2008 SCION TC Structure Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SCION TC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, HE OBSERVED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR GARNISH WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GARNISH ASSEMBLY WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000.

Mileage: 42,000

JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHERS, MY REAR HATCH PANEL CAME OFF I WAS OPENING THE TRUNK. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS ISN'T A RECALL. I NEVER GOT THE LETTER STATING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO REPLACE THIS. HORRIBLE. THE ONLY REASON IT HASN'T COME OFF PRIOR TO THIS IS BECAUSE I CONTORT MY BODY TO OPEN THE TRUNK BECAUSE I CAN TELL IT WANTS TO COME OFF. WELL IT FINALLY DID. ANYONE THAT GOES NEAR THAT REAR HATCH PANEL WITH THE EMBLEM GETS YELLED AT. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SCION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE HATCHBACK DOOR DUE TO THE BACKDOOR GARNISH ASSEMBLY SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

Mileage: 45,000

I WAS OPENING MY TRUNK AND THE HANDLE LATCH AND LIGHT CASE FELL RIGHT OFF. I AM NOT A VERY STRONG INDIVIDUAL SO HOW THIS WOULD HAPPEN TO ME COMPLETELY STUMPS ME. SINCE THIS INCIDENT I HAVE NOTICED THIS EXACT PROBLEM ON MORE AND MORE SCION TC'S. I BELIEVE THIS IS A STRUCTURAL BODY ISSUE THAT THE COMPANY SHOULD ADDRESS.

Mileage: 78,000

I WAS SIMPLY TRYING TO OPEN MY TRUNK WHEN THE LATCH HANDLE BROKE OFF ! *TR

Mileage: 88,000

TRUNK BROKE OFF WHILE OPENING VEHICLE. I AM A 115LB FEMALE, SERIOUSLY LACKING THE STRENGTH TO BREAK A WELL MADE CAR. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX DEFECT WITHOUT CHARGE. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

TRUCK LATCH, AND FACING BROKE RIGHT OFF IN HAND, VERY POOR QUALITY. *TR

Mileage: 55,000

ON FEBRUARY 24, 2013, I WAS OPENING MY TRUNK LIKE NORMAL AND THE ENTIRE PLASTIC PIECE SNAPPED IN HALF AND DANGLED FROM THE BACK OF MY CAR VIA THE WIRING THAT POWERS THE LIGHTS ABOVE THE LICENSE PLATE. BASICALLY, THE HYDRAULICS THAT IS SUPPOSED TO OPEN THE TRUNK IS WORTHLESS AND DOESN'T EVEN PICK UP THE WEIGHT OF THE TRUNK UNTIL IT IS TWO-THIRDS OF THE WAY OPEN. I RARELY USE MY TRUNK BECAUSE I USUALLY JUST TOSS EVERYTHING INTO THE BACK SEAT. I WOULD SAY THAT AFTER OWNING MY CAR FOR ALMOST FIVE YEARS, I'VE MAYBE OPENED THE TRUNK 50 TIMES, IF THAT. TOYOTA ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN STATING THEY KNOW THAT THE PIECE HAS EXTREME POTENTIAL TO BREAK BUT REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THE PIECE. FOR THE THOUSANDS OF SCION USERS OUTSIDE THEIR WARRANTY PERIOD, WE ARE FACED WITH THE COST OF ENSURING THE SAFETY OF OURSELVES AND FELLOW DRIVERS BECAUSE OF A POORLY MANUFACTURED, PLASTIC GARNISH DESIGNED BY TOYOTA AS A MEANS TO ENTER THE TRUNK. MY PIECE IS CURRENTLY DUCT TAPED BACK TOGETHER AND COVERS THE BRAKE LIGHTS ABOVE THE PIECE. OTHER OWNERS FACE THE ISSUE OF THE LIGHTS ABOVE THEIR LICENSE PLATE NOT WORKING WHICH MAKES THEM IN VIOLATION OF TRAFFIC LAWS THAT REQUIRED AN ILLUMINATED LICENSE PLATE. A TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN STATES THAT THE PART NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WITH AN ?IMPROVED GARNISH? AS DETAILED IN SERVICE BULLETIN S-SB-0001-10 DATED JANUARY 6, 2010. AS OF JANUARY 6, 2010, I WAS STILL IN MY WARRANTY PERIOD WITH SCION AND COULD HAVE HAD THE PIECE REPLACED WITHOUT THE HASSLE OF GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH SCION CUSTOMER SERVICE. IF TOYOTA ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE PIECE, THEY MUST REALIZE THE SHODDY ENGINEERING OF THE GARNISH. MOREOVER, I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT SCION AND TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THE TRUNK GARNISH IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT SCION OWNERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES WON'T BE FACED WITH THE SAME HEADACHE AND POTENTIAL DANGERS. *TR

