Is the 2005 Scion tC a bad year?
155 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other tC years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2005 Scion tC are in line with other tC years. Visibility and wipers stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2005 tC owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 33,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 50 (32%) | 9k–75k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 31 (20%) | 33k–99k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 20 (13%) | 26k–100k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 13 (8%) | 69k–126k miles · ahead | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Tires | 11 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 8 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 8 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 8 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Equipment | 7 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Latches and locks | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 33,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 155 complaints: 25 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 24 report an injury · 3 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Sep 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2005 Scion tC: 4
These vehicles were sold between september 1, 2005 and june 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels. This does not meet the standard requirements.
On certain vehicles, the side impact seat-bolster and curtain side airbags may inadvertently deploy. If the side impact seat-bolster and curtain side airbags inadvertently deploy, they could cause personal injury if an occupant is seated on the same side of the vehicle as the door that is closed with a high rate of force.
On certain vehicles, due to improper assembly of the air bag inflator, which is used in the side air bag, the curtain shield air bag, and the knee air bag assembly, some inflators were produced with an insufficient amount of the heating agents necessary for proper air bag deployment. This may increase the risk of injury to the occupant in the involved seating position in the event of a crash.
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. Pieces of the wind deflector glass may separate from the frame and fall upon the vehicle occupants causing driver distraction and/or injury.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Scion: 30
Repair instructions Scion sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2005 Scion tC. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of the correct torque converter bolts during automatic…
Some vehicles may exhibit an intermittent MIL "ON" condition with Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P0335 (Crankshaft Position Sensor…
The procedure in this bulletin is a general guideline on how to properly diagnose the air conditioning system after a component failure
If a creak, tick, or rattle noise is heard at the top of the windshield, the source of the noise may be the two windshield stoppers bonded to the top…
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Glass moonroof shatters
Sun/moon roof wind deflector breakage
Sun/moon roof wind deflector breakage
Neighbouring years
2006 tC: 161 complaints, keep it.
Every Scion tC year
2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · All tC years side by side
Other Scion models: Scion FR-S · Scion xB. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2005 Scion tC a bad year?
155 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other tC years. At 33,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Scion tC?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: visibility and wipers (50), body structure (31), air bags (20), engine (13), tires (11).
How many recalls does the 2005 Scion tC have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Equipment (NHTSA 10V-035), Air bags (NHTSA 06V-408), Air bags (NHTSA 06V-096), Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 05V-483). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.