Most common 2011 Scion tC problems
Share of the 29 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 →
What 2011 Scion tC owners say
Lights
It's 2020 and I just bought a 2011 Scion tC. I took it to an inspection station in the state of maryland so I can have I registered in maryland. My vehicle failed the inspection because it does not have 2 rear reverse lights, it only has one on the driver's side. The passenger side does not have a port or wires for a reverse lights.
I was backing out of a parking space when another vehicle nearly ran into my rear passenger side. There is only one reverse lamp and it is on the driver side of the car. People approaching the car from the passenger side cannot see this lamp; therefore they don't know the vehicle is reversing. I have almost been hit many times due to other vehicles not being aware of my reversing. This is also true of pedestrians walking behind/near the my vehicle as they cannot see the reverse light from the passenger side. I was not told this vehicle had only one reverse light when purchasing the vehicle. When I questioned the dealership they said there is nothing they can do. It is a major safety hazard and could easily result in a pedestrian or child being hit as they May walk behind the vehicle unaware of it being in reverse.
Windows, wipers & sunroof
**sunroof shattered** around 7:00 am on a Monday (12/28) I go outside to warm up my car an notice that the sunroof is shattered! It is shattered in a way that appears it was from the inside going outward. The outside edges of the glass near the weather stripping is pulled away in an akward manner. None of my belongings were taken and no noticeable cause as to why it shattered. Again, simply parked in my driveway in roanoke,tx. Through my own investigating, I have found that this is a common occurrence in all year models of Scion TCS. I just hope that Toyota takes this into consideration moving forward. Lets see what the insurance and dealership have to say.
Sunroof spontaneously shattered. I was driving down the road around 40mph and suddenly heard a very loud noise. Shortly after this, I heard my sunroof cracking above me. When I pulled over to look, I saw that my sunroof had shattered along the left, right and back of the sunroof. Took it to the dealership and they estimate it to be around $1200-$1300 to fix. $800 for the glass by itself. There were no other cars around me when it happened and nothing above me that could have fallen and done this. If you have had this same issue, please contact Scion to let them know so we can get a recall started. [phone].
Engine & cooling
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Toyota Scion tC. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle was involved in a multiple vehicle crash. The contact's vehicle was rear ended, causing it to spin around and burst into flames. A police report was filed. The contact sustained bruises and injuries to the neck, and back. The contact was unaware if there were any fatalities or any other injuries reported. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did offer any assistance. The failure and current mileage was 900.
Since I've bought my car, at every car start up there is a noise or a rattle that is briefly audible for about 1 second then stops. When the vehicle is started again, the noise is no longer there. This only happens at vehicle start up. It sounds something similar to a winding noise. The engine in my vehicle is the exact same engine in the 2011 Toyota camry, 2ar-fe. A TSB has been filed for the camry however a TSB has not been issued for the Scion tC. My current mileage is 29800. I recommend a TSB be filed for the Scion tC 2.5l 2ar-fe so I and others with this problem could repair our vehicles. TSB for camry: TSB number: TSB-0146-10 NHTSA number: 10034924 TSB date: June 9, 2010 date added to file: February 1, 2011.
2011 Scion tC engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 22 / 30 / 25 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 23 / 30 / 25 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Scion tC a good car?
Based on 29 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 tC rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the tC at the same age. 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 2011 Scion tC?
The lights — 6 complaints, 21% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the windows, wipers & sunroof (6) and engine & cooling (4).
How many recalls does the 2011 Scion tC have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2011 Scion tC. You can still confirm with your VIN using our 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 2011 Scion tC problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 29,000 miles; 67% 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.