2005 Scion TC problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
155 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
41,465 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 113 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 32 of 155 complaints (20.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 17 | 11.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 3.2% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 3.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 2.6% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly | 32 |
| Air Bags | 15 |
| Structure:Body | 15 |
| Unknown Or Other | 11 |
| Engine | 9 |
| Tires | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 |
| Visibility | 7 |
Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly: 32; Air Bags: 15; Structure:Body: 15; Unknown Or Other: 11; Engine: 9; Tires: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 7; Visibility: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 42 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 19 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 13 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 16 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 15 |
| 150,000 and above | 8 |
Under 25,000: 42; 25,000 to 49,999: 19; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 8
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (42). 42 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 34 |
| 2006 | 21 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 17 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2004: 8; 2005: 34; 2006: 21; 2007: 7; 2008: 10; 2009: 9; 2010: 17; 2011: 6; 2012: 5; 2013: 10; 2014: 9; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2017: 4; 2018: 3; 2019: 5; 2021: 1; 2023: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10088472 · 2004-08-24 (August 24, 2004)
ON AUGUST 17 @ ABOUT 4:30 P.M. IN THER AFTERNOON THE WHEELS ON MY SCION TC LOCKED UP GOING ABOUT 35 MPH ON THE HYPERION BRIDGE. I APPLIED THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO SLOW DOWN ON A SLIGHT TURN AT THE END OF THE BRIDGE AND THE REAR OF THE CAR FISHTAILED AND MY REAR RIGHT WHEEL HIT AND SCRAPED THE CURB. NOTHING YET HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO TOYOTA/SCION. IT HAS TAKEN THEM A WEEK TO EVEN GET BACK TO ME TO TELL ME THAT A FIELD ENGINEER WILL BE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. THE CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP (TOYO…
Owner-reported narrative. 429 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088472 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10096335 · 2004-10-25 (October 25, 2004)
TOOK FOOT OFF GAS TO SLOW DOWN WHEN APPROACHING CURVE. RAKED TO SLOW DOWN WHEN ENTERING CURVE AND VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW...FULLY ENGAGED BRAKE AND VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND KEPT ACCELERATING. THIS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE CRASHING INTO AN EMBANKMENT WHICH CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THIS IS IS BRAND NEW SCION TC PURCHASED 09/01/04. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10096335 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10100506 · 2004-11-24 (November 24, 2004)
SCION ADMITS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE COMBINATION OF ACCESSORIES:1) AUTO-DIMMING MIRROR AND 2) SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS. WHEN THE MIRROR IS INSTALLED THERE IS A CHANCE THAT THE WIRING OBSTRUCTS THE AIR BAGS. THEY CLAIM A TSB WILL BE ISSUED BUT CAN GIVE ME NO TIME LINE FOR THE ISSUE OF A NEW WIRING HARNESS. DEALERS WILL NOT EVEN PULL THE DRIVER'S "A" PILLAR TRIM TO SEE IF THE WIRING HAPPENS TO BE CORRECT. SO, WE JUST WAIT ... AND WAIT ... AND WAIT AND PRAY THAT THERE IS NO NEED FOR THE AIRBAGS TO FUNCTION. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE "LI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10100506 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10460310 · 2012-06-01 (June 1, 2012)
