Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 117 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007 Scion tC, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 27 | 23% |
| Visibility | 19 | 16% |
| Vehicle speed control | 11 | 9% |
| Structure | 10 | 9% |
| Power train | 4 | 3% |
| Air bags | 4 | 3% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 4 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 3% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 2% |
| Power train | 2 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
When I bought this car, there was a couple recalls within 5 years of owning. One was fixed. The second was an oil consumption issue that my car passed by 100 miles and I was told it would not be covered. For the last few
NHTSA complaint: Engine
CAR DRINKING OIL, PISTON RING FINALLY DROPPED. I WAS DRIVING AND MY CAR STARTED A ROUGH IDLE THEN STARTED KNOCKING SO I PULLED OVER. THEY'RE RUNNING TESTS NOW BUT I'M NO DUMMY, THIS IS A PISTON ISSUE. I BROUGHT MY CAR IN
NHTSA complaint: Engine
THE ENGINE IN THIS CAR WHICH IS THE 2AZ-FE HAS DEFECTIVE PISTON RINGS WHICH CAUSES THE ENGINE TO BURN AN INSANELY AMOUNT OF OIL. I LITERALLY HAVE TO ADD AT LEAST A QUART OF OIL A WEEK AND I BEEN DOING SO TWO YEARS ALREA
NHTSA complaint: Engine
MY AIR BAGS IN MY SEATS DON'T WORK AT ALL. NEITHER DOES MY AIR BAG IN MY WHEEL. THE TIRES SHAKES WHEN I DRIVE PAST 60 AND THE RIMS ARE NOT SAFE. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO MY CHILD WHAT IF SHE GETS IN A ACCIDENT. THE SEAT
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
MY TRUNK RELEASE BROKE RECENTLY (1/25/19) AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE TRUNK. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF DEFECTIVE PART AND HAD OFFERED A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT ON THE TRUNK RELEASE BUT IT EX
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
HI ALL, IAM THE OWNER OF SCION TC 2007 SINCE 2015 AND USING THIS VEHICLE TO COMMUTE TO WORK AND HOME. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING MASSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL CONSUMPTION RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. I HAVE TO PUT 1 OR 2 QUART O
NHTSA complaint: Engine
VEHICLE BURNING OIL AT INCREASINGLY FAST RATE, LARGE OIL CONSUMPTION. NO OIL LIGHT OR DASHBOARD WARNING. AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY MY CAR SHUT DOWN... I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER GOT OUT...MY CAR WAS SMO
NHTSA complaint: Structure
MY 2007 TC HAS A VERY LARGE OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM TO THE POINT OF BETWEEN OIL CHANGES I AM PUTTING IN ABOUT 1.5 QUARTS TO 2 QUARTS. THE VEHICLE NEVER HAS ANY ONBOARD WARNINGS EITHER I DON'T GET A OIL LIGHT OR LOW OIL L
NHTSA complaint: Engine
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2007 Scion tC. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPA
Risk: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
Fix: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECAL
SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.
Risk: A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT S
| Reliability raw | 64 | average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 70 | good |
| Maintenance | 88 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 49 | below average |
| Efficiency | 45 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 117 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine is the most reported area with 27 of them (23%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 64/100 (average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 70/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2007 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 66/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.