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2009 Scion tC Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2009 Scion tC has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Excessive oil consumption (2AZ-FE engine).” Every Scion is another company's car in a hoodie, and the maintenance follows the donor. Most models (xA, xB, tC, xD, iQ, iM) are pure Toyota: 5,000-mile or 6-month service visits, oil every 10,000 miles on the 0W-20 cars (5,000 on early models), iridium plugs at 120,000, and famously little else. The FR-S is a Subaru boxer underneath and marches to Subaru's beat, with plugs at 60,000 and its own coolant schedule. The iA is a Mazda2 with Skyactiv service intervals. Parts and service remain easy through Toyota dealers, which is most of why used Scions make sense.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2009 Scion tC.

Reported to NHTSA

Excessive oil consumption (2AZ-FE engine)

ENGINE

12 NHTSA complaints · 2014-10 → 2024-05

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11590218
“THE CAR IS USING 8-10 QUARTS OF OIL A YEAR. THERE WAS A TOYOTA RECALL FOR EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, BUT THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THIS AMOUNT OF OIL CONSUMPTION IS NORMAL AND WITHIN SPECIFCIATIONS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11015010
“EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. TOYOTA REPORTS A TSB REGARDING A PISTON ISSUE. MY ENGINE COULD BE AT RISK ON BREAKDOWN. TOYOTA WAS AND HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE ISSUE SINCE 2007 BUT CONTINUED TO SELL VEHICLES WITHOUT FIXING THE PROBLEM”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10641216

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Rear hatch handle and latch failure

STRUCTURE

8 NHTSA complaints · 2009-09 → 2013-05

“THE HATCH HANDLE ON MY CAR BROKE OFF WHEN I WAS LIFTING THE HATCH TO PUT SOME ITEMS IN MY TRUNK. WHEN I LOOKED FURTHER INTO WHY IT BROKE, I REALIZED THAT THE PIECES WERE JUST SMALL PLASTIC PIECES AND COULD BE EASILY SNAPPED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10453723
“THE PLASTIC HOUSING FOR THE TRUNK RELEASE LATCH BROKE COMPLETLY OFF WHEN TRYING TO OPEN THE HATCH.THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE LATCH IS ATTACHED TO THE PLASTIC HOUSING AND NOT THE METAL TRUNK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10441474
“THE EVENT LEADING TO THE FAILURE WAS ME REACHING TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH OF THE CAR. WHEN I PLACED MY HAND ON THE CAR HATCH HANDLE, THE HATCH PANEL BROKE OFF AND HANGS OVER THE LICENSE PLATE AND SWINGS VIOLENTLY WHEN I'M DRIVING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10285585

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag non-deployment in a crash

AIR BAGS

7 NHTSA complaints · 2009-09 → 2019-06

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 SCION TC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CHEST, NECK, AND SHOULDER INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11055329
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA SCION TC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A HIGHWAY DIVIDER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS HEAD, NECK AND CHEST”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10460568
“I WOULD CALL THIS A QUESTION FOR NOW. THE EVENT:A VAN RAN A STOP SIGN. A 2009 SCION CT T-BONED THE SIDE SLIDING DOOR AT APPRX.20- 25 MPH . CAUSING APPROX. 8000 DOLLARS IN DAMAGE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10283417

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Sudden unintended acceleration

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

8 NHTSA complaints · 2010-02 → 2013-01

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA SCION TC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS HE WAS ENTERING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT THEN CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AS HE SHIFTED INTO PARK. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10487327
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA SCION TC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKES BUT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10474095
“2009 SCION DRIVING CLEAR WEATHER, DRY PAVEMENT 40 MPH ON THE ENTRANCE RAMP TO A DIVIDED HIGHWAY, SUDDENLY CAREENED OUT OF CONTROL CROSSING 2 LANES, HITTING LEFT GUARD RAIL, SPINNING 180 DEGREES AND HITTING RIGHT GUARD RAIL. DAMAGE NOT YET ASSESSED $10.0 ESTIMATED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10331177

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Sunroof and moonroof glass shattering while driving

