Most common 2009 Scion tC problems
Share of the 60 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Scion tC complaints by model year
Best tC years: 2016, 2012, 2013. Years to avoid: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009. Compare all years →
2009 Scion tC recalls (3)
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.
Remedy: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. Dealers will also correct the owner's manual.
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.
Remedy: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The safety recall began on May 27, 2010.
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."
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners and provide them with a new, accurate label to be installed over the inaccurate label free of charge. The safety recall began on August 18, 2009. Owners May contact Toyota at 1-888-270-9371.
What 2009 Scion tC owners say
Engine & cooling
My scion TC is using an extreme amount of oil to where I am putting 2-3 quarts in the motor per week. The extreme usage of oil can cause the engine to blow up due to lack of oil staying in the engine. My oil light will flash after couple days indicating low oil. A dangerous situation that can happen is the engine stop working while I'm driving on an interstate and possibly cause a serious accident or even an engine fire. There was a Toyota bulletin on this issue back in 2015. My car was bought in 2013. According to Toyota, they claimed they had sent notice to the address listed under this VIN. We received no such notice and even requested Toyota prove they sent it, but they would not. When I asked them about this case in regard to this issue, they have mentioned Toyota would no longer deal with this because it was past the deadline. …
2009 Scion tC consumes to much engine oil due to bad pistons installed by manufacture and needs to be repaired before major engine problems occur. I also found out I'm not the only one having this issue. I've just purchased the vehicle.8
Air bags
My daughter and son were in an accident as a passenger in a Scion tC 2009 and the car rolled multiple times and both the front and back passenger seat belts unlatched and the passenger curtain airbag did not deploy or inflate. With these defects, my daughters legs were trapped under the car and sustained traumatic bone damage in which her prognosis at this time is unknown. Her left ankle, the talus, fibula, and tibia were crushed. Currently she had an ex fix on her left leg and two plates and pins placed on her fibula, the physicians say she will never walk the same and she currently is unable to bear any weight on either foot due to the fracutes sustained from her being ejected from the car because of the seatbelt release and the failure of deployment of the side curtain air bag.
Tl* the contact owned a 2009 Scion tC. While driving approximately 30 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the front driver's side of the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained chest, neck, and shoulder injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a towing lot. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 145,000.
Body & structure
I have had my 2009 Scion tC for just about 2 years now, back in February I was just doing some grocery shopping, went to open the trunk and the whole trunk release handle fell off,and now is just connected by wires which is a distraction to drivers behind me and also covers the license plate which I'm sure is just cause for me to get a traffic fine. I took it to the dealership where I bought it and they said its not under warranty,even though I have a full warranty left on my car for 100,00 miles. This is an outrage that this part isn't covered for manufacture defects and poor workmanship, this should not fall apart after 2 years, and it clearly should be recalled.. If Toyota wants to keep selling cars, they need to make good on fixing this problem.. My car has a warranty on it so I should not have to pay out of pocket for something that shouldn't have fallen off so easily!!!! …
The hatch handle on my car broke off when I was lifting the hatch to put some items in my trunk. When I looked further into why it broke, I realized that the pieces were just small plastic pieces and could be easily snapped. I was able to tape the piece back, but was unable to remove it completely because there are wires that connect the handle piece to the car and you need them to be able to lift the back of the car. When I taped it up well enough I realized that I was also covering a big portion of my brake lights which I and other drivers need or it could cause a wreck. I called the dealership and they want to charge me over $300 to fix this issue when clearly it is a manufactures issue. I have noticed since this happened to me, multiple tC's with the same issue when I am driving. I see lots of tape on the rear of those cars as well. …
2009 Scion tC engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 29 / 24 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 27 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2009 Scion tC a good car?
Based on 60 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 tC rates avoid: 2.1× as many complaints as a typical year of the tC at the same age. It is one of the tC years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2009 Scion tC?
The engine & cooling — 15 complaints, 25% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the air bags (9) and body & structure (8).
How many recalls does the 2009 Scion tC have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2009 Scion tC, the most recent from February 3, 2010 (labels). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Scion tC?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2016, 2012 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. See the full Scion tC years comparison.
At what mileage do 2009 Scion tC problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 46,000 miles; 55% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.