Used Scion tC Buying Guide: Which Generation, Oil Burning and Recalls

The used Scion tC to buy is usually a 2011-2016 second-generation car: it has the 180-hp 2.5-liter, six-speed transmissions and standard stability control, and NHTSA's recall list for those years is mostly dealer accessory campaigns. A 2005-2010 tC costs less, but its 2.4-liter is one of the engines Toyota extended coverage on for excessive oil burning, and that extra coverage has run out on every car by now. So on a first-gen car you're buying the oil consumption risk yourself, and the price should show it.

I went through Consumer Guide's 2005-10 Scion tC review, Toyota's press releases for the 2011 redesign and the end of Scion, and NHTSA's recall API for every tC year from 2005 to 2016 on Sunday, October 18, 2026. Nothing below comes from owner forums.

First generation, 2005-2010

Every early tC used a 2.4-liter four rated about 160 hp with a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic, front drive only. It came loaded for the money, with a sunroof, power everything and a driver's knee air bag. Front side and curtain air bags were a $650 option at first, and Consumer Guide lists them as standard by 2008, so a 2008-2010 car is the safer pick unless you can confirm an earlier one has them. Consumer Guide's launch write-up says traction and stability control weren't offered. Its testers liked the handling and the fuel economy and griped about rear-seat entry, noise and a rear window with no wiper.

The trouble spots it lists are small: door check rods that stop the doors or windows from opening fully on 2005-2007 cars, a gas cap fit that can light the check engine lamp, wind noise from the sliding roof. Consumer Guide also warns you away from heavily customized cars and ones that look worn for their mileage. That's fair. A lot of tCs were modified, and a car with a cheap body kit and lowering springs has probably been driven like it.

The 2AZ oil burning program, and why it doesn't help you now

Toyota's ZE7 warranty enhancement covered certain 2007-2010 Scion tCs with the 2AZ engine, along with some Camry, Corolla, Matrix, RAV4 and xB models, for excessive engine oil consumption. A dealer had to run an oil consumption test first, and parts were replaced only if the car failed it. According to Toyota's ZE7 service consultant guide, the primary coverage ran to October 31, 2016, and secondary coverage lasted 10 years from the date of first use or 150,000 miles. Even a 2010 car sold late has aged out of that window by October 2026. The 2005 and 2006 cars weren't on the list at all.

What you can still do is ask for the paperwork. If a seller has a dealer invoice showing the ZE7 repair was done, that's worth real money. If not, check the dipstick, look for blue smoke on a cold start and ask how often the owner adds oil. Honestly, an owner who says "only between changes" on a high-mileage 2AZ car may not be checking.

Second generation, 2011-2016

Toyota's 2011 tC press release lists a new 2.5-liter four with 180 hp, six-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmissions, electric power steering, larger four-wheel disc brakes, a double-wishbone rear suspension and standard stability and traction control. It also added a front passenger knee air bag for eight in total. Toyota's February 2016 Scion transition announcement says the tC got a final release series and ended production in August 2016, and that Scion owners keep using Toyota service departments.

Recalls to confirm by VIN

• 05V483, 2005-2006: the glass wind deflector on the sunroof can shatter if road debris hits it while it's tilted up.
• 06V096, 2005-2006: some side, curtain and knee air bag inflators were built with too little heating agent to inflate properly.
• 06V408, 2005-2006: the side and curtain air bags can deploy if a door is slammed hard with the ignition on or just after shutoff.
• 15V228, 2015: Release Series 9 cars with accessory coil springs may have loose rear suspension parts.
• 18E091, 2011-2016: optional TRD brake kits whose hoses can fatigue and fail.

The API also lists several load-label campaigns from regional distributors such as Gulf States Toyota and Southeast Toyota, where accessory weight labels were missing or wrong. Run the VIN through our Scion recall check by VIN or pull NHTSA's recall data yourself, and use the Scion VIN decoder guide to confirm which generation you're looking at.

tC or xB?

They share dealers and, in 2008-2010, the same troublesome 2AZ engine, which was also in the ZE7 program on the xB through 2015. The xB is the boxy one with real cargo space. The tC is a coupe with a tight back seat and more style. Our used Scion xB guide covers the box, and if you're torn, sit in the back of each before you decide.

Before you pay

Cheap coupes get wrecked, repaired and flipped. Search NMVTIS for title brands and pull a report yourself instead of trusting a seller's printout. We resell CARFAX and AutoCheck under license and aren't affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, Experian or Toyota. In mid October 2026 a guest report runs around $5.50, members pay about $4.50 and the bundle of both is near $6.75, compared with about $39.99 to $44.99 at retail. Our checkout total is the real price if it disagrees with this page.

Sources

• Consumer Guide: 2005-10 Scion tC
• Toyota: All-New 2011 Scion tC; Toyota: Scion Brand to Transition to Toyota
• Toyota ZE7 Warranty Enhancement guide (NHTSA); NHTSA recallsByVehicle, tC 2005-2016, queried Oct. 18, 2026; NMVTIS