2016 Scion tC
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Brakes
Brakes is the largest identified problem area: 1 of 6 complaints (17%) mentions it. 3 complaints mention a component NHTSA leaves uncategorised. Complaints mentioning Body, Seats & Latches include more reported injuries (2) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 22 in 2015 to 6 in 2016.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | vs. 2016 Compact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,400 | 2,400 | 2,400 | |
| Combined MPG | 26 | 26 | 26 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 23 / 30 | 23 / 30 | 23 / 30 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 342 | 342 | 342 | |
| Complaints filed | 20 | 22 | 6 | |
| Recalls issued | 1 | 3 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 6 | 4 | 1 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 3 | 3 | 4 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 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 2016 Scion tC have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Scion tC get?
EPA rates it 26 MPG combined across 2 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Scion tC?
EPA estimates $2,400 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 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 23 mpg | 30 mpg | 26 mpg | $2,400 | 342 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 23 mpg | 30 mpg | 26 mpg | $2,400 | 342 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 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 (3)
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC · Campaign 18E091000 · Sep 26, 2018
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.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS · Campaign 16V420000 · Jun 9, 2016
Defect: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Camry and Highlander, 2015-2016 Toyota Tundra, Scion FR-S, and tC vehicles. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
Consequence: An incorrect label may lead an owner to overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
TIRES; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS · Campaign 16V236000 · Apr 22, 2016
Defect: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Yaris, Rav4, Land Cruiser and 4Runner vehicles, and Scion FR-S, iM, and TC vehicles manufactured January 28, 2016, to March 14, 2016. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
Consequence: An incorrect label may result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and provide them a corrected label to be installed over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on June 3, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET16A.