THE REAR TRUNK HATCH MOLDING PANEL BROKE OFF AND THE ELECTRICAL CORD WITH LATCH RELEASE IS UNSECURED AND DANGLING. IT HAS TO BE SECURED TO CAR WITH TAPE BUT THAT COVERS BRAKE LIGHT. I WAS PULLED OVER TODAY BY A CALIFORNIA POLICE OFFICER , WHO INFORMED ME THAT IT "IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND UNSAFE". THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF SCION TX AND XBS FROM 2005-2011 WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS SEEN IN THIS FACEBOOK PAGE AND PETITION FOR RECALL. HTTP://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/PAGES/SCION-TC-AND-XB-DEFECTIVE-TRUNK-HATCH-HANDLE I HAVE VISITED MULTIPLE SCION TOYOTA SERV…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,121 miles reported. Look up ODI 10460310 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10138823 · 2005-09-29 (September 29, 2005)
CONSUMER WAS HIT FROM THE REAR, THEN COLLIDED WITH A GUARDRAIL ON THE LEFT QUARTER PANEL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TS THE DRIVER HIT HIS HEADS ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE FRONT PASSENGER HIT HIS HEAD ON THE DASHBOARD AND SUSTAINED A BROKEN SHOULDER. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 280 miles reported. Look up ODI 10138823 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10155711 · 2006-04-19 (April 19, 2006)
I TOOK MY 2005 SCION TC TO DEALER TO HAVE A ROUTINE WARRANTY OIL CHANGE. TECH TOLD ME THAT POWER STEERING FLUID WAS COMPLETELY BLACK. WHEN PRESSED FOR AN EXPLANATION, I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR (EVEN AT ONLY 25,000 MI). I HAD THE FLUID REPLACED FOR A HEFTY FEE, BUT CALLED TO SPEAK W/ A SERVICE MANAGER AND WAS AGAIN TOLD THAT THIS IS A NORMAL WEAR ISSUE "FOR ALL TOYOTA'S" AND WAS ASSURED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE STEERING SYSTEM. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEING "NORMAL" AS THIS IS A CONTAINED SYSTEM. ANOTHER FRIEND MECHANIC SAID…
Owner-reported narrative. 24,962 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155711 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10117843 · 2005-05-13 (May 13, 2005)
THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY AND A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE HAD COME FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC MAINTAINED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK THE VEHICLE WOULD KNOCK AND SHAKE AFTER BEING STARTED. WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE WOULD RATTLE AND FELT AS IF THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED DUE TO THE SHAKING OF THE MOTOR. THE MECHANIC FOUND VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR HOSE MOUNTS, AIR CLEANING HOUSINGS AND LA…
Owner-reported narrative. 397 miles reported. Look up ODI 10117843 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10145917 · 2005-12-22 (December 22, 2005)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HESITATES TO SHIFT GEARS EVERYDAY. DEALER STATES THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. THIS STARTED ABOUT A MONTH AGO (11/05). PAINT CHIPS ON FRONT OF VEHICLE AS WELL AS SCRATCHES IN THE PAINT. ONLY DRIVE ON PAVED ROADS AND HIGHWAYS. NOTICED THIS WITHIN THREE MONTHS OF HAVING VEHICLE (05/05). *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10145917 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10239596 · 2008-08-25 (August 25, 2008)
THE CAR WOULD STALL WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE MORE QUICKLY THAN NORMAL. THIS OCCURRED THREE TIMES IN APPROXIMATELY 10 DAYS. THIS OCCURRED TWICE ON TOWN ROADS, AND THE THIRD TIME WHILE ENTERING THE INTERSTATE TO DELIVER THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS DONE WHICH PRODUCED CODE #P2112--THROTTLE ACTUATOR STUCK CLOSED. THREE NEW PARTS WERE REPLACED: HOSE, THROTTLE BODY; BODY ASSY, THROTTLE; GASKET , THROTTLE BOD. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 52,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10239596 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11090499 · 2018-04-27 (April 27, 2018)
THE FRAME AND EVERY METAL COMPONENT ON THE UNDERNEATH OF THE CAR INCLUDING THE FRAME RUSTS TERRIBLY. THE REST IS COMPLETELY CORRODING AWAY AND BREAKING OFF. EVEN TH METAL STRAP HOLDING MY GAS TANK ON IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND IF I PUT N PRESSURE IT CHIPS AWAY. I DIDN'T NOTICE THIS UNTIL I WENT TO HAVE MY EXHAUST DONE AND WAS ABLE TO LOOK UNDER THE CAR.
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11090499 at NHTSA ↗