MAY STALL IN STOP AND GO OR LURCH SO HARD FIRM THE 2-1 DOWNSHIFT THAT I MIGHT HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

Air BagsCrash
Filed Jan 4, 202156,000 milesCA

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ON MONDAY DEC 28 HEADING TO WORK IT WAS RAINING HARD AND WAS DRIVING AT THE SAME SPEED AS EVERYONE ELSE IN THE FREEWAY OUT OF NOWHERE MY STEERING TOOK OVER CONTROL AND I SPINNED AROUND HITTING THE CARPOOL LANE DIVIDER AND WAS TOSSED TO THE 4TH LANE AFTERWARDS. AT THAT MOMENT I WAS IN FRONT OF A SEMI TRUCK AND COULDN'T BRAKE IN TIME AND HIT ME SENDING ME BACK TO THE CARPOOL LANE ANY TIME OF THOSE HITS MY AIR BAGS NEVER TURNED ON.

Power Train
Filed Jun 24, 202018,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SCION TC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED HOWEVER, THERE WAS A DELAY IN VEHICLE RESPONSE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF SANTA MARIA (700 E BETTERAVIA RD, SANTA MARIA, CA 93454) TO BE DIAGNOSED, HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000. *BF*JB

Power Train
Filed Jun 1, 202017,000 milesCA

MY 2015 SCION TC AUTOMATIC HAS ROUGH SHIFT POINTS, ROUGH IDLE AT STOP SIGNS. THE SCION FRS HAS THE SAME ISSUES AND TOYOTA ISSUES A TSB FOR SHIFT ENHANCEMENT THAT FIXED THEIR TRANSMISSION ROUGH SHIFTS AND ROUGH IDLE. I'M HOPING THAT SCION OR TOYOTA ARE LISTENING AND WE NEED THIS FIX TOO! RESETTING THE COMPUTERS BY DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY FIXES THE ISSUE TEMPORARILY, SINCE THIS IS A 'LEARNING' TRANSMISSION, IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO DEFAULT AND STARTS TO SHIFT ROUGH, SHIFT TOO OFTEN OR BACK TO BACK EVEN IN CITY DRIVING. IT'S GEAR HUNTING AND I'M SO SICK OF IT. TOYOTA SAID THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, I DID A TRANSMISSION DRAIN AND FILL WITH TOYOTA THINKING IT WOULD FIX THE ISSUE AND IT NEVER DID. IT'S THE ECU OR TCM, WE NEED THE UPDATE JUST LIKE YOU GUYS DID FOR THE FRS AND YOU FIXED THOSE ISSUES! SO PLEASE FIX OURS! THESE ROUGH SHIFTS ARE ANNOYING. I ONLY HAVE 25K MILES ON MY TC SO IT CAN'T BE THE TRANSMISSION, IT'S THE COMPUTERS, PLEASE SEND OUT A NEW FIRMWARE TO FIX THIS! *TR

Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Filed Aug 19, 201943,000 milesNC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SCION TC. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE SUN ROOF BECAME STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO LEITH TOYOTA (8005 CAPITAL BLVD, RALEIGH, NC 27616, (919) 876-5900) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BU THE RESULTS WERE NOT DISCLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

Service BrakesCrash
Filed Apr 9, 201939,000 milesCA

CANT HANDLE A INSTANT BRAKE.

Structure › Body
Filed Feb 12, 201937,500 milesCA

THERE IS A RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE TRUCK AREA THAT MY BODY SHOP CANT IDENTIFY. PLS HELP FIX THE PROBLEM.

Power Train
Filed Jan 25, 201973,600 milesNY

WHEN PARKED IN NEUTRAL WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL NOT DEPRESSED WHILE RUNNING MY CARS TRANSMISSION MAKES A WHINING NOISE AND ONLY GOES AWAY WHEN YOU DEPRESS THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO ENGAGE THE CLUTCH. ONCE YOU RELEASE THE CLUTCH IT CONTINUES MAKING THE NOISE. HOT AND COLD TEMPERATURES DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THE DEALERSHIP THINKS IT'S THE BEARING IN THE TRANSMISSION BUT NOT 100% SURE UNTIL I PAY THEM TO OPEN TRANSMISSION. TOYOTA HAS A HISTORY OF BEARINGS GOING BAD IN THE TC TRANSMISSIONS AND WILL NOT DO ANYTHING AND REQUESTS YOU TO BUY A NEW TRANSMISSION.

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Dec 13, 201830,000 milesNM

ROOF PANEL FRONT GLASS SHATTERED AROUND THE EDGES WHILE PARKED. WHOLE ROOF PANEL WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED.

