Model year record

2015 Scion Tc recalls & problems

The 2015 Scion Tc has 3 safety recalls and 22 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (6 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints22filed by owners

Crashes · fires4 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths3 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Service brakes, hydraulicSep 20, 2018

Service brakes, hydraulic

Recall 18E091000544 vehicles

Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain Toyota Racing Development (TRD) brake kits, part numbers PTR09-21111 and PTR09-52080, sold by Toyota as an optional accessory for model year 2008-2015 Scion xB, and 2011-2016 Scion tC vehicles. Over time, the brake hoses in these kits may fatigue and fail.
Risk: Failure of a brake hose will reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify all known owners of the Scion xB and Scion tC vehicles upon which an involved optional TRD Brake Kit could have been installed. If the vehicle is equipped with one of the TRD brake kits, it will be replaced with a standard equipment brake kit, free of charge. The recall began November 16, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0U.

EquipmentJun 9, 2016

Other › Labels

Recall 16V4200004,253 vehicles

Problem: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Camry and Highlander, 2015-2016 Toyota Tundra, Scion FR-S, and tC vehicles. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
Risk: An incorrect label may lead an owner to overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: SET will notify owners, and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.

SuspensionApr 17, 2015

Rear

Recall 15V228000114 vehicles

Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2015 Toyota Scion tC vehicles manufactured December 3, 2014, to January 30, 2015 and equipped with accessory coil springs as part of an optional Release Series 9 trim package. During installation of these coil springs, the rear suspension components may not have been properly tightened.
Risk: If the rear suspension components were not properly tightened, the rear suspension arms may detach, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the bolts, nuts, rear suspension arms, and rear suspension member sub assembly, free of charge. The recall began on June 12, 2015. Owners may contact Scion customer service at 1-866-707-2466.

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

26mpg combined

City / highway	23 / 30 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.5 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel

tC

26mpg combined

City / highway	23 / 30 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.5 L · 4 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/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	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Power train	6	0	0	19,345 mi
Air bagsFrontal › Driver clockspring/spiral cassette	5	3	3	13,253 mi
Visibility/wiper	3	0	0	—
Service brakes	2	1	0	—
Unknown or other	2	0	0	—
StructureBody	2	0	0	—
VisibilitySun/moon roof assembly	2	0	0	—
Electrical system	2	0	0	—
Vehicle speed control	1	0	0	—
Suspension	1	0	0	—
Exterior lighting	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Air bags › Frontal › Driver clockspring/spiral cassette
The contact owns a 2015 Scion TC. The contact stated that the air bag warning light remained continuously illuminated while operating the vehicle. The contact stated that when the air bag warning light was illuminated, the horn was inoperable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. However, an independent mechanic informed the contact that the failure might be associated with an inoperable clockspring. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
Feb 25, 2026 · 130,000 miles
Power train
Whining noise is heard when the clutch petal is released. Noise is coming from the input shaft bearing. Common failure on this model. Mechanic confirmed that is the issue. If the bearing completely fails could leave the car stranded and cause more damage to other transmission components. No warning lights but noise is very loud.
Nov 16, 2022
Electrical system
Over the past 4-5 years, 2015 scion tc has had numerous electrical issues. Both driver and passenger electric door locks do not work. Head and tail lamp lights burn out frequently. Seems like a grounding issue? Car failed to start August 2021 due to electrical problems. 3rd party mechanic fixed the issue. Toyota Dealer-installed automatic start fails multiple times before starting car. Basic electrical mechanisms for a car made in 2015 should not be broken/failing. 2019 Air Conditioner wouldn't drain. Had to investigate and personally drain the tubes behind the passenger and driver side-pannels behind center counsel. The entire draining system for the cars air conditioner had clogged. 2015…
Aug 1, 2017
Suspension
Rear suspension components were loose on vehicle. My car was purchased with rear trd coilovers installed at factory. Suspension components were improperly tightened according to Toyota dealership who serviced my vehicle. Purchased car stock and never had suspension work done in the past. This is similar to NHTSA campaign 15v228000 recall on same car year/manufacturer/model/edition (2015 Scion tC release series 9.0) but my VIN was not part of the 114 out of the 2000 cars sold.
Jul 11, 2021
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SCION TC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED AND SEATED IN THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND LIKE A SHATTERED GLASS. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND BECAME AWARE THAT THE CENTER SUN ROOF GLASS HAD SHATTERED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN ROOF HAD SHATTERED WITHOUT IMPACT OR INCIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
Apr 16, 2021 · 85,000 miles
Electrical system
TRANSMISSION DOES A HARSH/JERK DOWNSHIFT WHEN COMING TO A STOP. IT DOES IT RANDOMLY, USUALLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP SLOWLY. IT'S NOT SAFE, FEELS LIKE THE CAR LURCHES INTO 1ST. TOYOTA RESET THE COMPUTER AND IT WAS OK FOR A BIT BUT CAME BACK. I'M THINKING IT'S THE SOFTWARE OF THE CAR. TOYOTA SAID IT'S A LEARNING TRANSMISSION, BUT SOMETHINGS WRONG. IT'S SCARY TO DRIVE IN TRAFFIC, AND ONLY HAVE 33K MILES. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS CHANGE BY TOYOTA LAST YEAR WITH THE WS AND IT HAS NOT FIXED THIS ISSUE. I'M WORRIED THE CAR MAY STALL IN STOP AND GO OR LURCH SO HARD FIRM THE 2-1 DOWNSHIFT THAT I MIGHT HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
Mar 3, 2021 · 33,999 miles
Power train
TRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP, 50/50, IT SEEMS TO BE DOING A HARD DOWNSHIFT 2-1 BEFORE THE STOP. IT'S SCARY AND FEELS LIKE YOU GOT REAR ENDED. THERE IS ALSO A CLICK NOISE WHEN THE DOWNSHIFT HAPPENS. TOOK IT TO TOYOTA AND HAD A TRANSMISSION DRAIN AND FILL, WHICH THEY SAID THE FLUID WAS AS CLEAN AND THE COMPUTER HAS NO STORE CODES. THE RESET THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AND THE ISSUE HAS RETURNED, IT SHOULDN'T HAVE THESE ISSUES AT 19K MILES! ALSO THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES GOING INTO TRAFFIC, WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE IT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT GEAR TO BE IN. I WISH TOYOTA WOULD READ THE OTHER PEOPLE'S COMMENTS WHO HAD THE SAME ISSUES WITH THIS U760E…
Feb 28, 2021 · 19,345 miles
Air bagsCrash
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ON MONDAY DEC 28 HEADING TO WORK IT WAS RAINING HARD AND WAS DRIVING AT THE SAME SPEED AS EVERYONE ELSE IN THE FREEWAY OUT OF NOWHERE MY STEERING TOOK OVER CONTROL AND I SPINNED AROUND HITTING THE CARPOOL LANE DIVIDER AND WAS TOSSED TO THE 4TH LANE AFTERWARDS. AT THAT MOMENT I WAS IN FRONT OF A SEMI TRUCK AND COULDN'T BRAKE IN TIME AND HIT ME SENDING ME BACK TO THE CARPOOL LANE ANY TIME OF THOSE HITS MY AIR BAGS NEVER TURNED ON.
Dec 28, 2020 · 56,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.