2008 Scion TC problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
86 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
65,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 75 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 23 of 86 complaints (26.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 11.6% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 3.5% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 2.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 23 |
| Structure:Body | 11 |
| Air Bags | 9 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Structure | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Visibility | 4 |
Engine: 23; Structure:Body: 11; Air Bags: 9; Unknown Or Other: 8; Electrical System: 4; Structure: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Visibility: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 17 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 16 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 17; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 6
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (17). 11 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 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2007: 2; 2008: 8; 2009: 5; 2010: 9; 2011: 4; 2012: 9; 2013: 10; 2014: 6; 2015: 8; 2016: 7; 2017: 7; 2018: 6; 2019: 4; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 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 10201880 · 2007-09-04 (September 4, 2007)
1) THIS IS NOT A FAILURE DUE TO AN EVENT BUT A DESIGN FLAW ON THE SCION TC WITH ELECTRONIC THROTTLE "DRIVE-BY-WIRE". THE THROTTLE RESPONSE IS DELAYED BY 1/2 TO 1 FULL SECOND UPON LAYING FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. 2) AS A RESULT OF THIS DESIGN FLAW, THE CAR IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WHEN DRIVING BECAUSE THE CAR REACTS TOO SLOWLY IN COUNTERACTING ANY HAZARDOUS ROAD CONDITION ONE MAY FACE. WHEN THE SITUATION CALLS FOR ACCELERATION, THE CAR DOES NOT RESPOND TO THE DRIVER STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR. THE CAR BEGINS TO REACT 1/2 TO 1 SECOND L…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10201880 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10318264 · 2010-03-09 (March 9, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SCION TC. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING UP TO 25 MPH. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO DRIVE ONTO THE SIDE WALK IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000. UPDATED 04-15-10 *BF UPDATED 05/05/10. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10318264 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10779281 · 2015-10-02 (October 2, 2015)
DRIVING AT 50 MPH,BEING FORCED TO RIGHT PAVING EDGE,CORRECTED QUICKLY TO LEFT,CAR WENT OVER CENTER LINE AND VERY EXTREME SINGLE VEHICLE CRASH WITH DRIVER AND FRONT SET PASSENGER .CAR WAS BEYOND DISTROYED.LOSS OF CONTROL UNKNOWN.ONE FACT THAT IS PRESENT IS LEFT FRONT TIRE HAS NO AIR IN TIRE,STILL ON WHEEL,AND NO DAMAGE TO TIRE.I FEEL THE TIRE WAS FORCE OFF WHEEL BEAD ,AIR LOSS INSTANTLY,AND WAS LIKE A BLOWOUT.THE ONLY MARKINGS ON ROAD WAS THE TIRE THREAD PATTERN WITHOUT ANY SKID MARKS AND A LIGHT SCARTCH MARK,OUTSIDE OF TIRE MARKS.TIRES WE REPLA…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10779281 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10809817 · 2015-12-12 (December 12, 2015)
I GOT ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING TO PICK UP MY MOM IN THE SUNDAY MORNING AROUND 6:50 AM SHE WORKS IN LAX DRIVING ON THE 110 SOUTH FREEWAY IN LOS ANGELES,CA. THIS HAPPEN BETWEEN MANCHESTER AND CENTURY . I WAS IN THE THIRD LANE ON THE FREEWAY I WAS GOING 65 MILES PER HOUR MOTION AND I SWITCH LANE TO THE RIGHT AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCK ON ME AFTER SWITCHING LANE MY BREAK PEDAL WASN'T WORKING AND THE STEERING WASN'T RESPONDING TO THE LEFT , THE SUBJECT VEHICLE WAS MERGING REALLY FAST PASSING 2-1 LANES UNTIL I HIT THE WALL AND MY CAR FLIP UP-SIDE DOW…
Owner-reported narrative. 87,807 miles reported. Look up ODI 10809817 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10862856 · 2016-05-03 (May 3, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SCION TC. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS INDEPENDENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE JERKED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMP, THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE SPUN INTO THE GRASS AND STALLED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN …
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10862856 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10897948 · 2016-08-23 (August 23, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SCION TC. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 113,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10897948 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10462446 · 2012-06-20 (June 20, 2012)
FIRST, THE RUBBER HATCH RELEASE MELTED & DRIPPED ONTO MY REAR BUMPER. (I SUSPECT THAT FAULTY WIRING OF SOME SORT KEPT THE RELEASE SOMEWHAT ENGAGED, WHICH MELTED THE RUBBER.) THEN THE HATCH LATCH/LOCK WOULD ONLY COMPLETELY RELEASE AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. FINALLY, AFTER UNLOCKING THE HATCH & ENGAGING (I THOUGHT) THE RELEASE, THE ENTIRE PANEL PULLED OFF THE CAR, LEAVING IT DANGLING BY THE WIRING HARNESS. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10462446 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10502501 · 2013-03-12 (March 12, 2013)
ON FEBRUARY 24, 2013, I WAS OPENING MY TRUNK LIKE NORMAL AND THE ENTIRE PLASTIC PIECE SNAPPED IN HALF AND DANGLED FROM THE BACK OF MY CAR VIA THE WIRING THAT POWERS THE LIGHTS ABOVE THE LICENSE PLATE. BASICALLY, THE HYDRAULICS THAT IS SUPPOSED TO OPEN THE TRUNK IS WORTHLESS AND DOESN'T EVEN PICK UP THE WEIGHT OF THE TRUNK UNTIL IT IS TWO-THIRDS OF THE WAY OPEN. I RARELY USE MY TRUNK BECAUSE I USUALLY JUST TOSS EVERYTHING INTO THE BACK SEAT. I WOULD SAY THAT AFTER OWNING MY CAR FOR ALMOST FIVE YEARS, I'VE MAYBE OPENED THE TRUNK 50 TIMES, IF THAT…
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10502501 at NHTSA ↗