Mileage: 46,000

I WAS SIMPLY TRYING TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH TO MY CAR AND THE PLASTIC PIECE THAT HOLDS THE BUTTON TO OPEN THE BACK BROKE OFF. I LOOKED INSIDE THE PLASTIC COVER AND IT APPEARED AS THOUGH THE PLASTIC PIECE ITSELF HAD BROKEN. MY LICENSE PLATE LIGHT DOES NOT WORK NOW WHICH IS REQUIRED BY LAW IN THE STATE OF TEXAS SO I CAN POSSIBLY GET A TICKET DUE TO TOYOTA'S GROSS NEGLIGENCE. *TR

Mileage: 91,000

THE HATCHBACK LATCH HAS BROKEN FOR THE SECOND TIME. BOTH TIMES WERE UNDER MINIMAL USE. THE PART IS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

Mileage: 2,032

I GOT OUT OF MY PARKED CAR AND WAS GOING TO PUT SOMETHING IN THE TRUNK. AS I WENT TO OPEN THE TRUNK, THE REAR HATCH PIECE, WHICH HAS THE SCION EMBLEM ON IT, TORE AWAY FROM THE CAR. IT SEEMS THE PLASTIC PIECES WHICH HELD THE PIECE ON HAD SNAPPED OFF AS I OPENED THE TRUNK. *TR

Mileage: 42,350

DURING THE NORMAL COURSE OF OPENING THE REAR HATCH, THE ENTIRE PANEL SNAPPED OFF DUE TO PLASTIC CLIPS THAT HAVE BECOME BRITTLE. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT BUT NO FIX SEEMS TO BE PERMANENT AND, THROUGH ADDITIONAL RESEARCH, I HAVE SEEN THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH MOST TCS AND IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW. IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE HATCH RELEASE, THE COST IS UPWARDS OF $350. THE HANDLE JUST BROKE AGAIN TODAY. WITH THE NUMBER OF ISSUES SURROUNDING THIS PART, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BY TOYOTA/SCION AS THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INADEQUATE HATCH RELEASE PARTS. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SCION TC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE HATCHBACK LATCH BECAME FRACTURED DURING NORMAL USAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE HANDLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

Mileage: 60,000

THE LIFT GATE ON THE TRUNK BROKE OFF WITH MINIMAL USAGE. IT SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM GOING BACK TO THE 2005 MODEL. I HAVE REVIEWED MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE. ITS TO BAD THEY DON'T REPORT IT HERE. THE DEALERS KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE WHEN I WENT IN TO GET IT FIXED THE GUY SAID WITHOUT LOOKING IT UP IT WOULD $425.00 SO HE SAID IT HAPPENS A LOT. IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM ON THESE VEHICLES. PLEASE CHECK THIS OUT FOR US OWNERS. *TR

Mileage: 31,000

FIRST, THE RUBBER HATCH RELEASE MELTED & DRIPPED ONTO MY REAR BUMPER. (I SUSPECT THAT FAULTY WIRING OF SOME SORT KEPT THE RELEASE SOMEWHAT ENGAGED, WHICH MELTED THE RUBBER.) THEN THE HATCH LATCH/LOCK WOULD ONLY COMPLETELY RELEASE AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. FINALLY, AFTER UNLOCKING THE HATCH & ENGAGING (I THOUGHT) THE RELEASE, THE ENTIRE PANEL PULLED OFF THE CAR, LEAVING IT DANGLING BY THE WIRING HARNESS. *JS

Mileage: 73,000

HELLO I WENT TO MY CAR TO GET MY GROCERY OUT OF THE TRUNK AND WHEN I WENT TO OPEN THE TRUCK THE HATCH HANDLE CLIPS BROKE I CONTACTED SCION THEY SAID THERE AREN'T ANY COMPLAINTS AND BECAUSE I HADN'T HAD MY CAR SERVICE AT SCION DEALERSHIP I WASN'T SHOWING BRAND LOYALTY SO THEY CAN'T HELP ME, WITH THIS PART BEING BROKEN THEIR ISN'T A WAY TO GET INTO THE TRUNK. *TR

Mileage: 54,000

MY 2008 SCION TC'S REAR TRUCK HANDLE HAS BROKEN OFF. I HAVE NEVER OPENED MY TRUNK IN THE PAST NOR PRESENT WITH ANY FORCEFUL MANNER. THIS IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT TO A VEHICLE AND I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE TO FIND THAT THIS PRODUCTION FLAW BY TOYOTA/SCION HAS AFFECTED MANY. *TR

DEFECTIVE TRUNK HATCH HANDLE, THE HANDLE BROKE ON AROUND NOVEMBER 2011, I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT IT IS MANUFACTURE DEFECTIVE AND IT IS NOT MEANT TO LAST. I"VE SEEN NOT JUST ONE, OR TWO, OR SEVERAL, BUT A LOT OF CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE FREEWAYS; THEREFORE, I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT TOYOTA MUST PAY AND ASK FOR A RECALL. ALSO, I CONSIDERED DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE HANDLE IS CONNECTED TO THE BRAKE LIGHT AND IF THERE IS ANY INTERFERENCE IT CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

