← New search

2008 Scion Tc

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Scion Tc do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 25.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

75 reports with mileage · 11 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

15 crash reports2 fire reports9 injury reports

What owners actually said

86 reports
120,965 miles · Sep 8, 2015
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SCION TC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE OIL LOSS. AFTER 3,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE USED APPROXIMATELY 5-7 QUARTS OF OIL. THE PISTONS MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THEY MUST PERFORM AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. THE …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SCION TC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE OIL LOSS. AFTER 3,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE USED APPROXIMATELY 5-7 QUARTS OF OIL. THE PISTONS MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THEY MUST PERFORM AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,965.

NHTSA ODI #10762112

119,000 miles · Jun 17, 2015
Engine

IN ABOUT JANUARY OF 2015 I RECEIVED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY NOTICE FOR MY 2008 SCION TC STATING THIS AND OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ENGINE MAYBE EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS FINE AFTER KEEPING IT THE ENTIRE WEEKEND. A YEAR AND A HALF PRIOR I HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE ABOUT…

Read full complaint

IN ABOUT JANUARY OF 2015 I RECEIVED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY NOTICE FOR MY 2008 SCION TC STATING THIS AND OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ENGINE MAYBE EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS FINE AFTER KEEPING IT THE ENTIRE WEEKEND. A YEAR AND A HALF PRIOR I HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER THEY CHANGED MY OIL THE OIL LIGHT STARTED FLICKERING ON AND OFF AS IF THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE CAR ON OR AROUND MAY 14, 2015 A ABOUT 10:15 PM MY 2008 SCION TC WITH AROUND 119000 MILES CUT OFF WHILE I WAS MERGING ONTO 95/495. I COULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLY BEEN INJURED OR DIED DUE TO THIS ENGINE. I HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT BY MY MECHANIC WHO THEN TOLD ME MY VEHICLES ENGINE HAD SEIZED BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS TAKING IN TOO MUCH OIL. I THEN HAD IT TOWED INTO THE DEALERSHIP. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FIND OUT TOYOTA HAD A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR LAWSUIT AGAINST THEM FOR THIS EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM. TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM IN 2008 AND KNEW THE EXCESSIVE CONSUMPTION COULD AND WOULD CAUSE ENGINE SEIZURE. IN AN ARTICLE ISSUED ON APRIL 12, 2014 IT STATES THAT TOYOTA/SCION SENT OUT A TSA TO IT'S DEALERSHIP TELLING THEM NOT TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FR THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10725742

45,000 miles · Mar 21, 2015
Service Brakes

THERE HAD BEEN A BIG SNOWSTORM THE DAY PRIOR. I WAS DRIVING IN THE MORNING IN VERY COLD TEMPERATURES. THE ROADS HAD BEEN PLOWED BUT THERE WAS STILL SLUSH ON THE HIGHWAYS. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT DRIVING AT AN INCREDIBLY FAST SPEED. I WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER ONTO TH…

Read full complaint

THERE HAD BEEN A BIG SNOWSTORM THE DAY PRIOR. I WAS DRIVING IN THE MORNING IN VERY COLD TEMPERATURES. THE ROADS HAD BEEN PLOWED BUT THERE WAS STILL SLUSH ON THE HIGHWAYS. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT DRIVING AT AN INCREDIBLY FAST SPEED. I WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAIT AN HOUR FOR THE TEMPERATURES TO WARM UP. SINCE THEN, I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES HAVE A REPEATED TENDENCY TO NOT PROPERLY SLOW DOWN THE CAR IN COLD CONDITIONS (BOTH RAIN AND SNOW). THE SYMPTOMS OF THIS INCIDENT VERY CLOSELY MATCH THE TOYOTA RECALL THAT WAS INITIATED FOR OTHER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED IN 2008 THAT HAD BRAKE FAILURES WHILE DRIVING IN SNOW AND COLD CONDITIONS. I CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS ON THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT TO REPORT WHAT HAD HAPPENED BUT THEY INSISTED THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE. THEY ADVISED ME TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. ON 21 MARCH, I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO AN AUTO SHOP FOR A BRAKE INSPECTION. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKE PADS APPEAR NEW AND THERE ARE NO NOTICEABLE ISSUES WITH MY BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10700827

