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Scion tC Problems and Solutions
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Comments
While certainly not practical (since it will be open nearly all the time), the door is a neat touch and when closed offers a different and appealing look.
I guess some people lack that "majic touch" or just need something to complain about. For my money, (unless you just outright bought the wrong type of vehicle) you have to look pretty hard to find things to complain about with this car.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
First, it does take a certain amount of aggressiveness to open the cover successfully - moreso than seems appropriate. The latch system could have, and should have, been made more finite, or precise. It was built like a cheap portable CD door latch rather than a better home stereo door latch.
Second, I'll bet that most of us play with the radio enough that the door stays open most of the time. Now, with the door closed, the entire center stack looks clean, smooth, and well laid out. But, with the door open, it looks sloppy, unfit, and mismatched - like an aftermarket radio was installed that doesn't fit right.
I won't let all this ruin my view of a great car, but I would add the stereo cover as another one of the little faults of the car, along with the mismatched, one tight/one loose rear deck cover, and the partially lit rear brake light. I'm no ergonomics engineer, but I think Toyota could have designed these features better without adding to the cost appreciably.
As to the partially-lit rear brake light, what's that all about? Doesn't it come on bright enough, or just lights up in one part of the brake assembly and doesn't look like it lights up enough of the light?
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
The rear brake light only has LEDs (working)in the centre 1/3 of the assembly. Again, it looks sloppy, broken, or plain cheap to anyone following.
The stereo "hatch" lid takes lots of "touch" to get it to work. Strange, there is a similar lid in the dash of my 2004 Sienna that works perfectly. So, we know Toyota has a vendor that can supply good parts. They chose not to use them in the tC.
I love the little car but think that anything I buy new should work properly. Not just "kinda."
Not being a Scion owner yet and not having any promotional material in hand much less an owner's manual I wouldn't know where you might turn in order to voice your complaints to Scion about this stuff. There ought to be an outlet for doing just that though.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Now, I'm not only annoyed when I see a tC brake light, but I think of it every time I see another car's correctly designed brake light on - which is only a few dozen times a day. I wonder how long it'll take before I quit noticing and caring?
You know, Scion has a very good instant chat setup on their website. I used it once and got a very good response from a rep. One of us needs to ask if they have a venue - or interest - for receiving consumer comments.
As for the manual 3rd gear issue influencing your decision on buying the car: A few more months of production should tell us if they've truly worked out that problem.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Would it have made you all happier if they just put the middle part in (thereby having blank space around it)? It does the job, and I just think of the side parts as a styling device to make the rear of the car look more balanced.
The cargo cover I think I know what you're talking about. It seems pretty even to me, but overall, the cover isn't the best design, but that's a drawback to having reclinging rear seats.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
The "3rd gear slipping out" problem is probably gonna get a "Toyota stop the factory" tag on it in Japan very soon if it hasn't already been tagged. I remember that from Continuous Quality Improvement class at work. Toyota production lines totally stop if somebody notices something that isn't quite right on the production line. I'm thinking this problem(by far the most serious one on the list)will be fixed long before I decide to get a tC.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
First of all, (like you) I probably would have owned the tC for ten years without knowing about the brake light had I not read about it on a web site - placed by someone more anal than you.
Secondly, who cares? the light works when you step on the brakes.
Take a look around. There are zillions of cars out there designed with rear ends that are comprised totally of red plastic and only 2 bulbs on either end light up. What's the big deal?
I apologize if I sound a bit terse (you did ask tC owners to chime in) but not only will you never see the light, I would be willing to bet that all of the admirers following you won't take notice either.
Sounds like you are in the market for a stick. I f the brake light is so annoying, use your gears to brake, sit back, and enjoy.
People have mentioned a third light, are you talking about the upper light(sometimes on the spoiler for cars that have spoilers) that is the third brake light added several years ago to all new cars for safety reasons? Is someone having problems with this light on their tC? Or is it working just fine? How is it we're combining this 3rd brake light with the brake lights just coming on in the middle of the brake light assembly as possible problems with the tC?
