Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STRUCTURE - BODY | |||||
| 00202 | 05/31/2002 | 00202 | 10010086 | Paint stains under rapgard. (all toyota 2002-2005 models). *jb all '02 - '06 toyota & all '04 - '06 scions. *tt | 11/04/2004 |
| STRUCTURE - BODY - ROOF AND PILLARS | |||||
| 01505 | 12/08/2005 | 10018849 | Sliding roof replacement parts. *tt | 01/18/2006 | |
Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STRUCTURE - BODY - ROOF AND PILLARS | ||||||
| PE06024 | TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION | 07/07/2006 | 12/06/2006 | 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 stones or road debris may result in immediate or delayed shatter incidents, depending on the extent and nature of damage sustained by the glass moonroof panel.the manufacturer concludes that incidents of moonroof shatter are random occurrences that result primarily from impact with small stones or other objects while the vehicle is in motion. a safety-related defect trend has not been identified and this pe has been closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that a safety defect does not exist.the agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STRUCTURE | |||
| 11/04/2010 | |||
| I was driving approximately 65 mph on a highway during a somewhat cold, wet evening when all of the sudden my sunroof shattered. at the time i was not using my sunroof and it was completely closed. unfortunately my sun shade was not closed and as a result i experienced a shower of glass while driving on the highway surrounded by moderate traffic. this could have caused a major accident! the noise that came from the sunroof was similar to a small handgun going off in my car and for a minute or so i thought someone had taken a shot at me. after searching throughout my car for evidence of any type of road debris that might have caused this i could find none. right now i am driving around without a sunroof and without the money to pay for the repair. this sunroof mechanism was designed poorly and i have read many other complaints and case descriptions similar to mine. | |||
| 09/16/2009 | 51000 | 1 | |
| I have a 2005 scion tc that i purchase brand new from the factory. recently i had my handle latch broken from normal use. i lifted it like you would normally do and it just snapped (broke). i then realized that it was framed or made with thin plastic that wouldn't last long on the car itself because if you apply normal pressure by opening it, the handle is not made to handle such pressure by the weight of the truck and glass. it's a hatch back. i notice numerous complaints from other scion tc owners on several blogs and websites. i have not attempted to fix it because i'm looking at parts alone $180 without labor. i was wondering if there's anything i could do besides filing a complaint. thank you. *tr | |||
| 07/11/2009 | 75500 | 1 | |
| To save for space regarding the number of characters i am allotted i have put a very detailed list of things that happened at this url: http://www.nsxprime.com/forums/showthread.php?t=124643 please take the time to review it since i know that the nhtsa has been querying this topic before. *tr | |||
| 09/29/2008 | 57769 | 1 | |
| Incident occurred on 9/30/08 at ~3:15pm. i heard a loud bang (sounded like a shotgun blast) while driving on the highway at ~60mph. my immediate reaction was to duck...i literally thought someone was shooting at me. after a quick second to collect my wits, i looked around and saw no damage. once that soaked in, i realized i heard wind noise (i remember thinking that was odd because windows were up and sunroof was closed). i pulled back the sunroof screen and, to my astonishment, saw that the sunroof had spiderwebbed into thousands of tiny pieces...pieces that were already starting to fly off into traffic behind me. i pulled over and got out to look at the damage. the sunroof looked like something had blasted it from the inside out. i cleaned up the glass the best i could on the side of the highway and headed straight for the dealer. i had heard of deflector shattering (recall was completed on my deflector), but not the sunroof. the dealer refuses to pay for the sunroof even though i have the extended warranty. they claim that it was caused by a road hazard. the weather was mild, nothing hit my sunroof from the outside and, based on similar instances filed here, i firmly believe there is a defect with the design. toyota should do the right thing, fix this issue and honor their warranties. *tr | |||
| 01/06/2005 | 1 | 1 | 11/28/2004 |
| I purchased my car at the end of nov in 04, about a week after i noticed a ton of scratches on my vehicle. i took it to the dealer and had the gm look at it, no help. i made an appointment and they said they would look at it. still has not been looked at and it is now jan of 05. my car has over 500 small scratches and the clear coat is bubbling off the paint. i have done a lot of research and found this is a big problem with the 2005 scion tc. i was treated like a complete moron and no one wanted to help me and i was dismissed out the door.*ak | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY | |||