VISIBILITY

6 NHTSA complaints · 2009-12 → 2017-02

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA SCION TC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE SUNROOF GLASS SHATTERED, AND BLEW OUTWARD. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND THEN RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10296712
“THE MOONROOF ON MY SCION TC SHATTERED AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS AROUND ME AND I DID NOT SEE ANY LARGE OBJECTS HIT MY CAR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10949143
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SCION TC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE SUNROOF SUDDENLY SHATTERED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO ANY OF THE OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10376693

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Brake failure to stop vehicle

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

3 NHTSA complaints · 2010-02 → 2012-03

“UPON PRESSING THE BRAKE, THE CAR DID NOT STOP. I ROLLED DIRECTLY INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON RTE 1; LUCKILY, I QUICKLY STEERED INTO THE MIDDLE LANE, BARELY AVOIDING A COLLISION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10314077
“WHILE PARKING AT A RESTAURANT PARKING LOT MY BRAKES DID NOT WANT TO ENGAGE AND ENDED UP HITTING A TRASH CAN AT ABOUT 5 MPH IT JUST HAPPENED THAT ONE TIME. ONE FENDER HAD MINOR DAMAGES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10307046
“BRAKES FEEL HESITANT TO STOP AND SLOW DOWN, FEEL LIKE ITS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE, MY 17 YEAR OLD SON HAS TO DRIVE THIS CAR, AND I NEED TO FEEL THAT HE HAS A SAFE, STURDY SORT OF TRANSPORTATION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10450333

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Tire tread separation and blowout

TIRES

3 NHTSA complaints · 2015-11 → 2022-03

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA SCION TC EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN PILOT SPORT A/S PLUS TIRES, SIZE 215/45/R17 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A GUARDRAIL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10788107
“I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR AIR PRESSURE CHECK.THEY TIRE SHOP SAID TIRES WERE EXTREMELY UNSAFE. BOTH FRONT TIRES HAD SIGNS OF DAMAGE. THEY WERE PURCHASED AT THE SAME TIME AND ARE 1 YEAR OLD NOT WORN DOWN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11144269
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11455951

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Oil & Filter Change

Every 10,000 mi

0W-20 models (2011+ tC, iQ, iM): every 10,000 miles or 12 months with 5,000-mile checkup visits between. Earlier models: every 5,000 miles or 6 months. FR-S and iA: every 7,500 miles. Severe use halves all of these.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 5,000 mi

Every 5,000 miles or 6 months per the Toyota-pattern schedule; 7,500 on FR-S and iA.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 5,000 mi

Checked at every service visit.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Toyota's US guides list inspection only, no replacement interval; the FR-S schedule does replace it, around every 30,000 miles. Every 2 to 3 years is sound practice on any of them since fluid absorbs moisture with age.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Every 30,000 miles or 36 months across the lineup.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Spark Plugs

Every 120,000 mi

Iridium plugs at 120,000 miles on the Toyota-engine cars. FR-S: 60,000 miles, the big schedule difference on the Subaru boxer. iA: roughly 75,000 per Mazda practice. Note that 2005-2010 tC engines with oil-consumption habits can foul plugs early.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Every 30,000 miles or 36 months on the Toyota schedule; sooner in dusty conditions.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Engine Coolant

Every 100,000 mi

Toyota Super Long Life: first change at 100,000 miles or 120 months, then every 50,000. FR-S uses Subaru coolant: first at 135,000 or 11 years, then every 75,000.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Transmission Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Toyota WS fluid has no normal-schedule change; the factory book calls for it at 60,000 and 120,000 only under towing or heavy loads. FR-S automatics: every 60,000 miles or 5 years. A drain and fill around 60,000 is cheap insurance on any of them.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Drive Belt

Every 60,000 mi

First inspection at 60,000 miles or 72 months, then every 15,000. All Scion engines are chain-driven; there is no timing-belt service on any model.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

61 crashes 1990–2024

How the 61 occupant deaths break down

42

driver deaths

19

passenger deaths

61

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2008 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

15

complaints mentioning a crash

1

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2009 Scion tC reflects Scion's published service intervals. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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