2006 Scion TC problems & reliability
161 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2006 Scion TC, alongside 5 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
28 complaints report injuries (32 injured, 5 deaths reported).
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility → | 39 | 24% |
| Structure → | 28 | 17% |
| Air Bags → | 24 | 15% |
| Engine → | 17 | 11% |
| Steering → | 12 | 7% |
| Unknown OR Other | 10 | 6% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 | 6% |
| Electrical System | 8 | 5% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 5 | 3% |
| Tires | 5 | 3% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Mileage when problems occurred
Half of the failures with a reported odometer reading occurred by 63,669 miles (middle 50% between 25,650 and 100,000 miles), based on 127 complaints that included mileage.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2006 Scion TC. The contact stated that after performing a vehicle inspection of the engine compartment, he became aware that the coolant reservoir was abnormally low; eventually finding a leak near the rear of the engine. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent…”
Engine and Engine Cooling · filed Jan 22, 2025
“While driving heard a noise like something fell and was dragging in the back. Pulled off and noticed the plastic piece for my trunk had just fallen off. I hadn't been using the trunk.”
Structure · filed Jan 30, 2020
“Tl* the contact owns a 2006 scion tc. While driving approximately 65 mph, the sun roof exploded and the glass shattered without impact or warning. There were no injuries. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately…”
Visibility · filed Aug 13, 2019
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Federal defect investigations
- GLASS MOONROOF SHATTERS
Preliminary Evaluation PE06024 · opened Jul 7, 2006 · closed Dec 6, 2006
Technical service bulletins
66 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2006 Scion TC. The 10 most recent:
SB: Flash reprogramming allows the ECU software to be updated without replacing the ECU. Flash calibration updates for specific vehicle models/ECUs are released as field-fix procedures described in individual Service…
S-SB-0015-14 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 26, 2015
SB: Flash reprogramming allows the ECU software to be updated without replacing the ECU. Flash calibration updates for specific vehicle models/ECUs are released as field-fix procedures described in individual Service…
S-SB-0015-14 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 26, 2015
SSB: The procedure in this bulletin is a general guideline on how to properly diagnose the air conditioning system after a component failure. Refer to the applicable Repair Manual for vehicle specific repair procedures…
S-SB-0005-15 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 13, 2015
SSB: The procedure in this bulletin is a general guideline on how to properly diagnose the air conditioning system after a component failure. Refer to the applicable Repair Manual for vehicle specific repair procedures…
S-SB-0005-15 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 13, 2015
SSB: When servicing interior electrical switches and components, please note the precautions in this bulletin to avoid damaging electrical components and switches. Many lubricants, cleaners, and automotive chemicals…
S-SB-0023-11 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 10, 2015
SSB: When servicing interior electrical switches and components, please note the precautions in this bulletin to avoid damaging electrical components and switches. Many lubricants, cleaners, and automotive chemicals…
S-SB-0023-11 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 10, 2015
Automatic/Continuously Variable Transmission Replacement Precautions
S SB 0024 14A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 16, 2014
TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE-October 16, 2014: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see S-SB-0024-14.
S-SB-0020-11 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 16, 2014
TSB: The purpose of this bulletin is to assist in the identification and location of serial numbers on 2006 - 2014 model year remanufactured automatic transmissions.
S-SB-0041-08 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 16, 2014
TSB: The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL "ON," shifting issues, and/or transmission damage. Use the…
S-SB-0024-14 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 16, 2014
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2006 Scion TC has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2006 Scion TC?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.
- · Owners most often reported problems around 63,669 miles — budget accordingly if the car is approaching that mileage.