Never had a problem with car before went on freeway to get up to speed n the speedometer was dropping so I pull to side of freeway shut car off turn car back on here clunk clunk shut car off no check engine light was on or has been on no oil light was on nothing get car towed back to safe place well check fluid n oils bone dry cars engine blows just started reading n I guess 2005 goes. Threw oil way fast why isn't that noteted anywhere so messed up just did oil change week before this so shocked now I have to try to fix my blown engine single mom not able to make ends meet now this idk what to do
The worst 2005 Scion TC problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Visibility50
- Body31
- Airbags20
- Engine14
- Brakes10
- Tires10
- Acceleration8
- Transmission8
- Fuel system5
- Locks5
- Seat belts5
- Electrical3
- Lights3
- Wheels3
- Seats2
- Suspension2
- Steering1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2005 Scion TC
Recalls 4
Equipment: other: labels
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 10V035000 · Recall details
Air bags: side/window
- What is wrong
- On certain vehicles, the side impact seat-bolster and curtain side airbags may inadvertently deploy. This condition can occur if the door for that side of the vehicle is closed with a high rate of force while the vehicle's ignition is in the "on" position or within 90 seconds of turning the ignition key from the "on" position to the "off" position.
- Risk
- If the side impact seat-bolster and curtain side airbags inadvertently deploy, they could cause personal injury if an occupant is seated on the same side of the vehicle as the door that is closed with a high rate of force. Until the repair has been performed, it is recommended that a minimal force/speed be used to close the driver and passenger doors or closing the doors after 90 seconds have elapsed from turning the ignition key from the "on" to the "off" position.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the two side impact airbag sensors and install a urethane pad in the front doors, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on november 6, 2006. Owners may contact toyota at 1‑866‑548‑1851.
Recall number 06V408000 · Recall details
Air bags
- What is wrong
- On certain vehicles, due to improper assembly of the air bag inflator, which is used in the side air bag, the curtain shield air bag, and the knee air bag assembly, some inflators were produced with an insufficient amount of the heating agents necessary for proper air bag deployment. In this condition, the expansion force of the gas may be insufficient to properly inflate the air bag when the SRS system is activated during a crash.
- Risk
- This may increase the risk of injury to the occupant in the involved seating position in the event of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the specific SRS air bag. The recall began on april 6, 2006. Owners may contact toyota at 1‑888‑270‑9371, scion at 1‑866‑548‑1851, or lexus at 1‑800‑255‑3987.
Recall number 06V096000 · Recall details
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger vehicles equipped with a glass wind deflector, the deflector, if impacted by a projectile, such as road debris, while driving with the wind deflector in the upward-tilted position at highways speeds, may shatter and separate from the frame.
- Risk
- Pieces of the wind deflector glass may separate from the frame and fall upon the vehicle occupants causing driver distraction and/or injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a protective laminate to the wind deflector to prevent pieces of glass from separating from the wind deflector frame. The recall began october 27, 2005. Owners may contact toyota at 1‑866‑707‑2466.
Recall number 05V483000 · Recall details
See all 4 recalls for the 2005 Scion TC
Defect investigations
Glass moonroof shatters
Odi's investigation discloses that the subject vehicles sustain moonroof shattering and/or damage at rates comparable to those for most other similarly equipped vehicles.this review also discloses that such incidents occur in most vehicles with moonroofs and that while tempered glass panels commonly used in moonroof fabrication are shatter-resistant, some catastrophic failures do in fact occur.impact with small stones or road debris may result in immediate or delayed shatter incidents, depending on the extent and nature of damage sustained by the glass moonroof panel.the manufacturer concludes that incidents of moonroof shatter are random occurrences that result primarily from impact with small stones or other objects while the vehicle is in motion. A safety-related defect trend has not been identified and this pe has been closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety defect does not exist.the agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.
PE06024
Sun/moon roof wind deflector breakage
The manufacturer notified the federal safety agency by letter dated october 17, 2005, that a safety recall has been initiated.the federal safety agency has assigned no.05v‑483 to the recall.the corrective action will consist of installing a plastic film to the inside surface of the wind deflector glass.the corrective action will be performed on approximately 71,400 my 2005 and 2006 scion tc vehicles manufactured during the period of march 12, 2004 through july 21, 2005. Based on this action, the subject ea has been closed.
EA05013
Sun/moon roof wind deflector breakage
The manufacturer states that there are no indications of deficiencies in the design, manufacture, or assembly of the wind deflector that may account for the incidents reported.the manufacturer also believes that impact of airborne road debris with the wind deflector is the probable cause for the incidents reported.odi's analyses of the warranty data indicate that incidents of wind deflector breakage while driving will continue to occur over time, as the population and on-road exposure of the subject vehicles increase.the evidence indicates that regardless of the cause for such breakage, the broken glass particles and fragments may fall directly onto the front seat occupants of these vehicles.these occurrences may pose a risk of driver distraction and personal injury.this pe has been upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea05-013) to further assess this matter.
PE05021
Technical service bulletins for the 2005 Scion TC 83
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- SB: Flash reprogramming allows the ECU software to be updated without replacing the ECU. Flash calibration...
