SCION TC · model year

2013 SCION TC

12 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2013SCIONTC carries 12 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. 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 2013 TC is power train with 3 filings, followed by service brakes (3) and air bags (2). 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 1 active recall campaign, 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 2013 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.

12
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

12 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN3
SERVICE BRAKES3
AIR BAGS2
VISIBILITY/WIPER1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
STRUCTURE:BODY1
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY1

Recalls (1)

18E09100020/09/2018

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

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 thes

Recent Complaints

20250711SERVICE BRAKES

UNKNOWN. I was unaware of my car's recall notice. I had known only when my car's regular smog check was due. The problem that my car may have had not been confirmed by dealer or independent service center nor has it been inspected by manufacturer, police, or others. There are also no warning lamps or messages of the problem. However, there are symptoms like pushing the brakes when driving my car and it squeaks. I had installed new brake pads over 2 years ago. I don't know why it continues to squeak when I am pushing the brakes.

20201210POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SCION TC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE JUST CUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT COULD ONLY SHIFT INTO THE FIRST GEAR AND SLOWLY PULL OVER INTO A PARKING LOT. THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION WITH THE VEHICLE MOVING ONLY ABOUT 10 MPH WITH THE VEHICLE'S MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO A NEARBY RELATIVE'S HOUSE AT ABOUT 15 MPH. THE CONTACT HAD SPOKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE ISSUE WAS MOST LIKELY WAS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. THE VEHICLE WAS UNREPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

Mileage: 125,000

20190309SERVICE BRAKES

DID NOT GET NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE.

20190104CrashAIR BAGS

I WAS TURNING INTO A BUSY SHOPPING CENTER AT 5ISH PM AND THE SUN WAS DIRECTLY IN MY EYES AND I SWERVED TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER MOTORIST WHO WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EXITING /ENTRANCE LANE AND I RAN HEAD ON INTO A SOLID CEMENT PILLAR LIGHT POLE , ESTIMATED MPH WAS 20 -25 MPH , I WAS WEARING SEATBELT AND NONE OF THE FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND I HAVE BROKE RIBS AND POSSIBLE FRACTURED STERNUM, I HIT MY HEAD ON WINDSHIELD AND CRACKED WINDSHIELD AND HAD A KNOT THE SIZE OF A BASEBALL , I'M SEEING A DOCTOR TOMORROW TO DETERMINE EXACT EXTENT OF INJURIES BUT PHOTOS OF MY CAR WILL SHOW THE FORCE OF IMPACT AND NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED , THESE PHOTOS WERE TAKE BY A AUTHORIZED GM DEALERS COLLISION REPAIR SHOP

Mileage: 80,000

20180411POWER TRAIN

VEHICLE HAS 66444 MILES AND THROW OUT BEARING / INPUT SHAFT IS MAKING NOISE

Mileage: 66,000

20180304VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

SECONDARY SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH. RANDOM EXPLOSION THAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT. SUNNY AND 45 DEGREE WEATHER IN CENTRAL OHIO

Mileage: 60,000

20151002CrashAIR BAGS

BREAK FAILURE LED TO ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. OFFICER ON THE SCENE INFORMED THE WHEN THE VEHICLES CRUNCH ZONE IS ENABLED THAT AIRBAGS SHOULD DEPLOY TO AVOID INJURIES OF ANY PASSENGER OR DRIVER. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL VIBRATED VIGOROUSLY THUS NOT SLOWING THE VEHICLE DOWN TO AVOID A COLLISION.

Mileage: 38,500

20151002CrashSERVICE BRAKES

BREAK FAILURE LED TO ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. OFFICER ON THE SCENE INFORMED THE WHEN THE VEHICLES CRUNCH ZONE IS ENABLED THAT AIRBAGS SHOULD DEPLOY TO AVOID INJURIES OF ANY PASSENGER OR DRIVER. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL VIBRATED VIGOROUSLY THUS NOT SLOWING THE VEHICLE DOWN TO AVOID A COLLISION.

