2008 Scion TC: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

AS I WAS CHANGING LANES, I VEERED A LITTLE FAR ONTO THE LEFT SHOULDER AND HIT THE RUMBLE STRIPS ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I TURNED A SLIGHT RIGHT TO GET THE VEHICLE BACK INTO THE LEFT LANE AND MY TIRES "BROKE LOOSE". THE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE RIM, AND I SLID INTO A HORIZONTAL POSITION, ACROSS BOTH LANES, ON THE RIM. I THEN TRIED TO STEER THE VEHICLE BACK INTO THE LEFT LANE, HOWEVER MY CAR TURNED A 180 AND WENT INTO A FORWARD HORIZONTAL MOTION. I THEN HIT A BUMP OR SOMETHING IN THE ROAD AND MY CAR FLIPPED AND WENT AIRBORNE. MY CAR MADE A CO…

Owner-reported narrative. 770 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203709 at NHTSA ↗

MY DAUGHTER HAD A NEW 2008 TOYOTA SCION, LESS THEN 3,000 MILES WHEN SHE WAS HIT BY A SEMI - FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. HER AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON EITHER SIDE -- EVEN THOUGH HER LIGHTS INDICATED THAT THEY DID DEPLOY. *TR HER SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK AND HOLD HER IN PLACE. SHE CAME UP AND OUT OF THE SHOULDER HARNESS AND HIT HER HEAD ON THE ROOF AND TOP PART OF THE WINDOW. TOYOTA HELD UP THE REPAIRS FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, FAILED TO SHOW WHEN THEY PROMISED TO SEND AN INVESTIGATOR TO THE TOYOTA BODY SHOP. REFUSED TO SEND COPY OF THE REPORT AND CLAIM…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10220681 at NHTSA ↗

MOTOR VEHICLE HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND ROLLED OVER AND HIT A LIGHT POLE. AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY TO PROTECT OCCUPANT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10222057 at NHTSA ↗

2008 SCION TC TIRE MONITORING SYSTEM DOES NOT CALIBRATE CORRECTLY. PURCHASED CAR ON MAY 10, 2008 AND TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM WAS ACTIVE. DEALER RESET AND STATED LIGHT WOULD GO OUT. ON MAY 12 TOOK BACK TO DEALER, PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE, SENSORS IN RIMS. WENT BACK ON MAY 16 FOR A TWO HOUR REPAIR THAT TOOK OVER 14 HOURS TO GET THE TIRE MONITORING SYSTEM TO CALIBRATE WITH THE SENSOR IN THE WHEELS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT SCION KNEW THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM HAS NOT BEEN PERFECTED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 42 miles reported. Look up ODI 10228192 at NHTSA ↗

WAS ON A HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60 MPH. WITH A FRIEND. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THERE WAS A HUGE EXPLOSION, NEARLY CAUSING ME TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD....THEN GLASS STARTED FALLING ALL AROUND THE CAR. THANKFULLY, THE WINDOW SCREEN BLOCKED MOST OF THE GLASS FROM FALLING INSIDE THE CAR ON TOP OF US....THOUGH SOME DID FALL THRU THE CRACKS AROUND THE SCREEN. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY ARE FIXING. HOWEVER, WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BY THIS INCIDENT HAD THE GLASS FALLEN IN OUR EYES, BLINDED MY DRIVING, OR SEVERELY CUT US. THIS IS A VERY BIG DANGER IN MY O…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10232505 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING ON THE BELTWAY (495 NORTH), MY SCION TC MOONROOF SHATTERED AND THE GLASS FELL ON ME AND ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. MY MOONROOF WAS FULLY OPENED AT THE TIME. NEITHER THE DEFLECTOR NOR THE STATIONARY MOONROOF (WHICH IS LOCATED ABOVE THE BACKSEAT) SHATTERED BUT ONLY THE RETRACTABLE MOONROOF. THERE WAS NO IMPACT FROM INSIDE THE CAR THAT CAUSED THE MOONROOF TO SHATTER NOR DID I HEAR OR SEE ANY ROCK OR DEBRIS HIT THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR BEFORE IT SHATTERED AND EXPLODED INTO THE CAR. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND HEARD A LOUD EXPLO…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,045 miles reported. Look up ODI 10239201 at NHTSA ↗

BOUGHT A SCION TC IN MAY OF 2008 AND WITHIN A WEEK OF PURCHASE, NOTICED A RATTLE COMING FROM THE MOONROOF ASSEMBLY. MADE APPOINTMENT WITH DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY FOR SERVICE, AND BROUGHT IT BACK SEVERAL TIMES, AS WELL AS OPENED A CASE WITH SCION TO INVESTIGATE. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE. DEALERSHIP AND SCION HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT AND NOT AT ALL HELPFUL, GOT THE MAJOR RUN AROUND. TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE THERE IS NO TSB FOR THE PROBLEM, AND IT IS A "CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR" - THEY ALL RATTLE LIKE THAT. (MY VEHICLES ASSEMBLY O…

Owner-reported narrative. 135 miles reported. Look up ODI 10240274 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2009-06-15 (June 15, 2009)

TOYOTA IS RECALLING 27,080 MODEL YEAR 2005 THROUGH 2010 PASSENGER CARS BUILT FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 TO MAY 4, 2009. THESE VEHICLES WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS."

Consequence: INCORRECT LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE BEING OVERLOADED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND PROVIDE THEM WITH A NEW, ACCURATE LABEL TO BE INSTALLED OVER THE INACCURATE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-888-270-9371.

Reported: 2010-02-03 (February 3, 2010)

GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATES TOYOTA AT 713-580-3300.

Reported: 2010-02-03 (February 3, 2010)

SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

Consequence: A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.