Problems · NHTSA complaints

2014 Scion TC problems

Owners filed 20 complaints about the 2014 Scion TC with NHTSA between May 2015 and Sep 2025. The most-cited component is service brakes (8).

Complaints
20
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Service brakes8
  2. Electrical system4
  3. Air bags3
  4. Suspension2
  5. Steering2
  6. Wheels2
  7. Electronic stability control (esc)1
  8. Traction control system1
  9. Visibility1
  10. Structure1
  11. Other / unknown8

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 30, 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
20152
20162
20173
20185
20192
20203
20211
20221
20230
20240
20251

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

Service brakes

8 reports4 crashes1 fire
“Vehicle is not available for inspection upon request due to the vehicle being in an accident. As a result from the accident, the vehicle was a complete loss and beyond the point of repair. Without pulling the vehicle computer for operation list before accident occurred, it is specifically unknown what component or system failed and or malfunctioned. looking at pictures taken the night of and days after it seems like it was a steering/suspension, or possible wheel malfunction that was unable to keep the car under and in control to be brought to a full stop before the point of impact and accident occurred.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 29, 2025Suspension, Unknown or other, Service brakesCrash reportedFire reportedODI 11690231

Electrical system

4 reports1 crash
“ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE HOUSING AROUND THE AIR CONDITIONER FILLS WITH WATER FROM CONDENSATION, THE DRAINAGE TUBE IS NARROW AND CLOGS, WHICH CAUSES THE WATER TO DRIP OUT OF THE HOUSING AND INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE INTERIOR WHERE IT SWAMPS THE CARPETING FROM FRONT TO BACK. I KNOW AC NORMALLY DOES NOT QUALIFY AS A SAFETY CONCERN BUT TO MY UNDERSTANDING THERE IS ELECTRIC WIRING THAT RUNS UNDER THE CARPET THAT IS CERTAINLY NOT DESIGNED TO BE UNDER AN INCH OF WATER AND THEN THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR HARMFUL MOLD TO DEVELOP FROM THE WET CARPET. THE DEALER WILL CHARGE TO CLEAR THE CLOG BUT THEY HAVE SINCE TOLD ME THERE IS A PERMANENT FIX (AN AC CASING WITH BETTER DRAINAGE) WHICH COSTS MORE THAN $2000 TO INSTALL. A SIMPLE SEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOWS TOYOTA HAS BEEN IGNORING THIS DESIGN FLAW AND THIS PROBLEM SINCE THE MODEL REDESIGN IN 2011. THEY HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WHICH CAN EFFECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE OCCUPANTS. I KNOW A NARROW TUBE DRAIN LINE SEEMS LIKE A MINOR THING BUT THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO HAPPEN IN MOST CARS. WHILE IT HAS BEEN A CONCERN FOR SCION TC OWNERS SINCE 2011. I DRIVE A 2014. THERE WAS PLENTY OF TIME FOR TOYOTA TO OFFER A…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 13, 2022Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11473661

Air bags

3 reports1 crash
“MI VEHICLE IS IN MOTION THE BRAKES HAVE A SOUND AND THE AIR BAG IS TURN ON”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 26, 2020Air bags, Service brakesODI 11311554

Suspension

2 reports1 crash1 fire
“AIR BAG TURNS OFF RANDOMLY WITHOUT WARNING, LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING. ALSO VEHICLE IS DUE TO HAVE TRD BRAKES REPLACED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 19, 2018Suspension, Air bags, Service brakesODI 11152602

Steering

2 reports1 crash
“I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 522 GOING 60MPH AT 11:30PM. THE HIGHWAY WAS SMOOTH AND HAD NO BUMPS THEN RANDOMLY THE WHEEL ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BROKE OFF THE CAR AND WENT FLYING. POLICE OFFICERS AND STATE TROOPERS LOOKED FOR THE WHEEL AND THEY COULDN'T FIND IT. LUCKILY I REMEMBERED IN DRIVERS ED THAT WHEN A TIRE BLOWS OUT (EVEN THOUGH THIS SITUATION IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT) YOU FIRMLY HOLD ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND HOLD IT STRAIGHT. THE CAR THEN STRAIGHTENED OUT AND STOPPED ONCE I RAN INTO THE RAILING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 6, 2020Steering, Wheels, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11316636

Wheels

2 reports2 crashes
“WAS COMMUTING BACK TO WORK FROM LUNCH BREAK WHEN OUT OF NOWHERE I LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND BRAKING OF MY VEHICLE CRASHING INTO A STONE WALL BEFORE I COULD PULL MY EMERGENCY BREAK AFTER THE VEHICLE COULD NOT SLOW DOWN ON A CITY STREET IN MOTION”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 21, 2018Electrical system, Wheels, Unknown or otherCrash reportedODI 11162878
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026

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