THE REAR HATCH HANDLE IS PART OF THE A PLASTIC MOLDING GARNISH THAT MATCHES THE COLOR OF THE CAR. THE MOLDING GARNISH THAT HAS THE READ HATCH HANDLE HAD ALL THE PLASTIC CLIPS THAT ATTACH IT TO THE TRUNK BREAK. SO THE PART IS BARLEY STAYING ON THE CAR NOW. I CALLED SCION AND WAS TOLD THAT MOLD AND TRIM PIECES ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AND ARE ONLY COVERED FOR THE FIRST 12 MONTHS OR 12000 MILES FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. THIS WAS FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE SCION DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT MY CAR. AND I BOUGHT THEIR PLATINUM WARRANTY (6 YEARS/100,000 MILES) WHEN I GOT THE CAR BACK IN 2007. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS ONLY ABOUT 43,000 MILES AND I HAVE HAD IT JUST ABOUT 4.5 YEARS. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

2008 SCION TC HATCHBACK HANDLE/COVER HAS BROKEN TWICE. THIS OCCURRED WITH ONLY NORMAL USE AND IN RESEARCHING SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW IN THE SERIES. THE PART IS HELD ON WITH PLASTIC AND SLIM METAL PARTS THAT BREAK DURING THE COURSE OR NORMAL USE. IN ORDER TO OPEN THE HATCH YOU MUST PUSH THE HANDLE UNDERNEATH THE COVER AND PULL UP. THE DESIGN SEEMS TO BE SUCH THAT THE PARTS ARE NOT STURDY ENOUGH TO HANDLE THIS NORMAL USE. *TR

Mileage: 19,000

I OWN A 2008 SCION TC WHICH THAT IS DRIVEN BY MY SON AND HAVE 2 COMPLAINTS WHICH I FEEL ARE SAFETY DEFECTS. UPON TAKING IT IN FOR REPAIRS ON 6/16/10 WE ADVISED THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT TOYOTA OF HOLLYWOOD (FL) THAT THE FRONT GRILL FELL OFF AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD US THAT WE SHOULD REPAIR THIS OURSELVES SINCE HE DIDN'T WANT TOYOTA TO BE LIABLE IF IT FELL OFF AGAIN. SHOULDN'T THEY BE LIABLE IN THE FIRST PLACE SINCE THEY ARE THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE? SECONDLY, WHILE MY SON WAS DRIVING ON I-95 LAST WEEK (7/1/10), THE HATCHBACK POPPED OPEN WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. WHEN HE ARRIVED HOME, WE NOTICED THAT THE LATCH TO THE HATCHBACK WAS VERY LOOSE AND HELD TOGETHER BY 2 WORN OUT SCREWS. I CONTACTED THE SERVICE MANAGER AT TOYOTA OF HOLLYWOOD FOR A RESOLUTION TO THIS MATTER AND HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED A RETURN PHONE CALL. *TR

Mileage: 47,000

WHILE DRIVING ON THE BELTWAY (495 NORTH), MY SCION TC MOONROOF SHATTERED AND THE GLASS FELL ON ME AND ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. MY MOONROOF WAS FULLY OPENED AT THE TIME. NEITHER THE DEFLECTOR NOR THE STATIONARY MOONROOF (WHICH IS LOCATED ABOVE THE BACKSEAT) SHATTERED BUT ONLY THE RETRACTABLE MOONROOF. THERE WAS NO IMPACT FROM INSIDE THE CAR THAT CAUSED THE MOONROOF TO SHATTER NOR DID I HEAR OR SEE ANY ROCK OR DEBRIS HIT THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR BEFORE IT SHATTERED AND EXPLODED INTO THE CAR. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION OF GLASS WHICH WAS FALLING ALL AROUND ME. I PULLED OVER TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED AND THEN I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE SALESPERSON WHO SOLD ME THE CAR. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN MAY 2008 FROM LAUREL TOYOTA/CARMAX. THIS WAS THE ONLY TIME THAT THIS OCCURRED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. THE SERVICE MANAGER LOOKED AT THE MOONROOF AND TOLD ME IT WAS AN INSURANCE MATTER. HE NEVER ASKED ME WHAT HAPPENED; HE ONLY LOOKED AT THE MOONROOF. I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE OF HAVING A MOONROOF EXPLODE FOR NO REASON SO I INSISTED ON SEEING THE GENERAL MANAGER OF CARMAX LAUREL. HE SHOWED CONCERN AND WANTED TO RULE OUT ANY SAFETY HAZARD SO HE SAID HE WOULD HAVE A TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE COME AND LOOK AT THE CAR TO SEE IF THERE WAS A DEFECT. THE TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE IS SCHEDULED TO LOOK AT MY CAR SOMETIME TODAY BUT I WAS TOLD BY CARMAX THAT I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO MEET WITH THE REP BECAUSE HE ONLY DEALS WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND NOT THE CUSTOMER. I TOLD THEM THAT WAS UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE THE REP WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE A DETERMINATION WITHOUT SPEAKING TO THE PERSON WHO HAD A FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT OF WHAT HAPPENED. I AM WAITING TO HEAR FROM TOYOTA/SCION ABOUT THEIR DECISION TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY ISSUE CONCERNING MY 2008 SCION TC. *TR

Mileage: 5,045