| 02/22/2013 | 117000 | ||
| I love my scion however i bought brand new from expressway toyota in dorchester ma in 2005 and with all the recalls i see on here i've only done one, and that the glass windshield. everyt other time i go the dealer and tell them that there are recalls, they ignore me and say that there isn't . i have some rattling noise going on under my car...i fixed once at the dealer and it came back again but now the dealer wants me to pay again to fix it and i think it's a safety concern in the car, the tires are also uneven, i keep having to change tires too often, the hatch lift in the back keeps breaking...major failing and cheap. it feels like it was glued on. i would an answer from the dealer where i bought the car as to why they keep denying my visits on the recalls and why in being charge the same safety work that i've paid once to get fix and now the same rattling noise keeps coming. i never get any information in the mail from my dealer either informing me of these recalls. i guess they are refusing to fix them. | |||
| 02/04/2013 | 115000 | ||
| My 2005 toyota scion tc turned off while i was driving. i put vehicle in park and re started it. moments later the brakes failed and i turned into a plaza. at that point the steering failed. i did not know the vehicle was on fire until this point. i had no control of the car so i reached back and grabbed my two year old who was strapped in her car seat. right before we jumped out the car stopped completely ( tires melted) , the flames were visible in front of me and the car filled with smoke. we jumped out and ran. moments later the entire car was in flames. witnesses told me that i was on fire for a while and they turned around to get my attention. no injuries or fatalities were suffered with this fire but it was way too close for comfort. | |||
| 06/01/2012 | 100000 | ||
| Back hatch door handle garnish just came off the vehicles rear hatch handle has a design flaw which makes the part fail. the rear hatch handle is fastened to the trunk/hatch with plastic clips. when the release button for the hatch is pressed, it only unlocks the hatch door. it does not spring upward like other vehicles. in the manual it shows to hold the release button and lift with the hatch handle. because there are no springs to help lift it applies lots of pressure to the clips which weaken them. eventually, they just snap. they are also known for snapping when the hatch is locked, in cold weather, and there are even reports of the release button melting. replacement costs for this particular piece from the dealer is $170 for the handle and upward $200+ for labor. this price does not guarantee a permanent fix. this is the cost for the same faulty part. because scion owners are aware of this, many have resorted to their own means of fixing which is where the safety issues arise. scion calls this part an exterior garnish which implies it is for decorative purposes only and is not covered by warranty, but it is not just for looking at. this piece is a housing compartment for some vital components. because scion knows about this, they should be held liable for putting their consumers at risk. sign the petition to recall scion defective rear hatch handles and improve our safety. . i have heard this is a clas action lawsuit going on for this http://classactionlawsuitsinthenews.com/class-action-lawsuit-complaints/toyota-scion-xb-tc-class-action-lawsuit-complaint-filed-over-alleged-rear-hatch-door-handle-defect/ | |||
| 06/02/2008 | 11121 | ||
| The rear trunk hatch molding panel broke off and the electrical cord with latch release is unsecured and dangling. it has to be secured to car with tape but that covers brake light. i was pulled over today by a california police officer , who informed me that it is a safety hazard and unsafe. there are thousands of scion tx and xbs from 2005-2011 with the same problem as seen in this facebook page and petition for recall. http://www.facebook.com/pages/scion-tc-and-xb-defective-trunk-hatch-handle i have visited multiple scion toyota service centers and contacted customer service by phone (including 1-18-2012). scion will not replace part with the re-engineered/ improved scion part or cover the cost of repair/instillation unless you qualify for customer loyalty and have serviced your vehicle at scion dealership service center. they will not make a recall; denying it is a safety issue which is contrary to what the california police department says. | |||
| 05/19/2012 | 55000 | ||
| Moonroof deflector shattered with a pop sound at speeds 55 with all windows closed. later inspection that it was cracked around all the edges about 1/2 ~ 1 inches into the center. | |||
| 12/29/2004 | 15 | 1 | |
