YearToAvoid

2015 Scion TC Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2015 Scion TC has a complaint index of 45 and ranks 7th worst out of 12 model years, earning a Good verdict. NHTSA lists 22 complaints and 2 recalls for this year, with Transmission & Powertrain the top problem area at 27% of complaints.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
45/100
#7 of 12 TC years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
22
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
2
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
4
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
3
Top issue
Transmission & Powertrain
Best nearby year
2016
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
26
23 city / 30 hwy
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0

Top 2015 Scion TC problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain6 (27%)
  2. Airbags5 (23%)
  3. Visibility & Wipers5 (23%)
  4. Brakes2 (9%)
  5. Electrical System2 (9%)
  6. Other2 (9%)
  7. Structure & Body2 (9%)
  8. Engine1 (5%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (5%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Owners report the driver-side airbag or side airbag deploying unexpectedly during normal driving, in one case at 13,253 miles.
  • Some owners describe airbags failing to deploy during a crash, including a low-speed collision at 10,457 miles.
  • The parking brake has been reported to lock up after the car sits for several days, releasing with a loud bang.
  • A moonroof glass panel reportedly shattered while the car was parked, and another owner reported the sunroof sticking open at 43,000 miles.
  • Owners describe a whining noise from the transmission when the car is in neutral with the clutch pedal released, reported at 73,600 miles.
  • A rattling noise from the rear/trunk area was reported that a body shop could not identify.
2015 Scion TC complaints: complaints filed per month2Apr 2015Aug 2016Dec 2018Apr 2019Jan 2021Jul 2021Jun 2026
22 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2015 to Jun 2026; peak Aug 2016 (2).

2015 Scion TC recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 16V420000Jun 9, 2016Other4,253 vehicles

    Equipment:other:labels

    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."

    Risk: 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.

  2. NHTSA 15V228000Apr 17, 2015Suspension, Wheels & Tires114 vehicles

    Suspension:rear

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2015 Toyota Scion tC vehicles manufactured December 3, 2014, to January 30, 2015 and equipped with accessory coil springs as part of an optional Release Series 9 trim package. During installation of these coil springs, the rear suspension components may not have been properly tightened.

    Risk: If the rear suspension components were not properly tightened, the rear suspension arms may detach, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the bolts, nuts, rear suspension arms, and rear suspension member sub assembly, free of charge. The recall began on June 12, 2015. Owners may contact Scion customer service at 1-866-707-2466.

2015 Scion TC fuel economy and fuel cost

City
23 MPG
Highway
30 MPG
Combined
26 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,500
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2015 compared with other TC years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2013Best99025
2014Caution5520026
2015Good4522226
2016Best186226

All Scion TC years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Scion TC reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2015 Scion TC has a complaint index of 45 and ranks 7th worst of 12 model years, earning a Good verdict relative to other TC years.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Scion TC?
NHTSA data shows Transmission & Powertrain complaints lead at 27% of total complaints, followed by Airbags and Visibility & Wipers, each at 23%.
Does the 2015 Scion TC have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2015 Scion TC: one for a suspension issue involving accessory coil springs and rear suspension arms, and one for an inaccurate load carrying capacity label.
How does the 2015 Scion TC compare to other TC years?
The 2015 model's complaint index of 45 is better than years like 2005 and 2006, which scored 82 and 100, but worse than 2012 and 2013, which scored 0 and 9 and earned Best verdicts.
What is the fuel economy of the 2015 Scion TC?
EPA rates the 2015 Scion TC at 26 mpg combined (23 city / 30 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,500.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.