Problems · NHTSA complaints

2012 Scion TC problems

Owners filed 8 complaints about the 2012 Scion TC with NHTSA between Oct 2012 and Jun 2020. The most-cited component is visibility (3).

Complaints
8
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Visibility3
  2. Visibility/wiper2
  3. Service brakes1
  4. Structure1
  5. Electrical system1
  6. Air bags1
  7. Other / unknown3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20121
20131
20141
20151
20160
20171
20180
20191
20202

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Visibility

3 reports
“I WAS DRIVING ON 60 FREEWAY WHEN MY SUNROOF WINDOW EXPLODED/SHATTERED. I'M DOING SOME RESEARCH AND ITS HAPPENING ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL FREQUENTLY. I WENT TO TOYOTA AND TALKED TO THEM REGARDING IF THERE IS RECALL ABOUT IT BECAUSE LOOKS LIKE ITS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I ENDED UP PAYING FOR IT VIA MY INSURANCE. HOW CAN I AS A CONSUMER BE PROTECTED IF THIS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT? IT SEEMS THEY DON'T HAVE A PROGRAM ABOUT IT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 18, 2020Visibility, Unknown or otherODI 11329502

Visibility/wiper

2 reports
“I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AT 55 MPH. MY SUNROOF WAS CLOSE, AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON AND WINDOWS UP BECAUSE IT WAS RAINING. WHILE DRIVING HEARD A LOUD NOISE THOUGHT IT WAS SOMEONE THAT HAD AN IMPACT BY OTHER CAR. WHEN I LOOKED UP MY SUNROOF WAS ALL OF THE SOMETHING GONE. I LOOKED IN THE DRIVEWAY BY MY MIRROR AND IT WAS FLYING LIKE A "FREEZE BIZ" FOR NO REASON. I TRY TO MAKE A CLAIM WITH THE DEALER AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO COVER ME. I ALSO MADE A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY MAPFRE AND TOLD ME IT WASN'T AN ACCIDENT SO THEY DIDN'T COVER ME. THEY MVP TOYOTA DEALER IS CHARGING ME $4,359.25 FOR FIXING IT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 16, 2017Visibility/wiperODI 10955130

Service brakes

1 report
“I HAVE A SAFETY RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 15, 2020Unknown or other, Service brakesODI 11321158

Structure

1 report
“ON MY WAY HOME ON I-10 THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC NEAR ME, WINDOWS UP SUNROOF CLOSED AC ON, MY ROOMMATE WITH ME WE HEAR WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT THAN A SHOWER OF GLASS. WE PULLED OVER TO FIND THE GLASS PANEL IN THE ROOF HAD SHATTERED THERE WAS NO IMPACT MARK(S) I DROVE STRAIGHT TO THE PLACE I GOT THE CAR(NEW) (PHILPOT MOTORS IN NEDERLAND TX) WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD TWO CARS ON THE LOT THAT DID THE SAME THING, BUT COMPLETELY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I CALLED MY INSUR, CO. ABOUT IT AND THAT TOLD ME THAT SHOULD BE WARRANTY DEAL. NO ONE HAD ANY INFORMATION TO HELP ME, AND I HAD SEARCHED AND FOUND MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE, AND TOYOTA REFUSED TO OFFER ANY HELP. TOYOTA NEEDS TO MAKE THIS RIGHT TO ALL THE PEOPLE WITH THIS CAR...”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 24, 2015Structure, Unknown or other, Visibility/wiperODI 10736222

Electrical system

1 report
“TO DATE, I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE REPAIRED THREE TIMES FOR THE SAME MALFUNCTION. I WORKED WITH MANUFACTURING AND SALES ORGANIZATIONS AND I HAVE FAILED TO RECEIVE SUBSTANTIATION BEYOND YOUR ORGANIZATION'S DUE DILIGENCE THAT MY VEHICLE IS SAFE FOR MY FAMILY. THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE FAILED TO DIAGNOSE THE SPECIFIC MALFUNCTION WITH MY VEHICLE (ELECTRICAL) AND SUBSEQUENTLY HAVE BEEN GUTTING MY VEHICLE PIECE BY PIECE DEVALUING IT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 23, 2013Electrical systemODI 10544956

Air bags

1 report1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SCION TC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 15 MPH, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE SWERVED AND CRASH HEAD ON INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER RECEIVED INJURIES TO HIS HEAD, NECK AND BACK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS PENDING AN INVESTIGATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 841.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 23, 2012Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10481523
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.