Window & Wiper complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Over the past 4-5 years, 2015 scion tc has had numerous electrical issues. Both driver and passenger electric door locks do not work. Head and tail lamp lights burn out frequently. Seems like a grounding issue? Car failed to start August 2021 due to electrical problems. 3rd party mechanic fixed the issue. Toyota Dealer-installed automatic start fails multiple times before starting car. Basic electrical mechanisms for a car made in 2015 should not be broken/failing. 2019 Air Conditioner wouldn't drain. Had to investigate and personally drain the tubes behind the passenger and driver side-pannels behind center counsel. The entire draining system for the cars air conditioner had clogged. 2015 Exterior Vinyl Pillars on sides of windshield started to fade. Brought it to Westbury Toyota and they said the sun caused it. I didn't even have the car for 6 months yet....
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Scion tC. The contact stated that while parked and seated in the vehicle, the contact heard an abnormal sound like a shattered glass. The contact exited the vehicle and became aware that the center sun roof glass had shattered. The contact stated that the sun roof had shattered without impact or incidence. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 85,000.
On my way home on I-10 there was no traffic near me, windows up sunroof closed ac on, my roommate with me we hear what sounded like a gun shot than a shower of glass. We pulled over to find the glass panel in the roof had shattered there was no impact mark(s) I drove straight to the place I got the car(new) (philpot motors in nederland tx) where I was told that they had two cars on the lot that did the same thing, but completely refused to do anything about this issue. I called my insur, co. About it and that told me that should be warranty deal. No one had any information to help me, and I had searched and found many other people that have had this issue, and Toyota refused to offer any help. Toyota needs to make this right to all the people with this car...
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Scion tC. While the vehicle was parked and unoccupied, the sun roof exploded without warning or impact. Priority Toyota chesapeake (1800 greenbrier pkwy, chesapeake, va 23320, [phone]) was contacted and advised the contact to call the insurance company. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The insurance company was called and informed the contact to submit a claim. The failure mileage was 63,200.
**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].
My husband and I were driving down a town road in our community on cape cod on a clear day. Suddenly we heard what sounded like a gun shot. It scared the living daylights out of us because it was so loud, like an explosion. We pulled over into a parking lot to investigate what had happened. The sunroof of the car had completely exploded with shattered glass streaming off the back of the car. Thankfully, we had the canvas part of the sunroof closed. If left open, we would have had glass coming down onto our heads and laps. This, for sure, could have caused an accident. The sound alone, was terrifying! It seemed to explode outward, and there was nothing that seemed to hit the roof. I did some investigating about tempered glass and realized that it is not so rare of an occurrence for this to happen because of the inclusions of nickel sulfide often found in tempered glass. …
Driver's sun visor will not stay in position against the roof of the car and falls at will, which is a hazard as it limits visibility, sometimes at the worst possible time. At times it merely stays in the lowest possible position, which makes certain driving maneuvers very difficult and dangerous - especially in bad weather. I know Toyota has a recall for this same issue on the camry, and I've been told by one of the service technicians that several other models have the same issue, but with no recall. It is obviously a problem with vehicles manufactured by Toyota.
Related recalls (1)
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.
NHTSA investigations
Sun/moon roof wind deflector breakage
The manufacturer states that there are no indications of deficiencies in the design, manufacture, or assembly of the wind deflector that May account for the incidents reported.the manufacturer also believes that impact of airborne road debris with the wind deflector is the probable cause for the incidents reported.odi's analyses of the warranty data indicate that incidents of wind deflector breakage while driving…
Sun/moon roof wind deflector breakage
The manufacturer notified NHTSA by letter dated October 17, 2005, that a safety recall has been initiated.NHTSA has assigned no.05v-483 to the recall.the corrective action will consist of installing a plastic film to the inside surface of the wind deflector glass.the corrective action will be performed on approximately 71,400 my 2005 and 2006 Scion tc vehicles manufactured during the period of March 12, 2004 through…
Frequently asked questions
Which Scion tC years have window & wiper problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2005 (50), 2006 (42), 2007 (22), 2008 (6) and 2009 (6) model years. Window & Wiper complaints make up 32% of all complaints for the 2005.
Is there a recall for Scion tC window & wiper problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 05V-483 (sun/moon roof assembly, Oct 18, 2005). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Scion tC window & wiper problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 45,000 miles; 57% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the sun/moon roof assembly (83 mentions), followed by the windshield (6).
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.