- SSB: The procedure in this bulletin is a general guideline on how to properly diagnose the air...
- SSB: When servicing interior electrical switches and components, please note the precautions in this...
- The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of the correct...
- The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic...
- OBSOLETE NOTICE-October 16, 2014: This bulletin is now obsolete
- Automatic/Continuously Variable Transmission Replacement Precautions
- The Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset is a feature that allows the registration of new keys when all master...
- The Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset is a feature that allows the registration of new keys when all master...
- Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset
2005 Scion TC fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4‑cyl | FWD | 19-20 | 27 | 22-23 |
What 2005 Scion TC owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Engine burning oil
1. I believe my airbags deployed pre-maturely with a soft impact to another vehicle. There was no damage to the other vehicle and no police report needed to be filed. There is a minor damage to my front bumper. 2. The airbags inflated on me, but no medical attention was required. 3. I have not confirmed or reproduced this problem with a professional. 4. My car has not been inspected nor reported to my insurance agency as my coverage only covers liability. 5. No symptoms prior to airbags deploying pre-maturely *Because of the pre-mature deployment of my airbags I am unable to afford the airbags to be reset, as doing so would cost more than the kbb estimated value of my car.
Tl* the contact owned a 2005 scion tc. While the contact was accelerating from a traffic light, her vehicle was t-boned by another vehicle that ran a red light. The entire driver's side of the vehicle was smashed in and the vehicle was totaled. There were no injuries. The side curtain air bags and driver's side air bag did not deploy. A police report was filed and the vehicle was towed to a body shop. The manufacturer was contacted and reminded by the contact that there was an unknown recall for the side air bags for which the vehicle was repaired for in 2006. The manufacturer responded with a letter, stating that they assigned an engineer to diagnose the vehicle. Based on their inspection, they did not find enough frontal damage to command the deployment of the side air bags. The dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 91,400. *bf
Glass roof shattered unprovoked
Takata recall?? Airbags failed, during accident. After being cutoff and going down route x. Lost control hiding concrete. Car flipped, was dragged a few feet's - no airbags. Passenger still has anxiety when getting into vehicles-the one thing you'd think would respond didn't. How do we ever get the sense of security back. *dt
I purchased a red 2005 scion tc for my daughter in february, 2019 from toyota auto nation in davie, fl. They had it priced in good condition, so I expected to get some use out of it. I paid almost $6,000. Month later it overheated on the highway (595) and my daughter had to pull over late at night on the highway and I had to have it towed to my home. Very scary and unsafe situation for a teen. Had it towed back to their service station and it turned out to be a problem, that cost me $600. I find it hard to believe that this company would not have seen any damage under the hood. Shame on them for selling me a car that broke down in one month. I have called them and they will not help with the payment. It is 'as is' I called and text the sales girl and never received a call back or response. Finally put a bad review on their website and received an e-mail to contact manager to help with the situation, only to find out that was an automated email and again told 'too bad'. It is now july and yet again it broke down on my daughter as she was at the gas station. It would not start up after she turned it off. Tried to jump it and nothing. Once again headed to go to the dealership service station. At first was told it was only the battery, so I say go ahead, I will pay the $140 and replace it and we will go from there. Only to get another callback from the manager stating that there is more wrong with the car, that after the $89 five point check on the vehicle and replacing the battery that it still did not start. They would have to keep it over the weekend. It is costing me an arm and a leg and I need help with this. I feel like they lied about this vehicle and allowed a car that is not safe to be bought at their business. I am concerned for my child's safety and only want what is fair.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 scion tc. While the driver was at a stop light, the clutch pedal failed and traveled to the floorboard. Prior to the failure, the clutch pedal was sticking. The driver had to pull the clutch pedal up with her left foot. The vehicle was pushed over to the side of the road and later towed to the contact's residence. The contact stated that an independent mechanic came to his residence and diagnosed that the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 166,367.
The car burns an excessive amount of oil and only has 163000 miles.
Tl* the contact owned a 2005 scion tc. When the contact entered the vehicle, she noticed a flickering light and smoke coming from the console. The contact stated that the console and roof of the vehicle were melted. The fire department was called and determined that there was an electrical fire. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was not towed or taken to a dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The insurance company declared the vehicle a total loss. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 172,000.
Compare the 2005 Scion TC
Other model years
Questions about the 2005 Scion TC
Is the 2005 Scion TC reliable?
Owners have filed 155 complaints about the 2005 Scion TC, 5.3 times a typical TC model year. It is one of the years we flag to avoid.
What is the 2005 Scion TC year score?
The 2005 Scion TC scores 13 out of 100 (poor). The score compares it with the other model years of the Scion TC: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Scion TC?
Windows, wipers and visibility, with 50 complaints, typically around 33,600 miles. Next is body (31).
How many recalls does the 2005 Scion TC have?
4 recalls, covering equipment, air bags and visibility.
What gas mileage does the 2005 Scion TC get?
Official estimates for the 2005 Scion TC range from 22 to 23 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.4L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 19-20 city and 27 highway.
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