2008 Scion TC problems
NHTSA has received 109 complaints about the 2008 Scion TC, and 23% of them involve engine. After that come body & structure (20%) and air bags (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 109 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 23% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 23 and 3
- Injuries and deaths
- 17 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 68,000 miles 96 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 19 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 7 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 17 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 13 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 13 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 9 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 6 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 6 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 5 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 96 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 68,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 109,000 miles (20 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 23 complaints mention a crash; 3 complaints mention a fire; 17 injuries reported; 1 death reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 94% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2008 ranks 4th most-complained-about out of 8 model years of the Scion TC with enough data (60 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
February 15, 2010 an orlando mother died monday afternoon after losing control of her car and plunging into a retention pond beside state road 417. Sparkle corinee pomeroy was trapped inside her submerged toyota scion for about 30 minutes before rescue crews were able to free her. She died several hours later at orlando regional medical center from injuries sustained in the crash, according to florida highway patrol.
Driving at 50 MPH,being forced to right paving edge,corrected quickly to left,car went over center line and very extreme single vehicle crash with driver and front set passenger .car was beyond distroyed.loss of control unknown.one fact that is present is left front tire has no air in tire,still on wheel,and no damage to tire.I feel the tire was force off wheel bead ,air loss instantly,and was like a blowout.the only markings on road was the tire thread pattern without any skid marks and a light scartch…
My daughter had a new 2008 toyota scion, less then 3,000 miles when she was hit by a semi - front drivers side. Her airbags did not deploy on either side -- even though her lights indicated that they did deploy. Her seatbelt did not lock and hold her in place. She came up and out of the shoulder harness and hit her head on the roof and top part of the window. Toyota held up the repairs for several weeks, failed to show when they promised to send an investigator to the toyota body shop.
While driving this car I have felt as if I was going to be slung into traffic on the interstate ,highways, city roads , country roads, and definitely in most curves. It's like the car has a mind of its own going where it wants at low speeds you can't feel or see it to much but after around 35 to 40 is when it's most noticeable I feel that I got I will trade for some this has resulted in my vehicle to be totaled out.
The hatchback latch has broken for the second time. Both times were under minimal use. The part is defective and should be replaced by the manufacturer.