2009 Scion TC Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Mar 29, 2026 · 60 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other TC years
Far more complaints than other years 5th of 12 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 60 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Scion TC. That ranks 5th out of 12 TC model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (15 complaints, 25%), typically at around 67,750 miles. Complaints mention 15 crashes, 1 fire, 8 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.

Scion TC
2007 Scion tC. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: ArtisticThought, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2009 Scion TC problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Engine15 · ~67,750 mi
Air Bags9 · ~102,000 mi
Structure8 · ~37,961 mi
Vehicle Speed Control8 · ~12,500 mi
Visibility6 · ~19,900 mi
Unknown or Other4 · ~98,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages3 · ~9,000 mi
Power Train3 · ~78,792 mi
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3 · ~8,750 mi
Tires3 · ~64,500 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Engine1525%67,750——
Air Bags915%102,000——
Structure813%37,961——
Vehicle Speed Control813%12,500——
Visibility610%19,900——
Unknown or Other47%98,000——
Latches/locks/linkages35%9,000——
Power Train35%78,792——
Service Brakes, Hydraulic35%8,750——
Tires35%64,500——
Electrical System23%———
Electronic Stability Control (esc)23%———
Seat Belts23%87,000——
Steering23%25,000——
Equipment12%———
Equipment Adaptive/mobility12%———
Exterior Lighting12%20,000——
Fuel/propulsion System12%———
Service Brakes12%———
Traction Control System12%12,000——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2010, with 13 complaints
2009: 5200952010: 13132011: 3201132012: 992013: 3201332014: 222015: 3201532016: 222017: 7201772018: 442019: 2201922021: 222022: 2202222024: 112026: 220262

n = 60 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2009 Scion TC recalls (3)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Equipment:other:labelsFeb 3, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V035000 · 271,417 vehicles

Problem: Gulf states toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold between september 1, 2005 and june 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.

Risk: This does not meet the standard requirements.

Fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. Dealers will also correct the owner's manual. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact gulf states toyota at 713-580-3300.

Equipment:other:labelsFeb 3, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V036000 · 153,418 vehicles

Problem: Southeast toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 passenger vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.

Risk: A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact southeast toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

Equipment:other:labelsJun 15, 2009 · NHTSA campaign 09V223000 · 27,080 vehicles

Problem: Toyota is recalling 27,080 model year 2005 through 2010 passenger cars built from september 1, 2005 to may 4, 2009. These vehicles were not equipped with load carrying capacity modification labels which fails to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims."

Risk: Incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels could result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Toyota will notify owners and provide them with a new, accurate label to be installed over the inaccurate label free of charge. The safety recall began on august 18, 2009. Owners may contact toyota at 1-888-270-9371.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

sold a AS IS TRADE IN vehicle that had no warning lights on dashboard or window info on safety defective emmisons and ecm and has not been very helpful with my vehicle I have not been able to drive because of safety concerns with recent discovery of codes that showed after getting a new battery for…

Electrical System · received Mar 29, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11727740

I believe my emmisons had malfunctioning part # 77740-21011 called used auto sales agent 5 mins after purchasing on 3/1 because I was at gas station having unusual fuel pumping problems that made it very difficult to put gas in had a constant clicking happen and the dealer on the phone told me…

Unknown or Other · received Mar 28, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11727625

My scion TC is using an extreme amount of oil to where I am putting 2-3 quarts in the motor per week. The extreme usage of oil can cause the engine to blow up due to lack of oil staying in the engine. My oil light will flash after couple days indicating low oil. A dangerous situation that can…

Engine · received May 22, 2024 · NHTSA complaint 11590218

The contact owns a 2009 Scion TC. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, he slowed for a traffic light and the vehicle failed to shift out of third gear. The accelerator pedal was depressed and the vehicle revved without moving. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle…

Power Train · received Jun 13, 2022 · NHTSA complaint 11469033

Just entered the interstate and was 2 miles from home when the car started shaking cause the car to make a sudden hard right across multiple lanes of traffic going down an embankment and hitting trees. Witness who saw the accident while traveling behind the car saw smoke coming from driver rear…

Tires · received Mar 9, 2022 · NHTSA complaint 11455951

Other Scion TC years

← 2008 TC · 2010 TC →

YearComplaintsRecalls
2016 TC62
2015 TC222
2014 TC200
2013 TC90
2012 TC81
2011 TC290
2010 TC202
2009603
2008 TC863
2007 TC1172
2006 TC1615
2005 TC1554

See all Scion TC problems by year, every Scion model, or the VIN decoder.

Similar Scion models

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2009 Scion TC?

Owners most often report engine, air bags, structure problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 15 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2009 Scion TC?

Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2009 Scion TC a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other TC model years, the 2009 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.