Mileage: 38,500

20150715VISIBILITY/WIPER

A FEW DAYS AGO, WE WERE DRIVING WHEN OUR SUN ROOF EXPLODED. WE HEARD THE LOUDEST BANG I HAVE HEARD AND THEN GLASS STARTED FALLING THROUGH THE EDGES OF THE SUN SHADE THAT WAS CLOSED. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE SUN SHADE, I AM SURE WE WOULD HAVE BEEN SHOWERED WITH GLASS SHARDS, AND THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT WE WOULD HAVE WRECKED THE CAR. WHEN WE PULLED OVER THE MOON ROOF WAS OBVIOUSLY BLOWN OUTWARD, WHICH I HAVE PICTURES OF. AFTER A BRIEF RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS ISSUE WAS A COMMON ONE. WHEN MY WIFE CALLED TOYOTA THE FIRST GUY SAID HE HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE, BUT TOYOTA WOULD NOT COVER IT UNDER THE EXTRA BUMP TO BUMPER WARRANTY, WE BOUGHT. TOYOTA REFERRED ME TO THE TOLL FREE NUMBER (1-800-331-4331) TO LODGE A COMPLAINT AND SEE IF THEY COULD DO ANYTHING. TOYOTA GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER (1507133039) AND SAID SOMEONE FROM CUSTOMER RELATIONS WOULD BE CALLING ME BACK. THE GUY THAT CALLED ME BACK WAS DENNIS KING FROM THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN RIVERDALE, UTAH WHERE WE FIRST CALLED, AND HE SAID HE COULDN'T

Mileage: 14,000

20150715UNKNOWN OR OTHER

A FEW DAYS AGO, WE WERE DRIVING WHEN OUR SUN ROOF EXPLODED. WE HEARD THE LOUDEST BANG I HAVE HEARD AND THEN GLASS STARTED FALLING THROUGH THE EDGES OF THE SUN SHADE THAT WAS CLOSED. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE SUN SHADE, I AM SURE WE WOULD HAVE BEEN SHOWERED WITH GLASS SHARDS, AND THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT WE WOULD HAVE WRECKED THE CAR. WHEN WE PULLED OVER THE MOON ROOF WAS OBVIOUSLY BLOWN OUTWARD, WHICH I HAVE PICTURES OF. AFTER A BRIEF RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS ISSUE WAS A COMMON ONE. WHEN MY WIFE CALLED TOYOTA THE FIRST GUY SAID HE HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE, BUT TOYOTA WOULD NOT COVER IT UNDER THE EXTRA BUMP TO BUMPER WARRANTY, WE BOUGHT. TOYOTA REFERRED ME TO THE TOLL FREE NUMBER (1-800-331-4331) TO LODGE A COMPLAINT AND SEE IF THEY COULD DO ANYTHING. TOYOTA GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER (1507133039) AND SAID SOMEONE FROM CUSTOMER RELATIONS WOULD BE CALLING ME BACK. THE GUY THAT CALLED ME BACK WAS DENNIS KING FROM THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN RIVERDALE, UTAH WHERE WE FIRST CALLED, AND HE SAID HE COULDN'T

Mileage: 14,000

20150715STRUCTURE:BODY

A FEW DAYS AGO, WE WERE DRIVING WHEN OUR SUN ROOF EXPLODED. WE HEARD THE LOUDEST BANG I HAVE HEARD AND THEN GLASS STARTED FALLING THROUGH THE EDGES OF THE SUN SHADE THAT WAS CLOSED. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE SUN SHADE, I AM SURE WE WOULD HAVE BEEN SHOWERED WITH GLASS SHARDS, AND THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT WE WOULD HAVE WRECKED THE CAR. WHEN WE PULLED OVER THE MOON ROOF WAS OBVIOUSLY BLOWN OUTWARD, WHICH I HAVE PICTURES OF. AFTER A BRIEF RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS ISSUE WAS A COMMON ONE. WHEN MY WIFE CALLED TOYOTA THE FIRST GUY SAID HE HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE, BUT TOYOTA WOULD NOT COVER IT UNDER THE EXTRA BUMP TO BUMPER WARRANTY, WE BOUGHT. TOYOTA REFERRED ME TO THE TOLL FREE NUMBER (1-800-331-4331) TO LODGE A COMPLAINT AND SEE IF THEY COULD DO ANYTHING. TOYOTA GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER (1507133039) AND SAID SOMEONE FROM CUSTOMER RELATIONS WOULD BE CALLING ME BACK. THE GUY THAT CALLED ME BACK WAS DENNIS KING FROM THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN RIVERDALE, UTAH WHERE WE FIRST CALLED, AND HE SAID HE COULDN'T

Mileage: 14,000

20121207POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA SION TC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN USING REVERSE OR FIRST GEAR, THE VEHICLE WOULD EMIT AN ABNORMAL WHINING SOUND. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SOUND WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,500.

Mileage: 2,500

Compare 2013SCIONTC to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2013 SCION TC have?
The 2013 SCION TC has 12 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2013 SCION TC?
Yes, the 2013 SCION TC has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 SCION TC?
The most-complained component for the 2013 SCION TC is POWER TRAIN with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES and AIR BAGS.
Is the 2013 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.