Scion · tC · 2005
4
Recalls
155
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2005 Scion tC has 4 recalls and 155 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: visibility (37 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, DUE TO IMPROPER ASSEMBLY OF THE AIR BAG INFLATOR, WHICH IS USED IN THE SIDE AIR BAG, THE CURTAIN SHIELD AIR BAG, AND THE KNEE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY, SOME INFLATORS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN INSUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF THE HEATING AGENTS NECESSARY FOR PROPER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. IN THIS CONDITION, THE EXPANSION FORCE OF THE GAS MAY BE INSUFFICIENT TO PROPERLY INFLATE THE AIR BAG WHEN THE SRS SYSTEM IS ACTIVATED DURING A CRASH.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SPECIFIC SRS AIR BAG. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 6, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-888-270-9371, SCION AT 1-866-548-1851, OR LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE SIDE IMPACT SEAT-BOLSTER AND CURTAIN SIDE AIRBAGS MAY INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY. THIS CONDITION CAN OCCUR IF THE DOOR FOR THAT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS CLOSED WITH A HIGH RATE OF FORCE WHILE THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION IS IN THE "ON" POSITION OR WITHIN 90 SECONDS OF TURNING THE IGNITION KEY FROM THE "ON" POSITION TO THE "OFF" POSITION.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TWO SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG SENSORS AND INSTALL A URETHANE PAD IN THE FRONT DOORS, IF NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 6, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-866-548-1851.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A GLASS WIND DEFLECTOR, THE DEFLECTOR, IF IMPACTED BY A PROJECTILE, SUCH AS ROAD DEBRIS, WHILE DRIVING WITH THE WIND DEFLECTOR IN THE UPWARD-TILTED POSITION AT HIGHWAYS SPEEDS, MAY SHATTER AND SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE LAMINATE TO THE WIND DEFLECTOR TO PREVENT PIECES OF GLASS FROM SEPARATING FROM THE WIND DEFLECTOR FRAME. THE RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 27, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-866-707-2466.
Never had a problem with car before went on freeway to get up to speed n the speedometer was dropping so I pull to side of freeway shut car off turn car back on here clunk clunk shut car off no check engine light was on or has been on no oil light was on nothing get car towed back to safe place well check fluid n oils bone dry cars engine blows just started reading n I guess 2005 goes. Threw oil way fast why isn't that noteted anywhere so messed up just did oil change week before this so shocked now I have to try to fix my blown engine single mom not able to make ends meet now this idk what to do
1. I believe my airbags deployed pre-maturely with a soft impact to another vehicle. There was no damage to the other vehicle and no police report needed to be filed. There is a minor damage to my front bumper. 2. The airbags inflated on me, but no medical attention was required. 3. I have not confirmed or reproduced this problem with a professional. 4. My car has not been inspected nor reported to my insurance agency as my coverage only covers liability. 5. No symptoms prior to airbags deploying pre-maturely *Because of the pre-mature deployment of my airbags I am unable to afford the airbags to be reset, as doing so would cost more than the kbb estimated value of my car.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 SCION TC. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT, HER VEHICLE WAS T-BONED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT RAN A RED LIGHT. THE ENTIRE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS SMASHED IN AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REMINDED BY THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN RECALL FOR THE SIDE AIR BAGS FOR WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR IN 2006. THE MANUFACTURER RESPONDED WITH A LETTER, STATING THAT THEY ASSIGNED AN ENGINEER TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. BASED ON THEIR INSPECTION, THEY DID NOT FIND ENOUGH FRONTAL DAMAGE TO COMMAND THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIDE AIR BAGS. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,400. *BF*JB
GLASS ROOF SHATTERED UNPROVOKED
