SCION TC · model year

2008 SCION TC

109 NHTSA complaints, 23 crash reports, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2008SCIONTC carries 109 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 23 crashes, 3 fires, 17 injuries, and 1 fatality. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2008 TC is engine with 23 filings, followed by structure:body (11) and air bags (9). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2008 TC. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

109
Complaints
23
Crashes
3
Fires
17
Injuries
1
Deaths

Total Complaints

109 filings

Crashes Reported

23 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE23
STRUCTURE:BODY11
AIR BAGS9
UNKNOWN OR OTHER8
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4
VISIBILITY4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
STRUCTURE4
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES3
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE3
WHEELS3
SERVICE BRAKES3
STEERING3
SUSPENSION3
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW2

Recalls (3)

09V22300015/06/2009

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

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 S

10V03500003/02/2010

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

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 CAPA

10V03600003/02/2010

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

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.

Recent Complaints

20250219ENGINE

Burning oil bad

20190708UNKNOWN OR OTHER

SUNROOF / MOONROOF EXPLOSION. DRIVING 50 MPH ON FREEWAY AND WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT WAS MY MOONROOF EXPLODING. NOTHING HIT THE VEHICLE, IT JUST EXPLODED ON ITS OWN.

Mileage: 155,000

20190604ENGINE

ENGINE CONSUMES TOO MUCH OIL . HAVE TO REFILL THE OIL IN MY ENGINE ABOUT TWO TIMES IN BETWEEN OIL CHANGES.

Mileage: 94,000

20190326FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

2008 - SCION - TOYOTA - BURNING OIL, BURNING A QUART OF OIL IN LESS THAN EVERY 800 MILES. CAR IS UP TO DATE WITH ALL MAINTENANCE. MECHANIC REFERRED US TO DEALERSHIP. TOYOTA ISSUED A TSB - 'SOME 2006 ' 2011 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2AZ-FE ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION. THE PISTON ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN CHANGED TO MINIMIZE OIL CONSUMPTION.' AND THAT 'P030# (CYLINDER # MISFIRE DETECTED) DTC MAY ALSO BE SET AS A RESULT OF OIL CONSUMPTION.' HOWEVER DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO EVEN TEST OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. SAYING WE ONLY HAD UNTIL AUG 2017. WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED OF SUCH ISSUES, NO LETTERS OR ANYTHING WERE SENT TO US. CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN REGISTERED AND OUR OWNER INFO HAS ALWAYS BEEN AVAILABLE TO TOYOTA. SO NOW WE ARE STUCK WITH DEFECTIVE VEHICLE.

Mileage: 100,000

20190215ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SCION TC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS CONSUMING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL, EVEN BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN SAFETY CAMPAIGN THAT EXPIRED IN JUNE OF 2015. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED IN JUNE OF 2015 AND WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE CAMPAIGN. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE NOTICE WAS PROBABLY MAILED TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER. THE CONTACT CONTESTED THAT THIS WAS NOT HIS FAULT. THE MANUFACTURER PROMISED THAT THEY WOULD RESEARCH THE MATTER, BUT THEY STILL WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIRS. WHEN THE CONTACT WENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE'S OIL CHANGED AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, HE WAS DENIED SERVICE BECAUSE THE VALVE GASKET COVER EXPLODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY. AS A RESULT, OIL SPILLED ALL OVER THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

Mileage: 87,000

20181228SUSPENSION

TAKATA RECALL. MY FRONT TIRES WEARING FAST. WHEN I TOOK TO DEALER FOR SERVICE & ALIGNMENT, I WAS INFORMED THAT MY CAR HAS A ROW BAR THAT IS RUSTED AND FROZEN AND I WILL NEED TO REPLACE IT ($2,000 ESTIMATED). WHEN I DRIVE IT IN THE RAIN, THE CAR FLAILS ALL OVER THE LANE. I HAD TO STOP AND LET CARS PASS ME, I COULD ONLY DRIVE AT LOW SPEEDS AND I HAD TO PULL OVER 4 TIMES BEFORE GETTING HOME SAFELY. I FELT LIKE I WAS GOING TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD. VERY SCARED AND DANGEROUS. I CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR ON WET ROADS. ALSO, I'M HAVING TO BUY NEW TIRES EVERY 20,000 MILES IT SEEMS AND I'VE REGULARLY HAD THEM ROTATED. LAST TIME THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T ROTATE THEM BECAUSE THE ROD WAS FROZEN AND IT'S ONLY THE TC MODEL THAT HAS THIS PARTICULAR ROD.

