Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Scion tC owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Our Toyota 2006 Scion tC was involved in a head on collision when it was pulling out slowing on a main road and the other truck involved was probably traveling close to 45mph, the car was totaled but not one air bag worked. This car was purchased because it had a high safety rating, however it is just lucky the driver and passenger were not seriously hurt. Had the car not been totaled we would have insisted it be totaled, would never purchase another Toyota again.
I was in a car accident I was the passenger .we were on car accident we rolled several times in the airbags never come off. I'm a quadriplegic I broked c6. I flew out off the sun roof.the car was on motion on a stree. I was found 62 feet from the car
Tl* - the contact had a 2006 Scion tC. The contact stated that his vehicle had been deemed a "lemon" by Scion corporate. The vehicle was deemed a lemon because of rattling sounds coming from the hatchback for which 3 unsuccessful attempts were made to repair. Other failures included: the transmission wouldn't engage when you put the car in reverse gear, the rear bumper was cracked, and the tires screeched. The contact was in an accident on 11/25/2006 at 3:30 am, on 110 expressway in los angeles. The contact was driving 60 MPH. Neither the weather nor the road conditions were a factor in the crash. During a turn, the tires weren't gripping the road well. The vehicle veered to the right and he applied brakes to slow car down. The consumer overcorrection to the left and proceeded into a ditch. The vehicle spun around and another vehicle hit him on the passenger side. …
Tl* - the contact owns a Toyota 2006 Scion tC. The contact complained about the airbags and the wire harness system on the vehicle. On April 29, 2006 the contact's daughter was involved in a collision while driving the vehicle on a sunny day. The vehicle was driven to a stop sign at an intersection that was a two way stop. The contact's vehicle was struck on the passenger's side mid to rear doors by an incoming vehicle. This caused the front bumper to collide with the second vehicle. The contact wanted to file a complaint against Toyota since the airbags and wire harness system did not provide the protection required with this type of collision. The case is been reviewed by all state. Toyota explained that since the wiring harness was cut when the vehicle was struck it caused the seat belts and airbags not to deploy. …
I was driving up spruce street in manchester nh. As I went through a green light at the corner of spruce st and beech st, I was involved in an accident that I was not at fault for, by someone who was not paying attention and went through a red light, as I was going through my green light. I was hit very hard (all the impact was to the front of my vehicle) and I am thankful I had my seat belt on because my airbags did not deploy. The damage to the front end of my vehicle was so bad my car was almost totaled ($7,200 in repairs). I was told by the collision center that "there are many factors that go into the air bags deploying and not deploying" I almost felt as though I was brushed off for something that could have caused me my life. There still has not been anything done with my airbags, I was only told that they "should" be fine.
On 9/23/07 I was in an accident while driving my 2006 Scion tC. The front end of my car hit the passenger side of another car. I had been at a stop and had just proceeded into the intersection about 20 feet when we hit, so I could not have been going more than 15-20 MPH. The other driver's speed is unknown, although the posted speed limit is 35 MPH. The entire front end of my car was ripped off and the frame was pushed back. The body shop estimated the damage to be well over $11,750 so the insurance company declared it a total loss. Damage to the other vehicle was minor. Not one of my 6 airbags ever deployed even though the force of the crash was enough to demolish the car and throw me against the driver's side door.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 10mph, the vehicle was involved in a crash and the air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was equipped with frontal and side curtain air bags. While driving in normal conditions, the vehicle was struck head on by another vehicle. The contact sustained injuries to the head and shoulder from impacting the driver's door. Damage was sustained to the entire front of the vehicle and the driver's side door. The police were at the scene of the accident and provided a written report. The vehicle was inspected by the insurance company and the vehicle was deemed totaled. The contact was wearing a seat belt.
Tl contact owns a 2006 Toyota Scion tC. While driving approximately 55 MPH, a vehicle crashed into the passenger side of the contact's vehicle. Her vehicle then spun around and crashed directly into the front of the other vehicle. The contact's vehicle was completely destroyed and none of the air bags deployed. In addition, the seat belts failed to properly secure the contact and caused her to strike the steering column. A police report was filed. The contact has pictures of the vehicle after the crash. The failure and current mileages were 2,220.
Car was involved in a multiple flip/rollover in which the driver side seat belt did not lock, causing the driver to thrash about inside the vehicle resulting in multiple skull, spine, and other bone fractures ultimately resulted in the death of the driver. The passenger side seatbelt did lock and the passenger survived. In addition to the seatbelt not locking, none of the air bags deployed. I mean none of them!! Please look into these vehicles in hopes to save someone's life!! Updated 09/19/17 ..updated 12/11/17
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Toyota Scion tC. The contact was traveling 30 MPH when he crashed into the rear of another vehicle and the air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained a broken sternum, a broken left wrist, left elbow and shoulder. The contact did not inform the dealer or manufacturer of the failure and the vehicle was not repaired. A police report was not filed. The approximate failure and current mileage was 80,000. Updated 07/08/11
Related recalls
Air bags › Side/window
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…
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.
Air bags
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.
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.
Airbag complaints in other tC years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2006 Scion tC?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the air bags of the 2006 Scion tC, 15% of the model year's 161 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Scion tC airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 06V-408 (side/window, Oct 26, 2006); NHTSA recall 06V-096 (air bags, Apr 3, 2006). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2006 Scion tC airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 53,000 miles, and 30% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 19 crashes, 0 fires and 15 injuries and 1 death to air bags 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.