KnownCarProblems2005 Scion TC Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 155 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Scion TC, most often about the visibility and wipers (32% of complaints, typically around 33,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about TC model year since 2000 and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2005 Scion TC problems
Visibility and wipers
50 complaints · 32%Half of these problems showed up before 33,000 miles. Parts named most often: sun/moon roof assembly, windshield, rearview mirrors/devices, glass, side/rear.
: the contact stated while driving between 55-70 MPH the sunroof shattered. The sunroof was closed at the time of the incident. The contact is unaware of an object hitting the sunroof. The vehicle is at the dealership and they are unable to determine the cause of the failure. Email reply on may 19, 2006 shows…
1. Driver door required more force to close. Later, I noticed the driver window would not raise more than half way. 2. The window regulator arm is bent, and the internal attachment point is broken. The window gets progressively worse over time, and the raised height becomes lower. 3. The dealer stated their must have…
Body and structure
31 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 54,500 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
Moonroof deflector shattered with a pop sound at speeds 55 with all windows closed. Later inspection that it was cracked around all the edges about 1/2 ~ 1 inches into the center.
The contact owns a 2005 toyota Scion TC. The contact stated that he attempted to open the rear hatch and the handle mechanism fractured and became detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The failure and current mileage was 54,000.
Air bags
20 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 75,500 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
Hi, I was involved in a car accident december 2, 2009. I own a Scion TC 2005 model. I was traveling on highway 440 outer beltline near ext 7 glenwood avenue. It was raining heavily at approximately 6:30pm when I hit a puddle in the left far lane and began hydroplaning, I hit the car next to me on my passenger side and…
Our daughters 2005 Scion TC was in an accident that was a head on collision she lost control on black ice and hit a pole. Her car has been deemed totaled by the insurance and body shop due to the severe damage to the car. She has numerous injuries from this accident and the air bags not deploying. It is very strange…
Engine
14 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 43,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system.
The throttle body stuck open causing it to rev to excessive rpms and then would finally die. This happened while driving at highway speed in 7/08. The throttle body was replaced and then once again it failed, this time sticking closed causing the car to die in an intersection. This was in 3/11 (this year) with only…
Both catalytic converters failed and need replaced. Dealership ( fort bend toyota ) stated the failure was unusual and premature. Defective equipment for that model/ year / and mileage.
Wheels and tires
13 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 44,000 miles. Parts named most often: pressure monitoring and regulating systems, tread/belt, sidewall, lugs/nuts/bolts/studs.
Bought 4 yokohama tires had 3 blow outs. Had 31950 when tires were put on. Drove 1500 miles had first blowout. Replaced tire pay out pocket. Had 2nd blow out in dec 2010 car had 51000 has 3rd blow out jan 24 2011 called yokohama told them they said my tires were on recall so wouldn't replaced.
: the contact stated while driving 40 MPH as the vehicle was getting onto an exit, while applying the brake to slow down; the car fishtailed and hit a guardrail. The vehicle was totaled as a result of the extensive front end damage. There were no problems noted with the vehicle prior to the accident and there were no…
Other or unspecified
11 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles.
All windows seals ( rubber ) are discolored ... I had my car 7 years and every year the rubber around the front windshield side and back windows are all rotten.. Trying to see if toyota can replace all frames.. Thanks
Moonroof deflector shattered with a pop sound at speeds 55 with all windows closed. Later inspection that it was cracked around all the edges about 1/2 ~ 1 inches into the center.
Brakes
10 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 22,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, foundation components, conventional.
: the contact stated while driving 45 MPH on the interstate, the brakes failed. The brake pedal went to the floor. The vehicle skidded and hit a bump which caused injuries to the contact. A police report was taken. The vehicle was currently at an auto body shop. No lights were illuminated on the dashboard prior to the…
I noticed that the front right brake was wearing faster then the left because of an increase in brake dust on that rim. I took the car to a dealer and they told me that there was nothing wrong with the car and it was just wear and tear. I continued to drive the car for another 1000 miles or so and then I noticed that…
Speed control
8 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 102,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
Tl contact owns a 2005 toyota Scion. The contact was driving approximately 55 MPH when the engine RPM's increased excessively with an unexpected acceleration. When the brake pedal was engaged there was a reduction in the speed. The contact was able to continue driving normally. The failure occurred intermittently. The…
The contact owns a 2005 toyota Scion TC. The contact stated that the driver's side air bag warning indicator was illuminated. The contact also stated that the horn and the cruise control was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who diagnosed that the module was defective but did not disclose which…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2005 Scion TC recalls
Equipment: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: side/window
Risk: If the side impact seat-bolster and curtain side airbags inadvertently deploy, they could cause personal injury if an occupant is seated on the same side of the vehicle as the door that is closed with a high rate of force. Until the repair has been performed, it is recommended that a minimal force/speed be used to close the driver and passenger doors or closing the doors after 90 seconds have elapsed from turning the ignition key from the "on" to the "off" position.