Mileage: 101,000

20181228WHEELS

TAKATA RECALL. MY FRONT TIRES WEARING FAST. WHEN I TOOK TO DEALER FOR SERVICE & ALIGNMENT, I WAS INFORMED THAT MY CAR HAS A ROW BAR THAT IS RUSTED AND FROZEN AND I WILL NEED TO REPLACE IT ($2,000 ESTIMATED). WHEN I DRIVE IT IN THE RAIN, THE CAR FLAILS ALL OVER THE LANE. I HAD TO STOP AND LET CARS PASS ME, I COULD ONLY DRIVE AT LOW SPEEDS AND I HAD TO PULL OVER 4 TIMES BEFORE GETTING HOME SAFELY. I FELT LIKE I WAS GOING TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD. VERY SCARED AND DANGEROUS. I CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR ON WET ROADS. ALSO, I'M HAVING TO BUY NEW TIRES EVERY 20,000 MILES IT SEEMS AND I'VE REGULARLY HAD THEM ROTATED. LAST TIME THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T ROTATE THEM BECAUSE THE ROD WAS FROZEN AND IT'S ONLY THE TC MODEL THAT HAS THIS PARTICULAR ROD.

Mileage: 101,000

20180831ENGINE

PURCHASED THIS CAR FOR MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER 2 MONTHS AGO. CAR RUNS LIKE A CHAMP. RECENTLY HAD TO ADD A QUART AND A HALF OF OIL THEN CHANGED THE OIL SATURDAY AND YESTERDAY THE CAR WAS 2 QUARTS LOW AGAIN. HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT EXCESSIVE OIL USE ON THESE VEHICLES, SAME YEAR YET TOYOTA HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL, WHY? WHEN READING COMPLAINTS, APPARENTLY IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM, DEFECT, WITH THE 08 TC IN WHICH INVOLVES THE PISTON RINGS. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE REPAIRS.

Mileage: 172,000

20180814ENGINE

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND THIS IS THE SECOND ENGINE THAT HAS BLOWN IN MY CAR. THE FIRST PROBLEM WAS WHEN THE PISTONS BLEW UP MY ENGINE AND NOW HERE WE GO AGAIN WITH THE PISTONS IN THE SECOND MOTOR. I CALLED SCION CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SPOKE WITH CAMILLE AND SHE BASICALLY TOLD ME I AM STUCK WITH THIS BAD MOTOR THAT I JUST HAD PUT IN ON APRIL 7, 2017.

Mileage: 190,000

20180413ENGINE

EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM. BURNS MORE THAN TWO QUART OF OIL IN LESS THAN 1800 MILES.

Mileage: 99,000

20180413UNKNOWN OR OTHER

EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM. BURNS MORE THAN TWO QUART OF OIL IN LESS THAN 1800 MILES.

Mileage: 99,000

20180224CrashAIR BAGS

THIS VEHICLE WAS JUST INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, REAR-ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE IS DEMOLISHED, THE RADIATOR AND EVERYTHING CRUSHED AND SLAMMED BACK, FLUIDS LEAKING FROM EVERYTHING, EVEN BUCKLED THE PASSENGER DOOR, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THIS VEHICLE'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE POLICE OFFICERS ON THE SCENE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DID NOT DEPLOY.

Mileage: 135,000

20180119ENGINE

HIGH CONSUMPTION OF ENGINE OIL. I AM HAVING TO ADD ABOUT A QUART EVERY 1000 MILES OR SO. TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD I WAS 2 WEEKS PAST THE DEADLINE OF 10 YEARS FROM THE DATE THE VEHICLE WENT INTO SERVICE. THE CAR IS WELL UNDER THE 150,000 MILES COVERAGE PERIOD AT ONLY 90,000 MILES. TOYOTA'S POSITION WAS FIRM ON THE 2 WEEK OVERAGE PERIOD. THIS JUST DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT. THIS CAR'S ENGINE COULD LOCK UP DUE TO LACK OF OIL AND CAUSE ME TO WRECK NOT TO MENTION THE UNNECESSARY AMOUNT OF AIR POLLUTION THIS IS CAUSING

