The Verdict
Worst problem area
Visibility & Lighting
Visibility & Lighting leads by volume: 12 of 29 complaints (41%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Engine include more fire reports (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 20 in 2010 to 29 in 2011.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 29
- Recall campaigns
- 1
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $2,500
- Combined MPG
- 25
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | vs. 2011 Compact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,600–2,700 | 2,600–2,700 | 2,500 | 2,500 | 2,500 | |
| Combined MPG | 23–24 | 23–24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 20–21 / 27–29 | 20–21 / 27–29 | 22–23 / 30 | 22–23 / 30 | 22–23 / 30 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 370–386 | 370–386 | 355 | 355 | 348 | |
| Complaints filed | 60 | 20 | 29 | 8 | 9 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 15 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Deaths reported | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2011 Scion tC have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2011 Scion tC?
Visibility & Lighting: 12 of 29 NHTSA complaints (41%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2011 Scion tC get?
EPA rates it 25 MPG combined across 2 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2011 Scion tC?
EPA estimates $2,500 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (2)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 22 mpg (low) | 30 mpg | 25 mpg | $2,500 | 355 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 23 mpg (high) | 30 mpg | 25 mpg | $2,500 | 355 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (1)
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Defect
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain Toyota Racing Development (TRD) brake kits, part numbers PTR09-21111 and PTR09-52080, sold by Toyota as an optional accessory for model year 2008-2015 Scion xB, and 2011-2016 Scion tC vehicles. Over time, the brake hoses in these kits may fatigue and fail.
- Consequence
- Failure of a brake hose will reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify all known owners of the Scion xB and Scion tC vehicles upon which an involved optional TRD Brake Kit could have been installed. If the vehicle is equipped with one of the TRD brake kits, it will be replaced with a standard equipment brake kit, free of charge. The recall began November 16, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0U.