2015 Scion tC Reliability
The 2015 Scion tC has 22 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and air bags. Compared with nearby tC model years (2013–2016), it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the tC's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
22
NHTSA owner complaints
3
Recall campaigns
4
Complaints citing a crash
0
Complaints citing a fire
2015 Scion tC complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2015 model year, filed between 2015 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrain / transmission | 6 | 27% |
| Air bags | 5 | 23% |
| Visibility / wipers | 5 | 23% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 9% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 9% |
| Body structure | 2 | 9% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 9% |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 5% |
2015 Scion tC recalls
3 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2015 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15V228000 | Apr 17, 2015 | 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.… |
| 16V420000 | Jun 9, 2016 | 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… |
| 18E091000 | Sep 20, 2018 | Service brakes | 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… |
How the 2015 compares with nearby tC years
Verdicts compare these tC model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 9 | 1 | Service brakes | Too few reports |
| 2014 | 20 | 1 | Unknown or other | Better year |
| 2015 (this page) | 22 | 3 | Powertrain / transmission | Solid |
| 2016 | 6 | 3 | Unknown or other | Too few reports |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2015 Scion tC
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Visibility: test the wipers at every speed, washers, defrosters and the climate system (fogging is a common complaint).
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 3 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2015 Scion tC can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2015 Scion tC reliability FAQ
Is the 2015 Scion tC reliable?
The 2015 Scion tC has 22 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and air bags. Compared with nearby tC model years (2013–2016), it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the tC's typical year.
What are the most common 2015 Scion tC problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2015 Scion tC are powertrain / transmission (6), air bags (5), visibility / wipers (5), electrical system (2). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2015 Scion tC have recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2015 Scion tC, including 15V228000 (suspension — rear) and 16V420000 (equipment — other / labels). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2015 Scion tC compare with the 2014 and 2016 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2014 has 20 complaints and 1 recall (better year); the 2016 has 6 complaints and 3 recalls (too few reports). The 2015 has 22 complaints and 3 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2015 Scion tC?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Scion tC research
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2015 tC, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.