20171224ENGINE

RAPID OIL CONSUMPTION. OVER 4 QUARTS IN <2,000 MILES. PROBLEM STARTED AROUND 147,000 ODO

Mileage: 147,000

20171117VISIBILITY/WIPER

ON SEP 24TH, 2017, I WAS MERGING ONTO THE SOUTH 710 FREEWAY FROM MISSION BOULEVARD IN ALHAMBRA, CA AROUND 7 PM WHEN MY CLOSED SUNROOF SHATTERED. I QUICKLY PULLED OVER AND LOOKED AT THE ROOF IN THE FADING LIGHT OF SUNSET. THERE WERE NO TREES, BIRDS OR OVERHEAD BRIDGES WHERE THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND APPEARED TO BE NO OBJECTS THAT APPEARED TO HAVE HIT THE CAR OR EMBEDDED IN THE SUNROOF GLASS. I CLEANED SOME OF THE LOOSE GLASS AND CAREFULLY ROLLED BACK ONTO THE 710 FREEWAY WAY TO DRIVE UP THE FREEWAY TO GET HOME AND CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY

Mileage: 147,000

20170826SERVICE BRAKES

MY ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED, BUT INSTEAD OF GETTING A SCION THEY GOT A COROLLA ENGINE, SO NOW MY CAR DRINKS TOO MUCH GAS. THE BRAKES STOPPED BEING STOP CLOSE TO ON THE DIME AFTER THEY FIXED THE ENGINE, AND REPLACED THE TIRES. WHEN THEY CHANGED THE TIRES THEY USED IMPACT STUDS/BOLTS. EVERY TIME I USE CRUISE CONTROL IT GOES FASTER A LITTLE NO MATTER IF IT'S UP OR DOWN HILL. I HAVE TO PUSH DOWN TO SLOW IT DOWN.

20170826ENGINE

MY ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED, BUT INSTEAD OF GETTING A SCION THEY GOT A COROLLA ENGINE, SO NOW MY CAR DRINKS TOO MUCH GAS. THE BRAKES STOPPED BEING STOP CLOSE TO ON THE DIME AFTER THEY FIXED THE ENGINE, AND REPLACED THE TIRES. WHEN THEY CHANGED THE TIRES THEY USED IMPACT STUDS/BOLTS. EVERY TIME I USE CRUISE CONTROL IT GOES FASTER A LITTLE NO MATTER IF IT'S UP OR DOWN HILL. I HAVE TO PUSH DOWN TO SLOW IT DOWN.

20170826VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

MY ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED, BUT INSTEAD OF GETTING A SCION THEY GOT A COROLLA ENGINE, SO NOW MY CAR DRINKS TOO MUCH GAS. THE BRAKES STOPPED BEING STOP CLOSE TO ON THE DIME AFTER THEY FIXED THE ENGINE, AND REPLACED THE TIRES. WHEN THEY CHANGED THE TIRES THEY USED IMPACT STUDS/BOLTS. EVERY TIME I USE CRUISE CONTROL IT GOES FASTER A LITTLE NO MATTER IF IT'S UP OR DOWN HILL. I HAVE TO PUSH DOWN TO SLOW IT DOWN.

20170529FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CENTER CONSOLE BURST INTO FLAMES CAUSING AN INTERNAL FIRE, WHILE STATIONARY.

Mileage: 114,000

20170312UNKNOWN OR OTHER

AT AROUND 35000 MILES I NOTICED MY CAR STARTED BURNING OIL. I THOUGHT THIS WAS NORMAL SO I BEGAN USING THICKER OIL. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. MY CAR NOW HAS 185000 MILES AND I'M USING 10W40 OIL WITH OIL STABILIZER AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. I'VE HAD TWO OIL CONSUMPTION TESTS DONE ON MY CAR AND, ACCORDING TO THEIR TESTING STANDARDS, IT HAS PASSED BOTH TIMES. HOWEVER, THE ISSUE IS ONGOING AND HAS OF COURSE WORSENED. IT'S TO THE POINT THAT MY OIL LIGHT CAME ON IN MY CAR AND I HAD TO ADD 2 QUARTS OF OIL AFTER ONLY 3500 MILES. TOYOTA HAS SIMPLY LEFT ME IN THE DARK WITH THIS PROBLEM AS I WAS HOPING TO HAVE THIS VEHICLE FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.

Mileage: 176,000

Compare 2008SCIONTC to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2008 SCION TC have?
The 2008 SCION TC has 109 NHTSA complaints, 23 crashes, 3 fires, 17 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2008 SCION TC?
Yes, the 2008 SCION TC has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 SCION TC?
The most-complained component for the 2008 SCION TC is ENGINE with 23 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE:BODY and AIR BAGS.
Is the 2008 SCION TC safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.