The Lemon Index

All cars · Scion tC · 2005

2005 Scion tC. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index113100 = average car
Complaints80NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold102,477U.S. model year
Per 100K sold78complaints
Complaint rank#5 of 5among the 5 scored Scion tC model years (2005–2011); #1 = fewest complaints per car sold, not the YouTube rank

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 2,480 and 33,600 miles. Median 12,000, from 55 complaints with a mileage.

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Visibility49%
Body structure12%
Airbags9%
Brakes8%
Equipment & accessories6%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
801311410

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 4

  • 10V035000 Feb 2010 Equipment / Other / Labels

    Defect. 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.

    Risk. 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.

  • 06V408000 Oct 2006 Air Bags / Side/Window

    Defect. 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.

    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 ELA

    Remedy. 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.

  • 06V096000 Apr 2006 Air Bags

    Defect. 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.

    Risk. THIS MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT IN THE INVOLVED SEATING POSITION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

    Remedy. 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.

  • 05V483000 Oct 2005 Visibility / Sun/Moon Roof Assembly

    Defect. 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.

    Risk. PIECES OF THE WIND DEFLECTOR GLASS MAY SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME AND FALL UPON THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS CAUSING DRIVER DISTRACTION AND/OR INJURY.

    Remedy. 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.

NHTSA investigations

StatusSubjectOpenedClosed
ClosedGlass moonroof shatters20062006
ClosedSun/moon roof wind deflector breakage20052005
ClosedSun/moon roof wind deflector breakage20052005

Manufacturer communications 83

Scion filed 83 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • Initialization of back door
  • Scion has received some reports where the Back Dorr Garnish may loosen

Engines and drivetrains 2

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
2.4L 4-cylAuto 4-spdFWD20 / 27 / 23Regular$2,700
2.4L 4-cylManual 5-spdFWD19 / 27 / 22Regular$2,850

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

YouTube repair topics

200 videos about the 2005–2010 Scion tC, 12.7M views.

TopicVideosViews
Windows, doors & mirrors5294K
Infotainment, battery & electrical4238K
Heat, A/C & blend door6211K
Steering & suspension4200K
Brakes & ABS4199K
Oil changes & service2136K
Fuel pump, filter & tank3114K
Oil leaks & gaskets4113K

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
200511380102,477Visibility
20061125679,125Visibility
2007905163,852Visibility
2008692840,980Airbags

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated · Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data

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