I PURCHASED A RED 2005 SCION TC FOR MY DAUGHTER IN FEBRUARY, 2019 FROM TOYOTA AUTO NATION IN DAVIE, FL. THEY HAD IT PRICED IN GOOD CONDITION, SO I EXPECTED TO GET SOME USE OUT OF IT. I PAID ALMOST $6,000. MONTH LATER IT OVERHEATED ON THE HIGHWAY (595) AND MY DAUGHTER HAD TO PULL OVER LATE AT NIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO MY HOME. VERY SCARY AND UNSAFE SITUATION FOR A TEEN. HAD IT TOWED BACK TO THEIR SERVICE STATION AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE A PROBLEM, THAT COST ME $600. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS COMPANY WOULD NOT HAVE SEEN ANY DAMAGE UNDER THE HOOD. SHAME ON THEM FOR SELLING ME A CAR THAT BROKE DOWN IN ONE MONTH. I HAVE CALLED THEM AND THEY WILL NOT HELP WITH THE PAYMENT. IT IS 'AS IS' I CALLED AND TEXT THE SALES GIRL AND NEVER RECEIVED A CALL BACK OR RESPONSE. FINALLY PUT A BAD REVIEW ON THEIR WEBSITE AND RECEIVED AN E-MAIL TO CONTACT MANAGER TO HELP WITH THE SITUATION, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT WAS AN AUTOMATED EMAIL AND AGAIN TOLD 'TOO BAD'. IT IS NOW JULY AND YET AGAIN IT BROKE DOWN ON MY DAUGHTER AS SHE WAS AT THE GAS STATION. IT WOULD NOT START UP AFTER SHE TURNED IT OFF. TRIED TO JUMP IT AND NOTHING. ONCE AGAIN HEADED TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE STATION. AT FIRST WAS TOLD IT WAS ONLY THE BATTERY, SO I SAY GO AHEAD, I WILL PAY THE $140 AND REPLACE IT AND WE WILL GO FROM THERE. ONLY TO GET ANOTHER CALLBACK FROM THE MANAGER STATING THAT THERE IS MORE WRONG WITH THE CAR, THAT AFTER THE $89 FIVE POINT CHECK ON THE VEHICLE AND REPLACING THE BATTERY THAT IT STILL DID NOT START. THEY WOULD HAVE TO KEEP IT OVER THE WEEKEND. IT IS COSTING ME AN ARM AND A LEG AND I NEED HELP WITH THIS. I FEEL LIKE THEY LIED ABOUT THIS VEHICLE AND ALLOWED A CAR THAT IS NOT SAFE TO BE BOUGHT AT THEIR BUSINESS. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY CHILD'S SAFETY AND ONLY WANT WHAT IS FAIR.
Engine burning oil
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SCION TC. WHILE THE DRIVER WAS AT A STOP LIGHT, THE CLUTCH PEDAL FAILED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS STICKING. THE DRIVER HAD TO PULL THE CLUTCH PEDAL UP WITH HER LEFT FOOT. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND LATER TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CAME TO HIS RESIDENCE AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,367.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 SCION TC. WHEN THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED A FLICKERING LIGHT AND SMOKE COMING FROM THE CONSOLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONSOLE AND ROOF OF THE VEHICLE WERE MELTED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED OR TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000.
THE CAR BURNS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL AND ONLY HAS 163000 MILES.
TAKATA RECALL?? AIRBAGS FAILED, DURING ACCIDENT. AFTER BEING CUTOFF AND GOING DOWN ROUTE X. LOST CONTROL HIDING CONCRETE. CAR FLIPPED, WAS DRAGGED A FEW FEET'S - NO AIRBAGS. PASSENGER STILL HAS ANXIETY WHEN GETTING INTO VEHICLES-THE ONE THING YOU'D THINK WOULD RESPOND DIDN'T. HOW DO WE EVER GET THE SENSE OF SECURITY BACK. *DT *TR
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SCION TC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, A BOOMING SOUND WAS HEARD OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER DISCOVERED THAT THE GLASS AIR DEFECTOR HAD SHATTERED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V483000 (VISIBILITY) IN NOVEMBER OF 2005 TO PREVENT THE FAILURE FROM OCCURRING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE 8/5/17, AT APPROX. 70-75 MPH, THE REAR MOON ROOF EXPLODED IN MY DAUGHTERS CAR! THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION LIKE THE CAR HAD BEEN SHOT AT. SHE WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE CAR AND THEN AFTER LOOKING AROUND AT ALL THE SIDE WINDOWS, THE PASSENGER NOTICED THAT THE MOON ROOF HAD EXPLODED. AFTER PULLING OVER THEY REMOVED AS MUCH LOOSE GLASS AS POSSIBLE SO IT WOULD NOT TO BLOW OFF AND CAUSE DAMAGE TO OTHERS OR AN ACCIDENT. THE GLASS WAS BLOWN OUTWARD AND LOOKED LIKE A VOLCANO THAT HAD ERUPTED. SHE DID NOT TAKE ANY PICTURES AT THE TIME DUE TO SHOCK AND DISBELIEF. PARENTS TOOK PHOTOS ONCE CAR WAS BACK IN ST. LOUIS IN THEIR GARAGE. SHE HAD TO DRIVE FROM INDIANAPOLIS TO ST. LOUIS WITH THE CAR DROPPING PIECES OF GLASS ONTO AND INTO THE CAR . ALSO FEARFUL THE OTHER ROOF MIGHT EXPLODE. AFTER SPEAKING WITH TOYOTA THEY SAID IT HAPPENS SOMETIMES. HEAT, PRESSURE BUILD UP, OR ROCKS CAN CAUSE IT. HEAT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN A FACTOR AS THE TEMPS THAT DAY WERE APPROX. 68 TO LOW 70'S. THE LINER COVERING THE MOON ROOF WAS OPEN. THIS SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH WORSE. AN EXPLOSION LIKE THAT AT 70+ MPH COULD HAVE CAUSED A WRECK NOT TO MENTION INJURIES.