| My 2005 scion tc purchased new had several swirl marks in the paint i was told it was from the porter washing the car to deliver to me. i said i refused to accept the car with the paint like that. they said i could bring it back and they would have it buffed out. i should have known then that there was a problem with the paint. this is my 6th new car 2nd new toyota i have never seen paint scratch, chip and bubble like this not to mention on a new car. my best friend owns body shop for high end cars and has cars shown at the concourse level he said that the problem is insufficient layers of paint and poor quality clear coat. my car is washed only by hand with the best available products and waxed the same way. i live in southern california several miles from the beach drive on city and freeway roads there is nothing in my driving habits that would cause the amount of paint damage i am experiencing. i even picked my car up from being serviced at the dealership and there were many scratches down to the metal and the dealership won't acknowledge them. i am on the phone with scion customer experience at least once a month over this car. there are so many complaints filed with the nhtsa for paint issues, this problem will never be a safety issue but it is an issue and i don't know who else to contact that has the ability to make the manufacture/dealership correct this for all the current owners and future buyers. my side view mirrors look like they have been sitting out in the desert for years the paint is completely cracked and faded. the slightest piece of road dirt hits and the paint is chipped all the way to the bare metal. this is not normal. cars that cost less and are years older have better looking paint. this is an expensive problem to fix but that expenses shouldn't be the consumers that trusted the reputation of toyota and spent hard earned money for the privilege of owning a new car. its unfair to the consumer, unjust and beneath toyota. *tr | |||
| 10/01/2005 | 18000 | 1 | 09/01/2005 |
| Paint is chipping, was informed by dealership this is normal ware. i look at other vehicles that drive the same routes that i do and do not see chips on their cars. i would like for this to be investigated. there seem to be many complaints regarding this matter. *nm | |||
| 05/01/2005 | 1 | 02/01/2005 | |
| Automatic transmission hesitates to shift gears everyday. dealer states they cannot duplicate the issue. this started about a month ago (11/05). paint chips on front of vehicle as well as scratches in the paint. only drive on paved roads and highways. noticed this within three months of having vehicle (05/05). *jb | |||
| 07/18/2004 | 45 | 3 | 07/14/2004 |
| I have had numerous problems with my 2005 scion tc since purchase on 7/16/2004. the day after purchase the front tire was sitting on the rim. terrible problems with scratches it seems as though you look at it and it scratches and the paint is peeling and bubbling all over, the power lock button fell inside the door within the 1st week i had the car. have been to dealership 3 different times concerning the sunroof making terrible rattling noises and it sounds like the whole top of the car is moving when you make a turn, then after it rains, i live in fl and no visible water is on the top, open the window and water on the lip of the sunroof leaks water all over you. they have took the car apart for sun roof and can't fix, tore out the headliner. also the inside metallic parts scratch easily, the dealership tech destroyed the part around the gear shift. my car insurance has doubled since i bought this car because of accidents i have less than 9,000 miles on this car, have met with gm, and everyone thinks your crazy. this is the worst car i have ever purchased and it has been nothing but a nightmare, the people at the dealership say oh your the only one with the paint problem , it's wear and tear, yet we have another new vehicle that gets driven to work every day and the paint looks better than my car. i am very disappointed with toyota and i traded in a toyota to get this car, i guarantee you i will never buy another scion, i have wondered why they are not advertised on tv, now i know why. i spend my time going to the doctors and the dealership being treated like an idiot. they kept my car 5 days last time and want it again. if your car leaks like mine please report it as they have had an outside rain doctor check it out an it says it's designed that way, yat it did not do this in the beginning. i hate to trade it in and pass this nightmare on to someone else. i have come across tons of complaints and many service advisories.*jb | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE | |||
| 08/10/2006 | 12000 | 3 | 03/16/2005 |
| Purchased my vehicle in march 2005. i have had it in the shop three (3) times for the moon roof. the moon roof rattles horribly and the dealership as taken the glass out and replaced it saying that toyota has done all that they know what to do with that particular situation. i find this unacceptable. i have also had my car in the shop five (5) times for the back hatch. the hatch makes a horrible rattle when just driving on regular roads. this problem is still unfixed. my paint as with the numerous other amounts of complaints is chipping and bubbling up. it horrifies me to read all of these complaints regarding this vehicle. i can only anticipate on what could happen next. *nm | |||