Isn't this fun? Completely dissecting an attractive little import that recently hit the U.S. market? I like it and I am going for a 5-speed! Get this dudes: I have a 2001 Kia Sportage 4x4 with 85,145 miles on it and because I use my gears to slow the rig down so much I have completely avoided any brake work on the small SUV so far! Not only that but it hasn't needed a single light bulb replaced. It has also gone the entire 85,145 miles without needing it's original Hankook tires replaced! I take good care of my rigs. I will take great care of my tC if and when I buy one, indeed.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
genee - yes, I think it would have been better to narrow the plastic inset to the actual width of the light, as all other cars seem to do. The extra wide plastic inset, matching the lower plate lines, WOULD have looked great - if they had completed the concept. I'd agree there's an engineering reason for it too, rather than an engineering oversight. If it is a turn signal connection, seems like a stupid idea. Let us know if you ever get a real answer. SOMEBODY knows.
tonylexas - lucky you for being less anal than others. I wish I shared your less critical attitude on cars, women, and everything. Your view and prioritization on the issue is appreciated. But, seeing as this is a forum on tC "problems and solutions", our complaints on this issue are also reasonable. I'll agree that many non-anal people such as yourself will never notice the problem, yet alone be bothered by it. But, I can vouch that every Scion salesman I've shown the light issue to (which has been several) has agreed that it looks wrong, broken, or stupid. We'll probably have to live with it, but Toyota deserves some grief and complaints over the design. That's how features get fixed and future models get better.
I've had my tC for a month now and I don't have any issues to report. I'm a little older and have owned quite a few cars. The tC is built well. I just hope the tires last beyond 20K miles.
What about the tires bothers you? Are they cheaply made or are your roads as bad as Missouri's? We have so many trucks here on I-44 that they eventually beat the tar out of the roads and then people's tires. I must say, my '01 Sportage's Hankook's have 85,550 miles on them without any problems at all. I honestly can't believe they've still got viable tread on them and I'm headin' into another winter with 'em!
Keep poppin' those stereo covers open with glee!
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
He said their soft rubber and low profile gave them a limited mileage in the low 20's for most people. That's pretty poor in my budget conscious view. They not only cost twice the amount of any economy car, but they have to be replaced 3 times as often.
Discount Tire sells a (supposedly) comparable high performance, low profile, Cooper tire for about $120. That's still not cheap to me, and the mileage isn't much better.
Apparently, the only way to significantly increase the mileage wear is to switch to a lower performance tire. He said doing so might be possible, but that it could likely worsen the understeer/oversteer handling in corners.
Let those who wear out their first set of tires be the guinea pigs for us all. I hope for some better guidance before its my time to buy new ones.
Considered changing mine immediately but could get virtually nothing for the 'new' Potenza's so I'm going to run them out and keep my fingers crossed as we head into the Michigan winter.
I'm not expecting much from the OEM's. Had Bridgstone Duelers on my RX 300 - awful in snow and wore out in 35K. The Michelon's I repalced them with have nearly 70k on them with @ half the tread life remaining!
First tank of gas 25/75% city/hwy 28.3 MPH - 2nd tank, 10/90 city/hwy - 31 MPH both tanks topped off, hwy speeds varied between 55 & 85. Coming from a Jeep Liberty where I was lucky to get 17 MPH, I'm ecsatic. Just another way this car has exceeded my expectations. Time for another fill up and it's looking like the MPH is holding up.
I wonder if it has something to do with the riding and handling characteristics of top-heavy SUV's and how they grip the road. Any tire engineers out there? When I get my tC I am hoping y'all will've figured out a good replacement tire to swap out to after I rub the tread off of my Potenza's. BCP tC with all standard features, no options at this time intended for this tiger.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Anyone have any other comments for the cheapest, longest wearing, decent handling tire replacements for a tC? I'd think some others besides myself might be willing to sacrifice a bit of road hugging ability for lower price and longer wear.
Go to tirerack and do a look-up on the size and you can get an idea of whats out there. Even if I only get 25K out of them, that would still be 3 years for me, so there will be lots of new choices by then.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Pirelli PZero Nero M&S ($116) - The number 1 ranked best performing, ultra high performance, all-season, tire. It has excellent to superior ratings in every category.
Continental Conti Extreme Contact ($94) - The number 3 ranked best performing, ultra high performance, all-season tire. It has excellent to superior ratings in every category but underperforms the Pirelli in all categories except in rain and snow conditions. Its main advantage over the Pirelli is lower cost - an $88 savings for a small performance sacrifice.
