So I've had my tC for a little over a month now, and it doesn't seem to be the healthiest thing in the world..

Ever since about 300 miles, whenever I drive a moderately long distance, or after it rains, this smell almost like burnt plastic seems to come from either my front wheels or the engine. The dealer told me it was just the brake pads wearing in, and didn't check on it when they had to fix my alignment (Yeah, alignment was off right at the start). Of course I have 2500 miles on the car now, and it's still happening.

My hatchback has been rattling since I drove the car home the night I bought it. For the longest time it sounded like a rattle located above the rear passenger seat, somewhere between the top of the hatchback and the rear moonroof. Last week I brought it to the dealer and they said they 'had someone sit in the hatchback' and the noise is "normal", just the hatchback going against the body of the car, and since it's a 3 piece moonroof it does that. Needless to say, I wasn't happy with that answer, and amazingly in the past week it's gotten worse! It sounds like my entire hatchback wants to fall off now.

For awhile I had no problems with my moonroof, and I was really happy. The only time I heard anything was after we got a heavy downpour from one of the tropical systems, the moonroof made noise and ratteld for a day or so after. Since it only did it once I didn't get it diagnosed by the dealer, but now after another heavy rainstorm its been acting up for 2 days, rattling like crazy.

Does anyone else's tC sound EXTREMELY loud when water from the road is going up around the tires! Oh my god.

When I close my door i see my hatchback jump up and shake a bit. Nice and secure and closed eh?

I've had other weird experiences; one day I was driving and my front window fogged up. Completely. Instantly. Never had that happen before, and it took a few minutes to defrost.

Last weekend I got in ym car and saw I had dew on my window. So I turned on the wipers. The wipers didn't wipe it off. I touched it and realized that all the dew and water droplets were INSIDE MY CAR on the front window, in the middle.

My driver's door was rattling like crazy one day, but hasn't since.. but then again I said that about the moonroof..

Needless to say, I've been in contact with Scion. They told me to go to the dealer to get the hatchback checked out, which is why I went. Now I am waiting for the regional office to contact me to setup an appointment to check out my car, as Scion (and myself) were not satisfied with how my dealer dealt with my problem. Scion is going to look at the moonroof, the hatchback, and the smell. I think everything else was just freak things, but who knows.

 

There is a TSB for the moonroof rattle, take it to the dealer and have it fixed.

As for the rest... the windshield fogging up is not a problem, that is what the defroster setting is for. And water noise? I think you are a little overly sensitive. It is an economy car after all.

 

I know there's a TSB for the moonroof, but when I took it in I was more concerned about the hatchback as the moonroof wasn't acting up. Not to mention the fact that my dealer is an hour away and even with my warranty wants to charge me $50 a day for a loaner (Scion said they'd reimburse me, but still).

The smell I'm just concerned about - what is it? Is something burning that shouldn't be? I don't think a car should smell from its front for over 2000 miles.

As for the water around the wheels.. yes, that's more nitpicky.. but it almost sounds like my windows are open it's so loud. Does anyone else experience this?

And driving and every bump you hit (and let me tell ya, the roads around here are BAD) your entire hatchback shakes and sounds like it wants to fall off is not fun.

 

The tC has a ____load of road noise during the rain, I've noticed it too. I've never heard it that loud on any car I've ever driven/been in before.

 

the burning smell is the tires melting, they suck ya know? gettin some michelin's or toyo's is what i'm gonna do here pretty soon. they're just freakin awful and not very versatile if ya ask me.

 

Ok first of all cars smell when they're brand new and have been running for a while. That's just the new smell. I guess you've never owned a new car before. (Neither have I, the tC is my first new car, but my parents have).

Hatchback/moonroof rattles. Mine rattles in 3 different places at different times. Guess what? I'm taking it to the dealer when I hit my 5000 maintenance interval and I'm making them fix it.

Windows fogging up? Yeah that happens when there is a difference in air temperature between the outside and the inside of the car. It's called condensation. You don't like it? Move to a drier climate.

