I was driving north on garden state parkway at about 70 MPH in my 06 Scion tc when my moon roof exploded. All windows (including the moon roof) were closed at the time. The moon roof completely failed (falling glass debris) in a half moon shape in the middle front. The wind deflector popped up but was not damaged. Glass blew violently throughout the inside of the car and I almost lost control…
2006 Toyota Scion tC visibility problems
severe Owners of the 2006 Toyota Scion tC have filed 42 NHTSA complaints about the visibility, typically surfacing around 50,000 miles at roughly $350 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See visibility across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
42
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
| Model year | visibility complaints |
|---|---|
| 2006 Scion tC (this page) | 42 |
| 2010 Scion tC | 4 |
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 42 visibility complaints filed for the 2006 Toyota Scion tC, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 42 visibility complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Visibility accounts for 26% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 11 categories tracked.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
As my daughter was driving down the freeway, for no apparent reason, the moonroof shattered. This seems to be a reoccurring problem with this particular car. Toyota needs to address this, now! *tr
Loud pop occurred. Upon inspection the wind deflector piece of glass was shattered with no point of impact. No road debris was observed. The glass failed. *tr
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 Toyota Scion tc. While driving 63 MPH, the sunroof exploded and glass shattered everywhere. The contact pulled the vehicle over and found no glass remaining on the sunroof. The Toyota dealer stated that pressure may have been the cause for the explosion. Scion had not taken any action and would not send a representative to inspect the vehicle. The current and…
My boyfriend and I were driving my car on a clear, sunny day at highway speeds with the air conditioner running and all windows closed on I-495 in maryland, when we heard a loud pop. Thinking that there was something wrong with the car or the tires I pulled to the side of the road where I then discovered that it was the moon roof wind deflector shattered. Glass was falling in though the cover…
Had visibility trouble with your 2006 Toyota Scion tC?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the visibility problem on the 2006 Toyota Scion tC?
It's a meaningful issue. 42 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $350.
At what mileage does the visibility typically fail?
Across the 37 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most visibility failures cluster between 15,560 and 79,000 miles, with the median around 50,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 15,560; a quarter make it past 79,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $350 for visibility repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to visibility?
No active recalls currently cover visibility issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Toyota/Scion tC.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.