76,000 miles · Dec 15, 2014
Engine

ENGINE IS BURNING LARGE AMOUNTS OF OIL BETWEEN SCHEDULED 5000 MILE OIL CHANGES. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS IN AUGUST 2014. WHILE DRIVING MY OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I STOPPED AND CHECKED THE DIP STICK TO FIND THAT THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF OIL. AT THIS TIME I CHECKED FOR LEAKING OIL IN MY GARAGE AND WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY…

Read full complaint

ENGINE IS BURNING LARGE AMOUNTS OF OIL BETWEEN SCHEDULED 5000 MILE OIL CHANGES. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS IN AUGUST 2014. WHILE DRIVING MY OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I STOPPED AND CHECKED THE DIP STICK TO FIND THAT THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF OIL. AT THIS TIME I CHECKED FOR LEAKING OIL IN MY GARAGE AND WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY. I ASSUMED THAT POSSIBLY THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT PUT ENOUGH OIL IN THE VEHICLE DURING THE LAST SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE. THE SECOND TIME THIS OCCURRED WAS ON 12/14/14. MY OIL LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN I PULLED OVER REALIZED I HAD NO OIL IN MY CAR AGAIN. STILL NO LEAKING FOUND IN MY GARAGE. I AM SURE IT HAD ENOUGH OIL IN IT AFTER THE LAST OIL CHANGE WHICH OCCURRED BETWEEN THE TWO INCIDENTS. AFTER HAVING THE OIL CHANGED THE LAST TIME I CHECKED THE VEHICLE TO BE SURE THAT IT HAD ENOUGH AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10664220

Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 2014
Wheels

WE OWN A 2008 SCION TC AND IN THE WINTER THIS CAR GETS EXCESSIVE SNOW AND ICE BUILD UP IN THE WHEEL WELLS AND THIS BECOMES A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN TRYING TO TURN. I AM WONDERING IF THERE HAS BEEN ANY RECALLS FOR THIS CAR FOR THIS ISSUE, THE PLASTIC USED IN THE WHEEL WELLS SEEMS TO HOLD THE SNOW AND ICE RATHER THEN FALLING OFF. IS TH…

Read full complaint

WE OWN A 2008 SCION TC AND IN THE WINTER THIS CAR GETS EXCESSIVE SNOW AND ICE BUILD UP IN THE WHEEL WELLS AND THIS BECOMES A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN TRYING TO TURN. I AM WONDERING IF THERE HAS BEEN ANY RECALLS FOR THIS CAR FOR THIS ISSUE, THE PLASTIC USED IN THE WHEEL WELLS SEEMS TO HOLD THE SNOW AND ICE RATHER THEN FALLING OFF. IS THEIR ANYTHING THAT YOU KNOW OF THAT COULD BE DONE TO REMEDY THIS ISSUE? I HAVE SPOKE WITH OTHER SCION OWNERS AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE REPLY WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS OR IF THEIR IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU, *TR

NHTSA ODI #10660538

65,000 miles · Oct 29, 2014
Structure

JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHERS, MY REAR HATCH PANEL CAME OFF I WAS OPENING THE TRUNK. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS ISN'T A RECALL. I NEVER GOT THE LETTER STATING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO REPLACE THIS. HORRIBLE. THE ONLY REASON IT HASN'T COME OFF PRIOR TO THIS IS BECAUSE I CONTORT MY BODY TO OPEN THE TRUNK BECAUSE I CAN TELL IT WANTS TO COME O…