| 07/18/2005 | 02/28/2005 | ||
| Scion xb truck hatch while closing sheered my nose while closing . parmamedics required to stablize me, and er treatment with plastic surgeon for treatment. | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE - HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | |||
| 01/01/1901 | 1 | ||
| 2005 toyota scion tc with rear hatch failure. consumer states that rear hatch can come crashing down on someone or on their hands if they are there. toyota talked to the consumer and stated that they did not believe there was a safety issue. *kb the consumer stated the rear hatch would not open on his vehicle, until one day, the stays completely failed and the rear hatch came crashing down. *jb | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE - SUPPORT DEVICE | |||
| 01/01/1901 | 1 | ||
| 2005 toyota scion tc with rear hatch failure. consumer states that rear hatch can come crashing down on someone or on their hands if they are there. toyota talked to the consumer and stated that they did not believe there was a safety issue. *kb the consumer stated the rear hatch would not open on his vehicle, until one day, the stays completely failed and the rear hatch came crashing down. *jb | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - ROOF AND PILLARS | |||
| 09/03/2009 | 97800 | 1 | |
| I was driving my 2005 toyota scion tc at approximately 7am on an expressway at 55mph my sunroof closed as well as the shade cover both closed. i heard a loud pop followed by bits of glass falling in on me and the car through the top vent holes of the sunroof. i pulled over as soon as possible off the expressway to assess what had happened not an easy task when cars are doing speeds of 55-70+ .when i view the damage it appears that some how the front wind deflector of the sunroof had popped up and shattered the glass of the closed sunroof all around the edges along the track of the middle glass and it appears that it may have push the glass upward causing the middle glass to shatter and crumble inside the vehicle on to the shade cover that thankfully was closed leaving about an 8x4 inch whole in the glass and the rest of glass cracked and crumbly with chunks of glass on the inside as well as outside the car. extremely dangerous but very thankful it did not cause serious injury to myself or anyone driving on the road with me. i brought the car to my dealer and they claim the car was hit by something that shattered the glass and told me to contact my insurance company to do the repair. after reading about the numerous other complaints for the exact same problem i will be returning to the dealer today to further argue my point , no repair made at this time . my concern is that i have read that people have had multiple incidents after repairing the damage . there is no doubt there is a major flaw in the design of the sunroof . there was a recall on the wind deflector that involved putting some type of film over the deflector that would prevent it from cracking if hit by debris while open stopping it from breaking apart and flying off. i had that recall done in 2007 . i was told now that this incident had nothing to do with the recall issue, i disagree i believe the recall should have been for the mechanics of the wind deflector it some how was forced to open up. *tr | |||
| 09/16/2006 | 33600 | 2 | 09/06/2004 |
| Around 10 months ago i was driving down interstate 27 with my sunroof completely closed. there were no other vehicles around me. suddenly i heard a loud noise, i swerved a quite bit and then i noticed glass was falling on my head. i looked up to see my sunroof was gone. i immediately went to the dealership where they replaced the glass on warranty. since it was replaced at no charge to me i was satisfied. the second incident happened last saturday night (9-16-06). i was driving home with the sunroof closed.there were no other cars around. we heard a quieter noise that sounded like glass shattering; we looked at all the windows but saw nothing wrong. the next day i noticed that the wind deflector was completely shattered. most of the pieces of glass were still there except the leading edge of the glass. i've had the plastic film put on the car according to the recall but it isn't completely effective because there is glass missing. the dealership wouldn | |||
| STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS | |||
| 11/05/2010 | 75104 | ||
| 2005 scion tc, sun roof exploded while driving at i-85 freeway. all windows and sunroof were closed when it happened. the shattered sunroof have a huge hole in middle front section of the sunroof and shattered all four sides. on daily driving, i noticed that the car structure flex too much, enough to produce poping sound. toyota dealer initial assestment is not part of warranty or recall as of this date 11/05/2010. | |||