The 2009 Scion Tc has 3 safety recalls and 60 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine (15 complaints).
Recalls3safety recalls
Complaints60filed by owners
Crashes · fires15 · 1reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths8 · 1reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Equipment › Other › Labels
NHTSA recall 10V035000 · Feb 3, 2010 · 271,417 vehicles
Problem: 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.
Risk: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
Fix: 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.
Equipment › Other › Labels
NHTSA recall 10V036000 · Feb 3, 2010 · 153,418 vehicles
Problem: 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.
Risk: A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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.
Equipment › Other › Labels
NHTSA recall 09V223000 · Jun 15, 2009 · 27,080 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (OVSC)
Problem: 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."
Risk: INCORRECT LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE BEING OVERLOADED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Fuel economy
tC
24mpg combined
City / highway
21 / 29 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.4 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel
tC
23mpg combined
City / highway
20 / 27 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.4 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Engine
15
0
0
0
67,750 mi
Air bags Frontal
9
7
0
6
102,000 mi
Structure Body; Body › Door
9
0
0
0
43,275 mi
Vehicle speed control
8
4
0
1
12,500 mi
Visibility Sun/moon roof assembly
6
0
0
0
19,900 mi
Unknown or other
4
0
0
0
—
Latches/locks/linkages
3
0
0
0
9,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic
3
1
0
0
—
Power train Manual transmission
3
0
0
0
—
Tires
3
2
0
0
—
Steering
2
1
0
2
—
Electronic stability control (esc)
2
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Mar 1, 2026Electrical system sold a AS IS TRADE IN vehicle that had no warning lights on dashboard or window info on safety defective emmisons and ecm and has not been very helpful with my vehicle I have not been able to drive because of safety concerns with recent discovery of codes that showed after getting a new battery for my new way of commuteing to work and live daily activity like most with a car I laid 2,050.15 and was told many times at test drive that it was amazing running sports car and mentioned he only had to replace valve cover gasket before it was able to be sold and at time of payment with test drive only showing signs of low rpm and throttle idle on test drive so trusting that the owner was telling me…
Mar 1, 2026Unknown or other I believe my emmisons had malfunctioning part # 77740-21011 called used auto sales agent 5 mins after purchasing on 3/1 because I was at gas station having unusual fuel pumping problems that made it very difficult to put gas in had a constant clicking happen and the dealer on the phone told me there was no issues with my new vehicle and after checking my warning lights to see if any were signaling and had no active warnings for service engine soon or maintenance so I believed him I drove home and within two days tried to replace my battery because cars battery looked old I disconnected the battery and on accident reset my whole car and with rpm being lo I checked with simple scan tool that…
May 9, 2024Engine My scion TC is using an extreme amount of oil to where I am putting 2-3 quarts in the motor per week. The extreme usage of oil can cause the engine to blow up due to lack of oil staying in the engine. My oil light will flash after couple days indicating low oil. A dangerous situation that can happen is the engine stop working while I'm driving on an interstate and possibly cause a serious accident or even an engine fire. There was a Toyota bulletin on this issue back in 2015. My car was bought in 2013. According to Toyota, they claimed they had sent notice to the address listed under this VIN. We received no such notice and even requested Toyota prove they sent it, but they would not. When…
May 11, 2022 · 150,000 milesPower train The contact owns a 2009 Scion TC. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, he slowed for a traffic light and the vehicle failed to shift out of third gear. The accelerator pedal was depressed and the vehicle revved without moving. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle occasionally slipped out of gear and failed to exceed 15 MPH while driving. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer who diagnosed that the transmission was locked in overdrive and that the transmission needed to be repaired or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The…
Jan 12, 2022 · crashTires Just entered the interstate and was 2 miles from home when the car started shaking cause the car to make a sudden hard right across multiple lanes of traffic going down an embankment and hitting trees. Witness who saw the accident while traveling behind the car saw smoke coming from driver rear tire, then car began to shake and car abruptly went to the right and off the road. Highway patrol stated based on witness and driver accounts, the driver rear tire failed. The collision center states the interior portion of the driver read tire separated and failed. The entire tire separated clean.
Aug 2, 2021Engine 2009 Scion tC consumes to much engine oil due to bad pistons installed by manufacture and needs to be repaired before major engine problems occur. I also found out Iâm not the only one having this issue. Iâve just purchased the vehicle.8
Nov 2, 2020Engine THE BOLTS I. THE MOTOR MOUNT WORK THERE WAY OUT AND CAUSES COMPLETE TOTAL OF THE VEHICLE
Jun 12, 2019 · 255,000 miles · crashAir bags I HAD A BAD MVA ACCIDENT ON 6/12/2019 @ 0815AM IN THE MORNING, A LADY T BONE ME WITH FAST IMPACTION, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY NOR THE SIDE AIR BAG CURTAINS DEPLOYED DURING THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRBAGS DID MALFUNCTION IN MY OPINON AND CAUSED ME TO HIT MY HEAD AND CHEST HARD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT THE ENTIRE TIME AS WELL. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE DRIVER HIT ME ON THE HIGHWAY. WAS A HARD IMPACT TO THE CAR. THE SENSORS APPEAR NOT TO BE WORKING CORRECTLY SINCE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THIS HARD IMPACTION.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.