Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
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).
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Scion tC. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the glass wind deflector shattered. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was confirmed that the glass window reflector shattered and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 05V483000 (visibility); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 157,400.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Toyota Scion tC. While driving approximately 70 MPH, the sun roof suddenly exploded causing glass to fall onto the head of the driver. No injuries were reported. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 05V483000 (visibility). The failure mileage was 96,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Scion tC. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the sun roof exploded and the glass shattered without impact or warning. There were no injuries. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
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. …
I was driving to work at approximately 8:30 in the morning at around 70 MPH on hwy 40 in st. Louis when my sunroof exploded. The actual sunroof exploded and not the wind deflector. The sunroof was fully closed and the wind deflector was as well. I keep the sunroof cover open most of the time so I get more light into the car and as a result glass rained down into my car. Upon inspection, I found that the glass of the sunroof was completely shattered and did not crack like a spider-web, but like someone had set a bomb off on top of it. The wind deflector was undamaged. I contacted my dealer and they were very accusatory and said a rock or other debris must have broken it. I still fail to see how a rock big enough to shatter the glass like it did got by me with me seeing it. If a huge rock was bouncing in the middle of the road, I would have definitely seen it. …
As traveling down the freeway on way to work, I heard a sound that was similar to a gunshot or explosion of some kind. Glass started to fly in my face and all over the car barely missing my eye. It cut my arm and hand. The injury was not serious, my wife said if she had been driving she probably would have crashed when it happened. When I got home I called the both the dealership that sold me the car and Toyota headquarters in torrance. They asked me what I wanted and I said I just want it fixed they told me they would give me a good price to fix it, but it is not covered under any warranty. John got back to me a few days later and said that I could take it down to the dealership and have it fixed, pay for it myself and then Toyota would think about it. That's not acceptable. I work hard for my money and trust that a cars moonroof isn't going to explode while I'm driving it. …
I owned a Scion tC 2006. I bought it on jan 10, 2006. Few weeks ago, I started to notice and hear a rattle noise on the roof area. On May 4, 2006 while driving on the highway @ a speed of 55 MPH. The moon roof snapped and shattered. The glass chunks fell into the driver and passenger, kind of like a glass chunks rains that actually May cut you. We were covered in glass. I lost control of the car, due to frighten and glass all over, swirled left and right. I'm so fortunate that I didn't harmed anyone next to me or other drivers on the road. I'm really worry about driving such car. There is no warning to the buyer when such purchase was made by the dealer or the company. I hope you will take a serious action fast before an innocent person life is taken. Please help. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my complaint. Please help. If you have any questions, please send me an email. …
Taking a drive on a sunny day, I had my sunroof open and all of a sudden my husband and I heard a cracking sound. When we got home, we noticed the front part or wind deflector part of sunroof was cracked. Took it to Toyota and they said there must have been a pebble because the glass showed a point of impact.eard anything hit the window, it just broke. Why is something that is supposed to be a wind deflector made of glass?I never even noticed this piece of glass that pops up and now I feel vulnerable for driving in the future,. Not to mention the almost $500.00 that it will cost me to fix this Friday. This should be a warranted item or it should be made of a plastic material. I saw many complaints like mine. I believe it shattered from the wind just like the many complaints that I read. I loved my Scion tC and now I am disenchantment with this car.
I was driving home from work in my 2006 Scion tC at approximately 5:30 pm. Going 60 MPH when all of a sudden my rear sunroof window exploded. It sounded like a gun shot and ended up cracking the entire window, sending pieced flying behind me. I had the rear cover closed, so no debris was able to enter the vehicle. I just purchased the vehicle used from a dealership Saturday afternoon and this incident happened Monday afternoon. I took the vehicle back to the dealership and they said that I May have to pay to get it fixed. I do not agree with this, and something needs to be done about this issue since it seems to be occurring to numerous people. Also, I was not driving under an overpass and there was no sign of any object hitting the glass. It just simply shattered.
I was driving with my sunroof open. I heard a loud pop followed by a piece of the glass deflector shield fell into my vehicle, hitting me on the head. I stopped and looked at my sunroof and saw a spiderweb like crack on the wind deflector with no point of impact. There is a recall on this part as I am told by a dealership, Scion's corporate office, and online. The recall id is 50s. Even though there is a recall that describes exactly what happened to my vehicle, and it is a definite safety issue in regards to the part, I am being told that because my VIN number was not included that they will not cover the cost of replacing the part. I put in a complaint and do have a case number for it if needed for investigation.
Related recalls
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
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.
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.
Window & Wiper complaints in other tC years
Frequently asked questions
How common are window & wiper problems on the 2006 Scion tC?
NHTSA has 42 complaints about the windows, wipers & sunroof of the 2006 Scion tC, 26% of the model year's 161 complaints. The component named most often is sun/moon roof assembly (25 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Scion tC window & wiper problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 05V-483 (sun/moon roof assembly, Oct 18, 2005). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2006 Scion tC window & wiper problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles, and 35% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries to windows, wipers & sunroof 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.