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Oct 17, 201842,300 milesCA

ABOUT 5:15 PM, DRIVING WESTBOUND IN THE SUN, ON A CLEAR DAY, IN THE FAR LEFT LANE OF A 4 LANE FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 65-70 MPH, APPROACHING A SOUTHBOUND RAMP. THERE WERE 3 VEHICLES, A MINI COOPER IN FRONT AND RIGHT AND A TRUCK BEHIND, ALL 3 CARS ARE AT LEAST 3-4 CAR LENGTHS AWAY IN NO TRAFFIC. BOTH WINDOWS ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN, LISTENING TO MUSIC, NOT BLARING, WHEN I SUDDENLY HEAR AN INCREDIBLY LOUD POP. I THINK MY TIRE BLEW OUT, BUT NO CHANGE IN MANEUVERABILITY OR LIGHTS BLINKING ON THE DASH. I LOOK IN FRONT AND TO THE COOPER TO THE RIGHT AND THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN THEIR DRIVING, ALL FLOWING WITH TRAFFIC, BEHIND NO CHANGE AS WELL. ASSUME SOMETHING HIT THE SIDE OF CAR. STILL SHAKEN FROM THE SOUND I CONTINUE COMMUTE NOW GOING SOUTHBOUND, WHEN I HEAR WHAT SOUNDED LIKE DRIVING ON SAND. NOT THAT POSSIBLE ON A FREEWAY WITHOUT ME NOTICING, MY INSTINCT WAS TO PULL BACK SUNROOF SHADE TO FIND THE GLASS COMPLETELY SHATTERED. AND CONTINUED TO LISTEN TO IT SHATTER FOR THE REST OF MY 15 MINUTE COMMUTE HOME. WAS UNABLE TO TAKE STRAIGHT TO DEALERSHIP SINCE THEY WERE ABOUT TO CLOSE AND DROVE IT IN THE NEXT MORNING. 12 HOURS & COUNTING, I WAS TOLD TO PAY $1340 OR LEAVE AND FIND BETTER LUCK ELSEWHERE. IF A ROCK CREATED THIS DAMAGE I WOULD HAVE WENT STRAIGHT TO A JUNKYARD AND GOT IT REPLACED NO PROBLEM. BUT NO ROCK DID THIS DAMAGE. I WAS TOLD BY A MGR. THAT WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN A ROCK CAN COME IN AND HIT IT, WITH THE WIND AND PRESSURE A POP CAN HAPPEN. UNBELIEVABLE. AS OF NOW 10/17, 6 HRS. AFTER TA

Structure › Body
Filed Dec 19, 201635,500 milesNM

I WAS DRIVING 73 MPH ON A HIGHWAY (I-25) PASSING ANOTHER CAR WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THEN THE CRACKLING SOUND OF GLASS RUNNING DOWN THE BACK OF THE CAR. I PULLED OVER AND THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE MOON ROOF. NO CAR WAS IN FRONT OF ME BUT IT WAS REALLY COLD COMING UP TO SANTA FE, NM. IT WAS ABOUT 18 DEGREES AND I HAD THE FOOT HEATER ON #3. I BELIEVE IT WAS A COMBINATION OF THE HEAT, ALTITUDE AND THE COLD GLASS THAT MADE MY MOON ROOF EXPLODE. VERY SCARY. DEALER SAID THEY DO NOT COVER WINDOWS!

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Aug 30, 201610,457 milesSD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 SCION TC. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE WRIST AND HAND, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,457.

Air Bags1 injured
Filed Aug 23, 201613,253 milesNJ

"TAKATA RECALL" MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE DRIVER SIDE "SIDE AIRBAGS" DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON WHAT SO EVER. JUST SO HAPPEN, THE POLICE WAS DRIVER IN THE NEXT LANE OVER AND WITNESSED THE WHOLE THING. I AM HAVING A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE DEALING WITH TOYOTA. I CHOSE TOYOTA BECAUSE OF THE RELIABILITY OF THE CAR AND THIS THE THE 2ND BRAND NEW TOYOTA FOR MY DAUGHTER. AFTER THIS EXPERIENCE, THIS WILL BE THE LAST.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Feb 19, 201613,000 milesLA

MY FIANC HAD A SEIZURE WHILE DRIVING HER SCION TC (2015). SHE RAN INTO THE DUMPSTER AT A COFFEE SHOP. WITNESSES AND AUTHORITIES CONFIRMED THE SPEED WAS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH FOR AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. BECAUSE OF HER BODY SEIZING SHE ACCELERATED. CUSTOMERS AND EMPLOYEES INSIDE THE COFFEE SHOP HEARD THE CRASH. THE DUMPSTER IS ALL THE WAY IN THE REAR OF THE BUILDING. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AS A RESULT SHE IS SUFFERING INJURIES SUSTAINED.

20 of 22 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2006
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20166300Routine
2015 — this page22300Routine
201420110Routine
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.