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ProblemsByVin Model / TOYOTA SCION TC
8 model years · 2006–2016

Toyota Scion tC reliability by year

0 recall campaigns and 211 owner complaints across 8 model years. Best year to buy: 2010. Year to avoid: 2006.

Best year to buy
2010
8.6/10
0 recalls · 20 complaints
See the 2010 Scion tC →
Year to avoid
2006
7.6/10
0 recalls · 161 complaints
See the 2006 Scion tC →

Worst model years to avoid → — the single year to avoid for every model line we track, ranked side by side.

At-a-glance: every year color-coded

Each cell shows the last two digits of the model year and its 0–10 reliability score from NHTSA data. Click any year to see the full record. best year · year to avoid.

Year-by-year reliability 8 model years · newest first

2016
9.6/10
0 recalls · 1 complaint
2014
9.0/10
0 recalls · 6 complaints
2013
9.2/10
0 recalls · 4 complaints
2012
9.4/10
0 recalls · 3 complaints
2010
8.6/10
0 recalls · 20 complaints
OK
2008
9.0/10
0 recalls · 7 complaints
2007
9.0/10
0 recalls · 9 complaints
2006
7.6/10
0 recalls · 161 complaints
Caveats

Common trouble spots across the Scion tC aggregated across 8 model years

visibility
46 complaints across 2 years · avg $350
engine
36 complaints across 4 years · avg $3,100
body
22 complaints across 1 year · avg $1,500
airbags
20 complaints across 1 year · avg $1,100
steering
12 complaints across 1 year · avg $700
cruise control
8 complaints across 1 year · avg $600

Common questions

What's the best year to buy a Toyota Scion tC?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume and severity weighting, the 2010 Toyota Scion tC scores 8.6/10 — the strongest in the 2006–2016 range. 20 complaints on file, 0 active recalls. Reliability scores reflect the federal complaint record, not subjective owner reviews.

Which Toyota Scion tC year should I avoid?

The 2006 Toyota Scion tC scores 7.6/10 — the weakest in the lineup. 161 owner complaints with NHTSA, 0 active recalls. That doesn't mean every 2006 is a problem — it means failure rates run higher than peer model years on the same platform.

Which years of the Toyota Scion tC should I avoid?

No Toyota Scion tC model year currently rises to an "avoid" or "high-risk" verdict on the NHTSA data — either the record is clean or sample sizes are still too thin for a confident call. The year-by-year breakdown below shows what's on file regardless.

How many years of the Toyota Scion tC are tracked?

8 model years (2006 through 2016) with NHTSA records on file. Total across the lineup: 0 distinct recall campaigns and 211 owner complaints. Each campaign covers a single model year here.

What's the most-reported problem on the Toyota Scion tC?

visibility is the most-reported category — 46 complaints across 2 model years. Average shop repair runs about $350.

Year-over-year reliability scores derived from NHTSA recall and owner complaint volume, severity weighted by reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Best/worst year calls require a minimum complaint sample per year so single-data-point years aren't crowned by chance. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Toyota.
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