Common Failures Of The Scion tC: Problems, Breakdowns And Solutions!

The Scion tC is a sporty two-door compact sedan. The Scion tC is expected to depreciate 33% of its value after five years. Based on the website’s data, this is a low score compared to other vehicle manufacturers that have lower depreciation. Before buying a car, you should make sure you know the problems, we have listed the common faults of the Scion tC , to facilitate the search for information.

Scion vehicles are not known for having a high resale value. This article will discuss the reliability of the Scion tC and the most common problems throughout the eleven years that the model has been in production.

How good is the Scion tC?

Despite the Scion tC’s high depreciation rate, it has earned high marks for reliability. The tC was given an above average score of 4 out of 5. There were only a few instances where the vehicle had catastrophic problems throughout its eleven years of production. Most of the problems that arose were minor.

The vehicle’s affordable price, sporty-looking interior, and great performance made it very attractive to younger markets, especially college students. The Scion has the shape of a two-door sports car and, at the same time, the characteristics of a compact and practical sedan. It also has a roomy second row and a roomy trunk. The first-generation Scion tC saved the sinking company at launch because it became the brand’s best-seller.

Under the hood, the Scion tC is pretty much a rebadged Toyota. This is mainly because Scion is dependent on Toyota , and the Scion tC has the platform and engine of Toyota vehicles. As a result, the tC has also inherited Toyota’s trademark reliability. The tC may have been known for having a very cheap interior made of plastic and having less technology than its competitors, but it made up for it by being incredibly reliable.

Common failures of the Scion tC

Despite the tC’s reputation for reliability, it still has problems from time to time. Some common failures of the Scion tC in certain model years are:

1. Clutch failure

An owner has noticed that the shift lever on his 2011 Scion tC was slipping out of position while the clutch was disengaged due to a hydraulic problem.

Later his clutch pedal got stuck in an intermediate position and as a result his clutch blew. He later discovered that the cause was the master cylinder of the transmission. To fix the problem, he replaced the vehicle’s worn clutch and broken master cylinder.

2. Water pump seal failure

Owners have reported that the water pump responsible for engine cooling failed, causing their car to overheat. This issue has occurred on both the 2008 and 2006 models.

Some owners were able to get away with simple overheating , but others didn’t have much luck and the overheating caused the head gasket on the engine to blow. This resulted in an expensive engine repair. Cases of this particular problem do not seem to be common, as it only happened to two people. When it does occur, replacing the water pump seems to fix the problem.

3. Excess oil consumption problems

The 2004 to 2010 models of the Scion tC were notorious for their engines that consumed excessive oil. Owners have reported low oil levels between oil changes.

Oil levels were sometimes so low that the engine oil warning light would come on in the vehicle’s gauge cluster. The problem is known to be caused by worn piston rings or engine sludge caused by infrequent oil changes.

This is the most common failure of the Scion tC. Owners have reported that they had to add a quart of oil every 1,200 to 1,500 miles to keep their engine running.

To fix this problem, it was necessary to clean the oil sludge in the engine. If excessive oil consumption persisted, engine piston rings or other internal components needed to be replaced. It is also recommended to use a suitable quality engine oil and change it every 5,000 km to avoid sludge build up in the tC.

4. Head gasket failure

Due to a manufacturing defect, cylinder block pressure can leak through a faulty head gasket. When this occurs, your tC will experience overheating, white smoke coming from the exhaust, rough running conditions, or the inability of the engine to start or idle. The oil on the dipstick can also turn white and have a milky appearance as a result of mixing the oil with the engine coolant.

Head gasket failure is caused by the cylinder head bolts pulling out the threads on the engine block, causing the cylinder head to lift slightly. This small lift is enough for the head gasket to fail.

Repairing the problem is as simple as replacing the faulty head gasket and repairing the broken bolt holes in the engine block. However, the cost of labor may not be cheap. Twenty-one people reported having this problem with Scion tC model years 2005 to 2008.

5. Problems with the trunk

The trunk lid handle on the Scion tC is notorious for being very fragile. This is because the handle is only attached to the body with plastic clips. While this is a clear design flaw , owners have prevented their trunk lid handles from breaking when opening their trunks by putting their fingers under the trunk lid instead of the handle.

It’s nice that some Scion dealers will replace your flimsy trunk lid handle for free.

6. Problem of rattling noises

Many owners have reported that road vibrations can cause the plastic in the passenger compartment to creak or rattle. This is because the interior of the Scion tC is made up mostly of cheap plastic materials. This does not affect any of the vehicle’s functions.

But if you don’t want any distracting noise while driving, then this could certainly be annoying . However, it’s not something that can be fixed by replacing a faulty part, because rattling and creaking often come and go. Most owners accept that rattling is a quirk of their tC and live with it.

In summary

As long as you know the common faults of the car you are thinking of buying, you will know what to expect. If you inspect the components that often fail in a Scion tC, purchasing the model should not pose any risk. Knowing these problems can help you keep an eye out for them so you can fix them and prevent further damage.