Yokohama Avid H4S ($98) - The number 4 ranked best performing, high performance, all-season tire. It has excellent to superior ratings in every category but also underperforms the Pirelli in all categories. Its main advantage over the Pirelli is lower cost and potentially better tread wear. Whereas the Pirelli and Continental have tread wear ratings of 400, the Yokohama is rated 500. And, while the Pirelli and Continental's W speed ratings (168 mph) exceed the Yokohama's H rating (130 mph), I don't think that should be a concern on the tC which has an electronic speed inhibitor and top speed of 127 mph.
All 3 tires look like good options. I'll let a sale price dictate my decision.
I have about 2,600 miles on it now, in about 3.5 months, but that includes a few extra trips I don't normally do. It also sits at home when we travel.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I have a manual Scion TC and I notice a whinning noice while accelerating in second gear to third. I have had automatic cars in the past so I am not sure if the Scion engine was built like this or not. It is only in second gear where I hear this noice. My car drives very smooth, but the sound is not. If your car does or does not have a higher pitch sound when in second gear and when accelerating in second gear could you please reply to this message. I am concerned about my car and if this sound is supposed to be normal because it is a manual transmission please let me know.
Thanks
I have a Scion tC (manual) with 1000 miles on it. When I start the vehicle cold (meaning that it has been sitting for several hours) and travel either forwards or backwards, I hear a single clicking noise after moving anywhere from 10 to 20 feet. The noise only occurs once. The click doesn't occur following a warm start-up. Has anyone else heard this click? Does anyone know what this clicking sound is? I don't remember hearing it when I first got the car.
Thanks.
I'm currious about everyone's mileage so far. Anyone out there have over 5000 miles?
But, my moonroof does click from time to time. However, I haven't established any pattern to it.
Stickguy, I could watch the tC for you while you're traveling! No charge.
; )
Mackabee
: )
Mackabee
1 Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3
2 Toyo Proxes T1-S
3 Continental ContiSportContact 2
Note: Discontinued.
4 Michelin Pilot Sport
5 Dunlop SP Sport 9000
6 Pirelli PZero Nero
7 Bridgestone Potenza S-03 Pole Position
I can't put too much detail info as they are Copyrighted. Subscribe for more info.
From your choice above I would buy the Yokohama's because of my past experience with them or the Pirelli PZero Nero M & S's for "only" $116 a pop. At least ya don't have to splurge on new rims, right?
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Mack, you would have to come to NJ to get it, although I do know a lot of people in Chesapeake.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
It's very cool reading all the comments and reviews on the tC. I ordered my tC after numerous problems with my Pontiac Grand Prix Lease. I got so fed up with it I decided to by something foreign. Working for a supplier, I know that Toyota has VERY high quality standards. Nissan does as well. When I saw the Scion tC at the Detroit Auto Show, I knew that's exactly what I wanted! It took a while to find a dealership that had one available for a test drive, but onece I drove it, there was no question in my mind that this was the car I was going to buy! I ordered the black sand pearl qutomatic and I'm expecting it in the next couple of weeks!
Take care,
D
Mackabee
FWIW, some moron is shooting at truckers in Missouri. Right in the middle of the state. A woman truckdriver was shot in the head(she's gonna be all right..some bullet fragments are still in her skull, but the main bullet housing was removed surgically)the other day. An awful direct way to take out somebody's road rage anger, huh?
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
I've seen other cars with moonroofs that slide on top of the roof, but never heard of one breaking that easy after getting hit by a pebble. Wouln't a moonroof that breaks that easy defeat the purpose of a moonroof? I'm sure most people that use the moonroof drive with it open. There isn't a point to having a moonroof that you can't drive open.
This is like the 3rd or 4th story that I've read about a moonroof breaking while driving. Hope someone from toyota/scion can provide some official information on this issue.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
: )
Mackabee
Does anyone know if the deflector is made of safety glass? It would be bad to have shards of glass blown into the passenger compartment if the deflector were shattered.
A sheet of polycarbonate the thickness of the current glass deflector would be _very_ hard to break. If it did, you could probably just count yourself lucky that the projectile hadn't gone through the windshield and hit you.