2013 Scion Tc problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Service Brakes (3) · Power Train (3) · Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Scion Tc model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (1)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 2018-09-20 · campaign 18E091000 · 544 vehicles
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain Toyota Racing Development (TRD) brake kits, part numbers PTR09-21111 and PTR09-52080, sold by Toyota as an optional accessory for model year 2008-2015 Scion xB, and 2011-2016 Scion tC vehicles. Over time, the brake hoses in these kits may fatigue and fail.
Risk: Failure of a brake hose will reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify all known owners of the Scion xB and Scion tC vehicles upon which an involved optional TRD Brake Kit could have been installed. If the vehicle is equipped with one of the TRD brake kits, it will be replaced with a standard equipment brake kit, free of charge. The recall began November 16, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0U.
Service bulletins (99)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Visibility:defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:engine Coolant Hoses And Fittings 2020-12-11 · S-TT-0117-20 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tt: hvac drain tube is found to be blocked/clogged.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2020-07-15 · 20R001 Toyota Cu · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
dl: toyota plans to send safety recall follow-up notices for the above referenced campaigns to remind owners whose vehicles have not yet had campaign repairs completed.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2019-12-20 · S-S-0003-14_Obso · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tsb: obsolete notice december 20, 2019: this bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
Equipment:appliance:air Conditioner 2017-08-29 · S-SB-0012-14-Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tsb: revision notice august 23, 2017 rev1: ? applicability has been updated to include 2015 model year xb vehicles, 2015 ? 2016 model year tc vehicles, and 2016 model year im vehicles. ? the parts information section has been updated. any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarde
Equipment:appliance:air Conditioner 2016-11-10 · S-SB-0035-13 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tsb: revision notice november 10, 2016 rev1: ? applicability has been updated to include 2015 model year xb vehicles, 2016 model year im vehicles, and 2015 ? 2016 tc vehicles. ? the parts information section has been updated. any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded. s
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery 2015-06-29 · S-SB-0012-15 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ssb: while a vehicle is in inventory, the battery is subject to conditions that can reduce its performance and life. batteries can become discharged due to an extended storage period, temperature, parasitic drain, or while demonstrating vehicle features and benefits in the sales process. battery ins
Showing the 6 most recent of 99 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-07-11 · Service Brakes“unknown. i was unaware of my car's recall notice. i had known only when my car's regular smog check was due. the problem that my car may have had not been confirmed by dealer or independent service center nor has it been inspected by manufacturer, police, or others. there are also no warning lamps or messages of the problem. however, there are symp…”
2020-12-10 · Power Train · 125,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2013 scion tc. the contact stated that while driving the vehicle's engine just cut off. the contact was able to restart the vehicle but could only shift into the first gear and slowly pull over into a parking lot. there was no acceleration with the vehicle moving only about 10 mph with the vehicle's manual transmission. the v…”
2019-03-09 · Service Brakes“did not get notified of the recall for my vehicle.…”
2019-01-04 · Air Bags · 80,000 mi · 💥 crash“i was turning into a busy shopping center at 5ish pm and the sun was directly in my eyes and i swerved to avoid a collision with another motorist who was in the middle of the exiting /entrance lane and i ran head on into a solid cement pillar light pole , estimated mph was 20 -25 mph , i was wearing seatbelt and none of the front airbags deployed a…”
2018-04-11 · Power Train · 66,000 mi“vehicle has 66444 miles and throw out bearing / input shaft is making noise…”
2018-03-04 · Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly · 60,000 mi“secondary sunroof exploded while driving down the highway at 70mph. random explosion that sounded like a gun shot. sunny and 45 degree weather in central ohio…”
2015-10-02 · Service Brakes · 38,500 mi · 💥 crash“break failure led to accident in which the airbags did not deploy. officer on the scene informed the when the vehicles crunch zone is enabled that airbags should deploy to avoid injuries of any passenger or driver. when applying the brakes, the pedal vibrated vigorously thus not slowing the vehicle down to avoid a collision.…”
2015-07-15 · Visibility/Wiper · 14,000 mi“a few days ago, we were driving when our sun roof exploded. we heard the loudest bang i have heard and then glass started falling through the edges of the sun shade that was closed. had it not been for the sun shade, i am sure we would have been showered with glass shards, and there is no doubt that we would have wrecked the car. when we pulled ove…”
2012-12-07 · Power Train · 2,500 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2013 toyota sion tc. the contact stated that when using reverse or first gear, the vehicle would emit an abnormal whining sound. the contact spoke to the manufacturer about the problem and was told that the sound was a normal occurrence of the vehicle. the manufacturer provided no further assistance. the vehicle was not repai…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.