Read full complaint

JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHERS, MY REAR HATCH PANEL CAME OFF I WAS OPENING THE TRUNK. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS ISN'T A RECALL. I NEVER GOT THE LETTER STATING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO REPLACE THIS. HORRIBLE. THE ONLY REASON IT HASN'T COME OFF PRIOR TO THIS IS BECAUSE I CONTORT MY BODY TO OPEN THE TRUNK BECAUSE I CAN TELL IT WANTS TO COME OFF. WELL IT FINALLY DID. ANYONE THAT GOES NEAR THAT REAR HATCH PANEL WITH THE EMBLEM GETS YELLED AT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10651120

45,000 miles · Oct 20, 2014
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SCION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE HATCHBACK DOOR DUE TO THE BACKDOOR GARNISH ASSEMBLY SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ODI #10648883

104,010 miles · Sep 29, 2014
Engine

EACH TIME I BRAKE, MY OIL LIGHT CAME ON. WENT TO THE LUBE PLACE, AND WAS ALMOST OUT OF OIL. NO LEAKS, BUT BLACK SMUT IN EXHAUST PIPE. SEEM TO BE BURNING EXCESSIVE OIL. RESEARCHED ON INTERNET, AND IS A RECOGNIZE PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA CARS. TOYOTA ISSUED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN TO ITS DEALERSHIP. DEFECTIVE PISTONS WERE USED IN MANUFACT…

Read full complaint

EACH TIME I BRAKE, MY OIL LIGHT CAME ON. WENT TO THE LUBE PLACE, AND WAS ALMOST OUT OF OIL. NO LEAKS, BUT BLACK SMUT IN EXHAUST PIPE. SEEM TO BE BURNING EXCESSIVE OIL. RESEARCHED ON INTERNET, AND IS A RECOGNIZE PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA CARS. TOYOTA ISSUED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN TO ITS DEALERSHIP. DEFECTIVE PISTONS WERE USED IN MANUFACTURING THE CARS, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL. TOYOTA TOLD ME IT'S NORMAL FOR THEIR CARS TO BURN A QUART OF OIL EVERY 800 TO 1,000 MILES, TO CHANGE MY OIL AT 3,000 MILES (WHICH I NORMALLY DO), TO CHECK IT EVERY 1,200 MILES AND TOP OFF IN LOW. UNACCEPTABLE. WHY WOULD I BUY A BRAND NEW CAR WITH DEFECTIVE PARTS? AND WHY SHOULD A MANUFACTURER THINK IT'S OK TO MAKE AND SELL CARS WITH DEFECTIVE PARTS? WHY ARE THEY NOT HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR BASICALLY STEALING FROM PEOPLE? THE SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT A COST OF AROUND $6,000 (ABOUT 25% COST OF A NEW CAR). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10640047

70,775 miles · May 23, 2014
Engine

MY VEHICLE IS ALMOST 6 YEARS OLD. IT WAS BROUGHT BRAND NEW IN JUNE 2008. I'VE ONLY TAKEN IT TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIPS SINCE PURCHASE FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THE MILES CURRENTLY ON MY CAR IS 70,775 AND I WAS SCHEDULED FOR MY NEXT MAINTENANCE CHECK AT 71,443 PER THE DEALERSHIP MAINTENANCE STICKER. PRIOR TO THIS EVENT, THERE WA…