You must remember that the tC is in its first production year. There may be a few bugs. Nothing's perfect in this world. Thats why warranties were created... To protect the consumer from defects in manufacturing.

 

I have had a new car before - a Chevrolet Cavalier, actually, which is definitely a step down from a tC. I can't say I remember it smelling like this for so long, but it has been a few years. But considering when I told it to the Scion representative on the phone he seemed very suprised, I don't think it's supposed to happen, especially not for 2,000 miles.

I know the moonroof is a common problem with a fix; but I know there are topics about the hatchback too, and not too many people seem to have gotten word from a dealer or Scion exactly what the problem is.

And yea, I know windows fog up, but it's a little strange and catches you by surprise when your entire window is suddenly completely white. In the middle of the daytime. In the middle of September.

 

Well at least I'm not completely crazy with that.. anyone else?

 

I wouldn't really be suprised honestly. Any idea how long those tires are rated for anyway? I thought it was nice that it doesn't give any life expectancy anywwhere for them.

 

BAM!! stick it to the consumer BSP! lol j/k

but I mean seriously, it's like me complaining that the Kia Rio priced at $9,999 and complaining how freakin' hot it gets in the car on hot days, I mean, you'd sweat your butt off, like a sauna in there.... oh wait... whaddya mean it doesn't come with air conditioning? OMFG $*%9@%& I am SOOOOO GOING TO THE DEALER FOR A REFUND THIS IS SO UNACCEPTABLE I'M CALLING LEMON LAW KIA IS GOING DOWN!!! SUE - IT'S THE AMERICAN WAY BABY!!!"

now, if I baught a Maybach 62 and the rear side door rattled, I think I'd have something to complain about, but this is way beyond ridiculous, it's like... Soopa-Ridiculous©

 

Oh and before people keep ripping into me.. besides those issues, I love my car. I'm very happy with it. I have a lot of accessories in it and plan to get more (money permitting). I know it's a relatively inexpensive car, but I don't like the idea that I shouldn't expect too much out of it because of that. I'd rather not have my brand new tC sound like my mom's 8 year old van, and possibly have some internal issues that that smell is coming from.

I just wanted to voice what was happening with me and see if others had similiar issues.

One neat thing that not too many other people have mentioned (or maybe it just has to do with me and my height and where on the planet I am), but in my old Cavalier I was always using the sun visors to block sun in my eyes when driving. I think I've had to use them twice to block the sun since I got my tC. The way the front window is shaped and its height and my height I guess make it so I don't need to, it's nice

I'll keep people updated on whatever Scion can figure out for me, especially for the hatcback issue, since I know others have the same problem.

As for my list of rants that people keep yelling at me about.. my main 3 are the hatchback, moonroof, and the smell. The road noise in the rain is a pain too. The rest of what I mentioned were just random nitpicks I thought of that since I already had a thread like this I might as well include in it.

 

Oh and the road noise during the rain is probably because of the tires. The tires aren't the best on the market but they're better than what you get stock on most other cars in its class. I plan on getting new tires when these wear out.

 

I always get new tires when mine wear out too : )
thanks for the laugh

 

I also had/have the interior condensation (only in the center of the windshield), and the way to get rid of that is to use windex (or vinegar as someone once suggested) and a soft paper towel to wipe it off.

 

if it helps any, the xB's are loud as all hell when it rains too. I'm going to end up putting some sort of sound proofing in the rear of the car. It rains here everyday and I drive 100 miles a day.. I'm going crazy, CRAZY!!!

 

I have some rattle from my center console, which I had identified the source and fixed it myself. Unfortunately, I have another noise coming from the dash somewhere and I may work on it this weekend. My driver's side door's rattle is getting louder and I am planning on getting some dynamate to take out the vibration and reduce the interior noise. It will help with the stereo too.

 

then i too shall get new tires when mine wear out :D i dont want to be the only one not getting new tires when they wear out

 

By new I meant different brand but yeah I laugh at stupid things too, it's ok.

 

the TC has way too many issues....

 

2006 version will probably have some of them fixed