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME FROM INDIANA ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN HER MOON ROOF OVER THE BACK SEAT BLEW UP. SHE WAS TRAVELING AT AROUND 72 MPH WHEN SHE HEARD AN EXPLOSION. THANK GOD THERE WERE NO CARS IMMEDIATELY TO HER SIDE AS SHE SWERVED BUT MANAGED TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE CAR. SHE HAD TO CONTINUE FROM INDIANAPOLIS TO ST. LOUIS WITH THE FEAR OF THE SUNROOF DOING THE SAME. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT OR WORSE. THANK GOD NOBODY WAS INJURED OTHER THAN SOME CUTS FROM PULLING OUT LARGE CHUNKS OF GLASS THAT SHE WAS AFRAID WOULD BLOW OFF AND HIT OTHER CARS. WHEN I ASKED TOYOTA ABOUT IT THEY JUST SAID " IT'S BEEN KNOWN TO HAPPEN". I SHOWED THEM THE PHOTOS AND THEY SAID THAT PRESSURE CAN BUILD UP TO CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN OR SOMETIMES HEAT. THE TEMP WAS ONLY AROUND 68- LOW 70'S. IF THEY KNOW THIS CAN HAPPEN THEN MAYBE THESE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED.
TAKOTA RECALL. I WAS RECENTLY IN A POTENTIALLY FATAL ACCIDENT AND MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND I HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL PRETTY HARD. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND A DEER BOLTED OUT IN FRONT OF MY CAR AND MY INITIAL REACTION WAS TO AVOID IT AND RAN INTO A TRAFFIC SIGN AND SMACKED THE GUARD RAIL GOING AROUND 50 MPH.
2005 SCION TC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE VIN# NOT INCLUDED IN OIL CONSUMPTION PROGRAM TO REPAIR THE EXISTING OIL PROBLEMS. *SMD
ACCORDING TO TOYOTA SERVICE THE ENGINE HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE LOWER PART OF THE ENGINE DUE TO NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THIS WAS CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. THE CAR STOPPED ON THE MIDDLE OF THE 210 FWY WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH PANEL.
DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON AN APPROXIMATELY 40 DEGREE DRY DAY WITH NO EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS. HEARD A SHOTGUN LIKE NOISE AT WHICH POINT THE SUNROOF SHATTERED AND GLASS FELL INTO THE DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE AREAS. SUNROOF AND WIND SHIELD WERE CLOSED, SCREEN WAS OPEN. PAIN RESULTED IN EARS AND HEAD HOWEVER NO LACERATIONS WERE OBTAINED. FALLING GLASS ONTO DRIVER AND BEHIND THE CAR COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN, NO DEBRIS WAS SEEN OR HEARD RESULTING IN THE SHATTERING OF THE GLASS. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. GLASS SHATTERED AROUND THE EDGES AND NEAR THE CENTER OF THE SUN ROOF, WIND SHIELD WAS OPEN AFTER INCIDENT, NOT PRIOR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA SCION TC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE SUN ROOF GLASS EXPLODED AND SHATTERED. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,500.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA SCION TC. WHILE THE TRUNK WAS OPENED, IT FAILED TO REMAIN OPEN AND SLAMMED ONTO THE CONTACT'S BACK. THE CONTACT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A HYDRAULIC LIFT FAILURE. THE SPECIFICS OF WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 02/24/15*LJ UPDATED 9/12/2017*CN
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2005 Scion tC has 4 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 155 owner-reported complaints for the 2005 Scion tC.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2005 Scion tC.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2005 Scion tC are visibility (37 reports), structure (17 reports), air bags (14 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 4 recalls on record for the 2005 Scion tC. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.