Fix: Dealers will replace the two side impact airbag sensors and install a urethane pad in the front doors, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on november 6, 2006. Owners may contact toyota at 1-866-548-1851.
Full defect summary
On certain vehicles, the side impact seat-bolster and curtain side airbags may inadvertently deploy. This condition can occur if the door for that side of the vehicle is closed with a high rate of force while the vehicle's ignition is in the "on" position or within 90 seconds of turning the ignition key from the "on" position to the "off" position.
Air bags
Risk: This may increase the risk of injury to the occupant in the involved seating position in the event of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the specific SRS air bag. The recall began on april 6, 2006. Owners may contact toyota at 1-888-270-9371, scion at 1-866-548-1851, or lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
Full defect summary
On certain vehicles, due to improper assembly of the air bag inflator, which is used in the side air bag, the curtain shield air bag, and the knee air bag assembly, some inflators were produced with an insufficient amount of the heating agents necessary for proper air bag deployment. In this condition, the expansion force of the gas may be insufficient to properly inflate the air bag when the SRS system is activated during a crash.
Visibility and wipers: sun/moon roof assembly
Risk: Pieces of the wind deflector glass may separate from the frame and fall upon the vehicle occupants causing driver distraction and/or injury.
Fix: Dealers will install a protective laminate to the wind deflector to prevent pieces of glass from separating from the wind deflector frame. The recall began october 27, 2005. Owners may contact toyota at 1-866-707-2466.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with a glass wind deflector, the deflector, if impacted by a projectile, such as road debris, while driving with the wind deflector in the upward-tilted position at highways speeds, may shatter and separate from the frame.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Glass moonroof shatters
Summary
Odi's investigation discloses that the subject vehicles sustain moonroof shattering and/or damage at rates comparable to those for most other similarly equipped vehicles.this review also discloses that such incidents occur in most vehicles with moonroofs and that while tempered glass panels commonly used in moonroof fabrication are shatter-resistant, some catastrophic failures do in fact occur.impact with small stones or road debris may result in immediate or delayed shatter incidents, depending on the extent and nature of damage sustained by the glass moonroof panel.the manufacturer concludes that incidents of moonroof shatter are random occurrences that result primarily from impact with sm
Sun/moon roof wind deflector breakage
Summary
The manufacturer notified NHTSA by letter dated october 17, 2005, that a safety recall has been initiated.NHTSA has assigned no.05v-483 to the recall.the corrective action will consist of installing a plastic film to the inside surface of the wind deflector glass.the corrective action will be performed on approximately 71,400 my 2005 and 2006 scion tc vehicles manufactured during the period of march 12, 2004 through july 21, 2005. Based on this action, the subject ea has been closed.
Sun/moon roof wind deflector breakage
Summary
The manufacturer states that there are no indications of deficiencies in the design, manufacture, or assembly of the wind deflector that may account for the incidents reported.the manufacturer also believes that impact of airborne road debris with the wind deflector is the probable cause for the incidents reported.odi's analyses of the warranty data indicate that incidents of wind deflector breakage while driving will continue to occur over time, as the population and on-road exposure of the subject vehicles increase.the evidence indicates that regardless of the cause for such breakage, the broken glass particles and fragments may fall directly onto the front seat occupants of these vehicles
Questions about the 2005 Scion TC
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Scion TC?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: visibility and wipers (50 complaints, typically around 33,000 miles); body and structure (31 complaints, typically around 54,500 miles); air bags (20 complaints, typically around 75,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2005 Scion TC have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 3, 2010 (equipment). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2005 a bad year for the Scion TC?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about TC model year since 2000, with 155 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.