Read full complaint

MY VEHICLE IS ALMOST 6 YEARS OLD. IT WAS BROUGHT BRAND NEW IN JUNE 2008. I'VE ONLY TAKEN IT TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIPS SINCE PURCHASE FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THE MILES CURRENTLY ON MY CAR IS 70,775 AND I WAS SCHEDULED FOR MY NEXT MAINTENANCE CHECK AT 71,443 PER THE DEALERSHIP MAINTENANCE STICKER. PRIOR TO THIS EVENT, THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN I-95 SOUTH IN EMPORIA VA ON 05/21/2014 COMING FROM WASHINGTON, DC, I EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE WHILE GOING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 70 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO COAST SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AFTER AVOIDING MULTIPLE CARS AND TRUCKS THAT ALMOST CRASHED INTO ME. MY CAR INSURANCE COMPANY WAS CALLED. I WAS ABLE TO GET TOWED TO AN APPROVED REPAIR SHOP THROUGH MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DIAGNOSTIC FROM THE REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE DUE TO "WHOLE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK CAUSED BY LOW OIL" OF WHICH THE LEAST EXPENSIVE WAS GOING TO COST $4,000. I CALL THE NATIONAL SCION CENTER TO REPORT WHAT HAPPENED. THEY ADVISED ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE CLOSEST AUTHORIZED DEALER TO HAVE THEIR COMPANY LOOK AT THE VEHICLE WHICH I DID. PER THE AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIPS DIAGNOSTIC REVIEW "THE TECHNICIAN FOUND HOLE IN BLOCK BY CYLINDER #1, FOUND PISTON WRIST PIN IN BOTTOM ON ENGINE COVER, NEEDS NEW OR USED ENGINE". WHEN I ASKED THE TECHNICIAN WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS HE SAID THE OIL LEVELS WERE VERY LOW AND THAT THE OIL WAS ALSO VERY DIRTY. I CALLED SCION TO SEE WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT AND I WAS TOLD NOTHING WOULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OVER 60,000 MILES. I FIND THIS VERY UNSETTLING SINCE THE CAR WAS IN GREAT CONDITION PRIOR TO THIS OCCURRENCE AND THERE WAS SO INDICATION SOMETHING WAS WRONG. LIKE I MENTIONED, I'VE ONLY ALWAYS TAKEN MY CAR TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR MAINTENANCE SERVICES AND I WASN'T DUE FOR ANOTHER SERVICE CHECK FOR ANOTHER 668 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593572

120,000 miles · Jul 22, 2013
Engine

MY ENGINE SEIZED. LONG STORY SHORT, MY CAR WAS BURNING OIL AT A RATE OF 1 QUART EVERY 700 MILES. I WAS TAKING MY CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP EVERY 5000 MILES FOR MY FREE OIL CHANGES. NO ONE NOTICED I WAS BURNING THAT MUCH OIL UNTIL I STARTED HEARING SOUNDS FROM MY ENGINE. IT WAS TOO LATE AT THAT POINT. THERE WAS PERMANENT ENGINE …

Read full complaint

MY ENGINE SEIZED. LONG STORY SHORT, MY CAR WAS BURNING OIL AT A RATE OF 1 QUART EVERY 700 MILES. I WAS TAKING MY CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP EVERY 5000 MILES FOR MY FREE OIL CHANGES. NO ONE NOTICED I WAS BURNING THAT MUCH OIL UNTIL I STARTED HEARING SOUNDS FROM MY ENGINE. IT WAS TOO LATE AT THAT POINT. THERE WAS PERMANENT ENGINE DAMAGE CONFIRMED BY 2 MECHANICS AT PRIVATE SHOPS. AFTER ADDING HIGH MILEAGE OIL TO MY CAR TO SLOW DOWN THE OIL CONSUMPTION AFTER A MONTH OF HEARING THE SOUND AND NOTICING THE AMOUNT OF OIL BEING BURNED, THE ENGINE SEIZED LESS THAN A MONTH AFTER THAT. I HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE ENGINE BLOCK. CORPORATE TOYOTA COVERED THE BRAND NEW ENGINE BUT I HAD TO PAY FOR SERVICE (ALL DONE AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP) WHICH CAME OUT TO $3000 OUT OF MY POCKET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10526086

Official recalls

3

10V035000 · Equipment:other:labels

Feb 3, 2010

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.

Remedy: 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.

10V036000 · Equipment:other:labels

Feb 3, 2010

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: 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.

09V223000 · Equipment:other:labels

Jun 15, 2009

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."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: INCORRECT LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE BEING OVERLOADED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.