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#BS-2009-SCITC-3CA3

2009 Scion TCProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 77 owners and 3 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 21, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 19, 2026

Complaints
77
Crashes
18
Fires
1
Recalls
3
TSBs
118
🟡

Preliminary Verdict

Think Twice

Based on 77 complaints, 18 crashes, 1 fires, and 3 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

ridiculous oil consumption

6 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
2

excessive engine noise

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX
3

air bags did not deploy

1 complaints • Severity 6/10

$X,XXX
4

difficulties shifting with grinding

1 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
5

shattered sunroof

1 complaints • Severity 6/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the EngineHIGH

15 owners reported engine issues — failures commonly reported around 45K miles.

!Inspect the AirbagsMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

20
0–30K
11
30–60K
7
60–90K
4
90–120K
4
120–150K
2
150K+

Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (20 reports) • Median: 45K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Engine (15 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Engine15 (19%)
Airbags8 (10%)
Speed Control8 (10%)
Other5 (6%)
Structure4 (5%)
Brakes4 (5%)
Latches & Locks3 (4%)
Structure:body3 (4%)

2009 Scion TC: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 19% of all reports filed for the 2009 Scion TC, with 15 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 45,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 45K-mile mark.

Airbags Issues

Airbags complaints account for 10% of all reports filed for the 2009 Scion TC, with 8 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to airbags-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Speed Control Issues

Speed Control complaints account for 10% of all reports filed for the 2009 Scion TC, with 8 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to speed control-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Structure Issues

Structure complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 2009 Scion TC, with 4 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to structure-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

6
09
14
10
3
11
13
12
6
13
2
14
4
15
4
16
9
17
4
18
2
19
2
21
2
22
1
24
5
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2009 Scion TC. Recent trend: increasing.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (3 recalls)

09V223000Sep 2009

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

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."

10V035000May 2010

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

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.

10V036000May 2010

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

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.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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The worst model year for the Scion TC is the 2007 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

2009 Scion TC vs. Class Average (Subcompact Cars)

This vehicle

77

Class avg

140

Below the class average — fewer complaints than typical subcompact cars vehicles. A good sign.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 77 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 3 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated (checked October 21, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 19, 2026.

Other Scion TC Model Years

201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005
View all Scion TC years →

2009 Scion TC: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2009 Scion TC?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2009 Scion TC is related to the engine, with 15 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2009 Scion TC reliable?
The 2009 Scion TC has 77 complaints, 18 crash reports, and 1 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is below the class average — a positive sign for reliability.
How much does it cost to fix 2009 Scion TC problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2009 Scion TC have any recalls?
Yes, the 2009 Scion TC has 3 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Scion TC problems start?
Based on 48 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 45,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2009 Scion TC data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 21, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 19, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 4, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 77 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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