Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Scion tC owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My 2005 Toyota Scion tC turned off while I was driving. I put vehicle in park and re started it. Moments later the brakes failed and I turned into a plaza. At that point the steering failed. I did not know the vehicle was on fire until this point. I had no control of the car so I reached back and grabbed my two year old who was strapped in her car seat. Right before we jumped out the car stopped completely ( tires melted) , the flames were visible in front of me and the car filled with smoke. We jumped out and ran. Moments later the entire car was in flames. Witnesses told me that I was on fire for a while and they turned around to get my attention. No injuries or fatalities were suffered with this fire but it was way too close for comfort.
Driving at highway speed on an approximately 40 degree dry day with no extreme weather conditions. Heard a shotgun like noise at which point the sunroof shattered and glass fell into the drivers side and passenger side areas. Sunroof and wind shield were closed, screen was open. Pain resulted in ears and head however no lacerations were obtained. Falling glass onto driver and behind the car could have resulted in an accident with another vehicle. Cause unknown, no debris was seen or heard resulting in the shattering of the glass. Driver was able to pull over to the side of the road. Glass shattered around the edges and near the center of the sun roof, wind shield was open after incident, not prior.
05 Scion tC collided with another vehicle on the highway. After impact Scion spun out of control and hit guard rail. Air bag in 05 Scion did not deploy, driver of Scion had an injured neck, bruise on left thigh and lump on forehead from hitting it in on steering wheel. Driver of Scion was taken to the hospital, and has to undergo physical therapy due to neck injury.
The frame and every metal component on the underneath of the car including the frame rusts terribly. The rest is completely corroding away and breaking off. Even th metal strap holding my gas tank on is completely rusted and if I put n pressure it chips away. I didn't notice this until I went to have my exhaust done and was able to look under the car.
Incident occurred on 9/30/08 at ~3:15 pm. I heard a loud bang (sounded like a shotgun blast) while driving on the highway at ~60mph. My immediate reaction was to duck...I literally thought someone was shooting at me. After a quick second to collect my wits, I looked around and saw no damage. Once that "soaked" in, I realized I heard wind noise (I remember thinking that was odd because windows were up and sunroof was closed). I pulled back the sunroof screen and, to my astonishment, saw that the sunroof had spiderwebbed into thousands of tiny pieces...pieces that were already starting to fly off into traffic behind me. I pulled over and got out to look at the damage. The sunroof looked like something had blasted it from the inside out. I cleaned up the glass the best I could on the side of the highway and headed straight for the dealer. …
The trunk hatch handle of my 2005 Scion tC broke off one day when opening the trunk hatch. The trunk handle is needed in opening the trunk. It has an electronic button release that must be pressed at the same time that the trunk is lifted. The handle broke off the car without warning and with only normal use. Upon inspection of the part I and several mechanics (including Toyota technicians) determined that the part is flimsy and of poor design. Toyota technicians also admit that this is a common failure. It is a part used to raise the whole trunk hatch and is mounted to the car with weak plastic. I have searched online forums and have seen many people have experienced the same failure. Although since most had their hatch handle break in the first 3 years (covered under warranty), the problem has not been specifically addressed. …
1. Driver door required more force to close. Later, I noticed the driver window would not raise more than half way. 2. The window regulator arm is bent, and the internal attachment point is broken. The window gets progressively worse over time, and the raised height becomes lower. 3. The dealer stated their must have been previous damage to the vehicle, and they were unable to resolve. Maaco said they were unable to resolve. More than a year later, took it back to the dealer, and the new service personnel were able to replace the regulator arm, and weld it to the door in March 2010. It's now June, and the window will no longer go past the half way point when attempting to close. …
I love my Scion however I bought brand new from expressway Toyota in dorchester ma in 2005 and with all the recalls I see on here I've only done one, and that the glass windshield. Every other time I go the dealer and tell them that there are recalls, they ignore me and say that there isn't . I have some rattling noise going on under my car...I fixed once at the dealer and it came back again but now the dealer wants me to pay again to fix it and I think it's a safety concern in the car, the tires are also uneven, I keep having to change tires too often, the hatch lift in the back keeps breaking...major failing and cheap. It feels like it was glued on. I would an answer from the dealer where I bought the car as to why they keep denying my visits on the recalls and why in being charge the same safety work that I've paid once to get fix and now the same rattling noise keeps coming. …
The rear trunk hatch molding panel broke off and the electrical cord with latch release is unsecured and dangling. It has to be secured to car with tape but that covers brake light. I was pulled over today by a california police officer , who informed me that it "is a safety hazard and unsafe". There are thousands of Scion tx and xbs from 2005-2011 with the same problem as seen in this facebook page and petition for recall. Http://www.facebook.com/pages/Scion-tC-and-xb-defective-trunk-hatch-handle I have visited multiple Scion Toyota service centers and contacted customer service by phone (including 1-18-2012). Scion will not replace part with the re-engineered/ improved Scion part or cover the cost of repair/instillation unless you qualify for "customer loyalty" and have serviced your vehicle at Scion dealership service center. …
The rear trunk hatch molding panel broke off and the electrical cord with latch release is unsecured and dangling. It has to be secured to car with tape but that covers brake light. I've been pulled countless times here in texas and most troopers inform me that it "is a safety hazard and unsafe". There are thousands of Scion tx and xbs from 2005-2011 with the same problem as seen in this facebook page and petition for recall. Http://www.facebook.com/pages/Scion-tC-and-xb-defective-trunk-hatch-handle I have visited multiple Scion Toyota service centers and contacted customer service by phone. Scion will not replace part with the re-engineered/ improved Scion part or cover the cost of repair/instillation unless you qualify for "customer loyalty" and have serviced your vehicle at Scion dealership service center. …
NHTSA 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…
Body complaints in other tC years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2005 Scion tC?
NHTSA has 31 complaints about the body & structure of the 2005 Scion tC, 20% of the model year's 155 complaints. The component named most often is body (15 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Scion tC body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2005 Scion tC, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2005 Scion tC body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 55,000 miles, and 27% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 1 fire and 4 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.