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 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.
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. …
I was driving east bound on the 105 fwy and was keeping a save distance going at approximately 45 MPH since traffic was stop and go, when traffic stopped on front of me. I started to apply the brakes with little to no response and could not stop in time to avoid a collision with the vehicle on front of me. A few minutes before and prior to entering the freeway I had felt something similar on the street and thought it wasn't an issue, however the brakes felt as if they were not responding. The brakes began to respond once again and I proceeded to continue to drive. After the accident I thought that this May not be an isolated incident and thought of reporting this incident to make sure it's addressed for future Scion tC owners. My car is now a total loss and my insurance didn't cover it. I'm now seeking for an alternate vehicle so I can continue my internship/work experience.
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.
My 2006 Scion tC rear trunk handle broke off. It is a common problem. I had tape holding it on for a year or so, and glued it myself. I did not receive any recall notice otherwise I would have fixed it. It is not just the handle to get in to the trunk. This is a 18 inch by 6 inch piece of my car hanging by a wire. I just called Scion and they said that is was not a recall but a warranty extension that expired 7 years from the date of car being sold or March 2014. Hopefully it stays on and doesn't fly off on the freeway and cause an accident, because then will not be able to have access to my spare tire or get into my trunk. This should be a recall with no expiration date.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Toyota Scion tC. The contact stated that while at a stop light, there was an abnormal noise and then the front wind deflector fractured. The vehicle was taken to two window repair shops who recommended that the vehicle be taken to an authorized dealer for inspection and diagnosis. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 73,000.
Bracket that limits door opening gets caught on window track therefore creating a tear and pulling track back , window comes off the track and is unable to work properly and if forced window will shatter, dealer solution is only to replace automobile door since apparently track can not be replace itself.
My boyfriend and I were driving my car on a clear, sunny day at highway speeds with the air conditioner running and all windows closed on I-495 in maryland, when we heard a loud pop. Thinking that there was something wrong with the car or the tires I pulled to the side of the road where I then discovered that it was the moon roof wind deflector shattered. Glass was falling in though the cover for the moonroof on our head. We ended up switching places and taking the back roads to the dealership. I called them and let them know what happened and found that they were very accusatory. We explained that we had not passed under any overpasses and no debris were observed either visually or heard while in the car coming from the road or another car. Once dropping it off they tried to make me feel as if it was me and that my insurance May have to handle it. …
In early February 2009 my driver's side door did not open all the way. I thought that it just was sticking and gave it a harder push. It then started working fine. A couple of weeks later I went to the drive through at the bank and lowered the window. When I went to put it up it only went up half way. It was two months out of warranty. I took it to the dealer they told me that the way the hinge and window mechanism are designed I needed a completely new door, that the old one could not be fixed. I found out this is a design defect with the car which dealers were notified of in 2007, but were not required to notify vehicle owners. The repair was going to cost me around $2400. Just found a friend who was able to fix it in an hour and a half. There is a modification available if you know about the problem and ask. …
The trunk handle on my broke off. Scion refuses to accept responsibility for this design defect. My husband glued it down, but my concern is that if the piece breaks off or detaches it could cause damage to another vehicle or injury. Scion representatives said that it isn't a design flaw, but rather user error from failure to open the latch properly. This is not the case, as I am now even more careful now that the latch is glued on. Even now when I am overly cautious to open the latch correctly, it still gets stuck and I'm concerned it will break again. Now that I have had the incident happen, I have seen 4 other scions in various places that have their handle taped up, most likely due to the same reason. …
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 2006 Scion tC?
NHTSA has 28 complaints about the body & structure of the 2006 Scion tC, 17% of the model year's 161 complaints. The component named most often is body (14 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Scion tC body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2006 Scion tC, though it has 5 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 2006 Scion tC body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 55,000 miles, and 24% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 0 fires 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.